‘CHiPs’ is a 2017 action comedy film based on the popular tv series of the same name that aired from 1977 to 1983. The buddy comedy follows rookie cop Jon Baker as he teams up with Frank “Poncho” Poncherell (Michael Peña) and the mayhem, to which the partnership leads. But that’s not all, as Ponch also works undercover to investigate a robbery and a crime ring that attacked the police itself.
Directed and written by Dax Shepard, who also stars as Jon, “CHiPs” aims to replicate the fun of the TV series while introducing the beloved duo to a new set of viewers. As in the original series, there is a lot of riding on motorbikes in the film, and therefore a lot of chases. You might be wondering where the CHiPs movie was filmed with a lot of heavy action in the streets.
Where Was CHiPS Movie Filmed?
Like the original series created by Rick Rosner, the 2017 film follows two Los Angeles area police officers. Naturally, most of the film is shot in Los Angeles, with principal photography beginning on October 21, 2015. The crew mainly used the freeways and streets of Los Angeles County, while other California locations were also filled in as filming locations.
Although part of the film takes place in Miami, the production team never left California. The movie is closely related to the show, and this is proven by the fact that the movie used some of the same locations as the show. Let’s dive into the specific locations that served as CHiPs action movie locations!
California
“CHiPs.” Los Angeles is the heart of the TV show, and it’s no different from the movie. So the show and the movie have a lot in common. The film focuses on the city itself and features not only the many streets and highways of the city but also other notable locations.
The actual California Highway Patrol station at 777 West Washington Boulevard stands on its own in the film. Other locations in the city that served as filming locations are Echo Park, Tommy’s Burgers at 2575 West Beverly Boulevard, and the Port of Los Angeles.
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The home of the policeman’s widow the pair visit is actually 4224 West Mount Vernon Drive. Now let’s talk about the actual streets and highways that served as shooting ranges. The Vincent Thomas Bridge in San Pedro doubled for a chase scene set in Miami in the film.
Locations that were used for street scenes include Stadium Way, Elysian Park, 4th Street Bridge, Riverside Drive, Arroyo Seco Parkway, Academy Road, and Western Avenue 19.
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The freeway in the neighborhood of Hollywood also appears in the film. Interstate 210, passing through La Crescenta, is a location shared between the show and the movie. Interstate 105 in El Segundo is seen in the speeder scene.
The cast and crew also shot several scenes at California State Polytechnic University at 3801 West Temple Avenue, as well as the now-closed Lanterman Developmental Center in Pomona. Devil’s Punchbowl in the Angeles National Forest in the San Gabriel Mountains also served as a backdrop for several scenes.
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Additional filming was done in other cities of The Golden State. The production team visited Long Beach to film most of the scenes set in Miami. The Arby’s restaurant in the movie is in Huntington Beach, 7942 Edinger Avenue to be exact.
The warehouse that explodes at the end of the movie is actually a ranch in Palmdale. It’s called the Old Wilhoit Ranch, but it’s renamed Kurtz Warehouse in the movie. Several scenes were also filmed in Orange County, particularly in Irvine. The Masimo building in Irvine doubled as the FBI headquarters in the CHiPs film.
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