When you think of Arizona, you might think of the heat and deserts. And that’s exactly the scene you might get when you watch these amazing movies filmed in Arizona.
From westerns that feature western towns and scenes, to even science fiction legends that need sandy backdrops, Arizona is a great place for all of it. Arizona has the charm of its distinct flora, canyons, and hot climate. If you want to explore the state, check out some of the best movies filmed in Arizona like these top six suggestions.
6. Planet of the Apes, Hulu (2001)
Planet of the Apes is a large franchise that has had several remakes over the years. While the more recent movies focus on apes evolving on Earth, the 2001 installment is a bit different. This one is set in 2029 when an Air Force astronaut, played by Mark Wahlberg, crash-lands on a mysterious planet where evolved, talking apes dominate a race of primitive humans.
The movie is loosely based on the 1963 novel sharing the same name and is a remake of the 1968 movie. It’s the sixth movie out of ten total films and is one of the best movies filmed in Arizona, with shots including the desert around Page, Glen Canyon, and Lake Powell in Northern Arizona.
5. The Grapes of Wrath, Prime Video (1940)
The Grapes of Wrath is another one of the best movies filmed in Arizona and is also based on a book sharing the same name by John Steinbeck in 1939. The story follows the Joads family who live in Oklahoma.
After losing their farm to increased mechanization during the Great Depression in the 1930s, they become migrant workers, who are also trying to make their way up to California. It’s considered one of the greatest films of all time for being culturally significant. A few scenes were shot in Arizona, like when they crossed over the Trails Arch Bridge on Route 66, Topock, Arizona.
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4. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, Pluto TV (1984)
Along with Planet of the Apes, Indiana Jones is one of the biggest franchises in film. The action-adventure starring the legend, Harrison Ford, has five total movies, with one recently releasing in 2023.
The Temple of Doom is the second installment of the series after Raiders of the Lost Ark and brings back Ford in the titular role, Indiana Jones, who is tasked by Indian villagers with reclaiming a rock stolen from them by a secret cult beneath the catacombs of an ancient palace. The brilliant movie filmed in Arizona saw shots at locations like Blue Canyon and Coal Mine Canyon in Arizona.
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3. 3:10 to Yuma, Peacock (2007)
If you like Westerns, then 3:10 to Yuma is an underrated one that you must see. The 2007 film stars Russell Crowe and Christian Bale playing the roles of a notorious outlaw and a drought-impoverished rancher, respectively.
Bale takes on the job of holding a captured outlaw and bringing him to justice, upholding the law any way he can. All the while Crowe does everything in his power to escape justice. It’s a battle of wits and a brilliant, heartwarming movie. It’s also one of the best movies filmed in Arizona, with scenes shot in Sedona on a western town set.
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2. Tombstone, Hulu (1993)
Speaking of westerns, Tombstone is another one of the best movies filmed in Arizona. The 1993 movie stars Kurt Russell, Val Kilmer, Michael Biehn, Sam Elliot, and Bill Paxton. The movie is loosely based on the events that took place in Southeast Arizona in the 1880s, including the events of the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral and the Earp Vendetta Ride.
The movie follows a successful lawman’s plans to retire anonymously in Tombstone, Arizona, only for them to be disrupted by the kind of outlaws he was famous for eliminating. The movie was filmed at the Mescal Movie Set in Arizona which replicates a western town.
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1. Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, Disney Plus (1983)
A movie set in space was actually filmed in Arizona? Yes! The phenomenal science fiction franchise that has continued to stand the test of time is one of the best movies filmed in Arizona. Throughout the trilogies, movies, video games, comics, and novels, Star Wars has proven itself unlike any other story. And Return of the Jedi, the last movie in the original trilogy, is one of the greatest ones.
This particular movie follows the rescue of Han Solo from Jabba the Hutt, and the Rebel Alliance’s attempts to destroy the second Death Star. The scenes shot in Arizona are in the Buttercup Valley, Yuma Desert, and are seen in the film as the desert for Jabba the Hut’s location.
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