Forget 'Chinatown': Quintessential California Films That Go Beyond The Obvious

There have been endless attempts to capture the essence of California on the big screen. This is the land of movies, after all. Some films have hit the mark splendidly, receiving long-lasting acclaim and praise —Chinatown, Jackie Brown, L.A. Story, we're looking at you.

But titles like those make pretty much every list like this one, and we wanted to share some deeper cuts. So we asked listeners to weigh in on AirTalk, LAist 89.3’s daily news program. Here are some films that go beyond the obvious choices but remain ever so true to our beloved Golden State.

Bring It On

"This is not a democracy, it's a cheerocracy."

Keep up with LAist.

If you're enjoying this article, you'll love our daily newsletter, The LA Report. Each weekday, catch up on the 5 most pressing stories to start your morning in 3 minutes or less.

Subscribe

Yes, we’re talking about the 2000 cheerleading movie, directed by Peyton Reed and starring frenemy cheer captains Kirsten Dunst and Gabrielle Union.

What makes it California: It’s about two cheerleading squads from two very different towns, the Toros in San Diego and the Clovers in East Compton. Beyond mesmerizing cheer choreography, the iconic spirit fingers and quotable lines galore, the movie blends together themes of class, race and asks complex questions about what it means to do the right thing.

Up In Smoke

Two stoners befriend each other and unknowingly smuggle a van constructed of weed from Mexico to L.A. The 1978 flick stars comedy duo Cheech Marin & Tommy Chong. Need I say more?

What makes it California: It’s directed by Lou Adler, who grew up in Boyle Heights, and it’s shot in locations all throughout the city, including Venice, Lincoln Heights, Tujunga and Malibu.

Nope

A California classic? Yup. Jordan Peele’s 2022 horror comedy western stars Daniel Kaluuya and a hilarious Keke Palmer as siblings trying to capture evidence of a mysterious something (creature? UFO?) circling the sky above their ranch.

What makes it California: Nope is set just outside Hollywood where the Haywood Ranch trains horses for movies. Themes around entertainment, spectacles, cameras and Hollywood’s history consume the film, raising thought-provoking questions about our reality. Check out Alissa Wilkinson’s explainer in Vox.

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang

Not long before he became Iron Man, Robert Downey Jr. played a crook turned actor turned private detective in the 2005 black comedy Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.

What makes it California: It’s shot in L.A. and it might make you think of L.A. dark noirs like Heat or Jackie Brown, where cops are chasing criminals through different corners of the city.

Lady Bird

The beloved 2017 coming-of-age film from writer director Greta Gerwig landed a Best Picture Oscar nomination. It stars Saoirse Ronan, who plays a high school teen with rocky relationships and an uncertain future.

What makes it California: It’s set in Sacramento, where Gerwig grew up, a place that doesn’t get nearly as much love, or at least acknowledgement, as it should.

Troop Beverly Hills

Shelley Long ditches the bar towel for cookies. In the 1989 film Troop Beverly Hills, she plays a rich housewife who’s not taken seriously and decides to be a troop leader of young Wilderness Girls.

What makes it California: Scenes set underneath the Hollywood Sign, pan shots across Beverly Hills homes, local landmarks and various celebrity cameos. Plus, poking fun at the rich and clueless is a California trope in and of itself, is it not?

The Donut King

The 2020 documentary from Alice Gu tells the story of Ted Ngoy and other Cambodian families who forever changed the L.A. world of donuts and created a multi-million dollar donut empire along the way.

What makes it California: Gu grew up in L.A. and became fascinated by Ngoy and his world. It’s a relatable immigrant story that examines the American dream. The donut close ups will make you want to hit up your nearest shop like, right now.

Listen to the full conversation