Where Was Booksmart Filmed? Filming Locations Of The Buddy Comedy Movie! 

If you like watching buddy comedy movies or coming-of-age movies, then here’s a perfect combo of the two– Booksmart (2019). This movie is the directorial debut of Olivia Wilde–yes, the same person who worked at Don’t Worry Darling. Since Booksmart is a piece of Wilde’s direction, it’s safe to expect its filming locations to be phenomenal as well. So, if you want to know where was Booksmart filmed, keep reading!

Also, what kind of kid were you at school? The one who could care about nothing else except academics? And then when school was finally over, you were like– Dang, I missed out on so much fun! If this was you, then you’d surely relate to the protagonists of Booksmart, Amy and Molly. They have decided to make up for four years of no partying in just one night. Do you want to know all about the locations they decide to visit in that one night? 

If the answer is yes, then knowing where was Booksmart filmed is in your favor. So, the movie was entirely lensed in California. Wilde said she wanted the movie to be set in an area that the titular characters feel uncomfortable in, but other people find very appealing. What place could be better than California?

This article is all about the real-life locations where Amy and Molly had their one-night adventure, so keep scrolling. I’ll take you everywhere, from the girls’ high school to the empty pizza places they go to. So, if you’re someone who wants to know everything in detail, keep reading! 

The Plot Of Booksmart | What Is Booksmart About?

The storyline of Booksmart revolves around class toppers Amy and Molly. In the unisex bathroom of their high school, Molly overhears her peers talking trash about her. She comes out and confronts them about the things they said. She assertively announces that she is going to have a bright future as she’s going to Yale– a result of four years of hard work. 

But then she finds the mean girl Triple-A, despite having done everything except studying and a bad reputation is also going to Yale. Tanner got into a good school as well, whereas Theo is recruited by Google. 

Molly comes out of the bathroom frustrated and runs to find Amy. She rants about how the two of them missed out on all the high school fun just so that they could get into good colleges. And their peers who didn’t do the same amount of work got into similar schools as well. It makes them think that their sacrifices were for nothing. 

Adamant about not letting the last day (night) of their high school go to waste as well, Molly convinces Amy to attend a party with her. At the party, Molly would hook up with her crush, Nick, and Amy would propose to her crush, Ryan. 

So, in Booksmart, we follow Amy and Molly, two nerds who have decided to squeeze four years of fun and partying into a single night. Will things go as they have planned? 

Before we proceed any further, here are some more details about the film:

 Now, without further ado, let’s see where was Booksmart filmed! 

Here’s Where Was Booksmart Filmed | Explore All Filming Locations Below!

Don’t you think that the movie is going to make for a lighthearted watch? Things seldom go as planned, but it will be fun to watch Amy and Molly go over and beyond to make sure that they do. But don’t you want to follow these two high school girls on their fun trip? If yes, then you really need to know where was Booksmart filmed! 

Also, because you’re interested in reading about the filming locations of coming-of-age comedy movies and shows, don’t forget to read where Spy Kids 2, Law And Order, and The Ballas Of Buster Scruggs were filmed! And, since you like buddy movies as well, Rush Hour 2 and The Lost Boys are definitely for you. 

Pasadena

In the movie, we see that Molly’s house is in the San Fernando Valley. But, for filming purposes, the production team chose a peach-colored ‘50s apartment in Pasadena. The apartment they chose subtly explains the differences between the lives and choices of two best friends. 

The differences are never straightforwardly mentioned, but such symbols are used to explain the same. Although, the production team still had to do a few changes to make the apartment work well for the film. 

San Fernando

The school that Amy and Molly go to – Crockett High, is actually San Fernando High School. It is located in the Pacoima neighborhood of the Valley. The bathroom confrontation scene that we talked about in the plot was filmed at the San Fernando High School. 

Also, it’s completely understandable that the kids belonging to this big high school would get into colleges like Harvard, Yale, or Columbia. So, all in all, the school delivers more realism to the storyline. 

Burbank

Remember the scene where Molly and Amy discuss the sad fact that they missed out on high school to get into Ivy League schools? And that their peers didn’t and still got the same results? That scene was filmed at Overlook Trail in Burbank.  

The filming for the same took place on an overcast day which resonated perfectly well with the mood of the characters– emotional and stressed.

Marina del Rey

So, on the way to Nick’s high school graduation party, the two friends somehow end up at another party–the one happening on their classmate Jared’s yacht. In real life, all of this happened in Marina del Rey. 

The production unit rented a yacht from a company that usually rents its fleet for weddings. They had a hard time filming on the yacht because of all the weddings that were happening around that time. They brought all their equipment by the day and wrapped up shooting by night. 

Van Nuys

The iconic pizza shop scene that you see or will see in the movie was filmed at Van Nuys, Valley’s famous haunt. The production unit fell in love with the strip-mall location and neon sign of the shop and decided that it fits with the movie. 

If you ever happen to be there, don’t just take a picture of the venue from the outside, give their food a try. Olivia Wilde, in an interview, said that they make amazing pizzas, and the crew ate a lot of it that night. You won’t want to miss out on that, right?

Encino

Every iconic house party that you see in teen movies and shows requires an epic place to be filmed. The high school graduation party that you see in Booksmart was filmed near Bel Air in Encino. The house actually belongs to art collectors in real life, and Wilde fell in love with it instantly. 

But, the house and its belongings had to be handled with care and also emptied out a bit to make it fit for filming. This is where the pool scene and the most awkward bathroom hookup of the century were filmed. 

Final Words

Alright, buds! This is where was Booksmart filmed! I hope you found this article interesting and informative. We must admit that even though Booksmart was Wilde’s directorial debut, she did a GREAT job in selecting the filming locations of the movie. So, go watch the film, and tell me what scene you liked the most in the comment section down below!