Marty McFly, a 17-year-old high school student, is accidentally sent 30 years into the past in a time-traveling DeLorean invented by his close friend, the maverick scientist Doc Brown.
Pasadena Civic Center District, East Union Street, Old Pasadena, Pasadena Council District 3, Pasadena, Los Angeles County, California, 91129, United States of America
CBS Studio Center, Woodbridge Street, Studio City Neighborhood Council District, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, 91604, United States of America
Cinespace Main South Studio Building, 1601-1659, South Rockwell Street, Douglass Park, North Lawndale, Chicago, West Chicago Township, Cook County, Illinois, 60608, United States of America
Scene: (cigarettes commercial; interior of Marty and Lorraine's car; George's backyard)
Stage 12, 5, Georgeson Road, Brooklyn Navy Yard, Steiner Studios, Brooklyn, Kings County, City of New York, New York, 11205, United States of America
Scene: (interior of Doc Brown's garage workshop; Marty's bedroom; interior of Delorean; Lorraine's bedroom; Doc Brown on clock tower, demolished in 2020)
Griffith Park Boys Camp, 4730, Crystal Springs Drive, Los Feliz Neighborhood Council District, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, 90027, 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
JO Pass Trail, Tulare County, California, United States of America
The time-travel classic zips between 1985 and 1955 in the fictional Hill Valley – a town anchored by a courthouse square that is one of Hollywood’s most famous backlot sets, with the DeLorean’s mall launch pad filmed in a real Los Angeles car park.
Where was Back to the Future filmed?
Back to the Future was filmed around Los Angeles – the Universal backlot (Hill Valley square), Whittier, South Pasadena and a Puente Hills mall.
Every Back to the Future location, explained
1
Hill Valley square – the Universal backlot
The iconic courthouse square, with its clock tower, is the Courthouse Square set on the Universal backlot in Los Angeles.
2
Twin Pines Mall – Puente Hills
The DeLorean’s first time jump used the car park of the Puente Hills Mall in City of Industry, still marked by a plaque.
3
Lorraine’s house and the school
The family home used South Pasadena, and Hill Valley High used Whittier.
4
Doc Brown’s mansion – Pasadena
Doc’s home used the famous Gamble House and Pasadena locations.
Planning a visit
The Hill Valley square is a private Universal backlot, but the Puente Hills Mall car park (the Twin Pines Mall) and the Gamble House in Pasadena are real, visitable pieces of the film.
Back to the Future Fun Facts
1
Hill Valley is a backlot The courthouse square is the Universal Studios backlot’s Courthouse Square, seen in countless films.
2
The mall car park is real The Twin Pines Mall time-jump used the Puente Hills Mall car park, now marked by a plaque.
3
Doc's house is the Gamble House Doc Brown’s mansion used the famous Gamble House in Pasadena.
4
Marty was recast Eric Stoltz originally played Marty before being replaced by Michael J. Fox weeks into filming.
5
88 miles per hour The DeLorean’s magic speed became one of cinema’s most quoted details.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the Hill Valley clock tower?
It’s the Courthouse Square set on the Universal Studios backlot.
Where was the mall scene filmed?
In the car park of the Puente Hills Mall in City of Industry, now marked by a plaque.
Can you visit the locations?
Yes – the Puente Hills Mall car park and the Gamble House in Pasadena are accessible.
