Michael filming locations: between sets and real locations
FILMINGRECENT
The Michael biopic follows different stages of the singer’s life, from his early years in Gary to his Wembley concert in England. Here’s a look at some of the iconic locations seen in the film — and some that aren’t — from real-life locations to recreated sets and more.
Gary, Indiana: where it all began
In the movie
After a brief prologue showing Michael about to take the stage during the Bad Tour in 1988, the film takes us back to 1966 and to the industrial city of Gary, Indiana, southeast of Chicago near Lake Michigan. There, we meet eight-year-old Michael watching children play in the street before his father calls him inside to join his brothers in the family living room.
Gary provides the main setting for the entire first part of the film. We see, among other things:
the Jackson 5 rehearsing in the living room;
Michael watching his idols on television and trying to reproduce their moves;
Joseph Jackson correcting — and especially disciplining — Michael;
Michael curled up in the bathroom after being beaten with a belt;
family meals and conversations in the tiny kitchen;
the boys’ bedroom with its bunk beds;
the family leaving for and returning from their first performances;
Joseph coming home from the steel mill.
In reality
The Jackson family home is located at:
2300 Jackson Street, Gary, Indiana
Built in 1949, the house was purchased by Joseph and Katherine Jackson in 1950 for approximately $8,500.
It was in this modest working-class home, located about 25 miles from downtown Chicago, that the Jackson children grew up and the Jackson 5 were formed.
The family lived there until the late 1960s.
What was actually filmed
The exterior seen in the film is indeed the real Jackson family home in Gary.
What was probably recreated
The interiors appear to have been recreated on studio sets:
living room;
kitchen;
boys’ bedroom;
bathroom.
Since the house is extremely small, accommodating a full film crew inside would have been very difficult.
Detroit: the forgotten chapter in the film
In the movie
Detroit is never presented as a place where the family lived. Yet several scenes appear to take place there:
the signing with Motown;
meetings with Berry Gordy;
conversations with Suzanne de Passe;
the first recording sessions;
the Jackson 5’s national launch.
In reality
After being discovered by Motown in 1968, the Jackson 5 spent several months in Detroit. During this period, they became familiar with:
Motown’s headquarters;
Berry Gordy’s offices;
the Hitsville U.S.A. studio;
Bobby Taylor, who introduced them to Berry Gordy;
Suzanne de Passe.
Jackie Jackson even explained that the brothers temporarily lived in apartments on West Grand Boulevard, near Motown’s headquarters.
What’s missing
the Detroit apartments;
the brothers’ daily life in the city;
the actual Motown headquarters;
the Hitsville U.S.A. studio.
The story moves almost directly from Gary to the Motown world in Los Angeles.
The transition years missing from the film
Before Hayvenhurst, several important places in the Jackson family’s life are not shown in the film.
Hotels: after arriving in California in 1969, Joe Jackson and the Jackson 5 initially stayed in various hotels.
Diana Ross’s home: Michael also spent time at Diana Ross’s home during this transitional period.
West Hollywood: in November 1969, the family moved into a Mediterranean-style house in West Hollywood.
Bowmont Drive: in May 1970, Berry Gordy rented them a property in Beverly Hills. Their stay was short-lived due to complaints from neighbors about the noise!
None of these stages appear in the film.
Hayvenhurst – Encino (known as “the Big House” by the Jackson 5)
In the film
Hayvenhurst becomes one of the main settings in the second half of the film.
In reality
On March 5, 1971, the 13 members of the Jackson family moved to:
4641 Hayvenhurst Avenue, Encino, California
The property was purchased for approximately $250,000. The Jackson 5 would come to refer to the house as “the Big House.”
What was actually filmed
The production did indeed film at the real Hayvenhurst property. Jaafar Jackson has spoken about spending many nights there in order to better understand his uncle.
“I slept in different rooms in the house to feel the energy.”
“Staying there allowed things to happen naturally. I was fortunate to have that place as a playground. Without it, I honestly don’t think my performance would have been the same.”
Scenes were filmed in the living room, the kitchen — including the scene between young Michael and his mother — and Michael’s bedroom. The production team was also able to locate many of the original furnishings and objects that had once been in the house.
The period interiors were recreated within the property itself. The entire upper floor was restored, with new carpeting installed and the walls refurbished.
Filming also took place in Katherine and Joseph’s bedroom, including the scene in which Joseph shows Katherine the letter informing him that he has been fired.
The studio seen when Michael is considering the title of the album Thriller was recreated inside the house.
Michael’s bedroom was also recreated as a separate set to give the filmmakers greater flexibility in how the scenes could be shot. The room was filled with numerous objects associated with Michael, including toys and diving equipment. Items from the Estate’s archives were also brought in — notably for the scene between Michael and his sister La Toya.
What the film doesn’t show
In the early 1980s, Michael bought the family property after Joseph Jackson encountered financial difficulties, becoming its majority owner. In 1983, the house was completely rebuilt, expanded, and transformed into the luxurious English-style residence seen in the film. The grounds and landscaping, however, remained largely unchanged.
Pasadena Civic Auditorium – Los Angeles
In the biopic, one of the most memorable moments is Michael’s performance of Billie Jean during the television special Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever, recorded on March 25, 1983. It is during this sequence that Michael performs the moonwalk.
The scene in the film was also shot at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium.
Fuqua explained:
“We did extensive research into the broadcast and the exact camera angles that were used. Armed with that information, we then took the concept a little further, as we thought Michael would have done.”
Address: Pasadena Civic Auditorium, 300 E. Green Street, Pasadena, CA 91101.
The Millennium Biltmore Hotel
This iconic hotel in downtown Los Angeles was used as the setting for several scenes involving Michael’s public and media appearances.
Sources identify it as a filming location for:
press conferences;
certain scenes representing the CBS offices.
The exteriors were later digitally enhanced to evoke New York City. However, there is currently no official confirmation identifying exactly which scenes involving MTV or John Branca were filmed there.
Orpheum Theatre
The famous Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles was also used during filming. It appears to have been used to recreate some of the Jackson 5’s stage performances.
However, there is no evidence that the Jackson 5 actually performed at this theater during that period.
The venue therefore serves primarily as a cinematic stand-in.
The Thriller short film
The film recreates the making of the Thriller short film.
Antoine Fuqua chose to film at the same locations used for the original 1983 production. These included:
the Palace Theatre;
several streets in downtown Los Angeles;
the intersection of Pacific Avenue and South Calzona Street;
Carroll Avenue.
The aim was to recreate the setting of the original shoot as faithfully as possible.
Burbank
A former Kmart store was transformed into a vintage Toys “R” Us for the period scenes.
These include the scene in which Michael is recognized by a mother and then signs
autographs, as well as the moment when he playfully throws objects at Bill, his bodyguard.
The shelves, signage, and retro interior were reportedly recreated to match the period as
closely as possible.
Figueroa Mountain Road
This road north of Los Angeles was reportedly used as the setting for a conversation between Michael and Bill Bray.
It is not yet known whether this conversation was directly inspired by a real event or whether it was created specifically for the film’s narrative.
Rutabegorz in Fullerton
This California restaurant, known for its vegetarian menu, is among the identified filming locations. Both interior and exterior scenes were reportedly filmed there, although no further details are currently known.
Sony Pictures Studios & EastWest Studios (on Sunset Boulevard)
These studios served as the base for many of the film’s recreated sets.
Sets that were likely built there include:
the interiors of the Gary house;
the Motown offices;
the Motown recording studios;
the studios used for Thriller;
Beat It?;
the CBS offices;
certain scenes involving John Branca;
the Motown 25 rehearsals;
the Jackson 5 concerts;
the recreation of Wembley Stadium for the Bad Tour.
Antoine Fuqua explained that the aim was to accurately recreate locations that no longer exist or could not realistically be used for a modern film production.
Neverland
Some scenes were filmed at Neverland, although they were likely removed during post-production after Fuqua discovered that Jordan Chandler, a 13-year-old boy who had accused Michael of sexual abuse, had included a clause in his settlement stating that neither he nor his family could ever be mentioned or portrayed in a film, as Fuqua told The New Yorker.
According to People, the production worked with the property’s current owners to film at the estate. Miles Teller, who plays attorney John Branca, also confirmed that filming took place at Neverland.
“We shot at Neverland, which was crazy,”
he said during a February 2025 appearance on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen.
“Somebody else had bought it, but we dressed it up.”
Summary table of the different filming locations
Sources
Articles
Ciné Voyageuses. “Les lieux de tournage du biopic sur Michael Jackson,” 2026.
→ Detailed article about the locations used in Michael, including the Jackson family home in Gary, Hayvenhurst, the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, Sony Pictures Studios, the Millennium Biltmore, Mount Hollywood Drive, and locations associated with Thriller.
Read the Ciné Voyageuses articleLEPRINCE, Chloé. “Gary (Indiana), Detroit, L.A. : Michael Jackson, une histoire noire américaine en trois villes.” France Culture, November 28, 2018.
→ Provides historical context for the importance of Gary, Detroit, and Los Angeles in Michael Jackson’s life and the Jackson family’s journey.
Read the France Culture articlePeople. “Where Was Michael Filmed? All About the Real-Life Locations in the Biopic,” April 29, 2026.
→ Overview of the real-life locations used by the production and their significance in Michael Jackson’s life, particularly Hayvenhurst.
Read the articleTonboriday. “All 21 Michael (2026) Filming Locations Revealed,” 2026.
→ An extensive list of filming locations in California, useful for identifying and cross-checking the locations used in the film.
Read the article
Videos and documentaries
Lionsgate. Don’t Stop ’Til You Get Enough: The Making of Michael, 2026.
→ Official behind-the-scenes feature on the production of Michael, including the recreation of several sets, locations, and performances featured in the film.
RECENT ARTICLES
© The MJBiopic 2026
TheMJBiopic.com is an independent, unofficial editorial website dedicated to the film Michael and the story of Michael Jackson.
TheMJBiopic.com is not affiliated with the Estate of Michael Jackson, the Jackson family, or the producers or distributors of the film Michael.