Chris Hemsworth’s latest crime thriller Crime 101 brings the sun-soaked streets of Los Angeles to life in spectacular fashion. Opening in theaters this Thursday, February 13, 2026, this Bart Layton-directed masterpiece showcases Southern California’s most iconic locations. Here’s your complete guide to where this edge-of-your-seat heist film was shot!
Table of Contents
Crime 101 Filming Locations At A Glance
| Location | Purpose | Notable Features |
|---|---|---|
| Pacific Palisades | Coastal heist scenes | Last major production before 2025 firestorm |
| West Hollywood | Urban crime sequences | Cast spotted filming November 2024 |
| Long Beach | Downtown investigations | Hotel Metropolitan backdrop |
| Beverly Wilshire Hotel | Luxury character meetings | Iconic Beverly Hills landmark |
| Sixth Street Viaduct | Night chase scenes | Futuristic lighting, dramatic bridges |
| Los Angeles (citywide) | Principal photography hub | October–December 2024 |
Where Was Crime 101 Filmed?
Pacific Palisades: The Coastal Crime Hub
This affluent neighborhood between Santa Monica and Malibu served as a primary filming location. Production permits from December 2024 confirmed intense filming activity near Antioch Street and Swarthmore Avenue. The area’s ocean views and wealthy residential streets perfectly capture the film’s themes of exclusivity and high-stakes crime.
Tragically, Crime 101 holds special significance as the last major production filmed in Pacific Palisades before the devastating January 7, 2025 firestorm destroyed much of the area.
West Hollywood: Where Stars Were Spotted
In late November 2024, Chris Hemsworth and Halle Berry were photographed filming intense scenes throughout West Hollywood’s upscale streets. The neighborhood’s dense urban atmosphere, posh storefronts, and nightlife energy provided the perfect backdrop for tense surveillance sequences and dangerous criminal meetings.
Long Beach: Downtown Crime Operations
Filmmakers utilized Long Beach’s Art Deco architecture extensively. The trailer reveals filming around 146 Linden Avenue in downtown Long Beach, with the iconic Hotel Metropolitan Long Beach clearly visible. This coastal city’s small downtown area substituted for various investigative sequences tracking the 101 Freeway heist pattern.
Beverly Wilshire Hotel: Luxury Meets Crime
Some of the film’s most stylish character meetings were filmed at the legendary Beverly Wilshire Hotel (9500 Wilshire Blvd, Beverly Hills). This iconic luxury hotel—famous from Pretty Woman—adds sophistication to key scenes involving Hemsworth’s jewel thief and Berry’s insurance broker.
Sixth Street Viaduct: High-Stakes Night Scenes
Los Angeles’s futuristic Sixth Street Viaduct provided stunning night cinematography. The bridge’s bright lights, sweeping curves, and modern architecture created dramatic tension for chase sequences and pivotal crime moments.
Production Timeline & Details
Principal Photography: October–December 2024
Filming Wrapped: Late December 2024
Duration: Approximately 3 months
Production Hub: Los Angeles, California
Director: Bart Layton (American Animals, The Imposter)
According to official production notices, filming involved special effects including gunshots, particularly during December 10-11 shoots in Pacific Palisades. The production stayed on schedule with no major delays, allowing for timely post-production ahead of its February 2026 release.
The Story Behind Crime 101
Based on Don Winslow’s acclaimed 2020 novella, Crime 101 follows jewel thief Mike Davis (Chris Hemsworth) whose meticulous heists along California’s 101 Freeway have baffled police. When he plans one final score, his path crosses with insurance broker Sharon Colvin (Halle Berry). Detective Lou Lubesnick (Mark Ruffalo) believes he’s cracked Davis’s pattern and races to stop the ultimate heist.
The film’s R-rating features language throughout, violence, and sexual material/nudity, with a runtime of 2 hours 19 minutes. Supporting cast includes Barry Keoghan, Monica Barbaro, Corey Hawkins, Jennifer Jason Leigh, and Nick Nolte.
Why Southern California Was Perfect
Director Bart Layton chose authentic California locations rather than studio sets to capture the novella’s “sun-bleached grit.” The Pacific Coast Highway’s distinctive geography and Southern California’s mix of luxury neighborhoods and urban streets provided natural authenticity to this high-stakes crime thriller.
Much like other California-filmed productions, Crime 101 benefits from the region’s diverse landscapes—from coastal mansions to downtown urban jungles. Film enthusiasts who enjoy behind-the-scenes details will appreciate how real locations enhance storytelling authenticity.
FAQs
Where was Crime 101 primarily filmed?
Crime 101 was filmed entirely in Southern California, with Los Angeles serving as the production hub alongside Pacific Palisades, West Hollywood, Long Beach, and Beverly Hills locations.
When does Crime 101 release in theaters?
Crime 101 opens nationwide on February 13, 2026, distributed by Amazon MGM Studios domestically and Sony Pictures internationally after its January 28 London premiere.
