Filmed in Stockton, California: 8 Movies You Need To Watch

October 04, 2023

Love movies? Enjoy some quality time with a few cinematic adventures filmed in the Stockton, California area.

Stockton may be 329 miles North of Hollywood, but you'd be mistaken if you believe there aren't a number of cinematic connections between the two cities. Great example: screen legend Janet Leigh (Psycho, The Manchurian Candidate) was raised in Stockton, and both she & daughter Jamie Lee Curtis are University of the Pacific alumni.

FUN FACT: Jamie Lee Curtis has surpassed her parents Janet Leigh and Tony Curtis with TWO Golden Globe awards for Actress in a Supporting Role for 1990's Anything But Love & 1995's True Lies, TWO Screen Actors Guild awards for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role & Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture for 2022's Everything Everywhere All At Once, and an Academy Award for Actress in a Supporting Role for her role in Everything Everywhere All At Once.

Additionally, Stockton has housed production after production of amazing films throughout the decades. Below are just a few that are available on streaming services and worthy of being added to your binge list.

Raiders of The Lost Ark

Arguably the greatest in the collection of films featuring Stockton, California, this epic Steven Spielberg/George Lucas production used the Conservatory of Music building (which houses Faye Spanos Concert Hall) at University of the Pacific as the exterior setting for Marshall College in Bedford, Connecticut--the university Indiana Jones teaches at.

All five films in the franchise listed below are available for streaming on Disney+.

Raiders of the Lost Ark
Indiana Jones & the Temple of Doom
Indiana Jones & the Last Crusade
Indiana Jones & the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
Indiana Jones & the Dial of Destiny

All The King's Men (1949)

Winner of three Academy Awards and based on the career of Louisiana Governor Huey P. Long, this film was shot entirely in Stockton, California. Shooting locations included the Hotel Stockton, the old county courthouse, the old city jail, Atherton Island, the McLeod Lake lawn across from City Hall, the Stockton waterfront, and the north steps of Stockton City Hall.

This film is available for streaming on Tubi.

Bonus: A few of these locations make our list of the most Instagram-worthy spots in Stockton!

Dreamscape

This '80s sci-fi/horror starring Dennis Quaid, Kate Capshaw, Christopher Plummer, and Max Von Sydow also used the University of the Pacific for its story. The exterior of Knoles Hall was used as the research institute in the film.

This film is available for streaming on YouTube (FREE with ads), Peacock, & Amazon.

Bonus: Scroll down to take a virtual tour of Knoles Hall and the entire University of the Pacific campus.

Fat City

Based on a novel set in Stockton written by Stocktonian Leonard Gardner, it was only right that the 1972 film adaptation be filmed in Stockton. Starring Stacy Keach, Jeff Bridges, and Susan Tyrrell as down-and-out boxers, the film featured Zuckerman Farms, the no-longer-standing El Dorado Hotel & Red Men's Hall, the Stockton Civic Auditorium, the old macaroni factory near Gleason Park as a boxing ring, and other rural and downtown sites in the city.

This film is available for streaming via Philo.

Flubber

Comedic legend Robin Williams starred in this remake of the Disney classic The Absent-Minded Professor. Following the trend of past university-involved productions, the University of the Pacific played the part of Medfield College, where Williams' character teaches.

This film is available for streaming on Disney+.

Cool Hand Luke

The classic crime drama starring Paul Newman as a southern chain gang rebel utilized multiple rural locations throughout the Stockton area. Those locations included along Davis Road near Dentoni Park, the Roberts Island side of the San Joaquin River, and old Brandt Bridge.

This film is available for rent or purchase on most digital platforms.

Bonus: Find a full list of farms and farmers markets throughout the county at SanJoaquinFarms.com

Hot Shots Part Deux

Starring Charlie Sheen and Lloyd Bridges, this '90s spoof of all things war film enjoyed the beauty located in Stockton for a few of its scenes. The San Joaquin Delta was used for a number of river scenes in the film—including the scene where Charlie and his father Martin share the screen, with Martin channeling his character from the Francis Ford Coppola film Apocalypse Now.

This film is available for streaming on Disney+ & Hulu.

Bonus: Learn more about the 1,000 miles of waterways you can experience in Stockton via the California Delta Chambers & Visitor's Bureau

Inventing The Abbotts

The popular indie romance/drama of the late '90s features a number of "before they were big" thespians: Screen Actors Guild award winner Liv Tyler, Academy Award winners Jennifer Connelly & Joaquin Phoenix, and Emmy winner Billy Crudup. With a story that includes the University of Pennsylvania, University of the Pacific was once again used as the institution for higher learning for these main characters.

This film is available for rent or purchase on most digital platforms.

Bonus Fun Fact

In 1986, Stockton was designated as the birthplace of the Marvel Comics superhero squad The Fantastic Four. Stan "The Man" Lee himself even came down to make it official in a special ceremony. Now, we may be a little biased here, but wouldn't it be great if the upcoming Fantastic Four film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe were to be filmed right here in Stockton? We think so... so let's make it happen! SIGN THE PETITION to bring the MCU to Stockton with their upcoming Fantastic Four film!

You can read more about what led to Stan & Marvel designating Stockton as The Fantastic Four's home by clicking here! Also, you can pick up a collector's edition Visit Stockton "Home of The Fantastic Four" t-shirt right here!

The list above represents just a few of the many films and television shows that have used Stockton, California as a production site. For the complete list of productions, check out our fun facts page!

Also, all of the above films are available for rent or purchase through iTunes, Google Play, and Amazon Prime, if you feel like adding them to your digital collection.

Looking for more local content you can enjoy from home? You can message us 7 days a week for assistance on shopping, dining, and things to do in Stockton.