Grand Theft Auto V is set in a parody of Los Angeles, right? The golf, the smug hipsters, the relentlessly sunny climate, it’s all a note-perfect parody of the City of Angels. Although, as this video proves, maybe not.
It’s not a one-to-one match between every shot in the trailer and every shot in the live-action version, filmed in Madrid and the surrounding areas. And there is a little computer trickery involved. But Zapruder Films did a surprisingly good job of arguing that Los Santos is based more on Madrid than Los Angeles.
Of course, this does raise a few questions. For example, if Los Santos is Madrid, does that make Trevor English? That is what’s directly north. Hey, it’d even make a certain amount of sense, bar the accent.