Was This Movie Filmed in Wadi Rum? Our Top 10 Movies Filmed in Wadi Rum

The Wadi Rum desert in the South of Jordan has earned itself the name Mars on Earth – not without reason.

The astonishing sandstone formations and the surrounding desert with red sand make the place look like another planet. Unsprisingly, it has since been used as a set for countless movies.

List of Movies Filmed in Wadi Rum

Ranking	Movie Name	Released In (Year)
#01	Dune Part One & Dune Part Two	2021 & 2024
#02	The Martian	2015
#03	Rogue One & Star Wars The Rise of Skywalker	2016 & 2019
#04	Prometheus	2012
#05	John Wick Chapter 4	2023
#06	Aladdin	2019
#07	Lawrence of Arabia	1962
#08	The Goat Life	2024
#09	Theeb	2015
#10	Red Planet	2000

Plenty of movies were filmed in Wadi Rum.

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Here are some of the most famous movies filmed in Wadi Rum:

The Most Well Known Movies Filmed in Wadi Rum: From the Best to the Most Popular

Fiming locations in view: The landscapes of Wadi Rum appear in multiple blockbuster movies.

In the course of the past two decades, there has been a steady influx of film crews to Wadi Rum looking to take advantage of the outlandish landscapes. The UNESCO World Heritage Site has since served as the red planet, a desert moon and the sight of a the Arab revolt.

From Matt Damon to Lawrence of Arabia, these are the best and most popular movies filmed in Wadi Rum:

Dune Part 1 & Dune Part 2 – The Most Recent Blockbuster Movies Filmed in Wadi Rum

Wadi Rum turned into a faraway planet for Dune.

In Dune: Part One, the young noble Paul Atreides navigates treacherous politics on the desert planet Arrakis. His family assumes control of Arrakis, the only source of the valuable spice melange. Paul faces betrayal, uncovers his destiny as the prophesied messiah, and confronts the formidable House Harkonnen. Power struggles, alliances, and desert warfare ensue.

Arrakis, Dune’s desert planet is depicted by shots of the Wadi Rum desert. Numerous scenes of the movies were shots right on-site as the desert landscapes match the producers’ idea of the fantasy planet of Arrakis.

After filming the first part of the franchise in 2021, Dune action returned to Wadi Rum in 2024 for Dune: Part Two. Again, extensive filming took part in Southern Jordan to match the visuals of the first movie.

The Martian – The Most Popular Movie Filmed in Wadi Rum

Wadi Rum made the perfect set for The Martian starring Matt Damon.

In The Martian – starring Matt Damon – the astronaut Mark Watney is stranded on Mars after a fierce storm forces his crew to evacuate, presuming him dead. Watney must rely on his ingenuity and scientific expertise to survive, growing potatoes, communicating with NASA, and ultimately orchestrating a daring rescue mission against formidable odds.

For the surface of Mars, Wadi Rum served as the perfect backdrop. If you are imagining Ridley Scott and Matt Damon in Wadi Rum already, you will be delighted to hear that you can even recreate some iconic shots of the movie in Wadi Rum.

Several shots of the movie were taken in and around Wadi Rum, featuring some truly stunning scenery of this ancient desert throughout Watney’s wanderings. Step into Matt Damon’s mars-sized shoes and embark on a hike in Wadi Rum yourself!

Star Wars Rogue One – First Star Wars Story Filmed in Wadi Rum

Enhanced by CGI – the mountains of Rum also made it into Star Wars.

Rogue One is the first movie out of the Star Wars franchise to be filmed in Wadi Rum. In Rogue One, a group of rebels embarks on a daring mission to steal the Death Star plans, crucial to the Rebel Alliance’s fight against the Empire. Led by Jyn Erso and Cassian Andor, they face danger, sacrifice, and redemption in a desperate bid to strike a decisive blow against tyranny.

Throughout the Rogue One movie, there is several locations of the desert planet that seem to resemble the Wadi Rum desert. However, the film crew never actually showed up to Wadi Rum itself. Careful fan analyses have shown, however, that the rock formations undoubtedly served as the visual inspiration for the screenplay.

Some years later, Star Wars returned to the desert for the filming of the second Star Wars movie to be shot in Jordan’s Wadi Rum: Star Wars The Rise of Skywalker.

Prometheus – Aliens in Wadi Rum

A godly prophecy from the South of Jordan.

In Prometheus, a team of scientists travels to a distant moon to uncover humanity’s origins. They discover an ancient alien civilization and a dark secret that threatens Earth’s future. As they delve deeper, they face terrifying creatures and the realization that their quest may lead to humanity’s ultimate destruction.

Interestingly, Wadi Rum is not listed as a primary filming location for the Prometheus movie. Even though, movie geeks have long since discovered striking similarities between the sandstone formations of Wadi Rum and the distant moon of the science fiction thriller.

Therefore, it is safe to say that Wadi Rum did at least serve as inspiration for this one of Ridley Scott’s movies. This becomes especially plausible considering Scott’s aversion of green screens.

John Wick Chapter 4 – Keanu Reeves in Wadi Rum

Recently, Wadi Rum made it to the big screen fairly often.

In John Wick: Chapter 4, the relentless assassin faces new threats and old enemies as he navigates the dangerous underworld that takes him all the way to Wadi Rum. With a rising body count and alliances tested, Wick’s quest for survival intensifies, unveiling deeper conspiracies and betrayals that push him to his limits in a relentless battle for vengeance.

The movie features John Wick riding through the expanse of the Wadi Rum desert on the hunt of The Elder of the High Table.

Filming for the movie did in fact take place right on-site in the Wadi Rum desert, making it one of the more recent appearance of Jordan’s Wadi Rum in a blockbuster movie.

Aladdin – A Disney Classic Filmed in Wadi Rum

Even Will Smith made it to Wadi Rum.

In Disney’s live-action remake of Aladdin, the street boy Aladdin discovers a magic lamp containing a powerful genie. With newfound wealth and the desire to win the heart of Princess Jasmine, he faces the Jafar’s schemes, learns the true meaning of friendship, and embraces his destiny.

Set in the Arabian world, it’s is anything but a stretch to make a connection between Aladdin and Wadi Rum. In fact, the new adaption featuring Hollywood star Will Smith as the genie was filmed in parts in Wadi Rum.

For example, one scene prominently features one of Wadi Rum’s many natural stone arches, an enchanting sandstone rock formation resembling a bridge.

Lawrence of Arabia – Wadi Rum’s struggle against Ottoman Rule

A Wadi Rum icon – Lawrence of Arabia.

Lawrence of Arabia is one of the central figures of Wadi Rum’s more recent history. His story has since been adapted in a movie. In Lawrence of Arabia, the British officer is sent to Arabia during World War I, where he becomes embroiled in the Arab Revolt against the Ottoman Empire.

Lawrence’s journey through desert landscapes as an army officer and tribal politics leads to triumph, tragedy, and a complex exploration of identity, loyalty, and imperialism.

Capturing the story of Lawrence of Arabia would not have been possible without filming on-site in Wadi Rum. Therefore, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that big portions of the movie feature Wadi Rum.

To this day, Wadi Rum bears traces of the real-life Lawrence, featuring Lawrence’s Spring. The natural spring close to Wadi Rum Village is not the only notable location connected to the British officer. Even more captivating is the alleged house of Lawrence in the desert. Both locations can be visited on Jeep Tours in Wadi Rum.

The Goat Life – Based on a True Story

A captivating Indian story line brought to the Middle East.

The Goat Life, the first foreign language film on this list, portrays Najeeb’s harrowing journey from Kerala to the deserts of Saudi Arabia, where he becomes a slave herding goats.

Enduring extreme hardship, he finds solace in memories of his homeland and dreams of freedom. Through resilience and hope, Najeeb’s story explores themes of survival, identity, and the human spirit.

Filming for the Indian movie took place in the protagonist’s home province Kerala as well as the Sahara desert in Algeria and the Wadi Rum desert in Jordan. The desert environment of Wadi Rum served as a more easily accessible set for the telling of the story of the movie.

Theeb – The Story of a Young Bedouin Boy in World War I

Based on real events in Wadi Rum.

Theeb depicts the journey of a Bedouin youth in the Arabian desert. When he accompanies a British officer on a dangerous mission, he confronts betrayal and loss, ultimately embracing his courage and independence. Set against the backdrop of war, the film explores loyalty, survival, and self-discovery.

Naturally, Wadi Rum and Southern Jordan as a whole served a filming location for the story of this Bedouin boy. While scenes of the tribal camps were shot at Wadi Araba in Western Jordan, the pilgrim’s trail was shot almost exclusively in Wadi Rum.

Later on the movie would receive an Academy Award nomination as the Best Foreign Language Film bringing Wadi Rum to the world’s biggest stage. Additionally, the director of ‘Theeb’ was recognized as the Best Director at the Venice Film Festival, underscoring the film’s prestigious accolades.

Red Planet – Mars on Earth. Again.

Wadi Rum as the red planet.

In Red Planet, a team of astronauts is sent to Mars to investigate why a terraforming project failed. Facing perilous conditions and malfunctioning equipment, they uncover a deadly secret threatening their survival. With time running out, they must navigate treacherous terrain and confront the unknown to ensure humanity’s future.

To create a realistic backdrop of the red planet, the producers of the movie happily fed of the scenery of Wadi Rum. Among other locations, filming happened here.

To create the atmosphere of Mars on Earth, the filming of the movie took place in the Australian Outback and Wadi Rum itself. In post-editing, sings of vegetation in Wadi Rum were removed to perfect the martian look.

FAQs

Which movies have been filmed in Wadi Rum?

A number of movies have been filmed in Wadi Rum. Some of the most popular films to come out of Mars on Earth are: Dune Part One, Dune Part Two, John Wick Chapter 4, Prometheus, Rogue One, Star Wars Rise of Skywalker, The Martian and Lawrence of Arabia.

What movie did Matt Damon film in Wadi Rum?

The famous Hollywood actor has become the motif of a famous tourist snapshots in Wadi Rum. One specific shot of him sitting and gazing into the rock facades and the surrounding desert is taken from the movie The Martian where he took the role of the main protagonist.

Was John Wick 4 filmed in Wadi Rum?

Yes, parts of John Wick Chapter 4 were filmed in Wadi Rum. One scene in particular, a thrilling horse ride through the desert and the assassination of The Elder were filmed with the Wadi Rum desert as a backdrop.