Where Was Inception Filmed? One Of The Greatest Movies Of All Time! 

You must have watched (or at least heard of) Inception (2010). I refuse to believe that this movie could have escaped anybody’s notice. Leonardo DiCaprio’s acting, Christopher Nolan’s direction, and the complex storyline have made Inception one of the greatest movies of all time. But, I’ve seen that the filming location hasn’t gotten enough credit for the film’s success. So, I’ve taken it upon myself to tell people where was Inception filmed! Keep reading! 

Inception and movies like it can blow anyone’s mind. It’s not hard to see why Inception is one of the best movies by Leonardo DiCaprio in his entire film career. The film garnered rave reviews from audiences across the globe. Although, many have said that they had to see the movie twice to understand its plot fully. 

Anyways, most parts of Inception were shot in California. But, apart from this, the production company selected several different locations like Alberta, Morocco, Tokyo, France, and London to film the movie. In fact, London served as one of the most important filming locations. 

Oh, you do’t really need to say it. I already know that you need a detailed description of all these filming locations. You need to know what scenes were filmed where and why. Because you’re one curious (read: nosy) person! Anyways, I won’t judge you. Instead, I’ll describe all the places where Inception was filmed. 

The Plot Of Inception | What Is Inception About?

Inception follows the story of Dom Cobb, a highly skilled thief who has mastered the most dangerous and difficult act of dream extraction. Cobb knows how to steal secrets from someone’s subconscious when they are dreaming i.e., at their most vulnerable moment. 

Cobb’s unique skill has made him popular in the treacherous corporate world. But, it has also made him an international enemy and made him lose everything he’s loved. And now, Cobb is being given a chance at absolution. 

This time, Cobb has been asked to plant a false idea in an enemy’s head instead of stealing. If successful at this crime, all his sins will be forgiven. But the only trouble is, that this enemy is two steps ahead of Cobb and his team. He can foretell their every turn. So, no amount of planning can protect them from an enemy that only Cobb could have foreseen. 

Here are some more details about the film:

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

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

Okay, I already know that storyline was REALLY intriguing. But, do you know what is equally interesting? Yes, Inception’s filming locations. And, you really do need to know them. I mean, you might end up putting them on your travel bucket list! So, keep scrolling to know where was Inception filmed! 

Los Angeles, California

As I said before, most of the filming of Inception took place in Los Angeles. To give you a few examples: the opening scenes, action scenes, bridge scenes, etc. Let me elaborate a bit. In the opening scene, we see Cobb near a Japanese Castle. It might make you think that the scene was filmed in Japan, but no. That scene was shot in Abalone Cove Shoreline Park, Los Angeles. 

A LOT of action scenes that you see in Inception were also filmed in Los Angeles, California. For example, the bridge scene where Yusuf’s car turns over was shot at the Commodore Schuyler F Heim Bridge. Some scenes were filmed near the Ahmanson Theatre located on North Hope Street. 

Apart from this, Wilshire Boulevard, South Hope Street was also used as a filming location. Cobb and his team’s hiding space–the warehouse is situated on South Anderson Street. The scene where Cobb watched his children play on the beach was shot at Leo Carrillo State Beach in California. 

England

The University College of London was one of the most significant filming locations for Inception. The Gustave Truck Lecture Theatre, along with Flaxman Gallery, used to be film scenes that involved Cobb and Miles. 

Apart from this, the scene where you see Yusuf’s pharmacy was shot in Smithfield, London. And, Maurice Fischer’s top-notch place was actually one of the rooms in Victoria House located in Bloomsbury Square. 

Apart from London, Inception’s filming also took place in Bedfordshire. But the hotel where THAT action scene was filmed isn’t a hotel. It’s actually a huge studio at the Cardington Airship in Bedfordshire. 

Paris, France

Do you remember that scene from Inception where Cobb and Ariadne are sitting in a small cafe, and everything around them is breaking into little pieces? That scene portrayed Cobb’s dream extraction process, you know? It was filmed in Paris. An Italian deli was used for filming that scene. 

Apart from this, Pont de Bir-Hakein Bridge near Eiffel Tower in Paris was also used for filming a couple of scenes. This bridge is no stranger to Hollywood films. It has previously been featured in Last Tango In Paris and National Treasure: Book Of Secrets. 

Avenue du President Kennedy, Passy Station, etc., iconic spots in Paris, were also used for filming Inception. So, if you ever go to Paris, don’t forget to visit these places!

Calgary, Alberta

Do you remember Inception’s climactic scenes? Those were shot in Calgary, Alberta. The production unit set up their camp at the Fortress Mountain ski resort. It is located 55 miles away from Calgary. Apart from featuring in Inception, this place has also been used in filming Batman Begins and The Revenant. 

Tangier, Morocco

Do you remember the marketplace chase scene in Mombasa? It was actually filmed in Tangier, Morocco. I won’t be surprised if you’re not familiar with Tangier. Well, it’s a port city located on the Strait of Gibraltar. Since ancient times, it has acted as a portal between Africa and Europe.

The actual marketplace is like a maze flogged with vendors and shopkeepers selling a wide variety of goods. In Inception, Tangiers was made to resemble Mombasa, Kenya. 

Tokyo, Japan

The scene where Cobb and his team members jolt awake and find themselves on a bullet train was filmed in Tokyo, Japan. However, strict regulations were placed while filming Inception. Apart from Tokyo, several scenes of the movie were filmed at Shizouka and Minato. 

Final Words

Alright, people! We’ve reached the bottom of this post, and I hope you know where was Inception filmed! It’s safe to say that visiting the filming locations of this movie would be like going on a world tour! Tell me, which place would you like to visit first? I’d love to hear about your travel plans (or dreams)!