Did You Know These Movies Were Filmed Right Here In Arizona!?

Arizona is iconic for its unique mountains and desert terrain, and Hollywood knows it. There are a lot of movies that have a desert scene, such as Star Wars and Forest Gump, and Arizona just so happened to be the best desert for the job. A lot of my favorite movies, especially the niche ones, were filmed in Arizona.

brown mountain under blue sky during daytime

Cult Classics

Some of my favorite, lesser-known movies were filmed in Arizona. Eight-Legged Freaks, a movie about giant spiders, was filmed in Superior, Glendale, and Page, Arizona, but the movie is technically set in Prosperity, Arizona. 

Evolution, a cheesy movie about aliens starring David Duchovny, takes place in Page, Arizona. It was primarily recorded in Page, Arizona, with some scenes being filmed in Phoenix and Los Angeles.

READ: Four Influential Musicians Who Started in Arizona

David Duchovny. / Dia Dipasupil, Getty Images

Forest Gump

There were a couple of scenes from Forest Gump filmed in Arizona. While Gump is running, he passes by multiple spots in Flagstaff and is even seen near the Twin Arrows Trading Post, roughly 20 miles from Flagstaff.

The most iconic Forst Gump scene shot in Arizona was recorded in Monument Valley. In this scene, Forest has a long beard and long hair and is standing on the road. The spot he was standing in the movie is now called "Forest Gump Point." And you can stop there and see the view for yourself!

READ: Bisbee's Haunted History Makes it Perfect for Horror

Monument Valley./ Photo by Robert Murray on Unsplash

Star Wars

Star Wars: Return of the Jedi wasn't entirely filmed in Arizona, but a couple of scenes were. The scenes that took place on Tatooine’s desert planet were filmed at the Imperial Sand Dunes in Buttercup Valley, Arizona. This filming location was also used in other movies to showcase the Tatooine desert planet, and is located very close to Yuma, Arizona.

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Photo by Reed Naliboff on Unsplash

Hundreds of films from Star Wars to Planet of the Apes were filmed in Arizona. Most wild west movis, such as Tombstone and Yuma, were also filmed here. As long as Arizona has its unique scenery, movies will keep being filmed here.

CONTINUE READING: William Shatner's Groom Lake filmed in Bisbee & Cochise County