Movies Filmed In And Around Denver

With scenic mountains, wide, open plains, astounding architecture and beautiful historic districts, Denver has plenty to offer in terms of gorgeous scenery.

Which is why it’s no surprise that film directors and producers have chosen our mile-high city as the backdrop for their movies. Below are just a few movies that have had some of their scenes filmed right here in Denver!

Famous movies filmed in Denver

'About Schmidt'

2002

Jack Nicholson’s heartwarming comedy-drama follows a father traveling to his daughter’s wedding, with plenty of adventures and hilarity ensuing. 

The story is set in Nebraska and, as such, most of the movie is filmed there, too. However, you can catch a glimpse of Denver’s Ogden Theater briefly as Nicholson’s character drives past. 

'Blades of Glory'

2007

This film is iconic, to say the least, with plenty of scenes that are equally so. 

In the first part of the movie, Will Ferrell and Jon Heder’s characters face off in the ice rink at the 2002 World Winter Sports, with the competition ending in a tie and both participants winning gold. If you’ve seen the movie, you know what comes next — a fight breaks out between them, a mascot gets set on fire and chaos reigns free. The rest of the film seeks to restore the skaters’ reputations, and it all ends happily ever after, as a classic ice-skating-competition-with-heartwarming-qualities-and-friendship movie should. 

Though that first competition is filmed indoors in a Los Angeles arena, the sweeping outside shot of it is none other than Denver’s Ball Arena!

'Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid'

1969

This iconic Paul Newman film was shot in beautiful landscapes all over the Western United States and Mexico, from Zion National Park in Utah to Taxco, Mexico to the Vermilion Cliffs in Arizona and beyond. 

And, of course, there’s a bit of Denver in this Western, too! Some of the Railroad Scenes were filmed on the Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad, which was a popular setting for many other westerns and classic films.

Here are a few other movies filmed on the railroad:

• “Around the World in 80 Days”
• “How the West Was Won”
• “Across the Wide Missouri”
• “Denver & Rio Grande”
• “The Sons of Katie Elder”
• “Viva Zapata!”

'Die Hard 2'

1990

Though this popular sequel isn’t filmed entirely in Denver, the majority of its most iconic scenes definitely were. 

In the movie, John McClane runs through the Washington Dulles airport in an epic firefight with the bad guys, dodging bullets, jumping over luggage conveyor belts and being really really cool, in general. It’s not the real Dulles Airport, though  — it’s the old Stapleton International Airport in Northeast Denver. 

Denver’s first international airport played host to the larger terminal scenes in the movie, while scenes in the tunnels were filmed in a Los Angeles utility facility. 

Here are some other TV shows and movies that have been filmed in Denver’s old Stapleton Airport:

• “Crash: The Mystery of Flight 1501” 
• “Dragon and the Hawk”
• “The Secret Life of Archie's Wife” 

'Identity Thief'

2013

Identity theft is not a joke, and millions of people suffer from it every year. 

Well, according to a paper supplies salesman, at least. 

This casual comedy follows a Florida woman who steals the identity of a man in Denver. So, it makes sense that a lot of the scenes featuring this guy’s home are filmed on-location in our fair city! 

'In the Line of Fire'

1993

Clint Eastwood’s action-packed drama follows former President John F. Kennedy’s secret service agent as he attempts to thwart an assassination attempt on his current commander in chief. 

In one of the scenes, Eastwood’s character protects the president at a big rally, filmed right here at Civic Center Park!

'Sleeper'

1973

You could spend a great day out and about visiting the filming locations for this popular Diane Keaton and Woody Allen movie set in the not-too-distant future. 

Like, for example, the Denver Botanic Gardens, which features briefly in a wide, sweeping shot. There’s also shots of the mushroom-shaped Sculptured House up on Genesee Mountain, plus some scenes from the Table Mesa Laboratory in Boulder, up at the National Center for Atmospheric Research. 

You may recognize familiar Denver locations in these movies and TV shows, and you may have even been there yourself! 

And, who knows? If you live in our luxury Denver apartments, then you may find yourself in the backdrop of another movie in the near future! How fun!

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Featured photo courtesy Pixabay/dcondrey