Featured Photo: Rich Cruse, @crusephoto

Animal Kingdom on TNT Network Films in Oceanside

Oceanside has a long standing relationship with Hollywood as a featured filming location to several major motion pictures including Top Gun, Bring It On, and Sands of Iwo Jima. As a beautiful beach escape with a relaxed atmosphere, the coastal destination has also provided Hollywood’s rich and famous the perfect hideaway to enjoy a little R&R thanks to its’ central location between Los Angeles and San Diego. 

The acclaimed TNT Network set its sights on Oceanside’s quaint beach town qualities to film the hit drama series Animal Kingdom which premiered in 2016. During Season 1, we were immediately introduced to a young 17-year-old boy, Joshua “J” Cody, who tragically lost his mother to a drug overdose and is sent to live with his extended family in Oceanside, CA. He soon realizes that he isn’t living with any ordinary family and that his new family lives on the outskirts of the law. With each season, we come to learn more about the Cody’s as they take us on a wild ride, each scene more intense and dangerous than the last. This fictional drama stars Ellen Barkin, Scott Speedman, Shawn Hatosy, Finn Cole, Ben Robson, Jake Weary and, most recently added, Denis Leary.

Can’t get enough of the Cody family? Don’t worry! Animal Kingdom has been renewed for a fifth season!

Where is Animal Kingdom filmed? The hit crime drama Animal Kingdom (2016) is filmed right here in Oceanside, CA!

Shawn Hatosy said it best in an interview with San Diego Magazine (June 2016): “Oceanside plays such a big role in the show. It is a character in and of itself. The way of life. The attitude of the locals. The surf.” 

Over the last five seasons, Oceanside has served as a beautiful backdrop with over 70 local filming locations, including a number of iconic Oceanside landmarks such as the Oceanside Pier, The Strand and the Oceanside Transit Center. To give the series a local flare, many actual Oceanside surf shops and restaurants are included within the script and mentioned in the show by name. How many Oceanside locations can you reference while watching the series?

*Click on the top, left map icon to expand location information and click on the top, right icon to open in Google Maps.

Oceanside Pier

200 N. The Strand
Oceanside, CA 92054

Oceanside Pier Plaza

200 The Strand N.
Oceanside, CA 92054

Daren Cody’s Bar

314 Wisconsin Ave
Oceanside, CA 92054
(filming location only)

Harbor Pelican Deli & Mart

1380 N. Pacific Street
Oceanside, CA 92054
(Oceanside Harbor)

Oceanside Airport

480 Airport Rd.
Oceanside, CA 92054

Real Surf Shop

1101 S. Coast Highway
Oceanside, CA 92054

Larry’s Beach Club

1145 S. Tremont Street
Oceanside, CA 92054

Lifeguard Tower 9

Oceanside Blvd & S. Pacific St.
Oceanside, CA 92054

Flying Pig Pub & Kitchen

626 S. Tremont Street
Oceanside, CA 92054

Tyson Street Park

Located along the Strand S.

Accessible at S. Pacific St & Tyson St.
Oceanside, CA 92054

Animal Kingdom was most recently spotted filming in Oceanside in the fall of 2020! Keep an eye out on TNT Network for more updates on the series and when new episodes will premiere. In the meantime, check out these trailers and behind the scenes looks at the series that will get you excited about binge watching past seasons and looking forward to future storylines! 

Learn More About Oceanside On The Big Screen:

• Oceanside Filming Locations 
• San Diego Magazine “Seven Minutes with Shawn Hatosy” (June 2016)
• The San Diego Union Tribune “‘Animal Kingdom’ Crime Drama Begins Shooting in O’side” (April 2016)