Must-See Film Locations in Mexico
Exotic, diverse, and welcoming for filmmakers from across the world. This easily sums up film locations in Mexico, as this country boasts stunning scenery. Not to mention, there is a long and prolific history of the cinema industry here. So you can rest assured an experienced crew is within reach anywhere.
Film Locations In Mexico Across The Decades
As the film industry boomed in Mexico, filmmakers explored beyond their usual sites. The ease of access from Hollywood down to Mexico’s enchanting sceneries added up to the charm. So in a matter of decades, more and more productions moved south for filming.
The colonial architecture in cities across the country blends perfectly with historical shots. Meanwhile, the sunny coast and lush vegetation can easily substitute South-East Asian countries. For example, Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985) used film locations in Mexico to stand in for Vietnam. The producers relied on backdrops from Acapulco and Tecoanapa.
As we are looking at massive productions, we should also mention Dune (1984). This mesmerizing sci-fi production was also filmed entirely in Mexico. The exterior shots used the Samalayuca Dune Fields as the backdrop. And the Churubusco Studios in Mexico City was the choice for the other scenes.
The Mariachi trilogy is inevitable when it comes to productions shot in Mexico. The first movie, El Mariachi (1992), used Ciudad Acuña, Coahuila as a main location. From the northeast, the second movie, Desperado (1995) moved the action to Mexico city. As for Once Upon a Time in Mexico (2003), backdrops were mostly San Miguel de Allende and Guanajuato City.
While we are at movies with Antonio Banderas, The Mask of Zorro (1998) has to be on the list. The movie used various film locations in Mexico as well. These include Real de Catorce, an old silver mine in San Luis Potosi or the Hacienda de Santa Maria Regla.
The Secrets Of A Little Beach Town Named Rosarito
Have you ever heard of the beach town of Rosarito? If not, you should know it is one of the most surprising film locations in Mexico. It has been a part of pretty large Hollywood productions, after all.
First, it was the production of Titanic (1997) that put this little town near Tijuana on the filmmakers’ map. James Cameron and his crew build a massive tank just for the film, as well as a life-size version of the ship.
The previously-mentioned tank made an appearance in Tomorrow Never Dies (1997) too. So, it is not just the opening scene of Spectre (2015) that relies on a Mexican backdrop. The producers of the 1997 film used the tank for scenes that take place in the South China Sea, technically.
The suspense keeps intensifying, as the production of Pearl Harbor (2001) also chose Rosarito. The set was ideal for the attack scene in the movie. As expected, the crew had to build a large-scale model of the USS Oklahoma battleship.
As decades passed, Rosarito experienced quite a boost of development. Given how many large productions chose it as a set, it was rather inevitable, right?
What film location in Mexico has caught your eye?