Where Was “Grease” Filmed?

Seen the iconic movie and now asking yourself: where was “Grease” filmed? Then you’ve come to the right place! Today, we’ll go back in time to an era of greasers, preps, fast cars, and summer nights, all while touring the filming locations that made “Grease” the timeless classic it is today.

For those of you who are aspiring filmmakers or creatives looking to catch a little of that “Greased Lightning” in a bottle, stay tuned. We also share where you can find your own “Grease”-inspired filming location to rent on Peerspace! Now, let’s slick back our hair and slide back in time to the 50s while we take a look back at this classic musical.

What is “Grease”?

Even if you haven’t seen the movie, you’ve at least heard a few of the songs from the hit 1978 musical romantic-comedy “Grease.” Starring John Travolta and the late Olivia Newton-John, the movie was a commercial mega-hit. It was also nominated for an Academy Award for the song “Hopelessly Devoted To You.”

Other than the songs that beg you to move your feet, part of the charm of “Grease” is all of the amazing locations that lend to its authenticity. For those of us who have seen the movie countless times now, we’ve surely asked ourselves the question: where was “Grease” filmed?

Inspired to host a “Grease”-themed party? Then you need to see our vintage 50s theme party ideas first!

Where did they film the opening beach scene?

The movie starts off showing the summer fling between John Travolta’s Danny Zuko and Olivia Newton John’s Sandy Olsson. The two of them frolic and sing along the beach in a moment that sets off the events of the rest of the musical.

When you aren’t singing along to “Love Is A Many Splendored Thing” you’re sure to ask the question: where was “Grease” filmed?

According to IMDB, the opening scene of “Grease” was shot at Leo Carillo State Beach in Malibu, California. This beach might look familiar to you because it has been used in dozens of other huge Hollywood movies. It has been featured in “Point Break”, “Inception”, “The Karate Kid”, and many of the classic beach party movies of the 50s and 60s.

Where did they film the sleepover scene?

You may remember the songs “Look At Me, I’m Sandra Dee” and “Hopelessly Devoted To You” from the Pink Ladies’ sleepover. This was all shot at a home in Los Angeles, according to Set Jetter.

Keep in mind that it is a private residence, so don’t expect to get to see a tour of the interiors. Please respect the current residents if you decide to take a look at the home for yourself.

Where did they film the high school?

Even though the actors definitely look like they would have graduated a decade earlier, the movie mostly takes place at the fictional Rydell High School. The school is beautiful on the inside and out and is sure to make you ask the question: where was “Grease” filmed?

You may be surprised to find out that Rydell High School isn’t just one place, it’s actually an amalgamation of three different high schools in the Los Angeles area. Top Movie Locations says that the exterior shots for the school were done at Venice High School.

This classic high school was also used in the movies “Heathers” and “A Nightmare On Elm Street”. It was also the location for the music video for the Britney Spears immortal classic: “Hit Me Baby One More Time”.

The next high school that was used for most of the interior shots was Huntington Beach High School. This includes the shot of the long dance sequence inside the high school and the school’s prom. According to L.A. Magazine, this was one of the most difficult shoots due to the gymnasium’s heat.

The final high school was used for its huge football field, made famous for the songs “You’re The One That I Want” and “We Go Together”. According to Top Movie Locations, this is John Marshall High School in Silverlake. This is another classic movie location that has been seen in cinema classics like “Rebel Without A Cause” and “Buffy The Vampire Slayer”. The school has also been used in a multitude of television shows including “Boy Meets World”, according to IMDB.

Where did they film the Thunder Road scene in “Grease”?

If you aren’t familiar with Los Angeles, you might be scratching your head when you see the characters racing their cars down a dried up concrete riverbed and ask yourself: where was “Grease” filmed? This dried up river is none other than the famous L.A. River. It has been seen in countless other movies and television shows.

Many action scenes and car chases have been shot there. A few of the dozens of examples from IMDB include “Terminator 2”, “Repo Man”, and “In Time”.

The filmmakers weren’t really trying to hide that the movie was shot in Los Angeles. In an interview with L.A. Magazine, the director of “Grease” Randal Kleiser explained that he originally wanted to do something that was more of an homage to the classic movie “Ben-Hur” but was told it would be too expensive.

He ended up being quite pleased with the final product that was shot at the L.A. River. “That gave the picture a really big look, which cost, frankly, nothing. When I saw the dailies on the big Panavision screen, it really opened the movie up and made it look like a big movie rather than a tiny little cheap movie that we were making.”

Want to walk down the aisle Danny and Sandy style? Then you need to read our 50s wedding theme tips and tricks next!

Find your own “Grease”-inspired filming location

When you’re done getting the soundtrack of “Grease” out of your head, hopefully, you’re going to create some awesome content inspired by the musical. If you’re in the need of filming locations or production studios, then check out Peerspace first.

The platform is your one-stop shop for thousands of great locations ideal for filming productions, hosting events, and more. For instance, check out this Los Angeles High School indoor basketball court and gymnasium!

This is the perfect kind of place to shoot your own “Grease”-inspired music video or movie scene. You won’t find access to Hollywood-caliber filming locations to rent anywhere else, so be sure to pop on to Peerspace for everything you need!

Find unique filming locations on Peerspace