Maps of Movies

Being John Malkovich (1999)

Where Being John Malkovich says it takes place, and where it was really shot.

A portal behind a filing cabinet in a made-up New York building, shot mostly in Los Angeles and aboard the Queen Mary

Scenes and places

An unemployed puppeteer in New York (1999)

Craig, an out-of-work puppeteer, is stuck in a joyless marriage with Lotte, who is more devoted to her pets than to him. He needs a job.

Set in New York City — The city where Craig and Lotte live and where the story opens. Google Maps · Apple Maps

The film's real-world stage; most of it was shot in Los Angeles instead.

The Mertin-Flemmer building (1999)

Craig takes a file-clerk job with the eccentric Dr. Lester. The building is where his life is about to turn strange.

Set in Mertin-Flemmer building (fictional) — A fictional office building in the story's New York.

A made-up building; no real building is named in the cited sources.

The floor between the 7th and 8th (1999)

Craig starts work on a floor squeezed between the 7th and 8th, where the ceiling is very low. He falls for co-worker Maxine, who does not return his interest.

Set in Floor between the 7th and 8th (fictional) — A cramped office level with a very low ceiling.

An invented half-floor with a ceiling too low to stand under.

The small door and the earthen tunnel (1999)

While filing, Craig finds a small hidden door and crawls through an earthen tunnel. He comes out inside the mind of the actor John Malkovich.

Set in Hidden door and earthen tunnel (fictional) — A small door in the filing room that leads into an earthen tunnel.

The story's portal, found while filing.

Dropped beside the New Jersey Turnpike (1999)

After fifteen minutes inside Malkovich, Craig is ejected and lands at the side of the New Jersey Turnpike. He tells Maxine about the door, and she sees a business.

Set in Side of the New Jersey Turnpike — The roadside where Craig lands after fifteen minutes in Malkovich.

Where a trip through the portal ends.

Dr. Lester's house (1999)

Lotte tries the portal and becomes fascinated with the idea of becoming a man. She and Craig visit Dr. Lester's home, where she finds a room filled with Malkovich memorabilia.

Set in Dr. Lester's home (fictional) — The home of Craig's boss, with a room of Malkovich memorabilia.

A house whose contents show how closely Lester follows Malkovich.

The world where everyone is Malkovich (1999)

Malkovich himself enters the portal and finds a world where everyone looks like him and says only one word.

Set in World of Malkovich faces (virtual) — A virtual world where everyone looks like Malkovich and only says "Malkovich".

A virtual place inside the portal, with no real-world location.

The chase through Malkovich's subconscious (1999)

Lotte pursues Maxine through Malkovich's subconscious until both are ejected.

Set in Malkovich's subconscious (virtual) — A virtual space inside Malkovich's mind.

A virtual place inside the portal, with no real-world location.

Filmed at Observation Bar, RMS Queen Mary, Long Beach — Scene not stated in the sources Google Maps · Apple Maps

Filmed at University of Southern California campus, Los Angeles — Scene not stated in the sources Google Maps · Apple Maps

Characters

• Craig Schwartz — An unemployed puppeteer who finds a portal into John Malkovich's mind.
• Lotte Schwartz — Craig's pet-obsessed wife, who tries the portal and is fascinated by being a man.
• Maxine Lund — Craig's co-worker, who sees that the portal can be sold.
• John Malkovich — A fictionalized version of the real actor.