Where Was Ricky Stanicky Filmed? Zac Efron Comedy’s Filming Locations Explained

Zac Efron’s new comedy Ricky Stanicky is primarily set in Providence, Rhode Island, but the movie was actually filmed about as far away from that location as possible. Ricky Stanicky follows three childhood friends, Dean (Efron), Wes (Jermaine Fowler), and JT (Andrew Santino), who invented an imaginary friend named Ricky Stanicky to blame when they get into trouble. The trio continues this charade as adults to get out of things they don’t want to do, but when they’re forced to introduce “Ricky” to their loved ones, they hire an actor-impersonator (John Cena) to pretend to play their nonexistent friend.

Ricky Stanicky had been in the works since 2010, with James Franco, Joaquin Phoenix, and Jim Carrey all reportedly attached to star in the titular role at one point. After it was announced in 2022 that Peter Farrelly had signed on as director and Efron and Cena had joined the cast of Ricky Stanicky, filming finally took place in February and March 2023. Most of Ricky Stanicky is set in Providence, except for a few early scenes that take place in Atlantic City. However, the actual filming location for Ricky Stanicky’ was very far away from these American cities.

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

The Major Australian City Doubled As Providence, Rhode Island

The majority of Ricky Stanicky was filmed in the metropolitan city of Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria in Australia. Melbourne stood in for the Providence setting, as well as some of the Atlantic City-set scenes. Ricky Stanicky received financial support from the Australian federal government’s Location Incentive program as well as the Victoria state government’s Victorian Screen Incentive program (via Variety). The producers were praised for selecting Melbourne as their filming location, as it was projected to boost the Australian economy by the equivalent of $49.7 million USD and create more than 400 jobs for local cast and crew members.

The Crown Melbourne Casino Was Used As The Golden Trident Casino

A couple of scenes early on in Ricky Stanicky take place in Atlantic City, New Jersey, where Dean, Wes, and JT sneak off to see Marc Rebillet in concert. After the concert, the trio meet Rock-Hard Rod at the bar of the fictional Golden Trident Casino. This scene was filmed at the famous Crown Casino inside the Crown Melbourne Hotel, located on Whiteman Street on the South Bank of the Yarra River in Melbourne, Australia.

Monash Children’s Hospital Was Used As The Providence Birthing Center

After Dean tells JT that his pregnant wife Susan went into labor six weeks early, the trio rush home to Providence for the birth. An exterior shot of Providence Birthing Center is shown, followed by JT running through the hospital. These scenes were filmed at Monash Children’s Hospital, located in the Clayton suburb of Melbourne. On March 8, 2023, the hospital’s Instagram account posted some photos of Efron and Cena posing with the children who are patients there, thanking Farrelly and producer Paul Currie for the “once in a lifetime opportunity.”

ANZ World Headquarters Was Used For The Exterior Shots Of The Summerhayes Office Building

Multiple scenes in Ricky Stanicky take place inside and outside the Summerhayes office building where Dean and JT work (and Ricky and Wes later get hired). Located at 100 Queen Street in Melbourne, the Queen & Collins building complex was used for the exterior shots of the Summerhayes office building. The complex has been home to ANZ World Headquarters for 25 years (via Armitage Jones).

The Baby Shower & Bris Scenes Were Filmed In The Surrey Hills Suburbs

After Ricky Stanicky jumps to the present day, Dean and his girlfriend Erin are shown in their home, preparing for JT and his wife Susan’s baby shower (which the three men promptly ditch). Later in the film, after baby Whitaker is born, JT and Susan host the newborn’s Bris ceremony at their home, where everybody meets Rod-as-Ricky (who ends up performing the circumcision). Besides a few establishing shots of the Providence skyline, these suburban scenes in Ricky Stanicky were filmed in the Surrey Hills suburbs of Melbourne.

The Bowling Alley Scene Was Filmed At Oz Tenpin Greensborough Lanes In Bundoora

After Ricky gets hired to work at Summerhayes, the whole crew goes bowling together. At the bowling alley, Susan’s cousin Carly gets her Rapunzel-length hair stuck in the pinsetter, causing panic as bowling balls continue to hit her in the head until Ricky comes to the rescue. The bowling alley scene was shot at Oz Tenpin Greensborough Lanes in the Bundoora suburb of Melbourne. The venue’s name partially appears in an exterior shot, where a sign that reads “Greensborough Lanes” is shown.

Dean & Wes’ Bar Scene Was Filmed At The Royston Hotel Bar In Richmond

Toward the end of Ricky Stanicky, Dean and Wes meet at a bar for a drink as Dean begins to accept that the Ricky Stanicky lie is about to blow up in his face, and the two friends have a heart-to-heart about Dean’s tumultuous childhood. This bar scene was filmed at the Royston Hotel Bar in the Richmond suburb of Melbourne. The scene begins with a shot of the Royston exterior, showing that the name of the bar had been kept the same.

Geelong, Australia

Avalon Airport Was Used For The Atlantic City & Rhode Island Airport Scenes

When Dean, Wes, and JT are rushing back home to Providence from Atlantic City in Ricky Stanicky, one scene shows the trio going through security at Atlantic City International Airport. Later, they pick up Rod aka Ricky from the

Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport. Other than the exterior sign for the Rhode Island airport, these airport scenes were filmed at Avalon Airport in the Greater Geelong city in Victoria, Australia.

Sources: Variety, Ready Steady Cut, Sportskeeda, 7 News, Armitage Jones