Jordan’s movie industry has been increasing year over year with more and more blockbuster films using Jordan’s stunning landscapes as backdrops to their films. Wadi Rum, known fondly as the “Valley of the Moon” has become popular backdrops to more and more movies. Just an hour by car from Jordan’s southern city of Aqaba, it can be visited on a day trip or a popular overnight camping trip. Below you will find a list of the movies filmed in Jordan, as well as the parts of Jordan that are featured in the films. I have also included movies that are set in Jordan, but filmed elsewhere.
Movies Filmed in Jordan
Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
Lawrence of Arabia is set mostly in what is now Jordan and was filmed there as well. It depicts the war against the Ottomans during World War One.
There are plenty of opportunities to recreate a camel riding experience in Jordan’s desert. Check out this list of camel puns to capture your experience and share on instagram.
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)
Petra and the Treasury, famously appear in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.
Mission to Mars (2000)
The Mummy Returns (2001)
The Hurt Locker (2008)
While the movie is set in Baghdad, most of the filming was done in Amman
Body of Lies (2008)
Body of lies was not filmed in Jordan, but in Morocco. However the storyline is about espionage in Jordan, which would have made filming in the country very difficult. The Royal Film Commission is very picky about Jordan’s image (you can see more info below about how the Netflix series Jinn was viewed in Jordan).
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009)
Prometheus (2012)
Prometheus uses Wadi Rum as the backdrop for its sci-fi thriller. But it is not the red desert that you will find in Rum. The cinematography transforms Jordan’s desert into a dark blue planet, where the team from the Prometheus ship is in search of alien and god-like evidence.
The Last Days on Mars (2013)
The Martian (2015)
The Martian shows the Mars-like landscape of Wadi Rum throughout the film. The rich, red sand and towering cliffs of Jordan’s desert take center stage. Take a Jeep Tour in Wadi Rum and locals will take you to the popular filming spots of the Martian.
One of the Mars rovers is available for viewing in Amman.
If desert landscapes are your thing, after watching The Martian, you can use these desert captions for instagram on your photos
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2017)
Wadi Rum makes an appearance in Rogue One, as the planet Jedha. While it is not quite the Wadi Rum as visitors know it, the vast sandstone cliffs are easily recognizable despite the CGI.
A Private War (2018)
Aladdin (2019)
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019)
An intense battle scene takes place in Wadi Rum, Jordan’s desert. Anyone who has visited Wadi Rum will instantly recognize its expanse of sand and towering sandstone cliffs.
Netflix Miniseries Jinn (2019)
The best part about this Netflix show is that it gives you a real look into the cities of Jordan, the landscape of the country and what it actually looks like. It invokes strong favorable memories for those travelers who have been lucky enough to visit Jordan.
Jinn was widely criticized by the Jordanian Government and many locals who felt it was a poor depiction of the young people in the country. You can read more about that here.
Dune (2020)
AlRawabi School for Girls (Netflix 2021)
The bullied outcasts at the prestigious Al Rawabi School for Girls plot a series of risky takedowns to get back at their tormentors. Watching this series gives you a look at what Amman and city life is like in Jordan.
Movies and Documentaries about Jordan and Petra
If you want to watch some interesting documentaries about Jordan, I suggest you watch the following.
Petra’s Hidden Origins
Lost Cities with Albert Lin Season 1, Episode 5 (Available on Disney+) features the Nabateans who built Petra.
Lindsay fell in love with Jordan when she first visited in 2016. She now goes back every year to explore more of this special place. Lindsay is also the owner of Amman Food Tours, a social enterprise that is women-owned and hires local female guides. This project provides meaningful employment for women in Amman.