10 Great Movies Filmed In Arizona

From the arid flats of the Sonoran desert to the suburban sprawl of Phoenix, Arizona has proved to be an appropriate backdrop for the imaginative genius of modern filmmakers. It’s a state where the sky is enormous and the distances long, making it the perfect cinematic canvas for filmmakers, who often take advantage of the natural scenery and contours of the landscape. 

The land is wide open and often supplies filmmakers with dramatic visuals that enhance many of these films’ most iconic scenes. Whether desert or sunbaked metropolis, the Arizona landscape has been the setting for numerous movies over the course of decades. Some of these films may surprise you, and others may seem more appropriate for the environment. But out of the many many movies filmed in Arizona, which ones make it to the top 10 greats? Scroll down to find out.

In the course of reading this list of movies filmed in Arizona, you may also find yourself inspired by these titles to get out into the Arizona landscape and film some classic scenes for yourself. If you are looking for places to shoot in Arizona, check out Peerspace, the world’s largest online marketplace for rentals. Peerspace will be able to connect you with the right rental for whatever your filming purposes and ensure you have the perfect backdrop for your work. 

1. Psycho (1960)

Alfred Hitchcock’s stunning triumph of cinematic genius is a film so enrapturing and nail-biting, you may have found yourself distracted from the film’s setting and location. Maybe you spent the whole movie hiding under the sheets, or perhaps you paid close attention to the setting. Either way, you’ll be interested to know that the film takes place in Phoenix, Arizona and that they filmed some of the shots on location. This is perhaps one of the best of the movies filmed in Arizona.

2. Planet of the Apes (1968)

Although it tells a bizarre story, this sci-fi classic does, in fact, take place on our home planet of Earth. To capture the other-worldly quality of an alternate reality, the directors of the first Planet of the Apes movie ventured out to Lake Powell, Arizona, to capture several shots for this film. Lake Powell is a large body of water amidst an expansive desert, providing a unique vision of clashing landscapes. The directors really took advantage of this clash to capture and communicate a world in which human society has crumbled and is under the cruel control of new rulers. 

3. Little Miss Sunshine (2010)

Little Miss Sunshine was set in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and California. Yet, they filmed many of the film’s scenes in Arizona, in and around Flagstaff and Chandler. Arizona turned out to be the perfect location for many of the film’s sets. Scenes in the film feature shots of the wide-open sky and the backdrop of rocky landscape on either side of the highway. Arizona’s landscape’s rough topography and open atmosphere are void of content and color, highlighting the colorful and charming qualities of a close-knit family that is lost in its troubles and on its way to finding itself. 

4. Return of the Jedi (1983)

Here is another sci-fi classic that has made its lasting mark on film history. And you can actually visit areas where they filmed some of the movie’s scenes, namely in and around Yuma, Arizona. A convincing portrayal of another planet is no small feat, and the filmmakers had to go out of their way to create an otherworldly atmosphere. As they proved in Return of the Jedi, it turns out there was no better place to accomplish this than outside Yuma, where the rolling dunes of the desert create the ideal backdrop to convey what sometimes looks like another universe … in a galaxy far, far away.

5. Raising Arizona (1987)

This one seems like a no-brainer. As the name suggests, this Coen Brother cult classic was set in Arizona. But did they film it there? We’ve seen before that not all films set in a location were shot there. You might be pleased to find out that Raising Arizona was shot in Arizona. If you want to check out the setting for the hit comedy starring Nicholas Cage, head to Phoenix and Tempe, Arizona, where they shot many of the film’s iconic scenes.

6. ¡Three Amigos! (1986)

On the heels of a movie filmed on location, we have one that was not. For those of you who have seen this classic comedy starring Chevy Chase, Steve Martin, and Martin Short, the film takes place in Mexico. By this point, you can guess where the film was shot. If you guessed Arizona, you would be correct! Filmed in the Coronado National Forest, the scenes of Mexico are just of an area south of Tucson. As this film shows, you can create the backdrop of another country without leaving the United States. Filmmakers can use Arizona’s desert regions as a substitute for any number of desert settings around the world.

7. Into The Wild (2007)

Directed by Sean Penn, Into The Wild tells the tragic and true story of a young man pursuing dreams of adventure and finding solace within himself. As he makes his way to Alaska, Christopher McCandless finds himself hitchhiking across a whole range of Arizona landscapes. Just like how McCandless takes refuge in the beauty of the natural world, the filmmakers wonderfully portray Toprock and Lake Mead. Those are just two of the locations in Arizona where they filmed the movie.

8. Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure (1989)

Another cult classic comedy on this list, Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure was filmed in Arizona. Although set in San Dimas, California, they almost entirely filmed it in Phoenix. It just goes to show that Arizona is a flexible shooting location that filmmakers can use to convey other settings effectively without undercutting the viewer’s suspension of disbelief. 

9. Tombstone (1993)

This film starring Kurt Russell and Val Kilmer, was set in Tombstone, Arizona. A classic film with one of the most memorable shoot-outs in the cinematic history of westerns, Wyatt Earp’s thrilling gunfight in the O.K. Corral will live forever in our imaginations. While the film was primarily shot at Old Tucson Studios, you can nonetheless take a trip to Tombstone, where you’ll find many artifacts and relics of the Wild West.

10. National Lampoon’s Vacation (1983)

This 1980s comedy follows the dysfunctional Griswold family as they make their way on a road trip across America. No road trip would be complete without a trip to the Grand Canyon, which is, of course, in the great state of Arizona. Probably the most well-known park in the state, the popular destination never ceases to amaze. With the second movie on this list that features Chevy Chase, it seems he just couldn’t keep away from Arizona — and we can’t blame him!

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