Where was Crime 101 filmed? Take a trip across Los Angeles, from Downtown streets and freeways to luxury landmarks and high-stakes heist settings.
In Crime 101, Bart Layton’s 2026 crime thriller based on Don Winslow’s 2020 novella, Chris Hemsworth swaps his superhero duties to mumble through the sun-bleached streets of Los Angeles as a jewel thief.
The film follows meticulous thief Mike Davis as one final score puts him on a collision course with an obsessive detective, a volatile rival, and the small matter of a retirement plan that becomes increasingly difficult to organise.
The production filmed extensively across Southern California, primarily in and around Los Angeles, using real locations to ground the story in the city’s distinctive mix of grit, glamour, wealth, and traffic.
Director Bart Layton and location manager Robert Foulkes favoured practical locations over elaborate studio construction, which is excellent news for film fans and considerably less convenient for anyone trying to drive through a film set.
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🚔 Crime 101 Filming Locations
From sun-baked streets and iconic Downtown LA landmarks to exclusive estates and luxury hotels, Crime 101 makes Los Angeles part of the action. Here’s where the diamond heists and tense meetings found suitably cinematic surroundings.
🌉 Sixth Street Viaduct, Los Angeles
The Sixth Street Viaduct provides a striking visual backdrop for Crime 101‘s gritty Los Angeles driving scenes. The production used views from the east looking west to capture the distinctive Downtown LA skyline, giving the film a strong sense of place and plenty of concrete grandeur.
For a story centred on a thief operating around Southern California‘s road network, the bridge fits the mood rather perfectly. It’s Los Angeles at its most cinematic, without requiring you to plan a multimillion-dollar getaway.
What was filmed here:
- Downtown LA skyline: Distinctive architectural views.
- LA driving sequences: Gritty city movement and chases.
What to see & do here:
- Los Angeles Arts District: Explore murals & galleries.
- Sixth Street Viaduct: Walk across the dramatic bridge.
- Downtown LA: Explore nearby cultural landmarks.
Book a tour:
🥟 Grand Central Market, Los Angeles
Grand Central Market adds a crowded, casual energy to Crime 101, with filming taking place at Sarita’s Pupuseria. It serves as a tense meeting point where Nick Nolte’s character, Money, feeds Mike inside information about his next major target.
Location manager Robert Foulkes previously worked at the same location for La La Land. You can sample dishes, ride nearby Angels Flight, and explore the Broadway Historic District. It’s one of those rare locations where sightseeing and lunch require very little scheduling.
What was filmed here:
- Sarita’s Pupuseria: Money meets with Mike Davis.
- Grand Central Market: Conversations over casual dining.
What to see & do here:
- Grand Central Market: Sample dishes from multiple vendors.
- Angels Flight: Ride the nearby historic funicular.
- Broadway District: Explore Downtown’s historic architecture.
Book a tour:
💎 Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles
Pacific Palisades was used to highlight the film’s themes of immense wealth and exclusivity.
A practical retail storefront near the neighbourhood was dressed as the Santa Barbara luxury jewellery store targeted in the movie’s initial heist sequence, creating the sort of polished setting that practically begs for someone to steal something expensive.
The location later gained an unexpected real-world footnote when the actual building reportedly burned down during the destructive Southern California wildfires of January 2025. The film therefore preserves an on-screen memory of the property.
You can enjoy Pacific Ocean views, nearby hiking trails, and the area’s coastal atmosphere, preferably without casing any jewellery shops.
What was filmed here:
- Pacific Palisades: Opening heist, jewellery store robbery.
- Storefronts: Santa Barbara retail location stand-in scenes.
What to see & do here:
- Palisades Village: Browse shops and restaurants nearby.
- Coastal views: Enjoy sweeping Pacific Ocean scenery.
- Hiking trails: Explore nearby scenic outdoor routes.
Book a tour:
- Full-Day City Tour of LA, Hollywood, Beverly Hills & Beaches
- Getty Villa Private Tour in the Pacific Palisades
🏨 Beverly Wilshire, Beverly Hills
The historic Beverly Wilshire serves as the grand setting for Crime 101‘s high-tension climax. Production combined real exterior street footage of the famous hotel with detailed interior sets, creating a suitably glamorous backdrop for the film’s most dangerous decisions.
When diamonds, rival criminals, and increasingly complicated plans collide, apparently a five-star setting is the only reasonable place to do it. Located beside Rodeo Drive, the area is easy to explore on foot and offers some of Beverly Hills‘ most recognisable sights.
You can stroll through Beverly Gardens Park, admire the luxury architecture, and browse Rodeo Drive, where window-shopping remains significantly cheaper than becoming a jewel thief.
What was filmed here:
- Beverly Wilshire: High-tension final confrontation.
- Beverly Hills: Luxury establishing shots.
What to see & do here:
- Rodeo Drive: Explore Beverly Hills’ famous shopping street.
- Beverly Gardens Park: Stroll through landscaped public gardens.
Book a tour:
- Hollywood, Beverly Hills: Celebrity Homes & Movie Scenes
- Los Angeles: Beverly Hills Food, Film & Fashion Walking Tour
🏛️ Carolwood Estate, Holmby Hills
Carolwood Estate in Holmby Hills provides the luxurious setting for scenes involving Steven Monroe (Tate Donovan), one of Sharon Combs’ (Halle Berry) ultra-wealthy insurance clients in Crime 101.
The famous historic property was once owned by Walt Disney and helps establish the enormous wealth surrounding Sharon’s professional world, contrasting sharply with the film’s grittier Los Angeles locations.
Its opulent architecture and secluded Holmby Hills setting make it a natural choice for portraying the exclusive lifestyles of the city’s wealthiest residents.
What was filmed here:
- Carolwood Estate: Sharon visits wealthy client Steven Monroe.
- Estate interiors: High-end insurance client scenes unfold.
- Estate grounds: Luxury lifestyle shots establish Monroe’s wealth.
What to see & do here:
- Holmby Hills: Admire one of Los Angeles‘ wealthiest neighbourhoods.
- Holmby Park: Walk through this peaceful neighbourhood green space.
- Rodeo Drive: Shop among Beverly Hills’ luxury boutiques.
- Getty Center: Explore art, architecture, and gardens nearby.
Book a tour:
- Hollywood, Beverly Hills: Celebrity Homes & Movie Scenes
- Los Angeles: Beverly Hills Food, Film & Fashion Walking Tour
- Full-Day City Tour of LA, Hollywood, Beverly Hills & Beaches
🌮 Lia’s Tacos, Los Angeles
Lia’s Tacos provides the more relaxed half of Mike Davis and Maya’s first date in Crime 101. After the pair feel increasingly out of place in the formal restaurant setting, they abandon their reservation and head for tacos, bringing the scene firmly into the streets of Los Angeles.
The location sits at the corner of Sunset Boulevard and Echo Park Avenue, giving the sequence a distinctly local backdrop. Its casual street-food atmosphere also fits the film’s gritty, lived-in version of L.A., creating a sharp contrast with the polished restaurant interior they have just left behind.
What was filmed here:
- Lia’s Tacos: Mike and Maya ditch dinner for tacos.
What to see & do here:
- Sunset Boulevard: Explore one of L.A.’s iconic streets.
- Echo Park: Browse independent shops, cafés, and eateries.
- Echo Park Lake: Walk the scenic lakeside paths.
- Los Angeles street food: Sample local tacos and casual eats.
Book a tour:
🍽️ Langer’s Deli, Los Angeles
Langer’s Deli doubles as the setting for a tense late-night conversation in Crime 101. Production designer Scott Dougan chose the historic deli for its unmistakable 1960s coffee-shop character, giving the scene an authentic Los Angeles atmosphere.
The filmmakers also made the unusual decision to stage the sequence after dark, even though the real restaurant closes every afternoon. Through the deli windows, viewers can also spot the “Sculpting Another Destiny” mural by artist Ricardo Mendoza, which the production specifically cleared for the shot.
What was filmed here:
- Langer’s Deli: Late-night “dangerous” conversation between characters.
What to see & do here:
- Langer’s Deli: Try the legendary #19 Hot Pastrami Sandwich.
Book a tour:
🧘 Windward Avenue, Venice Beach
Windward Avenue in Venice Beach provides the setting for the yoga studio scenes in Crime 101, where Sharon (Halle Berry) and Detective Lou (Mark Ruffalo) cross paths. The studio is located on the same block as Pizza Local Venice, making this a particularly easy location for fans to identify when exploring the area.
The action then moves outdoors, with Sharon walking along Venice Beach as the Santa Monica Pier appears in the distance. Windward Avenue also has a strong film history, having featured in Orson Welles’ Touch of Evil and White Men Can’t Jump.
What was filmed here:
- Windward Avenue: Sharon and Detective Lou meet at yoga studio.
- Venice Beach: Sharon walks along beach considering her future.
- Rose Avenue: Beach sequence continues near the shoreline.
- Santa Monica Pier: Landmark appears in the background.
What to see & do here:
- Venice Beach & Boardwalk: Walk the iconic shoreline.
- Muscle Beach: See the legendary outdoor gym.
- Santa Monica Pier: Walk the landmark pier and amusement area.
Book a tour:
🏙️ Downtown Long Beach, California
Downtown Long Beach brings a different coastal urban texture to Crime 101, with filming concentrated around 146 Linden Avenue.
The production captured the surrounding streets with the historic Hotel Metropolitan prominently framed in the background, adding another distinctive setting to the film’s visual landscape.
You can explore the neighbourhood’s historic architecture, restaurants, and waterfront. Pine Avenue offers more dining and entertainment.
What was filmed here:
- Linden Avenue scenes: Coastal urban street textures.
- Hotel Metropolitan: Historic landmark framed prominently.
- Long Beach sequences: Distinct Southern California atmosphere.
What to see & do here:
- Pine Avenue: Explore restaurants and entertainment.
- Long Beach’s Waterfront: Cruise along the shoreline.
- The Queen Mary: Explore the elegant decks and ghostly legends.
🚌 Los Angeles Tours for Movie Lovers
A Los Angeles tour is a dream for cinephiles, especially if spotting a familiar filming location makes you pause the car and yell, “I know that street!”
Choose from Los Angeles tour packages featuring Hollywood landmarks, studio districts and a celebrity homes Los Angeles tour, where the chances of seeing an actual celebrity remain, naturally, off-camera.
A knowledgeable Los Angeles tour guide can reveal movie trivia and point out locations hiding in plain sight, but if you prefer to call the shots, a private Los Angeles tour lets you build your own blockbuster itinerary.
So, grab your Los Angeles tour map, book a hop-on hop-off Los Angeles tour bus, and prepare for some serious location scouting.
- The Movie Guys’ LA Film Locations Tour
- Los Angeles: Hollywood Film Freak Movie Locations Tour
- LA: The Hollywood Guided Film Locations Tour
- Silent Movies to Netflix: The Ultimate Hollywood Tour
- Universal Studios Hollywood: General Admission Tickets
- Los Angeles: Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood
- Turner Classic Movies Classic Films Tour
- LA: Horror Film Locations Tour
- Hollywood, Beverly Hills: Celebrity Homes & Movie Scenes
- Private Los Angeles Tour: Hollywood & Beverly Hills
- Los Angeles: Beverly Hills Food, Film & Fashion Walking Tour
- LA: Venice Beach, Muscle Beach & Santa Monica Sunset Tour
- Los Angeles: Venice Beach, Beverly Hills, & Hollywood Tour
- Hollywood, West Hollywood, & Beverly Hills Open Bus Tour
- Full-Day City Tour of LA, Hollywood, Beverly Hills & Beaches
Nearby attractions:
- Disneyland® Resort Tickets: 45 minute drive from Los Angeles.
- 4-day Los Angeles Tour to Grand Canyon, Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend
- Las Vegas To Los Angeles Tour: Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Hollywood
- San Francisco To Los Angeles Tour: Pacific Coast Highway Adventure
You can save on sightseeing with a Los Angeles Go City Pass, which bundles admission to 35+ popular attractions and tours into one convenient pass. Or you can opt for Los Angeles tour packages all-inclusive vacations.
🧠 Crime 101 Movie FAQs
For anyone who finished the film and immediately started investigating every freeway, bridge, and suspiciously expensive building.
What is Crime 101 about?
Crime 101 follows Mike Davis, a meticulous jewel thief planning one final major score before retirement. His carefully controlled world begins to unravel when Detective Lou Lubesnick and the volatile criminal Ormon close in.
What does the 101 refer to?
The title refers to Mike Davis’s criminal rules and his connection to the 101 freeway corridor. His rules include avoiding major metropolitan areas, working alone, and avoiding violence, which the story proceeds to make increasingly difficult.
Is Crime 101 based on a book?
Yes, the film is based on Don Winslow’s 2020 novella Crime 101. The original story is set along the Pacific Coast Highway in San Diego County, while the film shifts the action to Los Angeles.
Crime 101 movie ending explained?
Mike kills Ormon to save Lou, who lets Mike escape, while Sharon gets a fresh start. Mike reaches out to Maya for a second chance.
How does the Crime 101 movie ending differ from the book?
The Crime 101 movie gives the climax a more Hollywood-style resolution, with a violent showdown, a major moral shift for Detective Lou, and more redemptive outcomes for several characters. Don Winslow’s novella takes a more cynical and psychologically focused approach.
Was Crime 101 filmed in Los Angeles?
Yes. Los Angeles was the main filming hub, with locations including Downtown LA, Grand Central Market, Echo Park, the Sixth Street Viaduct, Venice Beach, Pacific Palisades, West Hollywood, Hollywood, Northeast LA, and LAX.
Who’s in the cast of Crime 101?
- Chris Hemsworth: Mike/James Davis
- Mark Ruffalo: Detective Lou Lubesnick
- Halle Berry: Sharon Coombs
- Barry Keoghan: Ormon
- Monica Barbaro: Maya
- Corey Hawkins: Detective Tillman
- Nick Nolte: Money
- Jennifer Jason Leigh: Angie Lubesnick
What car does Mike Davis drive?
Mike Davis drives a vintage 1968 Chevrolet Camaro during his freeway getaways. For a thief who follows a strict set of rules, his choice of car is at least wonderfully uncomplicated.
How long is the Crime 101 movie?
Crime 101 movie length: 2 hours and 20 minutes (140 minutes).
What are some movies like Crime 101?
- Heat (1995): Cops and thieves play psychological chess.
- The Thomas Crown Affair (1999): Stylish thief plays expensive mind games.
- The Town (2010): Robbers face pressure and consequences.
- Drive (2011): Quiet driver enters criminal chaos.
- Triple 9 (2016): Criminal crews plan dangerous high-stakes jobs.
📺 Where to Watch Crime 101
Where’s Crime 101 streaming? Here’s where to find this high-stakes thriller about diamonds, detectives, and a retirement plan that becomes aggressively complicated.
Whether you watch for Chris Hemsworth, the jewel heists, or the Los Angeles location spotting, Crime 101 proves that the safest way to enjoy a diamond robbery is still from the sofa.
Disclaimer: This fan-created article is provided for entertainment purposes only. We don’t guarantee the accuracy of any of these facts and don’t recommend making important life decisions based on them. All referenced titles, names, and related intellectual property are the property of their respective owners. No copyright infringement is intended.
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