Sonika Kamble
‘The Benchwarmers’ is a classic 2006 sports comedy movie that centers on a trio of friends who form a three-player baseball team. Most of their lives have been spent in the shadow of their bullies, but now they want to train and prove their worth against the meanest youth baseball team. They call themselves “The Benchwarmers” but soon lose the fans’ interest after one of their previous incidents resurfaces in the public eye.
The movie is helmed by Dennis Dugan, who encapsulates the spirit of baseball and true sportsmanship. Besides, he utilizes large green fields, open spaces, and grounds to make the games as visually realistic as possible. So, if you are curious about the filming locations and their whereabouts, here’s all you need to know.
The Benchwarmers Filming Locations
‘The Benchwarmers’ was filmed in California, specifically in San Bernardino County, Orange, Simi Valley, and Los Angeles County. The principal photography for the movie reportedly commenced around April 8, 2005. Filmmakers prefer the west coast because of its tax incentives, diverse geography, and excellent production facilities. So, without further ado, let’s briefly examine the precise locations that can be spotted in the sports comedy movie!
San Bernardino County, California
Some portions of ‘The Benchwarmers’ were lensed in San Bernardino County, a southern Californian county in the Inland Empire area. Chino and Chino Hills are two neighboring cities that served as shooting sites for the movie. Both have distinct geography, with the former being a flatland city with agricultural roots, while the latter has rolling hills, canyons, and ridges. Moreover, the final game in the movie takes place in Big League Dreams Basketball Park in Chino Hills, located at 16333 Fairfield Ranch Road. ‘The Nice Guys‘ and ‘The Parent Trap’ are two other hilarious movies filmed in San Bernardino County.
Orange, California
A few parts of the baseball comedy movie were recorded in Orange, a city in Orange County. It has served as a filming site in many productions due to its historic downtown district, which has well-preserved 20th-century buildings. The Chapman University campus and the railway station are a few notable landmarks of the city. The well-known Watson Drug Store is also featured in the movie at 116 East Chapman Avenue. Lastly, Marcus Joe Gnoffo’s house is reportedly at 212 South Orange Street. Two renowned comedy movies shot in Orange are ‘That Thing You Do!’ and ‘First Daughter.’
Simi Valley, California
Some portions were also taped in Simi Valley, a city surrounded by the beautiful Santa Susana Mountain range and the Simi Hills. The picturesque landscape and the scenic Sycamore Drive road are the main highlights of this place. The courthouse square, Corriganville Movie Ranch, and Rocky Peak Park are a few tourist spots of Simi Valley that have previously been showcased in movies. ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once‘ and ‘Babylon‘ are two cinematic pieces recorded in the city.
Los Angeles County, California
The production unit of ‘The Benchwarmers’ lensed many important parts of the movie in Los Angeles County, a popular filming location with many cities, each with unique quality. They set up camp in the central city of Los Angeles, renowned for its Hollywood neighborhood and iconic filming locations like the Hollywood Sign, the Walk of Fame, and the TCL Chinese Theatre.
The filming unit taped some sequences in the cities of Westwood and Glendale. Furthermore, Culver City was also a shooting spot in ‘The Benchwarmers,’ and it’s famous for prominent film studios like Sony Pictures Studios, Culver Studios, and the Culver City Studios. The historic Culver Hotel, Kirk Douglas Theatre, and Helms Bakery District have all been a part of several movies.
The cast and crew shot a good chunk of the movie in Agoura Hills, a city famous for places of interest like Paramount Ranch, Morrison Ranch, Whizin Market Square, and Medea Creek Natural Park. Some baseball scenes were filmed in the city at Chumash Park, stationed at 5550 Medea Valley Drive.
The production team also included the local Pizza Hut in a scene located at 5146 Kanan Road. In the movie, Gus’s home is a property at 5534 Rock Tree Drive, while the house where Clark throws newspapers is at 5511 Medea Valley Drive. Lastly, they also taped several sequences in Malibu, a city often referenced in pop culture for its exotic beaches. Lastly, a spacious home at 33583 Mulholland Highway doubled as Mel’s home in the movie.
Read More: Is The Benchwarmers Based on a True Story?
