Jordan Film Locations: 10 Awesome Movies Filmed in Jordan (+ Moon Knight!)
When I found out I would be traveling to Jordan on a Cinematic and Cultural Tour… You can imagine my excitement! To say I love movies is a bit of an understatement. I’m not the biggest movie fan I know, but I can certainly hold my own. It’s a movie nerd’s dream come true to visit Jordan film locations!
As promised, Jordan delivers on all counts. It is stunningly beautiful, and it’s easy to see why so many directors and location scouts love shooting here. The landscape is a setting for powerful stories. The two most popular filming locations in Jordan are Petra and Wadi Rum. As you’ll see from each of the movies filmed in Jordan that I detail below, Wadi Rum is one of Hollywood’s favorite places to film in the past decade.
Feast your eyes on these Jordan film locations. These ten movies filmed in Jordan include some of the most iconic movies in film history, set in one of the most beautiful countries in the world.
This post was originally published in August 2016, and was most recently updated in April 2022 to add Moon Knight.
Featured image: Photo: Chiabella James/Warner Bros. Pictures
1. Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
I’ll admit it: I’ve never made it through the 228-minute behemoth that is Lawrence of Arabia.
But even I must acknowledge that Lawrence of Arabia is truly one of The Greats. (It has a 100% rating on Metacritic!).
In Lawrence of Arabia, the titular character leads the struggle for Middle Eastern independence and the Arab revolution. The drama is set against the backdrop of Jordan’s most dramatic landscapes.
These locations include Wadi Rum (also featured on Lawrence’s own Seven Pillars of Wisdom book), the deserts of El Jafr and Jebel Tubeiq, and Maan near Petra.
2. Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade (1989)
If only Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade had been the final one, we might have ended on such an epic note that few trilogies would have been able to compete for decades to come. Instead, let’s pretend Hollywood isn’t continuing to propagate other films with the namesake character.
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade is also the movie that put Petra on the collective bucket lists of Western audiences. In fact, many people aren’t aware that The Treasury is one of dozens of buildings and sites in the historic Nabatean city.
In real life, Petra is nothing like what you’d expect. It’s a breathtaking collection of architectural and natural wonders that is bigger, wider, and more impressive than you can imagine. Go see it for your Indiana Jones moment, stay and explore because you may never go back again (though you’ll want to).
3. Prometheus (2012)
As with many movies on this list, I was late to the game on Prometheus. I had heard good murmurs from friends, but didn’t actually see it until 2013. Now, both the nerdy outer space alien storyline and the awesome film-making in a cool country high on my list of personal faves.
You might have a hard time recognizing Jordan if you didn’t know the movie was filmed there. Director Ridley Scott clearly had a vision for the otherworldly rock formations and wide sandy expanses of Wadi Rum. The visual effects team transformed the red and orange tones into moody indigo, but the elements are still there.
If you visit Wadi Rum, you won’t feel like you’re standing on planet LV223 – but you can get a sense for it.
Prometheus Poster © 20th Century Fox
4. Theeb (2014)
Some people love foreign language films. If you’re one of them, Theeb is definitely worth adding to your list, especially before a trip to Jordan. For what it’s worth, the movie has earned 97% on Rotten Tomatoes, and critics raved about it.
Theeb was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at the 2016 Academy Awards, and is set in the same era as Queen of the Desert and Lawrence of Arabia.
Set against the stark background of Jordan’s driest regions and starring Jordanians and Bedouin, the movie gives a stunning insight into what life in Jordan was like during the struggle for independence.
Theeb Poster © MAD Solutions
5. Queen of the Desert (2015)
I watched Queen of the Desert on the plane to Amman. Afterward I was blown away that it had slipped past my radar. To be fair, I have never been a big fan of Nicole Kidman (and the movie scores abysmally on critic and audience ratings with scathing reviews).
However, her portrayal of Gertrude Bell has sparked a passionate interest for me. Now I’ve read a biography of Bell, and she was so much more impressive than the movie portrays.
When it comes to experiencing Jordan through this film, I personally fell in love with the historical context the movie provides. Most people called Bell both “Queen of the Desert” and “Shaper of Nations” for her influential role in drawing the international borders in the region.
It might be difficult to pull up the exact film locations (Petra definitely, and a few other anonymous desert scenes), but it’s hard to escape the sense of place you’ll experience watching Queen of the Desert.
Queen of the Desert Poster © Atlas Distribution Company
6. The Martian (2015)
You might dismiss when I say that The Martian is my favorite movie on the list. Maybe I’ve just had a subconscious love of movies filmed in Jordan.
Filmed primarily in Wadi Rum, The Martian hits all the right notes for both mass appeal. The Martian is brilliantly adapted from the book of the same name. Director Ridley Scott (back after Prometheus) helms the film to successfully blend drama, science, humor, and ethics against a stunning backdrop.
Visiting Wadi Rum, I actually saw several of The Martian filming and production locations; the driver of my 4×4 tour pointed them out. It’s not hard to picture Wadi Rum as Mars because they map so closely together, but it’s a little more pleasant for those of us who visit (and sleep in plush tents) than astronaut Watney during his stay on the red planet.
The Martian Poster © 20th Century Fox
7. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2017)
If you’ve seen it, you already know: Rogue One: A Star Wars Story was filmed in amazing locations around the world. My favorite by far is the chapter in Jedha, worship and pilgrimage site of Jedi and those who believe in the Force.
It’s clearly Wadi Rum – and it underscores how many amazing space/sci-fi movies see the otherworldliness of this destination.
While Jedha meets an unfortunate end in Rogue One, there are sweeping views of Wadi Rum to appreciate whether you’ve visited Jordan or are still dreaming of it.
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story Poster © Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, Lucasfilm
8. Aladdin (2019)
Say what you will about Disney’s persistent desire to butcher, I mean, remake every classic animated movie… It was good to see Wadi Rum get extensive screen time in the 2019 remake of Aladdin.
From the scenes where Jafar tricks Aladdin to enter the Cave of Wonders to the scenes where Aladdin and the Genie design their great plot to win Jasmine’s heart, it’s easy to spot the distinctive rock formations in the background.
Whether you are seeking the Cave of Wonders or just to stare in wonder at this obviously breathtaking scene, Wadi Rum is a must-visit place on your Jordan itinerary!
Aladdin Poster/Screengrab © Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
9. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019)
Say what you will about how the third Star Wars trilogy went – and ended, but you can’t deny it was a visually spectacular movie.
Like many of the movies in the nine-film franchise, some filming was done in Jordan. Specifically (and unsurprisingly, if you’ve gotten this far in this article), the planet Pasaana, home of the Aki-Aki and their wild cultural celebration was filmed in Wadi Rum.
The crew spent three weeks filming in Jordan, and it was one of the few on-location (non-studio) places featured in The Rise of Skywalker.
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Poster © Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, Lucasfilm
10. Dune: Part One (2021)
I literally saw Dune last night and knew I needed to update this post right away. If you’re looking for a movie that soaks in the beauty of Jordan’s Wadi Rum desert area, this is that film.
While most of the movie doesn’t spend much screen time on the towering red rock formations of this popular Jordan film location, the third act soaks it all in.
Using a combination of sand dune footage from the UAE and the rock formations of Jordan – critical for the livelihoods of the Fremen people on the planet Arrakis – Dune director Denis Villeneuve turns his artistic eye on the natural wonders of the desert with gorgeous results.
Dune Poster © Legendary Pictures, Warner Bros. Pictures
Bonus: Moon Knight
If you’ve watched Moon Knight, you’ve probably noticed it has two things in common with Dune: Oscar Isaac, who stars as Moon Knight, played Duke Leto Atreides in Dune, and both were filmed in Jordan’s Wadi Rum!
(Isaac also starred as Po Dameron in the latest Star Wars trilogy, which also filmed in Wadi Rum! He’s spent a lot of time there lately…)
Moon Knight directors were acutely aware of not choosing locations that one might recognize from those other two fictional universes. While the episode filmed in Jordan hasn’t been released as of updating this post (April 9), I’m really excited to see how they use this stunning landscape to bring the story of Steven Grant/Marc Spector to life.
Moon Knight Poster © Disney
Other Movies Filmed in Jordan
In addition to the 10 great movies filmed in Jordan, there are a number of others that have used Jordan as a film location. I didn’t want to ignore those, so here’s a list organized by release year:
- Mortal Kombat: Annihilation (1997)
- Red Planet (2000)
- The Mummy Returns (2001)
- Captain Abu Raed (2007)
- Redacted (2007)
- The Hurt Locker (2008)
- Brüno (2009)
- Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009)
- Fair Game (2010)
- Incendies (2010)
- Route Irish (2010)
- Zero Dark Thirty (2012)
- The Last Days on Mars (2013)
- Rosewater (2014)
- All the Money in the World (2017)
- A Private War (2018)
- Infidel (2019)
There are also many more Indian movies that are filmed in Jordan, too! I’ll be sure to update this list once I hear of any new movies being filmed in Jordan.
Have you seen other movies filmed in Jordan? Let me know in the comments or join my Jordan Travel Tips group on Facebook!
Valerie
I fell in love with Jordan after my first visit in 2016; now I love returning to explore more – and writing guides to help you do the same.
7 Comments
Linda
I love Jordan! My home is in the USA. My husband family live here in Jordan. so we come here every year to visit. Wadi Rum is one (of many) of my favorites. We actually just went last month (October), and to the hot-air balloon festival. At Wadi Rum our jeep ride took us to the area where I believe they said Mars was filmed, so beautiful and amazing, the sand…sunset… absolutely gorgeous!
Though, in the USA we have many many beautiful places to visit, but there is something about Jordan I felled in love with. I am fortunate and blessed to experience both worlds.
Muayyad Otoum
hi welcome to come again to visit Jordan
Valerie
I will be there in March!
Steven
Hi there,
We are intending to visit Jordan in Oct but worry about safety. Is the place safe to visit in Oct?
Thanks
Valerie
Absolutely, Steven! Jordan is safe year-round.
Dawn Marinac
Just returned from a week in Jordan and were so enthralled with the country’s landscape and history. During our tour we learned a few movies that were filmed there and are now rewatching them. Thanks for the list as we will also watch all of these for more glimpses of beautiful Jordan!
Valerie
I’m so glad you enjoyed your visit, Dawn! Enjoy all these movies 🙂