14 Movies Filmed in Griffith Park and at Griffith Observatory

Griffith Park is LA’s massive public park, gifted to the city in 1896 by Colonel Griffith J. Griffith. Nowadays it encompasses over 4,200 acres of forest, mountain, canyon, and loads of iconic attractions. These include the Griffith Observatory, constructed in 1935, the lovely outdoor concert venue, the Greek Theatre (1930), the Los Angeles Zoo (1966), and the Griffith Park Merry-Go-Round (1937).

The Hollywood Sign is also a part of the Griffith Park experience, which makes sense considering that one of the first Hollywood movies to be filmed in the park was in 1919. (It was a Western called “Lightning Bryce.”) By the time the sign was completed in 1923, the park was already a go-to spot for filmmakers, and today the love affair continues, as dozens of screen classics have been shot there. 

We’ve picked the top 14 films that have helped make Griffith Park a Hollywood darling. See how many you remember, and then add some of these film spots to your next Griffith Park visit.

1. “Rebel Without a Cause” (1955)

James Dean and Natalie Wood made “Rebel Without a Cause,” a red-hot teenage-angst classic, in 1955. 

Nominated for three Academy Awards, the movie uses the Griffith Observatory as a central setting for the emotional drama and makes it look absolutely fantastic. Shot in Cinemascope’s brilliant color, both inside the planetarium and on the grounds (with fantastic views of the surrounding park), this is the undisputed cinematic showcase for the beauty that is found in Griffith Park.

2. “A Star Is Born” (2018)

Director-star Bradley Cooper chose the Greek Theatre in Griffith Park as the setting for the pivotal moment in his remake (the fourth) of this familiar story of a woman’s rise to stardom as her famous lover (and career mentor) falls. 

On the stage of the Greek’s wonderful outdoor venue, Cooper and Lady Gaga duet “Shallow,” to the cheering of a packed audience. That song won an Academy Award, and the film garnered four other nominations. 

Fun fact: In 1964, “Bye, Bye Birdie,” also shot at the Greek, scored two Oscar nominations, proving that it’s often a lucky charm to play the Greek, at least in the movies.

3. “Austin Powers in Goldmember” (2002)

You’ll often see the Hollywood Sign in the movies, sometimes reading “Hollywoodland” if the movie was made (or is set) back in the days when that original sign existed (1923-1947). 

But it’s only when Mike Myers’ mad genius came along that moviegoers got to see the lair of an evil genius hidden behind the legendary sign, as Dr. Evil tries to take over the world yet again from his perch high in the hills as this third comic blockbuster of the “Austin Powers” trilogy unspools.

4. “Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy” (2004)

Sometimes Hollywood loves a location, but the film’s plot doesn’t have anything to do with Los Angeles or Griffith Park. Take “Anchorman,” Will Ferrell’s enduring comedy about a vain San Diego TV news anchorman whose missteps open the door for a talented female reporter to take over his top job. 

You’d think the key scenes shot in the zoo would be in San Diego, but look closely and you’ll realize that it is Griffith Park’s Los Angeles Zoo that’s standing in for San Diego in the flick. Seems the LA animals were ready for their close-ups when Hollywood came knocking!

5. “The Searchers” (1956)

Director John Ford’s “The Searchers,” is an incomparable post-Civil War Western tale of kidnapping and revenge that takes place across Texas, Colorado, Utah, and Arizona. As Ethan Edwards (John Wayne) relentlessly searches for his young niece taken by the Comanches, he somehow ends up in Griffith Park’s famous Bronson Cave, which stands in for a place much further east. 

Did you know? A favorite spot for filmmakers as well as TV show producers, this same cave location served as the Batcave in the 1960s “Batman” television series.

6. “Caddyshack” (1980)

The funniest golfing comedy ever made, “Caddyshack” stars Bill Murray, Rodney Dangerfield, and Chevy Chase and is set in the heart of the Midwest. 

But those golf course scenes are nowhere near Nebraska. Instead, they’re happening right in Griffith Park’s two 18-hole golf courses, which both opened in the 1920s. Named for past U.S. presidents, the Wilson Golf Course and the Harding Municipal Golf Course both are part of the “Caddyshack” cinematic legend — and open to the public for play most of the year.

7. “Jurassic Park” (1993)

While there are no dinosaurs found in Griffith Park (head to the La Brea Tar Pits on the Miracle Mile in LA to see those), you’ll still get a feel for those ancient reptiles in scenes from “Jurassic Park” that Steven Spielberg shot at the Griffith Observatory. 

Griffith Observatory has been used in over 150 movies and TV episodes, starting with the slightly wacky sci-fi Western “The Phantom Empire” starring Gene Autry, shot there in 1935, just after the observatory opened.

8. “The Prestige” (2006)

Watching “The Prestige,” Christopher Nolan’s Academy Award-nominated magical mystery film, you’re sure to believe it was all shot in London. But in truth, most of the Hugh Jackman-Christian Bale thriller was made in Los Angeles, reminding us all of the magic of moviemaking. 

Check out the key scene filmed at the Griffith Park Merry-Go-Round and then find that surprisingly fast ride near the zoo and the Los Feliz entrance to the park. 

Local tip: It’s the same 1937 carousel that inspired Walt Disney to create Disneyland, so look for the park bench there that commemorates that as well.

9. “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” (1956)

Scary movie makers love Griffith Park as much as those crafting dramas and comedies, with many frightening flicks shot in various locales around the landscapes that make up the park’s personality. 

One of the scarier places is Bronson Canyon (and Bronson Cave), which has been used to great effect, especially in the first — and, let’s be honest, best — version of “Invasion of the Body Snatchers,” the black-and-white classic about the space creatures who come to earth and begin taking over people’s bodies.  

10. “The Terminator” (1984)

Remember your first glimpse of “The Terminator,” that emotionless cyborg played by Arnold Schwarzenegger who is sent back in time to assassinate a woman whose son is destined to change the world? 

He arrives naked at the front of the Griffith Observatory, walks to the edge of the massive patio, and looks out over the LA basin. It’s one of the most iconic moments in Hollywood history and yet another instance of an acclaimed director, James Cameron, using a place in the park as part of their cinematic vision.

11. “Friends with Benefits” (2011)

This rom-com starring Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis gets one thing absolutely right about visiting the Hollywood Sign. Their characters take the long climb up to the sign, but then decide to get a bit too close, climbing the fence erected to keep vandals away from the emblematic sign. 

It’s all fun and games until the police show up to arrest them, a fate that will befall anyone who tries that trick in real life. Perhaps a guided walking tour to a great viewpoint is a better option?

12. “King Kong” (1933)

The original “King Kong” movie production discovered that Griffith Park’s Bronson Canyon had a tropical-looking jungle that was an ideal place to stand in for Skull Island. 

But Kong’s original home in the oft-told tale of the giant ape wasn’t the only wild epic that tapped the canyon for its unique look. Others, including “George of the Jungle,” “Lost Horizon,” and even 1994’s camp classic “Dinosaur Island,” used the local park as a stand-in for far-off jungle settings.

13. “M*A*S*H” (1970)

Director Robert Altman knew he didn’t have to trek to Korea to make “M*A*S*H,” his five-time Academy Award-nominated comedy about combat medics — especially since Malibu and Griffith Park were both local settings that could substitute. 

Which is why the M*A*S*H unit was staged in Malibu Creek State Park, and the comical football game took place on one of the open fields in the heart of Griffith Park, as Elliott Gould, Donald Sutherland, Fred Williamson, and the rest of the stellar cast had a seriously fun day in the park.

14. “La La Land” (2016)

With 14 Oscar nominations and six wins, Damian Chazelle’s “La La Land” is perhaps the greatest ode to the City of Angels ever made. 

Emma Stone took home the Best Actress prize for her performance opposite nominee Ryan Gosling. In the film, the pair spend a magical time at the Griffith Observatory in one of the most beautiful and romantic dance scenes ever put on celluloid. It’s a fitting tribute to one of Griffith Park’s wonderful places. 

We suggest taking a tour of the observatory to feel the love — but you’ll have to bring your own dance partner and a bit of movie magic pixie dust.

Griffith Park’s timeless appeal

Making a plan to visit Griffith Park to find your favorite movie moments is a must. This huge park has some serious Hollywood shine — not surprisingly, movie lore figures into our Griffith Park tours. 

However you choose to visit, we hope this lineup of Griffith Park movies inspires you to explore more in this iconic LA landscape.