From “Footloose” to “Forrest Gump,” the list of beloved movies filmed in Utah is a long and impressive one, and it’s far from finished. Utah is still a sought-after filming location for directors and producers around the world. And with wide-ranging scenery that includes city streets, expansive deserts and rugged mountain ranges, who can blame them? Here are some of the most exciting shows and movies filmed in Utah that are coming soon or out now.
Horizon: An American Saga | In Theaters June 28, 2024 (Part One) and August 16, 2024 (Part Two)
Starring: Kevin Costner, Sam Worthingon, Sienna Miller, Jena Malone, Abbey Lee, Luke Wilson, lots of other famous people in cowboy hats.
A Civil War-era epic that tells the tale of American expansion in the Old West. The first two movies in this four-part saga were filmed entirely in Utah and are set to be released this year. Part One was filmed near the Moab region, and Parts Two and Three are being filmed in the St. George region.
Based on the trailer, director Kevin Costner is fully intent on showcasing the mountains and deserts that make Utah such an incredible place to visit. (And an incredibly hard place to live in the 1800s.)
Starring: Neal McDonough, Bailey Chase, Dawn Olivieri
A post-apocalyptic action film, based on the book series “Black Autumn.” “Homestead” takes place on an enormous mountain compound where personal security teams and ultra-rich families must figure out how to survive. Produced by Utah’s Angel Studios, it will launch as a movie first, then transition into a TV series.
Starring: Millie Bobby Brown, Chris Pratt, Ke Huy Quan, Stanley Tucci, Giancarlo Esposito, Brian Cox, Billy Bob Thornton, Jenny Slate, Anthony Mackie, Jason Alexander
A dystopian sci-fi adventure movie that tells the story of a teenage girl wandering the American West with her trusty robot sidekick. Based on a 2018 graphic novel of the same name, this movie has the star power to be one of Netflix’s biggest productions of the year. It’s being directed by the Russo Brothers, who are known for “Avengers: Endgame” and a number of other Marvel features.
An ode to Salt Lake’s baseball history comes at a time when the future of America’s Pastime in the city is up in the air. “The Streak” tells the story of the 1987 Salt Lake Trappers, an unaffiliated minor league team who were one of the worst teams in the league before winning 29 games in a row — two more than any MLB team ever has. Filming took place in Salt Lake City and Ogden.
Starring: Florence Pugh, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, David Harbour, Olga Kurylenko, Wyatt Russell, Hannah John-Kamen, Sebastian Stan
A Marvel Cinematic Universe installment featuring familiar faces like Florence Pugh’s Yelena Belova and Sebastian Stan’s Bucky Barnes. Filming is currently taking place in Emery County, home of the San Rafael Swell, and Grand County, home of Arches and Canyonlands. We assume our heroes have been recruited to create incredible rock formations.
Sophia Bush, Chris Carmack, Chris Johnson, Amiah Miller
The story of a happy family who is surprised when a birth-swap secret comes to light and upends their idyllic lives. Based on a book of the same name, the movie began shooting in Park City this spring, so we know that the “idyllic” part will definitely be convincing.
Starring: Joel McHale, Victoria Justice, Jimmy Tatro, Travis Bennett
A crime comedy featuring a mattress store manager, a fake kidnapping gone wrong and lots of locations around Utah County. It’s uncertain whether “California King” is set in California or if the name is just a play on words, but we think viewers are gonna have a hard time believing California looks that good.
Starring: Heather Gay, Whitney Rose, Mary Cosby, Meredith Marks, Angie Katsanevas
A riveting true-to-life docuseries. RHOSLC is back once again. Wine will be thrown, tea will be spilled and the Wasatch Mountains will be on display between the fights and fun.
Starring: Jonathan Roumie, Shahar Isaac, Elizabeth Tabish, Paras Patel
A Christian historical drama that portrays Jesus’ life during the events of the Bible. Season Five of this hit TV show began filming in April of 2024, and is set to cover the events of Holy Week. (If you haven’t brushed up on your Bible recently, it’s kind of an important week.)
Starring: Mackenzie Crook, Wes Chatham, Issy Knopfler
A group of high schoolers are transported back to a medieval civil war. What could possibly go wrong? This fantasy/adventure show will film in Utah and Ireland, with Utah likely serving as the “present day” setting. It’s a good call — our ancient history is more dinos than dragons.
A close-the-vest episodic project from “Napoleon Dynamite” co-creator Jerusha Hess. According to the Utah Film Commission, “Take 21” will explore the “joyous, creative world of artists with developmental disabilities.” The project is set to film later this year in Summit County.
Starring: Ella Purnell, Walton Goggins, Aaron Moten
Adventures in a post-apocalyptic desertscape 200 years in the future. Based on the iconic video game series, Fallout is just the latest big-name show to use Utah as its backdrop, taking a cue from “Yellowstone” and “Westworld” before it. Areas near the Tooele and Wendover Airfield served as filming locations for Season One.
Starring: Weston Razooli, Lio Tipton, Charles Halford
A Goonies-esque indie adventure that’s self-described as a “neo-fairy tale.” “Riddle of Fire'' tells the story of three children on a quest to deliver a pie. Along the way, they’ll meet witches, huntsmen and fairies as they travel through the familiar-looking woods. Who knew the Uinta Mountains were so magical?
That’s it for right now, but there’s bound to be more cinematic magic on its way to Utah. And in the meantime, you can make some of your own as you explore the state. You may not hit it big at the box office (or qualify for any tax incentives), but home movies are pretty priceless if you ask us.