100 Years of Film History in Utah

The story begins in the 1920s, when Utah’s wide-open spaces and natural beauty first caught the eye of filmmakers. Early Westerns, like The Covered Wagon (1923), used the state’s rugged terrain to tell stories of pioneers and cowboys. These films set the stage—literally—for Utah’s future as a go-to filming location for big-screen adventures.

Moab, with its otherworldly landscapes, soon became a favorite, offering a setting as untamed and breathtaking as the stories being told.

By the mid-20th century, Moab was a Hollywood darling, featured in a host of blockbuster films. In the 1940s and 50s, John Ford, one of the greatest directors of Westerns, brought films like Wagon Master (1950) to the area. His work helped cement Moab’s reputation as the quintessential Western landscape.

Later, Moab took on larger-than-life roles in iconic movies like Rio Grande (1950), starring John Wayne, and The Comancheros (1961). These films not only showcased Moab’s dramatic beauty but also captured the imagination of viewers, inspiring generations to visit the same landscapes they saw on the silver screen.

As film technology evolved, so did the types of stories told in Moab. By the 1980s and beyond, filmmakers were using the area’s unique geology to transport audiences to new worlds. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989) brought adventurers to Moab’s dramatic rock formations, while Thelma & Louise (1991) made the area unforgettable with its thrilling cliffside finale.

Even sci-fi epics couldn’t resist Moab’s alien beauty. Films like Star Trek (2009) and John Carter (2012) used the region to depict distant planets, proving that Moab’s landscapes can transcend Earth itself.

For a much more complete list of the more modern movies filmed in Moab, including many of our favorites, go to our Movie History page.

It’s not just fiction that thrives in Moab—its natural beauty has made it a go-to destination for outdoor documentaries. Productions by National Geographic, IMAX, and independent filmmakers have showcased the region’s unique rock formations, wildlife, and outdoor adventure culture, adding to its mystique.