‘Raising Arizona’ (1987)
Nicolas Cage as H.I. McDunnough and Holly Hunter as Edwina “Ed” McDunnough in the 1987 film “Raising Arizona.”
Provided by 20th Century Fox
As the name suggests, “Raising Arizona” was, in fact, filmed in the state. Scenes were shot around Phoenix and Scottsdale.
His regular target for robbery, the Short Stop grocery store, is now a Circle K at 2311 W. Deer Valley Road in Phoenix. The “Maricopa County Maximum Security Correctional Facility For Men,” where H.I. McDunnough (Nicolas Cage) is repeatedly sent, is actually the Fourth Street Water Treatment Plant.
The Tempe Police Station, Lost Dutchman State Park, the Phoenician Resort, Sun Devil Stadium and more sites are also included in the movie.
‘Star Wars Episode VI: Return Of The Jedi’ (1983)
Kenny Baker and Anthony Daniels perform on the set of “Star Wars: Episode VI: Return of the Jedi” (1983.)
Lucasfilm Ltd.
The desert near Yuma on the Arizona-California border was used as the location for “Star Wars Episode VI: Return Of The Jedi.”
Jabba the Hutt’s hover barge was built at the Imperial Sand Dunes in Buttercup Valley, south of the I-8 and just west of Yuma.
The crew also stayed in Yuma while filming, logging over 5,500 work days in hotel rooms for set construction and filming.
‘The Karate Kid’ (1984)
The 1984 martial arts drama starring Ralph Macchio, Pat Morita, Elisabeth Shue and William Zabka has some opening scenes shot in Arizona.
Driving scenes of “The Karate Kid” are filmed near red sandstone formations in Oak Creek Canyon, close to Sedona. The Canyon Portal Motel no longer stands, but was located at 280 N. Highway 89A in Sedona.
‘Tombstone’ (1993)
One of the more accurate retellings of the Gunfight at OK Corral was the 1993 film “Tombstone,” starring (from left) Val Kilmer as Doc Holliday, Sam Elliott as Virgil Earp, Kurt Russell as Wyatt Earp and Bill Paxton as Morgan Earp.
Provided by Buena Vista Pictures
“Tombstone,” starring Kurt Russel and Val Kilmer, was filmed at the Mescal Movie Set. More than 70 iconic Western scenes have been filmed on the location, from “Winchester ’73” to “The Outlaw Josey Wales.”