21 Movies Filmed in Real Abandoned Locations

Filmmakers often seek out authentic locations to create an atmosphere of decay and desolation. Using real abandoned structures adds a layer of grit that soundstages rarely replicate. These ruins range from empty malls to shuttered asylums and provide perfect backdrops for horror and dystopian stories. The history embedded in these walls translates directly onto the screen to enhance the narrative tension.

‘The Blues Brothers’ (1980)

The production team famously destroyed the empty Dixie Square Mall in Illinois during an iconic car chase. This shopping center had been closed for over a year before the crew arrived to revitalize and then wreck it. Stunt drivers smashed police cars through storefronts and glass panes at high speeds. The sequence remains one of the most destructive practical stunts in cinema history.

‘Session 9’ (2001)

This psychological horror film was shot on location at the imposing Danvers State Hospital in Massachusetts. The massive gothic structure was rumored to be haunted long before the cast and crew arrived. Filming took place shortly before large sections of the historic asylum were demolished for apartments. The peeling paint and dark tunnels provided a terrifyingly authentic setting without need for special effects.

‘The Abyss’ (1989)

James Cameron converted the containment vessel of an unfinished nuclear power plant in South Carolina into a massive underwater set. The crew filled the concrete structure with millions of gallons of water to simulate the ocean floor. This engineering feat allowed for realistic lighting and depth during the complicated underwater sequences. The location provided the scale necessary for the science fiction epic before it was eventually abandoned again.

‘Gone Girl’ (2014)

Director David Fincher selected the Hawthorne Plaza Mall in California to film scenes of economic collapse. The weeds growing through the cracked pavement and the empty storefronts symbolized the financial ruin of the characters. This location has appeared in numerous films due to its sprawling layout and post-apocalyptic aesthetic. The desolate atmosphere perfectly matched the dark tone of the thriller.

‘Full Metal Jacket’ (1987)

Stanley Kubrick recreated the war-torn city of Hue using the derelict Beckton Gas Works in London. The industrial complex was scheduled for demolition and allowed the director to blow up buildings for combat scenes. Art designers added palm trees and signage to transform the English factory into Vietnam. The resulting visuals offered a stark and gritty realism to the urban warfare sequences.

‘Shutter Island’ (2010)

Martin Scorsese utilized the brick buildings of Medfield State Hospital to stand in for the Ashecliffe Hospital for the criminally insane. The grounds provided the necessary isolation and foreboding architecture required for the period thriller. Heavy fog and rain effects enhanced the natural spookiness of the shuttered Massachusetts facility. The looming structures played a crucial role in establishing the psychological tension.

‘The Road’ (2009)

The production captured the bleak aftermath of an apocalypse by filming on a closed stretch of the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Director John Hillcoat also utilized areas of New Orleans devastated by Hurricane Katrina to show real destruction. The abandoned tunnels and highways required minimal dressing to look completely deserted. These authentic landscapes emphasized the hopelessness of the journey undertaken by the father and son.

‘Transformers: Dark of the Moon’ (2011)

Michael Bay staged explosive action sequences within the grandiose remains of Michigan Central Station in Detroit. The Beaux-Arts architecture offered a stark contrast to the high-tech robotic battles occurring on screen. This location highlighted the industrial decline of the city while serving as a visually stunning backdrop. The film immortalized the station in its ruinous state before recent renovation efforts began.

‘The Hunger Games’ (2012)

The poverty-stricken District 12 came to life within the ghost town of Henry River Mill Village in North Carolina. The abandoned wooden cottages perfectly represented the coal mining community depicted in the source novel. Production crews cleared vegetation and stabilized structures to ensure safety during the shoot. The site has since become a popular tourist destination for fans of the franchise.

‘RoboCop’ (1987)

The climactic battle between the cyborg officer and ED-209 occurred at the rusting Monessen Steel Works in Pennsylvania. The sprawling industrial decay provided a gritty texture that defined the dystopian aesthetic of the film. Smoke and steam from the factory setting added to the oppressive atmosphere of Future Detroit. This location underscored the theme of industrial collapse central to the narrative.

‘Girl, Interrupted’ (1999)

Filming for this drama took place within the vacated buildings of Harrisburg State Hospital in Pennsylvania. The production team used the authentic administration buildings and wards to depict a 1960s mental institution. The historic architecture lent a sense of institutional weight and history to the story. Using a real facility helped ground the performances in a tangible reality.

‘It Follows’ (2014)

The horror film utilized the sprawling ruins of the Packard Automotive Plant to create a sense of timeless dread. The crumbling concrete and shattered windows of the Detroit factory served as a visual metaphor for decay. Characters move through these empty spaces while being pursued by an unseen entity. The vast emptiness of the location amplified the isolation felt by the protagonist.

‘Sucker Punch’ (2011)

Zack Snyder filmed parts of his fantasy action movie at the Lennox House in Montreal. This former asylum and military hospital provided the eerie corridors and common rooms needed for the mental institution setting. The gothic architecture contributed to the dark and surreal visual style of the production. The location effectively blurred the lines between reality and the dream worlds in the film.

‘Death Tunnel’ (2005)

This horror movie was filmed entirely on location at the infamous Waverly Hills Sanatorium in Kentucky. The massive structure is widely considered one of the most haunted places in America due to its history with tuberculosis patients. The filmmakers utilized the chilling atmosphere of the body chute and patient rooms to generate scares. The natural decay of the building acted as a primary character throughout the story.

‘Chappie’ (2015)

Neill Blomkamp chose the decommissioned Kempton Park Power Station in Johannesburg for the gang hideout. The massive cooling towers and industrial machinery created a cyberpunk aesthetic for the robot protagonist. The grimy textures of the abandoned facility grounded the sci-fi elements in a harsh reality. This location highlighted the disparity between high technology and urban decay.

‘Tenet’ (2020)

Christopher Nolan filmed the opening siege sequence at the Linnahall in Tallinn. This massive concrete structure was built for the 1980 Moscow Olympics but had fallen into disrepair. The brutalist architecture provided a grand and imposing setting for the complex temporal action. The dusty seats and vast concrete expanse emphasized the scale of the covert operation.

‘A Nightmare on Elm Street’ (2010)

The remake of the classic slasher filmed key scenes at the condemned Lincoln Heights Jail in Los Angeles. This facility has hosted numerous productions looking for authentic prison cells and peeling paint. The claustrophobic environment enhanced the terror of the boiler room scenes and dream sequences. The natural grime of the location reduced the need for extensive set dressing.

‘Grave Encounters’ (2011)

This found-footage horror film was shot at the Riverview Hospital in Coquitlam. The facility was a mental health institution that became a frequent filming location after its closure. The endless corridors and sterile rooms created a disorienting maze for the characters. The production relied heavily on the natural creepiness of the abandoned site to build suspense.

‘Constantine’ (2005)

The climatic confrontation was filmed at the abandoned Pigeon Creek Thermo-Electric Plant in California. The rusting catwalks and industrial machinery served as the gateway to the underworld. Director Francis Lawrence used the scale of the facility to depict a hellish landscape on Earth. The desolation of the plant mirrored the supernatural stakes of the narrative.

‘Hostel’ (2005)

Eli Roth filmed the terrifying torture sequences in a disused wing of the Bohnice Psychiatric Hospital in Prague. The decaying walls and cold tiled floors created a visceral and sanitary nightmare. The atmosphere of the location reportedly unsettled the cast and crew during production. This authentic setting intensified the brutality depicted on screen.

‘Silent Hill’ (2006)

The filmmakers transformed the Hearn Generating Station in Toronto into the foggy and hellish dimensions of the town. This massive decommissioned power plant offered the industrial scale required for the Otherworld sequences. The rusty metal and cavernous spaces perfectly matched the aesthetic of the video game source material. It remains one of the most visually faithful adaptations due to this choice of location.

Tell us which of these atmospheric locations you found the most unsettling in the comments.