Sacramento, California is the capital of the state and located in Northern California. It is a major center for state government, as well as business, culture, and population. With its proximity to San Francisco and location in beautiful California, Sacramento is also a popular tourist destination and filming location for movies and TV shows.
About Bird Box
Bird Box is a popular 2018 Netflix thriller and horror film directed by Susanne Bier. It stars Sandra Bullock as a woman who must make a dangerous journey down a river blindfolded, in order to avoid supernatural entities that cause people who see them to die by suicide. The film takes place in various locations as the characters travel to a safe haven.
Filming Locations
According to reports, Bird Box was filmed in the following locations:
- Los Angeles, California
- Smiths Falls, Ontario, Canada
- Santa Clarita, California
- Malibu, California
The bulk of filming took place in Los Angeles and the surrounding area. Various outdoor scenes and indoor studio shoots were done in LA.
Key locations included:
- The grounds of Oviatt Library at California State University Northridge
- The Cube Building at Citrus College
- Malibu Creek State Park
However, there are no reports of any filming taking place in Sacramento for Bird Box. The production appears to have been based primarily in Southern California, with some additional filming in Canada.
Does the Sacramento River Appear in Bird Box?
In one crucial scene in Bird Box, the characters travel down a river in hopes of reaching safety from the entities. This river trip is a central part of the film’s plot.
The river seen in Bird Box is the Smith River in Northern California near the Oregon border. Filming took place on the Smith River located in Del Norte County, over 5 hours north of Sacramento.
The Sacramento River never appears in the actual film and was not used as a shooting location. All scenes featuring the unnamed river in Bird Box were filmed over 500 miles away from Sacramento on the Smith River.
The Smith River
Here are some key facts about the Smith River and its role in Bird Box:
- Located in far Northern California, over 200 miles north of Sacramento
- Flows through the Smith River National Recreation Area near Crescent City, CA
- A major river and popular fishing destination
- Site of the fictional river trip shown in Bird Box
- Allowed the production to safely film on a real river location
Does Sacramento Resemble Locations in Bird Box?
Although not directly featured, some viewers may find that Sacramento has some visual similarities to the unnamed town in Bird Box where much of the action takes place. These include:
- Mid-size city landscape and architecture
- Riverfront areas similar to the American River Parkway
- Mix of residential neighborhoods and suburban sprawl
- Natural areas with trees, vegetation, and open spaces
However, the locations in the film are clearly not meant to be Sacramento itself. The setting is an anonymous city that is never named or given a precise real-world place. Certain scenes were shot directly in Southern California locales.
Sacramento on Screen
Despite not appearing in Bird Box, Sacramento has been featured directly in other films and TV shows, including:
- Lady Bird – Several Sacramento locations featured including Downtown Sacramento, Fab 40s neighborhood, Sacramento City College
- Greta – Opening scene filmed in Midtown Sacramento along J Street
- Parks and Recreation – Establishing shots featured aerial views of Sacramento
- About a Boy – Scenes set and shot in Sacramento, including Land Park
So while not seen in Bird Box, Sacramento has had its fair share of direct spotlight moments on screen over the years!
Could Bird Box Have Been Set in Sacramento?
While the actual setting is anonymous, could the post-apocalyptic town in Bird Box have been imagined as Sacramento? There are arguments on both sides:
Arguments For
- Mid-size city similar to Sacramento’s population and landscape
- Prominent river location fits with the Sacramento and American Rivers
- Northern California climate matches Sacramento
- Capitol of California could make sense as a key destination
Arguments Against
- No iconic Sacramento landmarks identified in film
- Town appears more sprawling like Southern California
- Producer quotes point away from Sacramento as a location
- Scenes actually filmed in Southern California
While circumstantial evidence may suggest Sacramento, there are no definitive links between the town in Bird Box and California’s capital city. But the anonymous setting does leave it open to imagination!
Final Verdict: Bird Box Not Filmed or Set in Sacramento
After looking at all the available information, it seems clear that:
- Bird Box did no filming in Sacramento or nearby areas
- The Sacramento River does not appear and is not featured
- The film’s setting is an unnamed fictional town
- Sacramento does share some superficial similarities
So in summary, while some viewers may see echoes of Sacramento in the post-apocalyptic town, Bird Box ultimately has no direct connection to or depiction of California’s capital city.
The filming locations, incorporated scenery, cast quotes, and analysis of the movie’s setting point to Southern California and the Smith River in Del Norte County as the actual key sites used in production. Beyond superficial resemblance, Bird Box stays away from directly referencing or being set in Sacramento.
Conclusion
Despite some circumstantial links and possible similarities, there is no definitive evidence that Bird Box was filmed or set in Sacramento. The production took place entirely outside of the Sacramento area, and the setting remains a fictional Anytown, USA. Some viewers may see Sacramento qualities in certain scenes, but overall the film does not directly incorporate or revolve around California’s capital city.