This Is Where Breaking Bad Was Really Filmed

If you've tuned in to AMC anytime within the past 15 or so years, you'll know that it has hosted numerous television classics in that time. Programs like "Mad Men" and "The Walking Dead" — despite the former ending in 2015 and the latter wrapping up in 2022 — endure in pop culture to this day and show little sign of disappearing in the immediate future. The same goes for "Breaking Bad": a drama series that bid audiences farewell in 2013 but continues to regularly pull in new fans while keeping the old ones rewatching.

Stemming from the mind of Vince Gilligan, "Breaking Bad" premiered in January of 2008 and took little time getting off the ground. Across its five seasons and 62 episodes, the series told the story of science teacher-turned drug kingpin Walter "Heisenberg" White (Bryan Cranston) as he navigated the criminal underworld while contending with lung cancer. In addition to becoming a hit with viewers, the program scored numerous awards in its time, including several Primetime Emmys. Not to mention, it paved the way for a spinoff, "Better Call Saul," and a film, "El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie."

Tight writing and unforgettable performances aside, one of the strongest elements of "Breaking Bad" was its atmosphere. Here's the city and state where filming took place as well as some of the landmarks that you can visit at your leisure.

When "Breaking Bad" was still in development, the minds behind it had a very different vision for its setting compared to what they ultimately went with. As Vince Gilligan told Vulture in 2013, he initially wrote in the script that the show took place in Southern California, specifically Riverside. However, his mind changed when he learned of the benefits that came with a different nearby state. "Sony said, 'What do you think about shooting in Albuquerque, New Mexico? We'll get a 25 percent rebate on monies spent within the state,'" Gilligan recalled, and the rest is history.

"Breaking Bad" spends the bulk of its story within Albuquerque and the surrounding area, meaning that numerous homes and otherwise inconspicuous places have become entertainment landmarks. Brit on the Move has compiled a comprehensive list of such locales, ranging from the White family home to Gus Fring's (Giancarlo Esposito) faux-business, Los Pollos Hermanos. According to the write-up, embarking on a self-guided tour to these famous areas and more would take you through Northern Heights, Downtown, and North, giving you a sense of scale that watching "Breaking Bad" on TV couldn't possibly supply.

Per the Visit Albuquerque website, the cast and crew of "Breaking Bad" quite enjoyed their time in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and the city has likely enjoyed the increased tourism the show created. The two will always be synonymous with one another, which is amazing considering they nearly had nothing to do with each other.