Naman Shrestha
With Ángel Manuel Soto at the helm, Prime Video’s ‘The Wrecking Crew’ is an action crime comedy movie that centers on two estranged half-brothers — Jonny and James. While the former is a loose-cannon cop, the other is a disciplined Navy SEAL. After about two decades of not being in touch and sharing bad blood, they are reunited by the sudden and mysterious death of their father in Hawaii. Forced to work together, they must set their differences aside if they wish to unravel the mystery surrounding their father’s demise.
The two brothers join forces and uncover a dark conspiracy that could tear their family apart. Featuring compelling and action-packed performances from Jason Momoa, Dave Bautista, Claes Bang, Temuera Morrison, Jacob Batalon, Frankie Adams, and Morena Baccarin, the buddy cop film is set in the exotic land of Hawaii, which serves as an additional character that conceals dark secrets behind the scenic and picturesque facade of the pristine waters and lush green islands.
The Wrecking Crew Filming Locations
‘The Wrecking Crew’ was filmed in New Zealand and Hawaii, particularly in Auckland and O’ahu. According to reports, principal photography for the Jason Momoa starrer got underway in the first week of October 2024 and continued for more than three months before wrapping up by the last week of January 2025. In the beginning of the shooting process, Jason Momoa expressed his excitement of working on the film, stating, “Perfect day amazing team so many friends and ohana involved in this movie. excited to play with my brother @davebautista All my aloha j.”
Auckland, New Zealand
The action-packed escapades of Jonny and James are set in Hawaii. To shape a portion of the visual aesthetic of ‘The Wrecking Crew,’ the production team settled on New Zealand. Nestled in the southwestern part of the Pacific Ocean, a few spots in the island country doubled up as Oahu in Hawaii. The metropolitan city of Auckland in the North Island served as the predominant filming site in the country. According to reports, a few sequences were taped in Queen Street, a busy commercial thoroughfare in the vibrant Central Business District (CBD) in the City of Sails. In addition to that, filming was also conducted in the diverse neighborhood of Hall Avenue, located in the suburb of Ōtāhuhu in South Auckland.
O’ahu, Hawaii
For the purpose of filming the action-comedy, the cast and crew visited several spots in and around the Hawaiian Island of O’ahu. Shooting of some scenes took place in Waiʻanae on the west coast of the island in Honolulu County. The laid-back neighborhood is known for its breathtaking mountain vistas and golden beaches. The team also headed downtown and filmed at Aliʻiōlani Hale, the home of the Hawaiʻi State Supreme Court at 417 South King Street in Honolulu. The bustling 15-block area of Chinatown in the western part of the city’s financial district also served as a filming location. It is a thriving artistic hub and culinary landmark.
Jason Momoa, who plays Jonny, was spotted shooting outside Zippy’s Ewa (or just Zippy’s), a popular local dining chain at 91-1717 Fort Weaver Road in the heart of Ewa Beach in the greater Honolulu region. It is also likely that the serene beach also makes an appearance in the movie. The production team also chose Kakaʻako, located between downtown Honolulu and Waikīkī, as one of the spots where the shooting was carried out. The upbeat neighborhood is recognized for its hip art scene, cozy coffee spots, and an eclectic display of unique architecture that showcases the creativity and lively spirit of the region.
The crew also captured the raw and striking beauty of the Makapu’u area, famous for its beach, lighthouse, trail, and park. A slice of ‘The Wrecking Crew’ was lensed in the Waikīkī, a neighborhood lined with historic hotels on the southern shore of Oahu. The filming camp was set up on the eponymous beach, an iconic surfing destination that attracts tourists from around the world. Other filming locations of the comedy movie include the 4,000-acre nature preserve Kualoa Ranch in Kaneohe, the Hawaii Convention Center at 1801 Kalākaua Avenue, and Back to Vegas, which has reportedly been permanently closed.
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