“Boomer” (2003) is not just a film, but a cultural phenomenon that has forever entered the history of Russian cinema. The painting by Peter Buslov became a symbol of the era of the 2000s, and its locations became real places of pilgrimage for fans. But where exactly were key scenes filmed? What addresses are hidden behind the footage of races through Moscow at night, dramatic showdowns and the legendary finale?
In this article we have collected all real filming locations the first "Boomer" with exact coordinates, a comparison of "then and now", as well as little-known details that did not make it into the final cut. If you have ever dreamed of driving along the route of Katani, Kot, Killer and Kesha, this material is for you.
The filming process of the film lasted for several months in 2002, and the geography of locations covered three regions: Moscow, Moscow region and St. Petersburg. Director Pyotr Buslov specifically chose places that would reflect the atmosphere of that time - half-empty highways, abandoned industrial areas and nightclubs where life was in full swing. Many addresses are still recognizable despite changes over 20 years.
Interesting fact: some of the scenes were filmed without official permissions. For example, the famous race Leningradsky Prospekt operators filmed hand-held from open car windows, risking running into traffic police patrols. And for the episode with BMW E34 (Kesha’s car) I had to rent a real car service station in the Moscow region, which became the gang’s “hangout” during filming.
1. Moscow: main locations and their modern appearance
Most of the film was shot in the capital - from the central streets to the outskirts. Many places have survived to this day, although they have undergone changes. Below - exact addresses with reference to key scenes.
One of the most recognizable places - House of the Cat (Andrey Merzlikin). In the film, this is an apartment on the top floor overlooking the city, where the hero lives with his mother. In fact, filming took place in residential building at st. Bolshaya Ordynka, 43. The building was built in 1950s years and still retains its Soviet appearance. The apartment for filming was provided by the real owner - according to rumors, he knew someone from the film crew.
Another cult point - Cafe "U Pelikan", where Katanya (Vladimir Vdovichenkov) meets Kesha (Sergey Gorobchenko) before going to St. Petersburg. This the real-life Pelican restaurant on the street. Pyatnitskaya, 33. The establishment closed on 2010, and now the building houses an office center. The interior was hardly changed for the film - the original furniture and decor were used.
No less important location - car service Keshi, where the gang gathers before their trip. Filming took place in Moscow region, but for external plans they used car service center "MosAvtoTech" on Dmitrovskoye Shosse, 100. The building still stands, although it now has a different owner. Interestingly, for the knife fight scene the actors used dull prop knives, but some shots had to be re-shot because the “wounds” were too realistic.
- 📍 Cat's House: st. Bolshaya Ordynka, 43 (view of the Kremlin from the balcony - editing trick, in fact, there is no such angle there).
- 🍽️ Cafe "U Pelikan": st. Pyatnitskaya, 33 (now offices, but the facade has been preserved).
- 🚗 Keshi car service: Dmitrovskoe shosse, 100 (works as a service station, but without the criminal surroundings).
- 🏙️ Race along Leninsky Prospekt: area from st. Vavilova up to Vernadsky Avenue (now there are cameras and speed limits).
2. Moscow region: tracks, abandoned sites and filming without permission
It was in the Moscow region that the most dynamic scenes of the film were filmed - track racing, chasing a Mercedes and final shootout. The director specifically chose low-lit areas to avoid the attention of the traffic police and random witnesses.
The most famous location is abandoned factory, where the final showdown with Kesha’s gang takes place. This industrial zone in the city of Elektrostal (Zheleznodorozhnaya str., 1). The building still stands in a dilapidated state, although the area is partially surrounded by a fence. According to rumors, the film crew did not have official permission to film and worked there for only one day until the local guards showed up.
Another iconic place - highway M10 (Russia), where Katanya and the Cat are racing BMW 5-series (E39). Filming took place in the area between Zelenograd and Solnechnogorsk. Interestingly, for the accident scene with KamAZ used real truck, but without a driver - the car was moving by inertia down the hill, and the cameramen were filming from a helicopter.
For the scene with chasing a Mercedes W124 (the bandits' car) the film crew blocked the area Novorizhskoe highway near the village Barvikha. Local residents later said that at night they heard the roar of engines and the sounds of gunfire (which were added during editing).
⚠️ Attention: Today, driving along these highways at an excessive speed, as in the film, is fraught with fines of up to 5 000 ₽ or deprivation of rights. Automatic recording cameras are installed at the stations, and traffic police patrols regularly check documents.
| Location | Address | Scene in the film | Current status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abandoned factory | Elektrostal, st. Zheleznodorozhnaya, 1 | Final shootout | Dilapidated, territory is fenced |
| Highway M10 | Section Zelenograd - Solnechnogorsk | Race in BMW E39 | Operating highway, recording cameras |
| Novorizhskoe highway | Near the village of Barvikha | Chasing Mercedes W124 | Active traffic, traffic police patrols |
| forest road | Istra district, near the village of Pavshino | Scene with Kesha's abandoned car | The road is overgrown and travel is difficult |
3. St. Petersburg: nightclubs and elegant facades
Despite the fact that the main action takes place in Moscow, several key scenes were filmed in St. Petersburg. The city in the film is presented as a place where the heroes go “for money” - and it is here that the most tense moments take place.
The most recognizable location - night club "Tunnel", where Katanya and the Cat meet with local bandits. Actually it's club "Tunnel" on the embankment. Obvodny Canal, 118. The establishment existed until 2015, and now the building houses a business center. The interior for the film was almost unchanged - the original lamps and bar counter were used.
One more place - Hotel "Pribaltiyskaya" (Korolenko St., 4), where the heroes stop. The film shows a room with a view Gulf of Finland, but in fact the filming took place in another building of the hotel. Interestingly, for the scene with transfer of money actors used real banknotes (though of small denomination), which were then returned to the cash register.
For the stage chase around St. Petersburg the film crew blocked Ligovsky Prospekt and Nevsky Prospekt at night. Local residents later complained about noise and bright spotlights, but permission to film was officially issued - unlike the Moscow episodes.
- 🎭 Club "Tunnel": emb. Obvodny Kanal, 118 (now offices, but the façade is recognizable).
- 🏨 Hotel "Pribaltiyskaya": st. Korolenko, 4 (rooms overlooking the bay are still available for rent).
- 🚦 Ligovsky Prospekt: area from Moskovsky railway station up to pl. Uprisings (now there are bike paths there).
- 💰 Bank (money scene): st. Marata, 60 (the building has survived, but the bank has been closed for a long time).
If you want to repeat the heroes' route in St. Petersburg, use Yandex.Maps with the “Streets of the 2000s” layer - there you can see what the locations looked like during the filming era.
4. Movie cars: where are BMW and Mercedes from “Boomer” now?
Cars in Boomer are a separate topic for discussion. All the cars were real, not props, and many of them had their own history before and after filming.
Main character - BMW 5-series (E39) Catani - was rented from a private owner. This BMW 525tds 1998 in a sedan body, painted black color (code 668). After filming, the car was returned to the owner, but a few years later it was sold at auction. Now she's somewhere in Moscow region, but the exact owner is unknown.
BMW E34 Keshi (model 520i 1992) had a sadder fate. Used for the accident scene two cars: one for shooting interiors, the second for the wreck. The second BMW was completely dismantled for parts after the work was completed.
Mercedes-Benz W124 (the bandits' car) was also a real car. This Mercedes 230 TE 1990 in a station wagon. After filming it was sold to Kazakhstan, where it served for several more years before being decommissioned.
Fun fact: for the stage chasing a Mercedes used three doubles — two for filming from different angles and one for tricks. All cars were painted the same dark green color (code 359).
⚠️ Attention: If you come across a car for sale with a “Boomer story,” be careful—most of these ads are scams. The real cars from the film have long since lost touch with the movie and do not have any “collectible” documents.
What happened to Cat's car (Toyota Chaser)?
Cat's car - 1996 Toyota Chaser (JZX100) - was the only one in the film that was not damaged during filming. After the work was completed, it was sold to one of the members of the film crew, and then it was resold several times. She was last seen in 2018 in Sochi with different numbers and a slightly modified exterior.
5. How to find locations yourself: maps and tips
If you want to take the Boomer route, here are some tips for finding filming locations in 2026:
1. Use the Yandex.Maps service with the Time Machine function. It allows you to see what the streets looked like in 2000s years. For example, Leningradsky Prospekt or Obvodny Canal in St. Petersburg have changed a lot in 20 years.
2. Focus on characteristic buildings. For example, Cat's house on Bolshaya Ordynka has a unique balcony with wrought iron bars, which is seen in the film. A plant in Elektrostal recognized by a large pipe with a red stripe.
3. Avoid traffic violations. Many scenes in the film were shot with speeding and driving through a red light, but today this threatens with fines or deprivation of rights. For example, on Leningradsky Prospekt Now there are cameras that record even minor violations.
4. Check location availability. Some places like abandoned factory in Elektrostal, are now in a protected area. Permission may be required for filming or visiting.
Download offline maps with marked locations|Check the route for toll roads|Prepare the car (refueling, tire pressure)|Make sure that there are no filming or repairs at the locations|Take a camera with you for a comparison “then and now”-->
6. Little-known facts about the filming that were not included in the film
While working on “Boomer,” many funny and dramatic situations occurred that few people know about. Here are a few of them:
1. Bridge jumping scene. In the original script, Katanya and the Cat were supposed to jump a car over a drawbridge in St. Petersburg. However, due to permitting issues and the risk of damaging the BMW, the idea was scrapped. Instead they filmed the scene with overtaking in the oncoming lane.
2. Real police officers in the frame. In the chase sequence Novorizhskoe highway A traffic police car accidentally appeared in the frame. The director decided not to reshoot the scene, but left it in the film - now this is considered an “Easter egg” for attentive viewers.
3. Improvisation by Vdovichenkov. Actor Vladimir Vdovichenkov (Katanya) himself came up with the phrase “Who are you?!”, which Keshe shouts before the fight. This line was not in the script, but it became one of the most quoted lines in the film.
4. Filming in the morgue. For the scene with Kesha's corpse used real morgue in the Moscow region. The actors later said that the atmosphere there was so heavy that some members of the film crew refused to go inside.
5. Lost footage. The original version of the film was on 10 minutes longer, but some scenes were cut out at the request of the distributors. For example, it was removed scene with a conversation between the cat and his mother, where she talks about his father.
Many Boomer locations can still be visited, but some (like the Tunnel club) have completely changed their appearance. The safest places - Kota's house on Ordynka and highway M10 (although you can’t drive there at high speed anymore).
7. How locations have changed over 20 years: photos “then and now”
More than two decades have passed since filming, and many places have undergone major changes. Here are some examples:
Leningradsky Prospekt (Moscow). In the film, this is a half-empty track where the heroes race at night. here today multi-lane traffic, recording cameras and bike paths. Houses along the avenue had their facades renewed, and some buildings were demolished for reconstruction.
Club "Tunnel" (St. Petersburg). B 2003 it was one of the most popular nightclubs in the city. The building now houses office center, and the interior was completely redone. Only the façade with its characteristic arch has been preserved.
Plant in Elektrostal. In the film, this is a gloomy industrial area with broken windows. Today the area is partially fenced, and some buildings have been demolished. However, the main building with the chimney still stands and looks almost the same as in the photo.
Keshi car service (Dmitrovskoe highway). Externally, the building has hardly changed, but now it is modern car service with new equipment. The old hangars where the fights were filmed were demolished back in 2010.
If you want to see what locations look like today, use services like Google Street View or "Yandex.Maps" with a function for comparing images from different years. Some places like Cat's house, have remained almost unchanged, while others - for example, club "Tunnel" - You can only find out by small details.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Is it possible today to drive along the race route from the film without penalties?
Theoretically yes, but in practice it is almost impossible. On Leningradsky Prospekt and Novorizhskoe highway automatic recording cameras have been installed that fine for speeding (even at 10 km/h). In addition, restrictions on trucks and public transport have been introduced in many areas.
If you want to repeat the route legally, stick to the speed limit and avoid maneuvering through a solid road (as in the overtaking scene KamAZ).
Where is Catani's car (BMW E39) now?
Last time BMW 525tds from the movie seen in 2016 in the Moscow region. According to auto enthusiasts, the car was sold to a private collector, but its current location is unknown. Advertisements for the sale of “BMW from Boomer” periodically appear online, but they are all scams.
The only confirmed “movie” car is Toyota Chaser The cat that 2018 saw in Sochi.
Is it true that real money was used for filming?
Yes, but only in some scenes. For example, in the episode with transferring money in St. Petersburg used real banknotes small denomination (mostly 100 ruble). They were then returned to the bank's cash desk. But for the scene with suitcase of cash Kesha was used in the car fake money.
It is interesting that during filming the actors did not know where the real bills were and where the props were - this was done to make their reactions more natural.
Is it possible to visit an abandoned plant in Elektrostal?
Technically yes, but the area is now semi-abandoned and partially fenced. Local residents say that they sometimes spend time there illegal filming or urban excursions, but there is no official access.
If you decide to visit this place, be careful: in some buildings no lighting, and floors may be unstable. It is better to inspect the plant from the outside.
What scenes did the actors come up with right on set?
Much of the dialogue and action in the film was improvised. For example:
- Catani's phrase “Who are you?!”** was invented by Vladimir Vdovichenkov right before filming.
- The scene where The cat drinks vodka from the bottle in the car was also Andrey Merzlikin’s idea.
- Fight in car service partly filmed without rehearsals - the actors really fought (but without real blows).
Director Pyotr Buslov encouraged such improvisations if they fit into the atmosphere of the film.