Yardbarker
Yardbarker
x
The best fictional shopping malls of all time
Sony Pictures; Columbia Pictures

The best fictional shopping malls of all time

Online shopping might be the preferred method of consumer purchasing, but the awesomeness of tooling around a shopping mall still has its place in society. And in the world of television and film. Here's our list of the most notable fictional malls.

 
1 of 15

15. Twin Pines Mall/Lone Pine Mall ('Back to the Future')

Twin Pines Mall/Lone Pine Mall ('Back to the Future')
Universal Studios

Technically, we're talking about the parking lot of the fictionally famous shopping mall from Back to the Future. At 1:21 a.m., Oct. 26, 1985, Doc Brown's dog, Einstein, became a time traveler after his DeLorean reached 88 miles per hour. Of course, it was also where Doc was apparently shot by Libyan terrorists, although Marty McFly's time traveling helped him reverse history and save the day. While we never got a feel for the traditional mall experience here, this parking lot essentially started a film franchise. 

 
2 of 15

14. Town East Mall ('Cotton Candy')

Town East Mall ('Cotton Candy')
Major H Productions Ron Howard Productions

This forgotten made-for-television high school drama might be best known as one of Ron Howard's earliest directing projects. At one point, underdog pop-rock band Cotton Candy plays in a local "Battle of the Bands" at a suburban Dallas shopping mall. However, the campiness of the scene is highlighted by popular rockers Rapid Fire and frontman Torbin Bequette (Mark Wheeler), who made his entrance coming up an escalator flocked by a girl and his bandmates then rode to the stage on a mall golf cart.

 
3 of 15

13. Saguaro Square Mall ('Bad Santa')

Saguaro Square Mall ('Bad Santa')
Columbia Pictures

The shopping mall Santa Claus is one of the most special Christmas traditions. Of course, not all mall Santas are in it for the holiday spirit. Take Willie T. Soke (Billy Bob Thornton) and his elf pal Marcus (Tony Cox), who pose as those Christmas characters to rob the Saguaro Square Mall in this 2003 black comedy holiday classic. It's your basic mall setup, but it has a popular shop known for pedicures. 

 
4 of 15

12. The Galleria" ('Terminator 2: Judgment Day')

The Galleria" ('Terminator 2: Judgment Day')
Carolco Pictures; TriStar Pictures

Indoor shopping malls, or gallerias (if you live on the West Coast), are a good place to get lost. Unless, however, futuristic killing machines that look like humans are on the hunt for a young soldier-in-waiting John Connor (Eddie Furlong). In the case of this mega-popular 1991 sequel to The Terminator, the mall itself ends up being the victim when two terminators go head-to-head for the first time in the film. 

 
5 of 15

11. GoogolPlex Mall ('Phineas and Ferb')

GoogolPlex Mall ('Phineas and Ferb')
YouTube

Located in downtown Danville, it's often visited by Phineas, Ferb, and friends. Not to mention their sister Candace. Notable stores include the Lab Coat Emporium, Hail Britannia, Had D Har Toy Store, Squat and Stitch, and Mr. Slushy Burger. In terms of animated fictional shopping centers, the GoogolPlex Mall has something for shoppers of all ages. It's also animal friendly, especially when the occasional stampede rolls into town. 

 
6 of 15

10. Del Amo Fashion Center ('Jackie Brown')

Del Amo Fashion Center ('Jackie Brown')
Miramax Films

Quentin Tarantino made good use of the real-life Del Amo Fashion Center, located in Torrance, Calif., with his underrated 1997 gem.  And we're not just talking about his time devoted to the best aspect of any mall: the food court. Especially here, when Jackie (Pam Grier) and Max (Robert Forster) have a bit of a heart-to-heart

 
7 of 15

9. West Orange Pavilion Mall ('Paul Blart: Mall Cop'; 'Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2')

West Orange Pavilion Mall ('Paul Blart: Mall Cop'; 'Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2')
Sony Pictures; Columbia Pictures

Paul Blart (Kevin James) takes his job as mall security very seriously, especially when patrolling the West Orange (New Jersey) Pavilion Mall on his Segway. However, mall shoppers don't reciprocate. He was caught in the middle of a jewelry heist and hostage situation, where he had a chance to be a hero. Sometimes it pays to have a bumbling, semi-authority figure be the right man for the job. The sequel was primarily set in Las Vegas and pretty much unnecessary.  

 
8 of 15

8. Starcourt Mall ('Stranger Things')

Starcourt Mall ('Stranger Things')
YouTube

How did Hawkins, Ind., get such a cool, totally 1980s shopping mall? Well, Stranger Things isn't steeped in reality. Still, those who loved hanging at the mall during the '80s should enjoy this nostalgic look back. All the classic stores (some still around today) like Sam Goody and Waldenbooks are there. A stellar food court and the show's own twist with the popular Scoops Ahoy ice cream parlor. As the promo spot notes, "Starcourt Mall has it all." That's until it was destroyed by a demon from an alternate dimension. 

 
9 of 15

7. Crossroads Mall ('Dawn of the Dead')

Crossroads Mall ('Dawn of the Dead')
Universal Pictures

Whether talking George Romero's classic from 1978 or the 2004 remake that features Crossroads Mall, Dawn of the Dead had an obvious solution to the zombie problem. While amidst a zombie apocalypse, find the nearest shopping mall, hide, set up camp, then try to save the world. These are must-see movies for horror fans and those who enjoy spending time in a shopping mall.

 
10 of 15

6. Park Plaza Mall ('Chopping Mall')

Park Plaza Mall  ('Chopping Mall')
YouTube

From 1986, Chopping Mall might be a forgettable slasher flick with a sci-fi twist. Then again, it has a hint of originality with security guard robots that turned into killing machines and terrorized employees of the stores at Park Plaza Mall. Now, it does feature some of the stereotypical teen slasher film moments. Perhaps it's not wise to have sex in a mall furniture store after hours, especially when the "Killbots" are on the loose. When the mall pet store gets wrecked, and the snakes and spiders get free, then the fun really begins.

 
11 of 15

5. U.S. #1 Flea Market ('Mallrats')

U.S. #1 Flea Market ('Mallrats')
ClipCafe

When Brodie (Jason Lee) and T.S. (Jeremy London) needed to hide out from dreaded mall security guard LaFours and his fellow goons, it was time to hit "dirt mall," as it's affectionately known in the fictional world of the View Askewniverse. It's mildly seedy and a bit raunchy but a haven for cheap comics, Clerks hats, "good buys, great people, earthy aromas." And, of course, for a non-so nominal fee, one can receive some X-rated sage and perhaps life-changing advice from Miss Ivannah (Priscilla Barnes).

 
12 of 15

4. San Dimas Mall ('Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure')

San Dimas Mall ('Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure')
YouTube

Maybe it wasn't a good idea when Ted "Theodore" Logan (Keanu Reeves) and Bill S. Preston, Esq. (Alex Winter) dropped off new friends and historical figures like Sigmund Freud, Ludwig van Beethoven, Genghis Khan, Joan of Arc (played well by Go-Go Jane Wiedlin), and Abraham Lincoln at the mall to get accustomed to life in San Dimas. Well, mayhem ensued. Khan really enjoyed the sporting goods store, while Beethoven had the entire mall rocking. That was just some of the fun unleashed in one of the great movie mall scenes of all time.

 
13 of 15

3. Ridgemont Mall ('Fast Times at Ridgemont High')

Ridgemont Mall ('Fast Times at Ridgemont High')
Universal Studios

Back in the early 1980s, in southern California, there was no place more fictionally seen than the massively popular Ridgemont Mall. Whether grabbing a bite at Perry's Pizza, blowing your money at the awesome video arcade, or checking out a movie (though we hear all the action is on the other side of the mall), Ridgemont Mall was the place to be. If you were also looking to score those hard-to-get concert tickets, you came to the right place. Blue Oyster Cult fans might be out of luck, though.

 
14 of 15

2. Dixie Square Mall ('The Blues Brothers')

Dixie Square Mall ('The Blues Brothers')
YouTube

We were never told the fictional name of the mall that the Blues brothers destroyed during their famed police chase. Still, as Jake (John Belushi) said, "this place has got everything." From Toys "R" Us to an Oldsmobile dealership, Jake was right. However, the fictional version of the former Dixie Square Mall in the far south suburbs of Chicago was left in tatters after the Blues' outran the cops and essentially took out every store and kiosk in the mall. Of course, it did make for one of the movie's iconic scenes, so let's call it a push.

 
15 of 15

1. Eden Prairie Center ('Mallrats'; 'Jay and Silent Bob Reboot')

Eden Prairie Center ('Mallrats'; 'Jay and Silent Bob Reboot')
YouTube

We touched on Brodie's "dirt mall," but the true star of 1995's Mallrats is the Eden Prairie Mall — the name of the real-life shooting location, which was actually in Minnesota, not New Jersey. Doesn't matter. In the annals of fictional shopping malls, one should never be bored when entering. There are popular stores like Buy Me Toys, Rug Munchers Carpet Outlet, Fashionable Male, and the Burning Flesh Tanning Salon. Plus, on any given occasion, Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny will be around, 3D art to check out, famous comic-book creators signing autographs, and even a game show. Just watch your kids on the escalator. 

Jeff Mezydlo

A Chicago native, Jeff Mezydlo has professionally written about sports, entertainment and pop culture for parts of four decades. He was an integral member of award-winning sports sections at The Times of Northwest Indiana (Munster, Ind. ) and Champaign (Ill

More must-reads:

Customize Your Newsletter

Yardbarker +

Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!

TODAY'S BEST

All signs point to Yankees moving on from Anthony Volpe
MLB

All signs point to Yankees moving on from Anthony Volpe

With the trade for Ryan McMahon now complete, it would seem New York Yankees’ general manager Brian Cashman has fulfilled one of his three priorities. He can now cross third base off the list, which leaves the rotation and bullpen as his remaining priorities. However, according to one Yankees writer, Cashman might not be done with the infield. Chris Kirschner of The Athletic reported this after the McMahon trade: “The Yankees may not be done adding to their infield. A team source said the Yankees are interested in adding a right-handed hitter who could play the infield.” Kirschner adds that the Yankees have had interest in Willi Castro and Amed Rosario. But the question now is, how would another player fit into the Yankees’ infield? Needless to say, Paul Goldschmidt and Jazz Chisholm Jr. aren’t going anywhere, and McMahon is just getting there. That leaves the low-hanging fruit. Anthony Volpe has been at the center of controversy all this season. His 13 errors, many of which had come at make-or-break moments, amount to the second-highest total in the game. In addition, his bat has not been able to compensate, hitting .214/.286/.407 with 14 home runs. There was always a lot to like about Volpe. He won a Gold Glove in his rookie year, his power has always been promising and his speed is nothing to scoff at. Unfortunately, his glove has become a liability, and his speed has also produced very few results. Volpe has swiped just 10 bags in 17 attempts. His power is the one thing that still has some upside, but it hasn’t been enough to justify a spot in the lineup. Both Castro and Rosario have been far more productive at the plate this season than Volpe. Kirschner doesn’t clarify how serious the Yankees are in their pursuit of another infielder, but that most likely isn’t available information. Having just turned 24, Volpe could still become the type of player that was expected from him as a top prospect. However, his recent performance has weighed heavily on his team’s efforts, and it may be buying him a ticket out of the Bronx — or at least a spot on the bench.

Mets Make Mark Vientos Decision After Luis Robert Jr. Trade Report
MLB

Mets Make Mark Vientos Decision After Luis Robert Jr. Trade Report

Right-handed slugger Mark Vientos is in his fourth season with the New York Mets after making his debut in 2022. The 24-year-old emerged as a rising star for New York last year, playing 111 games and posting career highs with a .266 batting average and an .837 OPS. He also elevated his performance in the 2024 postseason, batting .327 with 18 hits, five home runs, 14 RBIs and eight runs scored in 13 games, leading the Mets to an NLCS appearance. Vientos recently recovered from a right hamstring strain that sidelined him for a few weeks in June, but since then he has really struggled to return to form and regain his production at the plate. Ahead of Sunday’s series finale against the San Francisco Giants, the Mets decided to bench Vientos (the second time in the last three games). The decision to leave him out of the lineup came after Bob Nightengale reported that the Chicago White Sox require Vientos to be involved in any trade for center fielder Luis Robert Jr. Mets general manager David Stearns recently said the Mets will be “engaged” when it comes to possibly adding a center fielder, so addressing that outfield need and Vientos losing playing time may push the organization to part ways with him. In 2025, Vientos is hitting .226 with a .638 OPS, six home runs and 27 RBIs, a steep drop-off in production after his breakout year. He will remain under team control for five more seasons after 2025 and will not hit free agency until 2030.

Brewers Reportedly Listening On Trade Offers For Veteran Starter
MLB

Brewers Reportedly Listening On Trade Offers For Veteran Starter

The Milwaukee Brewers aren't going to be categorized as sellers at this year's Trade Deadline, but they very well could trade from their big league roster. The starting rotation is an area of abundance for the Crew and it's always in high demand at this time of year. The Brewers have Nestor Cortes returning from the IL soon after missing the last four months almost with a flexor strain. Milwaukee's rotation is already filled with a mix of veterans (Freddy Peralta, Brandon Woodruff, Jose Quintana) and high performing rookies (Quinn Priester, Jacob Misiorowski), leaving little room to find a spot for Cortes. A trade of a veteran starter may be the easiest solution to the problem and according to Bob Nightengale, that's exactly what the Brewers are open to. In Nightengale's Sunday notes column, he writes that the Brewers are starting to listen to trade offers for veteran Nestor Cortes. Cortes has made just two starts this season, the first one being a disaster in New York and the second one being much better, going six shutout. Still, we haven't seen Cortes pitch in a big league game since early April. It would be tough for the Brewers to rely on him for the stretch run and move out a piece that has been healthy and reliable the whole time. Granted, the potential return for a rental starter like Cortes that has pitched in just two big league games this year isn't going to be anything earth shattering. But if Cortes sticks around, it's going to create a difficult logjam to manage in the Brewers rotation. Jose Quintana has struggled a little bit of late and is another veteran that could potentially be on the block if the Brewers end up keeping Cortes around. It seems difficult to envision a scenario in which both Quintana and Cortes are in the Brewers starting rotation on August 1st. Given the report that the Brewers are listening on Cortes, it appears that Milwaukee has their preference on who they would want to keep. The Trade Deadline is coming up on Thursday afternoon at 6 PM ET.

Aaron Rodgers responds to criticism from Steelers legend Terry Bradshaw
NFL

Aaron Rodgers responds to criticism from Steelers legend Terry Bradshaw

The Pittsburgh Steelers' signing of quarterback Aaron Rodgers was an immediately polarizing move that did not sit well with large portions of the fan base. It also did not sit well with one of the team's all-time greatest players, four-time Super Bowl winning quarterback Terry Bradshaw. Bradshaw initially referred to the signing of Rodgers as a "joke" and that he should "stay in California and go chew bark" in reference to Rodgers isolating himself in a darkness retreat last year. On Saturday, Rodgers finally had a chance to respond to Bradshaw and did so with a combination of taking the high road, and also trying to make light of it. “I whisper to the gods every single day. I’ve known Terry for a long time, being a part of Fox. Terry’s a legend. He’s an absolute legend. He won four Super Bowls. He’s had a legendary career in the media. But Terry, like a lot of people, doesn’t know me. And so, he’s got an idea of what he thinks about me based on what I’ve done, the documentary, what I’ve said, darkness retreat, whatever the hell you want to talk about. I’d love to get to know Terry on a deeper level. I feel like if he gave me a chance to get to know him, then we’d have a good friendship." He ended the answer by saying, "So, I’d love to get to know Terry on a deeper level if he’s open to it. And maybe we can go chew some bark or whatever the hell he’s talking about together.” The Steelers were in a pretty desperate quarterback situation this offseason after completely overhauling the position for a second year in a row. They missed out on the chance to re-sign Justin Fields, let Russell Wilson walk, missed out on every other veteran who changed teams and passed on the opportunity to select a quarterback near the top of a weak quarterback draft class. (They ultimately selected Ohio State's Will Howard in the sixth round.) The whole Rodgers saga has been quite a soap opera for the Steelers as they waited around for months while he decided on whether or not he wanted to play this season, and if he wanted to play for the Steelers. Add in the fact he has had a tendency to cause some off-field distractions with his comments and weekly "Pat McAfee Show" appearances, as well as the fact he will turn 42 years old this season and hasn't been a top-tier quarterback in three years, and a lot of Steelers fans — and former players — were put off by the idea. The only thing that will matter in the end, however, is how Rodgers plays on the field. He has said all of the right things since joining the team, and his new teammates have all spoken highly of him so far, but it will still come down to results on the field. The Steelers have not won a playoff game in eight years and are facing added pressure each year to end that drought. They are hoping Rodgers has one more good year in him to help them advance in the postseason.