Top 10 Coolest Secret Movie Lairs

Top 10 Coolest Secret Movie Lairs

Ever wanted a secret hideout, but didn’t know where to set it up? These films have got you covered. Welcome to WatchMojo.com, and today we’re counting down our picks for the top 10 coolest secret lairs in movies.

For this list, we’ll be examining films throughout history and pinpointing the ones with prominent yet well-hidden bases of operation. Our emphasis is on the phrase “well-hidden”; and while we love Batman, we have chosen to omit anything that is from comic books.

#10: The Vampire Hideout
“The Lost Boys” (1987)

Something tells us that health and safety should give this lair a once-over. Based in sunny Santa Carla, California, this cave-based hideout sits in Hudson’s Bluff amid the sunken remains of a hotel. By day, it’s a tourist curiosity closed off to the public – but by night, it’s home to the titular Lost Boys, a local group of young-looking vampires. Its seaside location, coupled with its nocturnal inhabitants, makes it quite fascinating, though we have to wonder if earthquakes are ever an issue.

#9: Arctic Lair
“G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra” (2009)

Evil organizations need a tough-to-reach secret base – that’s nearly a given. So it makes sense that the terrorist group Cobra would establish their headquarters in an underwater base, deep beneath the Arctic Circle. On top of having two well-guarded entrances, the base itself is armed to the teeth with top-of-the-line harpoon guns and pulse cannons, to ward off those pesky Joes. And worst-case scenario: Cobra can simply detonate the explosives scattered across the base – just to make it absolutely clear how dedicated they are to security.

#8: Number 12, Grimmauld Place
“Harry Potter” franchise (2007-10)

It may not look like much, but give it a chance – this one might surprise you. As the established headquarters for the Order of the Phoenix, an organization dedicated to fighting Lord Voldemort, #12 Grimmauld Place seems rather quaint. The house rests in a non-magic neighborhood, blending in effortlessly before the application of magic. However, the residence is armed with many defensive spells anyway, and its dingy halls and rooms disguise how useful it is as a meeting place.

#7: Mount Rushmore
“Team America: World Police” (2004)

Sometimes hiding in plain sight is the best approach. That appears to have been the logic in “Team America: World Police”, with the titular team’s base located inside of Mount Rushmore. What’s surprising is how much has been crammed into the monument: a supercomputer called I.N.T.E.L.L.I.G.E.N.C.E, helicopters, jets, and the personnel required to operate it all. Given that the team represents America, setting up shop inside an iconic monument makes a surprising amount of sense.

#6: Felonious Gru’s Lab
“Despicable Me” (2010)

Charm and quirkiness go a long way in making a secret lab unique. Such is the case with aspiring villain Felonius Gru’s underground laboratory, hidden beneath his home and accessible solely by elevator. Besides being vast in size and impressive in its metallic construction, the lab is also home to hundreds of Minions, simple-minded yet lovable yellow beings who aid in Gru’s experiments. Speaking of which, the experimental devices stored in Gru’s lab add to the facility’s appeal, even if they lack practical applications.

#5: Han’s Island
“Enter the Dragon” (1973)

Martial artists, be warned: some islands are more menacing than they appear. Take this tropical isle, owned by the mysterious Mr. Han; it’s established as the location of both Han’s martial arts school and an annual tournament. Behind the scenes, though, the island acts as a base of operations for Han’s drug trafficking, with the tournament allowing Han to identify potential recruits. Say what you will about his motives, Han’s taste in far-off islands is impeccable.

#4: Wing Kong Exchange
“Big Trouble in Little China” (1986)

Seems like innocuous-looking hideouts are a theme here. As the headquarters of the Wing Kong criminal organization, this location appears at first glance to be an ordinary shipping company. However, venture further and you’ll find some Buddhist-themed decorations, dimly-lit cellars... oh, and a flooding elevator to trap the most curious among us. The further down this rabbit hole of a base you go, the more mystical and ancient its architecture appears, giving the impression that the Wing Kong are more than meets the eye.

#3: Thuggee Temple
“Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom” (1984)

A lot of hidden bases struggle to be either threatening or massive – this accomplishes both. Midway through the adventure film “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom”, our intrepid archaeologist hero Indiana Jones stumbles into a fiery temple inhabited by the malevolent members of the Thuggee cult. The temple plays host to brutal rituals that require people’s hearts to be ripped out, to say nothing of the nearby mine that employs child laborers. And then there’s the terrifying statue of Kali... it sends shivers down our spines.

#2: Dr. Evil’s Volcano
“Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me” (1999)

Though Doctor Evil has inhabited both a submarine and a moonbase in his time, it’s the secret lair in the 2nd installment that proves the most iconic. The “good” doctor sets up his operations on an isolated island, its most distinctive landmark being a sizeable volcano... which Doctor Evil has his face carved into. Contained within the volcano itself is a large complex with enough space for a meeting room, lengthy halls fit for driving, and some creative – if questionable – death traps.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions:
- The False Moon
“The Truman Show” (1998)
- Grendel’s Cave
“Beowulf” (2007)
- Yzma’s Lair
“The Emperor’s New Groove” (2000)
- The Black Fortress
“Krull” (1983)
- Scorpion’s Lair
“Mortal Kombat” (1995)

#1: Blofeld’s Volcano Base
“You Only Live Twice” (1967)

Secret agent James Bond has his work cut out for him. Towards the end of “You Only Live Twice”, Bond’s mission shifts towards infiltrating the island base of the criminal syndicate SPECTRE. Only trouble is, the base is located inside of a volcano – and stocked with countless SPECTRE personnel running about. It’s a vast facility within the volcano, complete with meeting area, a world map, and a launch pad from which to fire full-scale rockets. To top it off, SPECTRE leader Ernst Stavro Blofeld has a few surprise traps strewn about, as befitting a larger-than-life franchise about spies.

Do you agree with our list? What’s your favorite secret lair from a movie? For more revealing Top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.