Tucson was once a movie capital, with dozens of movies filmed here over the past few decades.
So we've put together a list of everything we can think of (and find in our archives).
The latest movie on the list is the 2021 film Spike, which includes scenes shot in the former Arizona Daily Star building on Tucson's south side (and Streaming via Amazon).
The oldest film on the list to win the award was the 1924 silent western The Mine with the Iron Door.
But the (probably) most popular ones on the list are:
- “Can't Buy Me Love,” starring Patrick Dempsey, was filmed at Tucson High School and the Tucson Mall.
- “Stir Crazy” shot around downtown by Richard Pryor and Gene Wilder
- 'Tin Cup' starring Kevin Costner was filmed at locations including Hotel Congress and Tubac Golf Resort & Spa
- “Revenge of the Nerds” starring Robert Carradine filmed on the campus of the University of Arizona
- 'Major League' starring Charlie Sheen, Wesley Snipes and Tom Berenger filmed at High Corbett Field
- 'Boys on the Side' starring Whoopi Goldberg and Drew Barrymore was filmed at various locations including Carmen Theater
We would also like to thank Old Tucson Studio. Hundreds of movies and TV shows have been filmed there. Hundreds.
Without further ado, here's a long list of movies filmed in Tucson, in alphabetical order. I've also added some fun photos to the mix. (Are there any movies we missed? Email us at thisistucson@tucson.com)
Tip: Some of the movies listed below are available through streaming services such as Amazon, YouTube, Hulu, Apple TV, Google Play, and Vudu. Search for streaming services to see what's available.
Ace: Iron Eagle III – 1992
Alice no longer lives here. – 1974
almost famous – the year of 2000
Another man, another chance – 1977
arizona – 1940
Away We Go – 2009
Barakah – 1992
backlash – 1956
St. Mary's Bell – 1945
body, rest, exercise – 1993
boys on the side – 1995
In the film “Boys on the Side,” starring Drew Barrymore (left) and Whoopi Goldberg (center), characters travel straight through the streets of Tucson, with scenes set inside downtown's historic Carmen Theater. It was photographed in
broken arrow – 1950
broken star – 1956
Cannonball Run II – 1984
cannonball run 1981
Can't Buy Me Love – 1987
CC&Company – 1970
confession of a dangerous heart – 2002
death wish – 1974
desert bloom – 1986
Dirty Dingus McGee – 1970
duel of the sun – 1946
Eating out – 2004
El Dorado – 1966
Fast Getaway II – 1994
A photo of Patrick Dempseyon taken on the set of the 1987 film “Can't Buy Me Love” at Tucson High School. This is a scan from his 1987 THS yearbook.
firebird – 1990
Geronimo: An American Legend – 1993
glory road – 2006
goat – year 2012
Groom Lake – 2002
Gunfight at OK Corral – 1957
Gunsight Ridge – 1957
Fort Petticoat Gun – 1957
harley davidson and marlboro man – 1991
Hopes! – 1976
heaven with guns – 1969
hombre – 1967
how the west won – 1962
son of jesus – 1999
Joe Kidd – 1972
Kiss me before I die – 1956
kidco – 1984
final challenge – 1967
the last outpost – 1951
Last train leaving Gun Hill – 1959
The life and times of Judge Roy Bean – 1972
lilies of the field – 1963
Fans in the stands at High Corbett Field during the filming of the movie “Major League” in July 1988.
Los Locos – 1997
lost horizon – 1937
major league – 1989
The man who loved cat dancing – 1973
Mary Shelley's “The Last Man”– 2008
McClintock! – 1963
mine with iron door – 1924
monte walsh – 1970
Nemesis – 1992
lepus night – 1972
Outlaw Josie Wales – 1976
Perdita Durango – 1997
pocket money – 1972
postman – 1997
Crew members working on the movie “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in 2008. The movie tries to pass off Tucson as an eastern airfield.
quick and the dead – 1995
red river – 1948
Otaku's Revenge – 1984
rio bravo – 1959
Rio Lobo – 1970
Romy and Michelle's high school reunion – 1997
running at midnight – 2001
South of Heaven, West of Hell – the year of 2000
spike – 2021
A star is born – 1976
stay tuned – 1992
star crazy – 1980
Kurt Russell played Wyatt Earp in “Tombstone,'' which was filmed at Old Tucson Studios in 1993.
tank girl – 1995
terminal velocity – 1994
Three amigos! – 1986
thunder array – 1985
tin cup – 1996
tom horn – 1980
tombstone – 1993
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen – 2009
billy jack trial – 1974
villain – 1979
walk on proud land – 1956
The Way West – 1967
westerner – 1940
white line fever – 1975
white of eyes – 1987
wild wild west – 1999
Winchester '73 – 1950
wings – 1927
winter trip – 2019
Wraith – 1986
young animals – 1968
Young Guns II – 1990
3:10 to Yuma – 1957
Richard Pryor and Gene Wilder are two funny boys from New York City who are temporarily captured on a journey west in search of fame and fortune in “Star Crazy.” The film featured the old Pima County Courthouse and other downtown locations.
