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Most of us have probably at some point wanted to explore the universe we’ve seen in a movie or TV show in real life. Sometimes it seems as if characters live in parallel realities and those movie locations don't exist in our world. Of course, with the help of special effects and editing, some locations look nothing like those in actual life. However, the places that do still seem magical when one sees them with their own eyes. 

Let us introduce you to Paul Slattery (or Paul S.), the man that revealed what houses, buildings, parks, and streets in popular movies and TV shows look like in real life today. He satisfies the curiosity of all movie fans by making incredible compilations of film locations then and now.

If you wonder where each picture was taken, the addresses for every single location are listed on Paul's website.

More info: Instagram | thennowmovielocations.com | Facebook

#1

Back To The Future

Back To The Future

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Bored Panda contacted Paul to learn more about this hobby of his. Paul introduced himself as a big movie nerd and it's impossible not to notice it looking at these comparison pictures. The man revealed that ever since he was a young child, he has loved movies and horror movies in particular.

"I always thought how fascinating it would be if I could ever visit where they happened, the exact places I've seen on the television screen countless times. So in 2001, when I was driving from Kentucky to California, I decided to take a detour while driving through Texas and track down a location from one of my favorite films, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. It turned out to be an experience I'll never forget and well worth the 200-mile detour. It was around 2009 that I started visiting movie locations more frequently. As for the 'Now' images, they're all my own. I've personally traveled to every one of the locations I've posted a comparison photo to. I'd say I've visited well over 1000 locations."

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    #2

    Psycho (1960)

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    #3

    Home Alone

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    Nathaniel
    Community Member
    3 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Watching American movies how many of you thought that the average American family had houses like this?

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    Paul continued, "I launched my website in 2011 but with new social media platforms constantly becoming available, you're always looking for new ways to present what you do to more people who may have the same interests. My friend Gina actually suggested that I should start an Instagram account and she helped me kickstart it."

    #4

    Stand By Me

    Stand By Me

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    #5

    Star Trek: The Original Series

    Star Trek: The Original Series

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    Paul started visiting movie locations because they were something that had always intrigued him. "How neat would it be to stand in the exact same spot of one of your favorite scenes from one of your favorite movies you'd seen on the screen countless times? And since I couldn't be there when it was shot, I figured this was the next best thing."

    When Paul started documenting the locations he visited on his website, it was primarily for the purpose to store them and be able to look back at them, similar to a scrapbook. The man never started posting with the intent of becoming famous or gaining mass recognition. "Almost everyone collects something, whether it be baseball cards, comic books, vinyl records, etc. I collect movie locations and for me, it's all about the memories. Since it's not a physical possession, documenting all of the locations I've visited and looking back at them whenever I feel the need allows me to instantly remember that particular moment in time when I was there and the experience I had. I like to say that I collect memories, not things."

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    #6

    Back To The Future

    Back To The Future

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    Nathaniel
    Community Member
    3 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    They lied! There was supposed to be a housing estate on that land now!

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    They say you never forget your first and for Paul, the most memorable place he visited was the primary location from The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) where the majority of the film was shot, in Round Rock, Texas.

    "To this day it's still my favorite location I've visited, for a multitude of reasons. It being one of my favorite movies was certainly a huge factor. But also the fact that I visited it in 2001 (only a couple of years after the house had been moved) and the area was still very similar to how it was seen in the film. At the time, there still weren't many online sources showing where movies or television shows were filmed."

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    #8

    Back To The Future

    Back To The Future

    thennowmovielocations Report

    Tom
    Community Member
    3 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The color of the door has changed, and not for the better.

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    #9

    Ghostbusters

    Ghostbusters

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    #11

    Cast Away

    Cast Away

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    Kookamunga
    Community Member
    3 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I wish Paul S. would of let us know the general location of these. The Castaway crossroads above are in Canadian, TX

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    #12

    The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air

    The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air

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    Kookamunga
    Community Member
    3 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Roberto Clemente Playground at 1800 Wallace Street, in North Philadelphia, not West!

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    #13

    Stand By Me

    Stand By Me

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    #14

    E. T.

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    SinéadQ
    Community Member
    3 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Looks so much better with the greenery.

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    #15

    Fright Night Part 2

    Fright Night Part 2

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    #16

    Breaking Bad

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    Angelar
    Community Member
    3 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    "Los Pollos Hermanos" is infinitely more alluring

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    #17

    Jaws

    Jaws

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    Troux
    Community Member
    3 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    We're gonna need a bigger lawnmower.

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    #18

    Once Upon A Time In Hollywood

    Once Upon A Time In Hollywood

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    guible
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

    this movie is recent... from 2019... "what it looks like today..."

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    #19

    Rocky

    Rocky

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    BarBeeGirl
    Community Member
    3 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Probably not a good idea to paint the steps

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    #20

    Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey

    Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey

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    Joel Hopkins
    Community Member
    3 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The Vasquez Rocks were in Star Trek way before Bill & Ted

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    #21

    Night Of The Comet

    Night Of The Comet

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    Kathryn Baylis
    Community Member
    3 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    And not drab dark brown! I prefer light-colored houses anyway.

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    Mad Mar
    Community Member
    3 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    If daddy loved us he would have given us uzis

    Sarah Stalder
    Community Member
    3 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I LOVED this movie. Watched it several times as a kid. I don't recall anything but people turning to reddish dust.

    Simon Rushton
    Community Member
    3 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Favourite movie of the short lived Haley's Comet movie boom.

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    #22

    Forrest Gump

    Forrest Gump

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    Lovin' Life
    Community Member
    3 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I love this movie. Tom Hanks is the best!

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    #23

    The Lawnmower Man

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    #24

    Invasion Of The Body Snatchers (1978)

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    #25

    Halloween II

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    Nazda Pokmov
    Community Member
    3 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Looks better now without the angry mob outside.

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    #27

    Back To The Future

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    #29

    Killer Klowns From Outer Space

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    #31

    Back To The Future Part III

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    Nazda Pokmov
    Community Member
    3 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Same trees only older and added some shrubney

    #32

    Honey I Blew Up The Kid

    Honey I Blew Up The Kid

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    Nathaniel
    Community Member
    3 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The kid is running around creating chaos. I blame the parents.

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    #33

    Back To The Future Part II

    Back To The Future Part II

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    #34

    The Lawnmower Man

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    #35

    The Sandlot

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    Aahzmandus Pervect
    Community Member
    3 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The house looks better now, but the car, not so much.

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    #36

    Christine

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    #37

    Poltergeist

    Poltergeist

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    Julia Atkinson
    Community Member
    3 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I can't bring myself to watch it now knowing that the actresses who played the daughters died untimely deaths

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    #38

    Breaking Bad

    Breaking Bad

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    #41

    A Nightmare On Elm Street (1984)

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    #42

    Escape From Alcatraz

    Escape From Alcatraz

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    Scagsy
    Community Member
    3 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Guy on the left. Where's his head?

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    #43

    The Hangover

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    #44

    Lost Highway

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    #45

    Pulp Fiction

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    Chickadee Circle
    Community Member
    3 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    "Countin flowers on the wall... that don't bother me at all"....

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    #48

    The Craft

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    #49

    Psycho (1998)

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    #50

    Child's Play 2

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    #51

    Hereditary

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    Kookamunga
    Community Member
    3 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This movie was great. The cemetery (which actually is a cemetery) is Larkin Sunset Gardens in Sandy, UT.

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    #52

    A Nightmare On Elm Street 4: The Dream Master

    A Nightmare On Elm Street 4: The Dream Master

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    #53

    The Karate Kid (1984)

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    #54

    Cujo

    Cujo

    thennowmovielocations Report

    Kathryn Baylis
    Community Member
    3 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Not much changed, though trees are taller, and I think there might be a couple more houses.

    #55

    Sleepaway Camp

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    #56

    Halloween 6: The Curse Of Michael Myers

    Halloween 6: The Curse Of Michael Myers

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    Nathaniel
    Community Member
    3 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    What is this building? With the world's longest corridor?

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    #57

    Planet Of The Apes (1968)

    Planet Of The Apes (1968)

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    Ellen Ranks
    Community Member
    3 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    So, the entire lake has gone away? Or is it just a bad picture?

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    #58

    Children Of The Corn

    Children Of The Corn

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    Stephanie Finley
    Community Member
    3 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    While on a Roadtrip we stopped there and took photos recreating scenes!

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    #59

    Drive

    Drive

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    Nicole A
    Community Member
    3 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The movie is only 10 years old. How much did they expect concrete aqueducts to change in that time?

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    #61

    Jeepers Creepers

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    #63

    Con Air

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    Nazda Pokmov
    Community Member
    3 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Nothing changed except all the props went back to the Prop Warehouse in Hollywood.

    #65

    Halloween (1978)

    Halloween (1978)

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    Nazda Pokmov
    Community Member
    3 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    So much greenery it's hardly recognizable any more

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    #66

    Frank & Lola

    Frank & Lola

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    #67

    Silent Night Deadly Night

    Silent Night Deadly Night

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    #68

    Leatherface: Texas Chainsaw Massacre III

    Leatherface: Texas Chainsaw Massacre III

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    Nazda Pokmov
    Community Member
    3 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Cleaned up the tires and left the beautiful landscape.

    #69

    Vegas Vacation

    Vegas Vacation

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    #70

    Halloween II

    Halloween II

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    Nazda Pokmov
    Community Member
    3 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Does not look anything like the before photo

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    #71

    Top Gun

    Top Gun

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    Scagsy
    Community Member
    3 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    She just hit the brakes and he flew right by.

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    #72

    Friday The 13th Part 6: Jason Lives

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    #73

    976-Evil

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    #74

    Tourist Trap

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    #75

    Halloween 6: The Curse Of Michael Myers

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    #76

    Friday The 13th Part 2

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