Where Was Bad Monkey Filmed? Vince Vaughn Show’s Filming Locations Explained

Apple’s new crime dramedy series Bad Monkey starring Vince Vaughn takes place in Florida and the Bahamas. Vince Vaughn leads the cast of Bad Monkey as a former Miami detective trying to get his job back after being demoted to a health inspector. Bad Monkey is one of the many shows created by prolific television producer Bill Lawrence, whose other works include Ted Lasso (2020-2023), Shrinking (2023- ), Cougar Town (2009-2015), and Scrubs (2001-2010). Bad Monkey follows Vaughn’s Andrew Yancy who comes across a severed human arm and believes it’s his way back to the police force after being demoted to a restaurant inspector in the Florida Keys.

Bad Monkey is an adaptation of the 2013 novel of the same name written by Carl Hiaasen, who has written several other comedic crime thrillers set in Florida. Bad Monkey has received great reviews upon its release, receiving a strong Rotten Tomatoes critic score of 91% as of the time of writing. Bad Monkey marks the first television series Vaughn has starred in since True Detective season 2 which was released back in 2015, although he did guest star in several episodes of Curb Your Enthusiasm seasons 10-12. Bad Monkey season 1, episode 2 ends with the interconnection of separate series protagonists, Andrew and Neville.

Key West, Florida

A good part of the filming done in Bad Monkey actually took place in the primary setting of the series, which is the Florida Keys. It’s next to impossible to fake the iconic location of the Florida Keys, which is why the production for Bad Monkey took place there, especially considering how much of the series is wrapped around the culture there. Of course, shooting on location in the Florida Keys does present many challenges, particularly with the weather and the high levels of humidity.

The beautiful beaches and tropical scenery of Key West added a unique and enjoyable “trouble in paradise” vibe to Bad Monkey, which oozes into every plot point and visual frame of the series. Several aerial shots of Key West were shown to provide a fully immersive perspective of the location, full of palm trees and lush ocean waters. It makes for a perfect mix of crime and comedy elements in a highly desirable area that often leans into its beach vacation atmosphere.

Miami, Florida

The other prime filming location in Bad Monkey is Miami, Florida, which was used for the scenes in both Miami and the island of Andros in the Bahamas where Neville lives. Andros is also where Christopher and Ever are planning to build their new beachfront property. Key West is approximately 160 miles south of Miami, making a drive of about 4 hours one way. Miami is known for its party atmosphere and bustling nightlife scene, while the Bahamas is a beloved destination for vacationing. Not many television shows are shot entirely in southern Florida, making Bad Monkey a truly authentic viewing experience.