Navy S.E.A.L. sniper Chris Kyle's pinpoint accuracy saves countless lives on the battlefield and turns him into a legend. Back home with his family after four tours of duty, however, Chris finds that it is the war he can't leave behind.
Santa Clarita City Hall, 23920, Valencia Boulevard, The Bungalows, Valencia, Santa Clarita, Los Angeles County, California, 91355, United States of America
Coast Modern, 219, Main Street, Seal Beach, Orange County, California, 90740, United States of America
Santa Clarita City Hall, 23920, Valencia Boulevard, The Bungalows, Valencia, Santa Clarita, Los Angeles County, California, 91355, United States of America
1279, East Spruce Avenue, Inglewood, Los Angeles County, California, 90301, United States of America
Scene: (Hospital exterior where Taya was on the phone)
JO Pass Trail, Tulare County, California, United States of America
California
Clint Eastwood’s portrait of Navy SEAL Chris Kyle plays out between small-town Texas and the war-torn streets of Iraq – yet filmed almost entirely in California, where the desert around El Centro doubled for the Iraqi front.
Where was American Sniper filmed?
American Sniper was filmed almost entirely in California – around Los Angeles and Santa Clarita, with the El Centro desert standing in for Iraq.
Every American Sniper location, explained
1
Iraq – the El Centro desert
The Iraq war scenes used the desert country around El Centro in Imperial County, California.
2
Los Angeles and Santa Clarita
The home-front scenes used Los Angeles and Santa Clarita, from Seal Beach to Marina del Rey.
3
The firing ranges
Training and range scenes used canyons around Agoura, north of Los Angeles.
4
The California stand-ins
Civic buildings and neighbourhoods across the LA area dressed as Texas and the Middle East.
Planning a visit
The film’s Iraq is really the California desert near El Centro, while the home-front scenes range across Los Angeles – both accessible, if very different, corners of the state.
American Sniper Fun Facts
1
Iraq is California The war scenes used the desert around El Centro in southern California.
2
A record-breaking hit It became the highest-grossing war film of its era at the US box office.
3
The fake baby A famously stiff prop baby in one scene became an internet talking point.
4
Based on a memoir It adapts the autobiography of SEAL sniper Chris Kyle.
5
Eastwood directs Clint Eastwood directed the film, earning multiple Oscar nominations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where was American Sniper filmed?
Almost entirely in California – around Los Angeles and Santa Clarita, with the El Centro desert as Iraq.
Where were the Iraq scenes filmed?
In the desert around El Centro, California.
Can you visit the locations?
Yes – the Los Angeles area and the Imperial County desert are accessible.
