‘Surviving Christmas’: All 6 Known Filming Locations

When we’re talking about Christmas movies, we’re mostly visiting the “best of” lists, but ‘Surviving Christmas’ was anything but. It’s known as one of the worst Christmas movies ever made, and at one point in time, it was nominated for three Razzie awards, winning none. Despite having Ben Affleck in it, the movie was both a commercial and critical failure, but it did have some gorgeous locations, and this is what we’re going to focus on today: the positives. Let’s explain all ‘Surviving Christmas’ filming locations. 

1. Chicago Illinois 

‘Surviving Christmas’ partially takes place in Chicago, and some notable buildings appear in the shots in the movie. The residential building from Michigan Avenue served as Drew’s apartment in several shots. There are also a couple of shots of The Bar Code Media Building and the Southwest Corner Of N. Michigan Avenue And E. Chestnut Street. 

One of the notable houses that were used for filming is a residential property on 6748 Ionia Avenue, although at the time of the filming, the house was covered in snow, and it appears that there were fewer trees in front of the house than there are today. 

2. Plaza Square, Orange, California

Now we’re moving to California. Some portions of the movie were filmed in the famous Plaza Square. It’s a natural location for filming just about any move due to the local historic architecture and charming atmosphere with its vintage buildings and brick facades. It’s a perfect location for setting up a Christmas fair, even a fake one. 

3. Glendale, California

Glendale was most likely chosen as a filming location due to its proximity to Los Angeles. The city’s scenic beauty, including its well-maintained parks, picturesque streets, and architectural landmarks, can provide visually awesome backdrops for film and television productions. As a Christmas movie, ‘Surviving Christmas’ depended on creating that magical vibe even in the dead of Winter. 

4. Mammoth Mountain, California

Mammoth Mountain is situated in the Eastern Sierra region and offers gorgeous natural landscapes. The snow-covered peaks, alpine scenery, and beautiful views make it an attractive backdrop for a variety of film projects, but most importantly, it’s perfect for filming movies that are supposed to be set in Winter. The mountain provides diverse terrain, including snow-covered slopes, forests, and high-altitude landscapes. There are also a lot of people on the mountain in wintertime, so theoretically, you don’t have to pay for extras. The sledding scene was filmed at Mammoth Mountain.

5. University High School – 11800 Texas Avenue, West Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California

Remember Drew and Tom going to Doo-Dah’s play? That fancy building was actually the University High School. It’s a pretty popular location for filming movies due to its old-world charm and historical importance. It also looks quite nice when decorated and can easily serve as a placeholder for some fancy theater or historical building. 

6. Culver City California

Culver City is home to major film and television studios, including Sony Pictures Studios. The presence of these studios provides filmmakers with state-of-the-art facilities, soundstages, and backlots, making it a convenient and well-equipped location for productions. In the movie, in one scene, The Culver Hotel can also be seen in the background. 

Have a location to add to the list? Let us know in the comments below!