Monument Valley Movies: 10 Films Shot in the Red-Sand Desert

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The Vanishing American was the first of many Westerns filmed in Monument Valley. Based on the Zane Grey novel, the silent film was considered an attempt to portray Native Americans in a sympathetic light. Much of the film was shot in Arizona and Utah, utilizing locations such as Monument Valley, Sagi Canyon, Rainbow Bridge National Monument, and Tuba City.

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There’s a reason Monument Valley is often referred to as “John Wayne country.” The Western star filmed several of his iconic movies in the area, even staying at Goulding’s Lodge during production. Wayne’s first film shot in Monument Valley was Stagecoach (1939), followed by Fort Apache (1948), She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (1949), Rio Grande (1950), and The Searchers (1956). The Searchers was perhaps the most popular Western film upon its release, solidifying Monument Valley as a favorite location for Hollywood.

The movie was shot in several locations across Monument Valley, including Mitchell Butte, Mitten Buttes, Sentinel Mesa, Totem Pole, and Ford’s Point.

Read our blog about John Wayne movies filmed in Monument Valley to learn more about the locations and how you can visit them today.

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How the West Was Won, featuring a short cameo from John Wayne himself, follows several generations of one American family as they journey westward from the 1830s to the late 1800s. Through five interconnected stories, ranging from river travel and the Gold Rush to the Civil War and the building of the railroads, the film showcases the triumphs and hardships that shaped the settling of the American frontier.

To reflect the family’s journey, the film was shot in several states across the US. The movie featured locations such as Convict Lake in California, the Alabama Hills, South Dakota’s Custer State Park, and Cave-in-Rock State Park in Illinois, to name a few. Monument Valley’s famous rock formations, like the Mittens and Merrick Butte, appear in the film. John Ford, known for filming John Wayne’s Westerns in the region, was one of the movie’s four directors and likely helped influence the choice of Monument Valley as a location.

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Yet another John Ford Western film, Wagon Master, was famously shot in Monument Valley and Moab, Utah. The film tells the story of a Mormon wagon train traveling to the San Juan Valley, led by two drifters who are hired to serve as wagon masters.

Moab, Utah, was the primary filming location for Wagon Master, including Hittle Bottom along the Colorado River and nearby Spanish Valley. A few stage shots were taken at Monument Valley, but much of the filming couldn’t be done there due to budget constraints.

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Easy Rider explores themes of freedom, nonconformity, and social tensions of the 1960s in the US, especially those tied to the rise of hippie culture. It follows two counterculture bikers on a cross-country journey from Los Angeles to New Orleans who fund their travels through a narcotics run. 

The film was shot across several states, including California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Louisiana. In the Monument Valley portion, Billy and Wyatt ride through the Painted Desert and into the Arizona side of Monument Valley. The pair passes by the massive buttes at sunrise and sunset, highlighting the otherworldly, breathtaking beauty of the structures.

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Monument Valley movies don’t only include Westerns. The region made an excellent backdrop for alien landscapes. 2001: A Space Odyssey follows humanity’s evolution through encounters with mysterious alien monoliths, culminating in an astronaut’s surreal journey beyond space and time. Blending science fiction with philosophy, the film explores intelligence, technology, and the next stage of human existence.

Monument Valley’s sandstone structures are featured in several scenes throughout the sci-fi film. The rugged region is known as a vast alien landscape in the movie, and its abstract, oddly colored vistas set the tone for every otherworldly scene. 

Here’s a fun fact you probably don’t know: A few of the aerial panning shots in 2001: A Space Odyssey were filmed flying low over Monument Valley to avoid high-powered winds. During this sequence, the Director of Photography for that part of the shoot almost ended up in a helicopter crash.

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The Eiger Sanction follows Jonathan Hemlock, played by Clint Eastwood, an art professor and skilled mountaineer who secretly works as an assassin for a covert government agency. He’s forced into one last mission: climbing the treacherous Eiger mountain with a team that may include his target. As the ascent grows more dangerous, Hemlock must unravel who he can trust before the mountain or his enemies kill him first.

Although a majority of filming took place in Switzerland, one scene of the movie was filmed in Monument Valley. The practice climb scene with Eastwood and George Kennedy was filmed on top of the Totem Pole rock formation. This was the last time anyone was legally allowed to climb the Totem Pole, as the production crew agreed to remove all pitons from the formation in exchange for permission to film. Climbing in Monument Valley is now prohibited, but you can still gaze up at the Totem Pole that Eastwood scaled in The Eiger Sanction.

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National Lampoon’s Vacation follows Clark Griswold, the eternally optimistic (and often misguided) family man determined to give his wife and kids the perfect cross-country vacation. His plan? Drive from Chicago to California’s Walley World. But as every Griswold fan knows, nothing goes smoothly. Between car troubles, bizarre relatives, unfortunate detours, and Clark’s own comedic stubbornness, the trip spirals into one chaotic misadventure after another.

While much of the film takes place on the open road, one of the most memorable sequences was filmed in Monument Valley. During the Griswold family’s extended drive west, stunning wide shots capture their station wagon cruising through Monument Valley’s iconic red mesas and towering buttes. These sweeping desert vistas emphasize both the beauty of the American Southwest and the ridiculousness of the Griswolds’ increasingly disastrous road trip. The contrast adds charm to this classic comedy and provides a real-life scenic backdrop you can still enjoy on Highway 163 today.

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Back to the Future Part III sends Marty McFly back to 1885 to rescue Doc Brown after a time-travel mishap leaves him stranded in the Old West. Trading hoverboards and futuristic gadgets for horses, saloons, and steam engines, Marty tries to bring Doc safely home—all while dodging Buford “Mad Dog” Tannen and navigating the challenges of frontier life. The film blends adventure, western themes, and heartfelt friendship as the pair races to power the DeLorean one final time.

Monument Valley appears in the movie’s opening Old West sequence, where sweeping shots introduce the rugged landscape of 1885. The dramatic sandstone formations and deep red desert floor help set the tone for the film’s Western chapter, grounding the story in a cinematic frontier that feels both nostalgic and grand. Though most filming took place on studio backlots and in California, Monument Valley’s brief but striking appearance adds authenticity to Marty and Doc’s journey into the past.

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Forrest Gump follows the extraordinary life of Forrest, a kind-hearted man with a simple outlook who somehow finds himself at the center of significant historical moments. From becoming a college football star to serving in Vietnam, starting a shrimping business, and inspiring a jog across America movement, Forrest’s story is filled with adventure, loss, love, and unexpected triumph. Through it all, he remains faithful to his childhood friend and lifelong love, Jenny.

Monument Valley is featured during one of the film’s most famous scenes: Forrest’s long-distance run across the United States. After thousands of miles and countless followers, he suddenly stops running on a stretch of Highway 163 with Monument Valley rising behind him. The towering sandstone formations create an unforgettable backdrop as Forrest tells his followers, “I’m pretty tired… I think I’ll go home now.” Today, the spot is known as Forrest Gump Point, a popular photo stop where travelers can stand exactly where Forrest ended his iconic run.

Monument Valley has served as the backdrop for some of the most iconic scenes in film history. Its towering sandstone spires, vast red deserts, and unmistakable skyline have a way of turning any story into something larger than life. 

If you’re dreaming of capturing this legendary landscape in your own project, Avalanche Studios can help bring your vision to life. Our Utah-based video production team has the creative eye to showcase Monument Valley at its cinematic best. Whether you’re filming a feature, a commercial, or a branded storytelling piece, Avalanche Studios has the expertise and equipment to make your production feel as timeless and breathtaking as the films that came before. Request a quote from us to bring your vision to life in Monument Valley.