10 Things I Hate About You Filmed [updated] May 2026

Released in 1999, 10 Things I Hate About You is a quintessential teen comedy that adapts Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew to a late-1990s American high school setting. While the film is set in the fictional Padua High School in Seattle, Washington, the actual production took place almost entirely in and around Portland, Oregon, as well as in Tacoma, Washington. This paper documents the primary physical locations used in the film, analyzing how each site contributes to the film’s thematic tension between social performance and authentic identity.

The paintball sequence where Patrick “tames” Kat by letting her win was filmed at Oaks Amusement Park in Southeast Portland. The park’s historic roller rink, midway, and wooded perimeter were used. Oaks Park was chosen for its vintage, slightly faded charm, which contrasts with the immaculate settings elsewhere and allows the characters to get messy and physically free. 10 things i hate about you filmed

The most iconic visual of the film is the imposing, castle-like facade of Padua High School. This is actually Stadium High School, located in Tacoma’s Sixth Avenue neighborhood. Built in 1891 as a luxury hotel before being converted into a high school in 1906, its Gothic Revival architecture and waterfront setting create a theatrical, almost privileged backdrop. The film uses the school’s exterior, including the grand staircase and courtyard, to emphasize the social hierarchy that Kat (Julia Stiles) rebels against. Released in 1999, 10 Things I Hate About

10 Things I Hate About You (1999) – Filming Locations The paintball sequence where Patrick “tames” Kat by

The brief but memorable scene of the “naked bike guy” riding past Cameron’s window was filmed at a private home on 3416 SE Belmont Street in Portland. The house’s tree-lined residential street was used for its quiet, suburban feel, making the unexpected nudity more absurdly comic.

The restaurant where Cameron (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) awkwardly tries to impress Bianca (Larisa Oleynik) while Kat and Patrick have their first real conversation is The Old Spaghetti Factory in Portland’s Lloyd District. The building’s antique trolley car dining area and exposed brick provide a nostalgic, slightly kitsch setting that suits the film’s ironic tone.

Contrary to popular belief, the beach where Patrick Verona (Heath Ledger) sings “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” was not filmed in Washington or Oregon. Due to the need for consistent sunlight and warmer water temperatures, production moved to Huntington Beach, California. Specifically, the scene was shot at the end of Huntington Beach Pier. The wide, flat shoreline allows for the memorable crane shot that pulls back to show the crowded beach, reinforcing Patrick’s transition from aloof outsider to public romantic.