Sci-Fi On Location: Real-World Settings from Your Favorite Films

9. Los Angeles, California – Blade Runner’s Rain-Soaked Future

Los Angeles has served as the moody, neon-lit future in countless sci-fi films, but none more famously than Blade Runner. Ridley Scott’s depiction of a 2019 LA was gritty, rain-soaked, and hauntingly futuristic, with the historic Bradbury Building providing a backdrop for some of the film’s most iconic scenes. While the real LA doesn’t rain as much, the city’s eclectic mix of architecture—from Art Deco gems to sleek, mirrored towers—continues to make it a magnet for science fiction. Films like Inception, Her, and Terminator also tapped into LA’s unique aesthetic. Visitors can explore Blade Runner locations on foot, visit sci-fi exhibits at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, or attend themed screenings at historic theaters. LA’s legacy in shaping the cyberpunk genre is indelible. Walking its streets at night, amid flickering signs and traffic’s steady hum, you might just feel like you’ve stepped into a film where the future is always just around the corner.