Ted Demme‘s BLOW is an exciting actual crime drama that shows how American drug dealer George Jung rose to power and then fell from grace. Johnny Depp plays George Jung in the 2001 movie Blow, which is based on Bruce Porter’s book Blow: How a Small Town Boy Made $100 Million with the Medellín Cocaine Cartel and Lost It All. Jung goes from being a boy from a small town to becoming one of the most famous drug dealers connected to the Medellín Cartel.
Some other well-known actors in the group are Penélope Cruz as Mirtha Jung, Franka Potente as Barbara, Ray Liotta as Fred Jung — and Jordi Mollà as Diego Delgado, a character based on Carlos Lehder Rivas.
Now let’s dive into the main highlight—the filming locations of BLOW.
WHEN WAS BLOW (2001) SHOT?
Principal photography for Blow began on February 2, 2000, and wrapped up by May 2000. The shooting spanned a tight few months, but the film’s clever use of locations allowed it to convincingly portray multiple decades and international locations, all while staying largely within the United States. This strategic planning helped the production maintain budget and security while still delivering a global story.
Demme said, “I wanted it to be a really unique-looking film. I wanted it to be shot differently, designed differently, cut differently… I wanted it to have attitude, because George Jung certainly did.”
UNITED STATES
CALIFORNIA
LOS ANGELES COUNTY
A large portion of Blow was filmed across Los Angeles County, California. The filmmakers used the urban and suburban landscapes of Los Angeles to portray multiple national and international settings. In downtown Los Angeles, the Spring Street Towers at 650 South Spring Street were used as the Bank of Panama. Additionally, the Ambassador Hotel at 3400 Wilshire Boulevard was featured in several sequences. Though no longer standing, this historic hotel was a go-to filming site for decades.
The Millennium Biltmore Hotel at 506 South Grand Avenue also provided interiors for scenes that required luxurious or elegant backdrops. These downtown locations helped capture the essence of financial dealings and hotel encounters portrayed in the film.
In the Westside neighborhood of Bel-Air, the house at 10425 West Sunset Boulevard was used as the lavish Colombian mansion. This same mansion, with its stately presence, helped depict the luxurious lifestyle George and Mirtha lived during the peak of their drug empire.
Beverly Hills also provided a major location. The mansion at 918 North Alpine Drive served as George and Mirtha Jung’s primary home during their wealthiest days. With its classic Beverly Hills architecture and sprawling grounds, it provided the perfect visual representation of their extravagant life.
In Long Beach, the production filmed at multiple locations. George and Tuna’s apartment was located at 5361 East Ocean Boulevard, although it has since been demolished. Another Long Beach location, the Beach Plaza Hotel at 2010 East Ocean Boulevard, was used for scenes supposedly set in Miami. The filmmakers frequently used California to double for other parts of the country, especially Florida.
Pasadena offered a suburban look that was needed for scenes involving George’s daughter. He picks up Kristina from James Madison Elementary School at 515 East Ashtabula Street. Later, he drops her off at a house located at 858 North Oakland Avenue, also in Pasadena. These scenes provided a tender glimpse into George’s struggles as a father.
George’s early life flashbacks were shot in Whittier, a city in southeastern Los Angeles County. The home at 6216 Friends Avenue served as his childhood house. Its small-town aesthetic contrasted well with the glamorous settings later in the film, reflecting George’s humble beginnings.
Smaller filming segments took place in El Segundo, particularly at a liquor store located at 506 Center Street, and in Manhattan Beach and Palmdale, where background shots were captured for additional suburban and desert-like settings.
ONTARIO (SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY)
Located east of Los Angeles, the city of Ontario played a key role in simulating airport scenes. Filmmakers chose Ontario International Airport, located at 1828 Moore Way, to stand in for Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) due to easier access and fewer shooting restrictions. This airport is often used in films, including Ford v Ferrari and Zodiac. In Blow, it allowed for the dramatization of George’s cocaine-smuggling flights and transitions.
ILLINOIS
CHICAGO
Some scenes in Blow were filmed in Chicago, Illinois. The city was chosen not only for its cinematic appeal but also to represent a key expansion territory of George Jung’s drug network. Though specific street-level locations in Chicago were not widely publicized, its skyline and urban backdrop made it an ideal place to capture scenes of growing cartel influence in the Midwest. Known for hosting many crime-based films, Chicago’s tough, historic atmosphere added to the film’s overall realism. The decision to shoot in Chicago helped anchor George’s story within a nationwide context, demonstrating the vast reach of his operations.
MEXICO
ACAPULCO, GUERRERO
The Mexican city of Acapulco de Juárez, located in the state of Guerrero, was used to portray the tropical opulence that George enjoys at the peak of his power. The Acapulco mansion featured in the movie is actually Villa Casa Mansión La Cima. This luxurious home, with breathtaking ocean views, is perched high above the city and is available for rent for weddings and private events. In Blow, it served as the vacation-style home that George and Barbara purchase, representing his entrance into international elite society. The ocean-facing balconies, palm-lined pools, and cinematic sunsets brought an exotic, dream-like quality to these sequences.
MORELOS
In addition to Guerrero, filming also took place in the Mexican state of Morelos. While exact addresses were not publicly revealed, Morelos was likely chosen for its lush and green rural settings that could convincingly stand in for South American jungles or countryside locations. The state is known for its colonial towns and natural landscapes, making it a valuable filming ground for scenes that needed a remote, tropical feel. These locations were crucial for depicting George’s connections with the Medellín cartel, including fictionalized meetings with cartel bosses like Pablo Escobar.
FILMING TIMELINE
The film officially started production on February 2, 2000, and wrapped up by May 2000. This short window required the crew to work intensively across multiple locations. The filmmakers maximized California’s diverse geography to simulate various cities and countries — from Colombia to Miami, Boston to Mexico. Through thoughtful production design and careful cinematography by Ellen Kuras, these locations were seamlessly integrated into the film’s storytelling.
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