Maps of Movies

Argo (2012)

Where Argo says it takes place, and where it was really shot.

Tehran in the film was shot in Los Angeles, Istanbul and a disused airport terminal in Ontario, California

Scenes and places

Protesters storm the US embassy (1979)

Protesters breach the embassy walls on 4 Nov 1979. Staff rush to burn and shred classified files while some slip out a back exit.

Set in US Embassy, Tehran — Protesters breach the walls on 4 November 1979 and staff race to destroy classified files. Google Maps · Apple Maps

The real embassy stood in Tehran; the filming site is a VA hospital in North Hills, Los Angeles.

Filmed at Sepulveda VA Medical Center, North Hills, Los Angeles (North Hills, Los Angeles, United States) — Used for the embassy compound interior; the location manager picked it because it has the same number of stories as the real embassy. Coordinates are for the neighbourhood, not the building. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: A working Veterans Affairs medical campus in the San Fernando Valley; treat it as a public hospital, not a film site.

Six houseguests hide at the Canadian ambassador's home (1979)

Six Americans who escaped take shelter in the Canadian ambassador's residence. They stay hidden there for weeks, called "the houseguests."

Set in Canadian ambassador's residence, Tehran — Six Americans who escaped take shelter and stay hidden there for weeks. Google Maps · Apple Maps

Hancock Park is an affluent, historic Los Angeles neighbourhood of Period Revival houses.

Filmed at Hancock Park house, 344 S Rimpau Blvd, Los Angeles (Hancock Park, Los Angeles, United States) — Only the interior of this house was used for the ambassador's residence; the gate and side doorway were filmed elsewhere. Coordinates are for the neighbourhood. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: A private home in a residential neighbourhood; view from the street only.

The CIA picks the fake-film plan (1979)

Officials debate how to get the six out; bicycle and teacher-cover ideas are rejected. Tony Mendez proposes posing them as a Canadian film crew.

Set in CIA headquarters, Langley, Virginia — Officials debate how to get the six out; Mendez proposes posing them as a Canadian film crew. Google Maps · Apple Maps

The Los Angeles Times Building opened in 1935.

Filmed at Los Angeles Times Building basement, 1st and Spring, Los Angeles (Downtown, Los Angeles, United States) — Most CIA office and meeting-room scenes were filmed in the basement of this building. Coordinates are for the Times Mirror Square complex. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: A newspaper building in downtown Los Angeles near Little Tokyo; the basement is not open to visitors.

Mendez meets the makeup artist (1979)

Mendez meets makeup artist John Chambers (John Goodman), who agrees to help build the cover.

Set in The Smoke House, Burbank — Mendez meets makeup artist John Chambers, who agrees to help build the cover. Google Maps · Apple Maps

A film-industry hangout since 1946.

Filmed at The Smoke House, Burbank (Burbank, United States) — Where Mendez meets Chambers. Coordinates are for Burbank generally; no street address was found. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: A long-running restaurant across from the Warner Bros. area; open to diners.

The script called Argo (1979)

Mendez finds a sci-fi script titled "Argo" at producer Lester Siegel's home; it becomes the basis of the cover plan.

Set in Lester Siegel's home, Bel-Air — Mendez finds a sci-fi script titled Argo at producer Lester Siegel's home. Google Maps · Apple Maps

The one-acre estate was owned by Zsa Zsa Gabor and her husband.

Filmed at 1001 Bel Air Road, Los Angeles (Bel-Air, Los Angeles, United States) — Filmed at the gated estate that was Zsa Zsa Gabor's home. Coordinates are for Bel-Air, not the house. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: A private gated estate; not visitable.

Optioning the script at Hollywood's Crossroads (1979)

Siegel and Mendez go to option the Argo script and set up the fake production.

Set in Crossroads of the World, Hollywood — Siegel and Mendez go to option the Argo script and set up the fake production. Google Maps · Apple Maps

Opened in 1936 as a shopping centre in Streamline Moderne style.

Filmed at Crossroads of the World, 6671 Sunset Blvd, Hollywood (Hollywood, Los Angeles, United States) — Used for the script-option scene (single source for the scene link). Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: On Sunset Boulevard at Las Palmas Avenue in Hollywood.

Studio Six opens on the Warner lot (1979)

The fake Studio Six office is set up on the lot; Mendez and Siegel close the deal and have lunch on the backlot.

Set in Warner Bros. lot, Burbank — The fake Studio Six office is set up on the lot; Mendez and Siegel close the deal. Google Maps · Apple Maps

Filmed at Warner Bros. Studios, Burbank (Warner Bros. Studios, Burbank, United States) — Filmed on the real lot; the water tower was altered to read "The Burbank Studios". Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: Reachable through the studio tour.

The crew scouts the Grand Bazaar (1979)

The fake crew scouts the bazaar with a ministry guide. A shopkeeper confronts them and the scene turns hostile.

Set in Grand Bazaar, Tehran — The fake crew scouts the bazaar with a ministry guide. A shopkeeper confronts them and the scene turns hostile. Google Maps · Apple Maps

The checkpoint at Tehran airport (1980)

The group passes checkpoints and questioning with forged papers; tension peaks as a last call to the fake office decides whether they board.

Set in Mehrabad Airport, Tehran — The group passes checkpoints and questioning with forged papers as tension peaks. Google Maps · Apple Maps

Ontario airport is about 35 miles east of downtown Los Angeles.

Filmed at Ontario International Airport, California (Ontario, California, United States) — An unused terminal stood in for the crowded Tehran airport, with Farsi signage and Khomeini posters added. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: About 35 miles east of downtown Los Angeles.

Filmed at Etiler, Istanbul (Etiler, Istanbul, Turkey) — Tehran streets and downtown Google Maps · Apple Maps

Filmed at Eminönü–Sultanahmet, Istanbul (Eminönü, Istanbul, Turkey) — Tehran streets and downtown Google Maps · Apple Maps

Filmed at Sirkeci, Istanbul (Sirkeci, Istanbul, Turkey) — Tehran streets and downtown Google Maps · Apple Maps

Filmed at Karaköy, Istanbul (Karaköy, Istanbul, Turkey) — Tehran streets and downtown Google Maps · Apple Maps

Characters

• Tony Mendez — A CIA exfiltration specialist who devises a fake film shoot as cover.
• Lester Siegel — A veteran Hollywood producer who lends the fake production credibility.
• John Chambers — A Hollywood makeup artist who helps build the cover story.

Questions answered on the map

• Where was Tehran in Argo really filmed?