In the Movies: Popular Film Destinations

It seems like every day there is a new movie that comes out. There are more movies coming out now than ever before, and studios are spending colossal amounts of money to ensure that their film has the biggest stars, the most outrageous stunts, and the best publicity so they can break box office records.

While the money splashed out on these blockbuster movies is incredible to even think about – the budget for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 was an astounding $200 million – one way that studios attempt to save money is by choosing their filming location carefully. With a bit of movie magic, they can sub in a city – like Vancouver for New York, Boston, or Los Angeles – for cheaper. And sometimes, it just makes sense since the real location is not hospitable for a 300-strong production crew.

Here’s a look at some of the most popular filming locations being used today.

1. Morocco

Many location scouts choose Morocco as a suitable place to film because they’re able to get the look of the Middle East while bypassing some of the region’s more troubling political situations. There are plenty of classic movies that were filmed in Morocco, like Casablanca and Lawrence of Arabia. The country has remained a popular filming location for decades too, with modern movies like Sex and the City 2 and The Mummy choosing to film there.

Morocco has plenty of historical sites and bustling cities, as well as picturesque deserts and countryside, so make sure that you get a mix of both urban and rural when you visit. The easiest way to do this is to drive between Marrakech and Ouarzazate, taking the road commonly known as the “Route of a Thousand Kasbahs.”

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