Iconic Locations & Hollywood History
The desert light hits differently in Palm Springs—and Hollywood has known it for over a century.
From silent film crews setting palm groves ablaze (literally) to modern productions showcasing sleek midcentury homes, Palm Springs has long been Hollywood’s playground. Close enough to Los Angeles for convenience, yet worlds away in atmosphere, the city became a cinematic escape where stars could film by day and retreat by night.
This guide takes you from iconic movies to real-world filming locations you can still visit today.
Most Iconic Movies Filmed in Palm Springs
- Don't Worry Darling (2022) - A visual love letter to midcentury design, featuring desert modern homes. Fimled in Canyon View Estates.
- Ocean's Eleven (2002) - A sleek scene unfolds at a stunning private estate, reinforcing Palm Springs’ legacy of Rat Pack glamour.
- Diamonds Are Forever (1971) - James Bond steps into the legendary Elrod House, arguably one of the most famous homes in cinematic history.
- Palm Springs Weekend (1963 - A time capsule of spring break culture, filmed across iconic local hotels and streets. Filmed at Riviera Resort Hotel, Indian Canyon Drive, CA-111, 200 S Civic Dr. (police station), The Ocotillo Lodge
- A Star Is Born - Scenes shot at the Palm Springs Convention Center and nearby festival grounds brought modern star power to the desert.
Movies Filmed in Palm Springs by Era
The Early Days (1910s–1940s)
Palm Springs’ cinematic story begins in near-mythic fashion. Crews arrived quietly, often leaving behind little documentation—but plenty of impact.
Preservationist Joseph Smeaton Chase once complained about filmmakers setting fire to palm groves in Palm Canyon—possibly for productions like Salomé.
Notable early films include:
- Salomé (1918) - A biblical epic
- The Sheik (1921) – starring Rudolph Valentino
- Follow Thru (1930) – filmed at El Mirador Hotel
- Lost Horizon – scenes in Tahquitz Canyon
- Sahara (1943) – starring Humphrey Bogart
Salome
Lost Horizon at Tahquitz Canyon
- The Orphan (1920) - stars William Farnum
- Follow Thru (1930) – El Mirador Hotel
- Under the Texas Moon (1930) – Palm Canyon
- Captain Blood (1935) – stars Errol Flynn, Olivia de Havilland - Palm Canyon
- Desert Gold (1936) stars Buster Crabbe) – desert scenes
- Under Two Flags (1936) - stars Claudette Colbert – Palm Canyon
- A Night in Casablanca (1946) - The Marx Brothers)
Her Jungle Love (1938), the first jungle film in Technicolor, presented a scantily clad “native” Dorothy Lamarr, who was perved upon by shipwrecked outsider Ray Milland. Hollywood felt it necessary to decorate the 15-mile-long Palm Canyon Drive with $330,000 worth of transported vines and foliage to create an authentic “tropical rainforest.”
Hollywood’s Golden Escape (1950s–1980s)
As Palm Springs evolved into a celebrity hideaway, filmmakers followed.
- The Damned Don’t Cry (1950) - This film stars Joan Crawford and was filmed at Twin Palm Estate, the Palm Springs home of Frank Sinatra. Other Palm Springs locations included Lone Palm Hotel (demolished)
- 711 Ocean Drive (1950) – The Doll House restaurant (demolished) at 1032 North Palm Canyon Drive
- Desert Rates (1953) - stars Richard Burton
- Drive a Crooked Road (1954) — Monte Vista Hotel, 414 N. Palm Canyon Drive, Bank of Palm Springs, 456 N. Palm Canyon.
- Palm Springs Weekend (1963) – Riviera Hotel, Indian Canyon Drive, CA-111, 200 S Civic Dr. (police station), The Ocotillo Lodge
- The Cool Ones (1966) – stars Roddy McDowall - Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, Travelodge, Canyon Club Inn
- The Wild Angels (1966) – Tahquitz Canyon, riding on Hwy 111, party in the desert
- The Wrecking Crew (1968) - stars Dean Martin - Palm Springs Aerial Tramway
- Diamonds Are Forever (1971) — James Bond dazzled audiences in the 1971 spy thriller Diamonds Are Forever. 007 discovers two bikini-clad female gymnasts inside the 2,400-square-foot Elrod House (a stunning circular house built into a mountainside, a structure Playboy magazine called “the ultimate bachelor pad”). The exclusive retreat at 2175 Southridge Drive was designed by architect John Lautner in 1968.
- Kotch (1971) - Palm Springs Aerial Tramway
- 3 Women (1977) - The Sunbeam Inn (291 Camino Monte Vista – no longer there), a small Palm Springs hotel that becomes the gaudy Purple Sage Apartments; the Joseph M. Shapiro Eye Center of Desert Hospital, which had opened in 1971 (Desert regional); the Palm Springs Greyhound bus station (was last Woody’s Burgers).
- Hanging by a Thread (1979) - Palm Springs Aerial Tramway
- She’s Dressed to Kill (TV movie) 1979 – Palm Springs Aerial Tramway
- American Gigolo (1980) - Richard Gere took a decadent detour to our hometown, revealing a film shot in part at Rheinhaus. This geometric 3,300-square-foot wonder simmers and stuns at 2389 South Yosemite, a spare gem tucked away in Indian Canyons Golf Resort. There was also a road scene on I-10 by Whitewater and CA-111.
- Fraternity Vacation (1985) – Palm Springs airport, many downtown locations, Tahquitz, Casa Verde Condominiums at 1150 Amado Road
- Heaven (1987) - Documentary by Diane Keaton – Palm Springs
- Less Than Zero (1987) - Future Marvel superheroes/villains James Spader and Robert Downey Jr. crash at the Hyatt on North Palm Canyon.
- Rain Man (1988) – stars Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman. The convenience store in the movie is located at 60490 Overture Dr in Palm Springs.
Movies Filmed in Palm Springs 1990s - Today
Palm Springs continues to appear across genres—from indie films to blockbusters:
- Mulholland Falls (1996) - 2201 E. Smokewood Ave.
- Bounce (2000) – stars Ben Affleck, Gwyneth Paltrow – water park scenes are in Palm Springs
- Circuit (2001) - Hunter's Video Bar, 302 East Arenas Road, Palm Springs Marquis Resort (closed), 140 South Calle Encilia
- Ocean’s Eleven (2001) - starring George Clooney and Brad Pitt. Filmed at the Reuben Rishkoff home at 999 North Patencio Road.
- Constantine (2005) - stars Keanu Reeves – A car gets stolen in the parking lot at 17729 N. Indian Canyon Drive
- Mission Impossible III (2006) - Cruise was in the windmills for the high-flying action of the helicopter chase sequence.
- Alpha Dog (2006) - stars Gena Rowlands, Justin Timberlake - Koerner House on S. Calle De Maria in Deepwell, Burgess House (also known as The Bougainvillea House), Caliente Tropics Hotel
- Phat Girlz (2006) – in and around Palm Springs. Image here is downtown at La Plaza.
- Into the Wild (2007) – The cable car scene is the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway
- Eating Out: The Open Weekend (2011) – Triangle Inn
- Defcon 2012 – 2010 - 123 North Palm Canyon Drive
- Behind the Candelabra (2013) - Our Lady of Solitude Church, 696 North Via Monte Vista
- A Star Is Born (2018) - Director Bradley Cooper chose the Palm Springs Convention Center to shoot part of his Oscar-winning opus, and then the entire cast and crew dropped in on the nearby Stagecoach Festival. That’s where they filmed one of Lady Gaga’s most memorable scenes, but she only had eight minutes to nail her performance because Willie Nelson was about to take the stage.
- Palm Swings - Skylark Hotel
- Don't Worry Darling (2022) - Canyon View Estates, Palm Springs Visitor Center, the Kaufmann House
- Mack & Rita (2022) - A 30-year-old writer spends a wild weekend in Palm Springs and wakes up to find she has magically transformed into her 70-year-old self. Windmills
- Night Train (2023) - A single mom struggling to make ends meet as a Hollywood teamster evades capture by a ruthless FBI Agent while running black market medical supplies. Windmills by Amtrak Station in North Palm Springs
Palm Springs truly is a dream factory, and the films shot here resonate beyond the city limits and into the annals of cinematic legend. Visiting our hometown will immerse you in star power, making you feel like the A-list celebrity you were born to be.
📍 Visit These Palm Springs Filming Locations
Want to step into the scene? You can visit many of these places in real life:
- Palm Springs Aerial Tramway – featured in multiple films
- Tahquitz Canyon – Lost Horizon
- Palm Springs Convention Center – A Star Is Born
- Indian Canyons – used in early and modern productions
- Windmills by Amtrak Station in North Palm Springs - Night Train
- Canyon View Estates - Don't Worry Darling
- Riviera Resort & Spa - Palm Springs Weekend
Exploring these locations turns a Palm Springs getaway into your own behind-the-scenes tour of Hollywood history.
Recent Filming & Hollywood Trends
While fewer major productions have filmed entirely in Palm Springs in recent years, the city’s influence is stronger than ever.
Films like Don't Worry Darling (1922) continue to draw heavily on Palm Springs’ architectural style, even when partially filmed elsewhere. Meanwhile, projects like Night Train highlight the surrounding desert landscapes that make this region so visually compelling.
Palm Springs remains a cinematic shorthand for midcentury cool, desert escape, and effortless glamour.
Why Palm Springs Became Hollywood’s Playground
It wasn’t just the scenery—it was strategy.
- Close to Los Angeles
- Secluded and discreet
- Striking natural landscapes
- One-of-a-kind architecture
Stars like Frank Sinatra and Rudolph Valentino helped turn Palm Springs into a place where Hollywood could both work and unwind.
Frequently Asked Questions About Movies Filmed in Palm Springs
What movies were filmed in Palm Springs?
Palm Springs has been featured in a wide range of films, from classic Hollywood to modern productions. Notable titles include Don't Worry Darling, Ocean's Eleven, Diamonds Are Forever, Palm Springs Weekend, and Night Train. These films showcase the city’s unique mix of desert landscapes and midcentury modern architecture.
Why are so many movies filmed in Palm Springs?
Palm Springs has long been a favorite of filmmakers for its close proximity to Los Angeles, dramatic desert scenery, and iconic architecture. The city offers a variety of visual settings—from rugged canyons to luxury estates—making it a versatile and cinematic location.
Can you visit filming locations in Palm Springs?
Yes! Many filming locations are accessible to visitors. Popular spots include the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, Tahquitz Canyon, and the Palm Springs Convention Center. While some private homes (like the Elrod House) are not open to the public, they can often be viewed from the street or on guided tours.
What is the most famous house used in a Palm Springs movie?
One of the most famous is the Elrod House, featured in Diamonds Are Forever. Designed by architect John Lautner, the home is considered a masterpiece of desert modernism and a standout filming location.
Are movies still filmed in Palm Springs today?
Yes, although fewer large-scale productions film entirely within the city today, Palm Springs and the surrounding Coachella Valley continue to be used for film, television, and commercial shoots. Recent projects like Night Train highlight the region’s ongoing appeal.
What movie was filmed at the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway?
The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway has appeared in several films, including The Wrecking Crew, Kotch, and Into the Wild. Its dramatic ascent and panoramic views make it a favorite for filmmakers.
What desert scenes were filmed near Palm Springs?
Many films use the surrounding desert areas to stand in for locations around the world. For example, Sahara used the Coachella Valley to represent North Africa, while modern productions often film near the wind farms and open desert landscapes north of the city.
Is Palm Springs considered part of Hollywood history?
Absolutely. Palm Springs has been closely tied to Hollywood since the early 20th century, serving as both a filming location and a retreat for stars like Frank Sinatra and Rudolph Valentino. Its legacy as “Hollywood’s Playground” continues today.
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