Shubhabrata Dutta
Created by Derek Haas, Prime Video’s crime action drama series ‘Countdown’ follows a group of skilled undercover agents tasked with preventing a large-scale disaster. The show centers on Mark Meachum (Jensen Ackles), an LAPD detective recruited to a secret task force to uncover a sinister plot involving the murder of a Department of Homeland Security officer. With a potential Chernobyl-level event on the Los Angeles horizon, Mark and his team are forced to take things beyond the rulebook to track down the culprits, risking their lives in the endeavor, because nothing can be greater than saving the lives of innocents. Since the very existence of Los Angeles is at stake, the show incorporates authentic visuals to highlight the narrative and the drama.
Countdown Filming Locations
‘Countdown’ is filmed in California, and, reportedly, in Hungary, specifically in Budapest. Principal photography of season 1 began in the second week of September 2024 and continued for several months before wrapping up in mid-March 2025. While California became the base for shooting, Budapest was used as the backdrop for additional shots contributing to the story. Upon completion, Ackles took to social media to express his gratitude. “What a beautiful ride it has been…A brilliant crew, a fantastic cast, and an absolutely wonderful experience,” he stated.
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, the seat of Los Angeles County, is where the story is set. Naturally, a major portion of the show is filmed in the city too. The urban neighborhoods, the skyscrapers, the streets, and the avenues were all used as the settings to highlight the modern arc of the show. Wilshire Boulevard, a major boulevard in the city, was used to film several outdoor sequences. This includes the area near India’s Tandoori, a well-known Indian restaurant at 5468 Wilshire Boulevard.
Nicknamed the City of Angels, Los Angeles is a major international production hub, due to being the home of Hollywood. Needless to say, it has numerous top-tier production studios that offer modern amenities and the best services for filming shows and movies. For a show like ‘Countdown,’ which relies heavily on action, the crew may have opted for one or more studio spaces to film sequences in controlled environments. Some indoor scenes were seemingly taped within studio walls as well. Some production giants headquartered in Los Angeles are the Walt Disney Company, Universal Pictures, Warner Bros., and DreamWorks Animation. The city has served as the base for movies and shows like ‘The Residence,’ ‘Government Cheese,’ and ‘Plane.’
Culver City, California
Culver City, situated in western Los Angeles County, became the second base for the shooting of ‘Countdown.’ Akin to the city of Los Angeles, its history is drenched in movies that go back to the golden age of American cinema. Some classics shot in the city are ‘Gone with the Wind,’ ‘Citizen Kane,’ and ‘The Wizard of Oz.’ Sony Pictures Entertainment has its headquarters in Culver City as well. The similarity it shares with Los Angeles in terms of urban environments may have played a role in its viability as a filming location. ‘Side Quest’ too was lensed within the city limits. Iconic landmarks and areas you can visit include the Museum of Jurassic Technology, Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook, Wende Museum of the Cold War, the Culver Boulevard Bike Path, and Culver City Park.
Santa Clarita, California
Santa Clarita is in the northwestern part of Los Angeles County and is primarily known for its ranches that are used for filming. Some of them are Melody Ranch, Rancho Deluxe, Sable Ranch, and Golden Oak Ranch, all of which constitute the Santa Clarita Valley. Its popularity has even earned it the nickname Hollywood North. However, the city itself is a go-to spot for production, including those of ‘The Accountant 2,’ ‘S.W.A.T.,’ ‘Wolfs,’ and ’24.’ If you are planning to visit the city, some of the hotspots you can go to are Central Park, Six Flags Magic Mountain, Valencia Town Center, Bridgeport Marketplace Lake, and William S. Hart Museum & Ranch.
Budapest, Hungary
The crew reportedly taped some additional scenes in Budapest, the capital of Hungary. Several areas in District VII, based on the Pest side of the Danube River, were used as the setting for outdoor sequences. The crew set up shop in Kürt Street to capture a few shots as well. District VII is known for its cultural charm and is a center of Jewish history. Budapest itself is a gorgeous city that, with its historical buildings, provides a stunning contrast to the visual canvas of ‘Countdown,’ especially when compared to California. A global center of commerce, arts, and fashion, Budapest boasts world-famous tourist spots like the Buda Castle, Heroes’ Square, Fisherman’s Bastion, Gellért Baths, and Liberty Bridge. Other projects that have used the gorgeous city as a backdrop are ‘The Day of the Jackal,’ ‘Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan,’ ‘Homeland,’ and ‘The Spy.’
Read More: Is Countdown Based on a True Story?
