Maps of Movies
Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011)
Where Transformers: Dark of the Moon says it takes place, and where it was really shot.
A film that lands on the Moon, but was shot in Houston, Indiana and Chicago
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Scenes and places
The Ark on the Moon
In 1969 the Apollo 11 crew secretly inspects a crashed alien ship. The film sets up a hidden space-race secret that will matter decades later.
Set in Far side of the Moon, crash site of the Ark — A Cybertronian ship crash-lands on the Moon in 1962 and is secretly inspected by the Apollo 11 crew in 1969.
No real location: the Moon scenes are computer-generated; the Houston flashback was filmed at a real NASA site.
Filmed at Johnson Space Center, Houston — A flashback set in the later 1960s was shot here, with extras in period fashion and hairstyles. The Moon itself is computer-generated. Google Maps · Apple Maps
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The Chernobyl mission
Optimus Prime leads the Autobots into the ruins and finds a fuel cell from the Ark. The discovery tells him the crashed ship was not left alone.
Set in Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, Ukraine — The Autobots investigate suspected alien technology at the site of the 1986 nuclear disaster. Google Maps · Apple Maps
The abandoned power plant near Pripyat, site of the 1986 nuclear disaster.
Filmed at Gary, Indiana — Northwest Indiana, around Gary, played Ukraine in the film. Google Maps · Apple Maps
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The surviving cosmonauts
Sam and Simmons meet two surviving cosmonauts who show them photos of Pillars on the Moon. It reveals the Decepticons knew about the Ark long before.
Set in Soviet space program contacts (place not named) — Sam and Simmons track down two surviving cosmonauts.
The Moscow shoot is documented by city only; the film does not name the meeting place.
Filmed at Moscow — The production shot in Moscow; the wiki gives the city only, not which scene or site. Google Maps · Apple Maps
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Michigan Avenue under attack
Sam goes into the invaded city with Epps to save Carly. The Decepticons nearly kill them before the Autobots step in.
Set in Michigan Avenue, Chicago — The Decepticons invade Chicago and the street becomes a battlefield. Google Maps · Apple Maps
One of Chicago's main shopping boulevards, along the river in the Loop.
Filmed at Michigan Avenue, Chicago — The scenes set on Michigan Avenue used a substantial amount of pyrotechnics and stunt work. Google Maps · Apple Maps
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Snipers over the Loop
Soldiers hold positions high above the street as the battle spreads. The film puts ordinary people against enormous machines.
Set in Tribune Tower, Chicago — NEST teams and Navy SEALs fight the Decepticons in the downtown streets. Google Maps · Apple Maps
A neo-Gothic skyscraper on Michigan Avenue, home of the Chicago Tribune.
Filmed at Tribune Tower, Chicago — Snipers in the film shoot from the 26th floor of the tower, just below the buttresses. Google Maps · Apple Maps
How to get there:
The towers of downtown
Optimus and the Autobots take on the Decepticon force in the middle of downtown. Sam and the soldiers fight on alongside them.
Set in Willis Tower area, Chicago — The battle for the city closes in on the downtown towers. Google Maps · Apple Maps
Once the tallest building in the world, in Chicago's Loop.
Filmed at Willis Tower area, Chicago — Filming took place in areas surrounding the Willis Tower. Google Maps · Apple Maps
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Filmed at Wacker Drive, Chicago — A film-location database lists 71 East Wacker Drive; the wiki does not name it. Google Maps · Apple Maps
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Filmed at Kennedy Space Center, Launch Pad 39A — NASA space facility scenes Google Maps · Apple Maps
Filmed at National Mall, Washington, D.C. — Washington, D.C. scenes Google Maps · Apple Maps
Characters
- Sam Witwicky — A young man who helped the Autobots before and now cannot work with them.
- Optimus Prime — The Autobot leader, who finds a ship fuel cell at Chernobyl.