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Cowboys, aliens, motorcycles, treasure hunters, outlaws and a team of baseball misfits. What do they have in common? First, they're all from famous movies. Second, those movies were all filmed (at least partially) in Utah.
Some you'll recognize and some may surprise you, but many of your favorite movie scenes might just have been filmed right here in the Beehive State. Although most of the time it's disguised as a different place, Utah's mountains, red rocks and other beautiful features are unmistakable in these 15 films.
Here is the list, in no particular order.
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Visit and like our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/BradDeBryLawFirm) for a chance to win weekly meal giveaways. * Brad DeBry is not associated or affiliated with Robert J. DeBry & Associates, P.C.'Stagecoach' (1939)
It's appropriate to kick this list off with a western since many cowboy classics were shot in Utah. Director John Ford filmed many of his westerns in Monument Valley, including "Stagecoach" in 1939. The film made important strides for westerns and also catapulted John Wayne to stardom, according to Britannica.
'Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid' (1969)
It was the film that made Robert Redford fall in love with Utah and led to the creation of Sundance Resort and the Sundance Film Festival. "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" starring Redford and Paul Newman tells the story of two famous Wild West outlaws on the run after a string of robberies. Parts of the film were shot in Grafton, Snow Canyon, St. George and Zion National Park. If you're a die-hard fan, the Utah Office of Tourism created a 4-day itinerary where you can revisit scenes from the film.
'Footloose' (1984)
Ken Bacon danced his way into everyone's hearts (and all around Lehi Roller Mill) in the iconic '80s film "Footloose." Though it was set in the fictional Midwest town of "Bomont," it's hard to mistake the beautiful Utah backdrop. In fact, the Deseret News reported that Bacon even prepared for his role by attending Payson High School for a few days!
'The World's Fastest Indian' (2005)
Not only is this movie shot in Utah, but it's also based on actual events that happened on the Bonneville Salt Flats. "The World's Fastest Indian" stars Anthony Hopkins as New Zealander Burt Munro who spends years fixing up his classic 1920 Indian motorcycle and races it on the flats. In 1967, at 68 years old, Munro set a speed record (183.95 mph) that still stands to this day, according to Indian Motorcycle.
'The Sandlot' (1993)
Yes, Utah was indeed the birthplace of "You're killing me, Smalls!" A true cinematic classic, "The Sandlot" was more of a coming-of-age movie than a sports film. It was shot entirely in Utah — from Ogden to Rose Park, Glendale, Midvale and American Fork. The real sandlot — where Benny, Smalls, Ham, Squints and the rest of the gang played all of those baseball games — is on Glenrose Drive in Salt Lake. It's also a Utah Film Location Historical Landmark.
'The Executioner's Song' (1982)
Though not the cheeriest option on this list, "The Executioner's Song" is another based-on-true-events movie that's both filmed and set in Utah. Tommy Lee Jones stars as Gary Gilmore, an Indiana man who looks for a fresh start in Utah at the end of a long prison sentence. After falling back into bad ways and killing two people, Gilmore demands the death sentence for himself as punishment. It may not be the feel-good movie of the year, but it does give you a few shots of the Utah State Prison and the Utah Supreme Court.
'Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade' (1989)
Blink and you might miss it, but at least a few minutes of "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" features shots around Southern Utah. This includes the opening sequence where young Indiana Jones (played by River Phoenix) plays a Boy Scout finding treasure in the Utah desert. According to a 1989 article by the Deseret News, the first 16 minutes are filmed in Moab, Colorado and New Mexico — mostly because Utah didn't have a train to use for filming.
These 10 spots have some of the best appetizers in Utah
Appetizers also expand your dining experience by allowing you to sample a wider variety of food. Sometimes they even steal the show from the entrees! If you'd like to try a few small plates and snacks that fall under that last category, there are plenty of options.'127 Hours' (2010)
A cautionary tale about the dangers of hiking alone, "127 Hours" depicts the real-life story of Aron Ralston (portrayed by James Franco). After falling down a remote slot canyon and having his arm pinned under a boulder, Ralston ultimately has to amputate his arm to save his life. It's an inspiring story, but if you're hoping to retrace Ralston's footsteps in Bluejohn Canyon, you might want to reconsider it. According to Outside Online, the area has seen an uptick in rescues since the movie's release because people searching for the "Ralston Boulder" underestimate how dangerous the hike is.
'Jeremiah Johnson' (1972)
Another Robert Redford classic, "Jeremiah Johnson" stars Redford as a Mexican-American War veteran who decides to flee civilization in favor of a mountain man life. He quickly learns how brutal the isolated mountains can be as he fights for survival. The CinemaHolic reports that the movie was filmed in nearly 100 different locations across the state of Utah, including the Alpine Loop, Snow Canyon, Zion National Park and, of course, Redford's favorite: Sundance.
'The Electric Horseman' (1979)
In case you had any doubts about Robert Redford's deep love for Utah, here is yet another one of his movies filmed in the Beehive State. "The Electric Horseman" stars Redford as a former rodeo star who teams up with a TV reporter (played by Jane Fonda) to save an old racehorse. The film also stars Wilford Brimley and Willie Nelson and was shot throughout Washington County.
'Thelma and Louise' (1991)
"Thelma and Louise" stars Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis as two unlikely outlaws on the run from police. Whether you've seen the movie or not, you're probably familiar with the famous car jump scene in the Grand Canyon. That was actually filmed in Dead Horse Point State Park and yes — they sent a real car flying off the edge of the cliff. The film also features glimpses of the La Sal Mountains, Route 46, Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park.
'Forrest Gump' (1994)
Forrest Gump's major marathon across the country comes to a stop in none other than Monument Valley, Utah. ("I'm pretty tired… I think I'll go home now.") Many movie buffs and travelers passing through Route 163 near the Arizona-Utah border have recreated Tom Hanks' famous scene.
'Independence Day' (1996)
Remember when Will Smith dragged a knocked-out alien across a desert wasteland in "Independence Day"? That was one of many movie scenes shot on the Bonneville Salt Flats. But the film's most famous scene — Bill Pullman's Independence Day speech as President Thomas J. Whitmore — was filmed at the Wendover Historic Airfield.
'National Treasure' (2004)
Among the clues that Nicolas Cage's character Benjamin Franklin Gates tracks down in "National Treasure," one leads him to the "Arctic." Actually, it's really just a frozen Strawberry Reservoir, but you might have to be a Utah native to catch that little detail.
'Dumb and Dumber' (1994)
"Dumb and Dumber" is one of the most quotable comedies of all time — and a lot of it was shot in Salt Lake, Sandy, Heber and Park City. Though it's set in Providence, Rhode Island, you might recognize the Salt Lake Airport. (At least that's what it looked like back in 1994.) Harry and Lloyd's East Coast apartment is actually in the heart of downtown Salt Lake and Mary Swanson's mansion is La Caille restaurant at the mouth of Little Cottonwood Canyon. For more of the funny flick's filming locations in Utah, check out the Utah Film Commission website.
Of course, one of the problems with a list like this is there are many other great movies filmed in Utah that were not included. Now that you know about these movies filmed in Utah, watch (or rewatch) them and see if you can pinpoint these iconic scenes on your own.
