Did you know that over 450 movies and TV series are filmed in none other than the beautiful state of Utah? Ranging from the Wasatch Range to the red rock structures, it’s no wonder flocks of filmmakers chose Utah for their production’s location. While some viewers recognize Utah’s landscape right away, others never realize filming took place right where they live. We’ll give you the inside scoop on 9 familiar movies and series filmed in Utah. Here is a list of unforgettable film projects that took place in Utah:
Movies Filmed in Utah
The Searchers (1956)
One of Hollywood’s most beloved Western films is John Ford’s blockbuster hit, The Searchers starring the one and only John Wayne. This Western classic is based on Alan Le May’s 1954 novel under the same name and the true story of a young girl who was kidnapped by a Native American tribe in the 19th century. Filming for The Searchers took place between Monument Valley and Kanab, Utah. Due to its red desert-like landscape and towering sandstone structures, over 100 movies and TV series have been filmed in Kanab earning it the nickname “Little Hollywood.” Here’s another fun fact—John Wayne acted in five movies in Monument Valley during his acting career leading to film fanatics naming Monument Valley as “John Wayne country.”
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)
Based in 1890s Wyoming, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid is an action-packed true story of two famous outlaws running from the law. Starring Paul Newman and Robert Redford, this classic set the bar high for American western films. Not only does this hit still inspire the film industry today, but it’s also what provoked Robert Redford to begin the world-renowned Sundance Film Festival in northern Utah. Although Butch Cassidy’s story happened primarily in Wyoming, this film features Utah’s Snow Canyon, Zion National Park, and the ghost town of Grafton, Utah. While a few of Grafton’s buildings shown in the film have since crumbled, there are still a couple of structures still standing that are recognizable from scenes in the 1969 movie. One such clip is the familiar bicycle scene with two of the film’s main characters singing to the tune of “Raindrops Fallin’ on My Head.” This song would quickly become a fan favorite, and went on to win an Academy Award for that year’s greatest original song.
Footloose (1984)
Footloose is a fictional story about a young man who moves into a strict, religious Midwestern town where dance and rock music are illegal. With the help of a new friend and a rebellious preacher’s daughter, the main character, played by Kevin Bacon, fights to loosen up this traditional community. Footloose was filmed throughout Utah County. Payson High School, American Fork’s Community Presbyterian Church, and Springville Senior High School are just a couple of locations that debuted in this box office success. Perhaps the most recognizable scene in Footloose took place at Lehi Roller Mills. It’s here that Kevin Bacon’s character performed the iconic dance around the mill, and it’s a familiar exhilarating scene for 80s-raised kids. With the Wasatch Front looming in the background of almost every scene, Utah was a key feature of the 80’s hit Footloose.
Back to the Future Part III (1990)
Starting in the 1980s and quickly becoming sci-fi classics, the Back to the Future films are a few of America’s most recognizable productions of all time. The first installment of Back to the Future centered around a Californian boy, Marty McFly, who is thrown into the world of time travel. Back to the Future III is a continuation of Marty’s time-traveling adventures with its primary backdrop being the Wild West. One of the film’s top memorable scenes is when Marty travels back to 1885 to save his friend, Doctor Emmett, from a premature death. The exciting segment is filmed at the made-up Pohatchee Drive-In Theatre in Monument Valley, Utah. As we’ve explored in previous films, Monument Valley is widely known for its Western-looking environment. Therefore, it was the perfect location for the final installment of Back to the Future.
The Sandlot (1993)
The Sandlot is a family-friendly 90’s classic featuring a young boy, Scottie Smalls, who moves to a new neighborhood and forms friendships with a group of kids who play baseball at a local sandlot. Following the adventures and mistakes of these baseball enthusiasts, The Sandlot capitalizes on nostalgia and reminders of childhood memories. What you may not know about this film is that the entirety of The Sandlot was shot in northern Utah. The easily recognizable sandlot was situated in the Glendale neighborhood of Salt Lake City, the carnival escapade was shot at Salt Lake City’s Liberty Park, and the pool featured in the film was the Lorin Farr Community Pool in Ogden, Utah.
127 Hours (2010)
127 Hours is a film adaptation of the powerful true story of mountaineer and adventurer, Aron Ralston. While Ralston was solo canyoneering near Moab, Utah, he was suddenly trapped by a massive fallen boulder in a remote slot canyon. This film depicts the raw and transformative story of Ralston’s perseverance and determination to make it out alive. Filmed in Utah’s Canyonlands National Park, this movie features a stunning background with hard-to-watch scenes of a man fighting to survive. Starring James Franco, this film went on to be nominated for 6 Oscars and receive major positive reviews for its gut-wrenching accuracy of Aron Ralston’s story.
Hereditary (2018)
The Sundance film with a budget of $10 million, Hereditary, is probably the most frightening movie shot in Utah. Hereditary is a supernatural mystery about a dark family secret that weighs down on an already grieving family. Although this film is a slow burn, the chilling realistic scenes and relatable characters with authentic emotion make Hereditary one of the best horror films of all time. If you’re a Utah local, you’ll quickly recognize the imposing mountain range in the background of a funeral scene at Sandy’s Larkin Sunset Gardens. Filming took place around Park City and Salt Lake City, featuring urban cityscapes to lush rural settings within the mountains of northern Utah.
TV Shows Filmed in Utah
Utah’s captivating geography isn’t just the backdrop of numerous familiar movies—it’s also been home to some of the nation’s top-rated TV shows. From historical masterpieces to western-themed drama series, Utah has been the backdrop for a diverse list of television shows. Here are a couple of world-renowned shows you’ve probably heard of that were filmed right here in Utah.
The Chosen
The Chosen is a Christian historical drama, and it is the first multi-season series about the life of Jesus of Nazareth. When The Chosen’s third season was released in theaters by Fathom Events, it became Fathom’s highest-grossing event of all time. From the get-go, this inspirational series has been a hit for a diverse audience worldwide. While many of The Chosen’s scenes are filmed in Texas, some of the breathtaking shots of seasons 1 and 2 are filmed in Goshen, Utah. Located in the small town of Goshen, Utah is a lifelike Jerusalem set used for religious film projects. Due to the realistic Jerusalem movie set in Goshen, The Chosen convincingly recreates Jesus’ life and ministry that took place thousands of years ago.
Yellowstone
Once again, we have a western-themed film project shot with Utah’s beautiful scenery taking over the backdrop. Yellowstone follows the story of a complicated family of ranchers as they navigate the waters of controlling the largest contiguous ranch in the US. About 75% of Yellowstone’s first three seasons were filmed in Utah’s outdoors. With shooting locations in Park City, Ogden, Spanish Fork, Grantsville, Logan, and other small cities across Utah, this modern Western television series captivates viewers from the first episode.
Let’s Produce the Next Hit Film Together
After hearing about these famous film projects, do you feel inspired to create the next awe-inspiring story? We’ll help you do just that. Avalanche Studios provides full-service film and video production services based in northern Utah. Being surrounded by some of the world’s greatest filming locations of all time, what better place to start your film’s journey than right here in Utah? With our team of award-winning filmmakers, directors, producers, and editors, we’ll help you bring your story to life. Contact us to hear about the services we provide, and request a quote for your next film project.
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