Unlike its neighbor to the west in Moab, there have not been a ton of movies filmed in Grand Junction.
However the few Hollywood movies that have been filmed in Grand Junction have brought big stars into the Grand Valley, including Academy Award winners Kevin Costner, Tim Robbins, and popular actors/actresses like Rachel McAdams.
I’ve been lucky enough to be in a couple of these as an extra, or in a minor role (very minor).
Like probably most of you, I love seeing filming locations. I will drive my family crazy on road trips by driving miles out of the way to see where a movie was shot, like the house in “Father of the Bride” in Pasadena, California, or the Walmart in Frisco, Colorado where Clark Griswold crashed in his souped-up sled in “Christmas Vacation.”
While there have been numerous films shot all over Western Colorado and Eastern Utah, this article focuses on just the ones filmed here in Grand Junction. We’ve only talking about full-length feature movies and not short films.
In no particular order, here are the movies filmed in Grand Junction:
American Flyers (1985)
Kevin Costner almost died in Grand Junction.
At least, that’s what happened in this sports drama about two brothers chasing professional bike racing dreams.
The movie was shot all over Colorado, including numerous scenes in Grand Junction.
The then-unknown Coster raced in a series called, “Hell of the West,” which is a take on the real-life racing series Coors Classic.
Here locally, the race took place on the Colorado National Monument. There are gorgeous aerial scenes and fast-moving shots of the racers close to the edge of cliff-hugging roads. It’s on one such stretch where Costner’s character nearly goes off the edge.
As a sixteen year-old, I volunteered to be an extra in this film – standing out in the hot Western Colorado sun all day for no money, pretending to be an excited spectator, all to be part of Hollywood magic.
The movie also starred Rae Dawn Chong (“Soul Man”, “The Color Purple”), David Marshall Grant (“The Devil Wears Prada”), and a pre-Baywatch Alexandra Paul.
Had I known I was hanging around the future star of “Yellowstone” and a future Baywatch lifeguard, I would have paid more attention. Instead, my brother and I snuck “Hell of the West” imprinted water bottles and ate snacks while getting sunburned and bored as they filmed the finish line scene at least a hundred times it seemed.
Other actors in the movie included Robert Townsend and John Amos, but they weren’t in Grand Junction scenes and weren’t here in town (I believe).
Scenes were also shot inside and out of the Grand Vista Hotel on Horizon Drive (formerly the Rodeway Inn), where Costner is almost on his death bed in room facing the Bookcliffs.
“American Flyers” was directed by John Badham, who is famous for directing one of the biggest movies of the 1970’s, “Saturday Night Fever.” His Grand Junction cycling movie however, wasn’t a box office hit.
On a side note, Badham also directed Matthew Broderick in “War Games.” One of the scenes took place at the Grand Junction airport, even though it wasn’t actually filmed anywhere locally.
The Lucky Ones (2008)
Another box-office bust, this film is the only other local film that featured big stars. In this case, Tim Robbins (“The Shawshank Redemption”) and Rachel McAdams (“Mean Girls,” “The Notebook”) shot scenes in and around the Grand Valley.
The plot revolves around three Iraq War veterans who take a road trip across the country.
Most of the local scenes were shot outdoors on top of the Colorado National Monument, near the Mud Springs campground on Glade Park.
This included a very realistic scene in which Michael Pena (“The Martian,” “Ant Man and the Wasp,” “Crash”) is solicited by prostitutes before a tornado hits the area.
If you’ve ever spent time on Glade Park, you know that this desolate, isolated area isn’t exactly known for tornadoes and hookers.
I was an extra in this film too, (Camper #2), but was paid for my efforts this time, collecting $80 per day (ca-ching).
As an added benefit, I got to take a picture with Rachel McAdams, who was very nice and gracious. I cannot verify the rumors that she had her hands all over me and wanted to cheat on her then-boyfriend Ryan Gosling with me. Those are strictly rumors.
In addition to Glade Park, another scene was shot just outside of town at the Exxon gas station in De Beque Canyon.
Father’s Day (2024)
Everyone says this movie is far and away the best film ever shot in Western Colorado. And by “everyone,” I mean, me, the writer and director.
This 90 minute low-budget feature was shot in September of 2023 entirely outdoors on the banks of the Colorado River at Watson Island State Park in downtown Grand Junction.
It’s about an anxious 49 year-old man who has 87 minutes in which to find a young homeless alcoholic (for reasons that become clearer as the movie progresses).
You can stream “Father’s Day” for free on Tubi, or rent it commercial free on Prime Video.
Devil’s Doorway (1950)
Filmed partly in both Aspen and Grand Junction, “Devil’s Doorway” is a good old fashioned western. Its Wikipedia page says it was a commercial success.
The film is about an Indian Civil War hero who comes home to Wyoming and battles injustice upon his return.
Aspen filming locations included the Maroon Bells. Grand Junction scenes appear to have been shot in the Book Cliffs. (Disclosure: I haven’t seen it but have seen stills from the film).
Glowzies (2023)
Hank Braxtan is the godfather of Grand Junction filmmaking, and I was very grateful for his help when making my movie.
Braxtan is a Grand Junction native, who has directed a couple of movies here in the Grand Valley, including the slime-riddled zombie movie, “Glowzies.”
James Remar, who has been in everything from “48 Hours” to “Oppenheimer” to a million different TV show appearances, is the star here, as he and some social media influencers take on fluorescent green zombies.
Scenes were shot on the Redlands, in Loma, and at the abandoned Greyhound Bus terminal in downtown Grand Junction.
My son and I were able to attend the premiere at the Avalon Theatre in downtown Grand Junction and enjoyed the humor of this “creature feature.” It’s available to stream on Prime, Roku and Tubi.
The Dead Zone (2022)
Also directed by Hank Braxtan, the movie involves soldiers descending on a radiation-poisoned town.
Michael Jai White stars in this, and you may remember him as one of the bad gangsters in the awesome “The Dark Knight.”
The Dead Zone is available on Prime and Tubi.
Dragon Soldiers (2020)
The first of Braxtan’s action-packed trilogy, this flick has an elite group of soldiers taking on a dragon that is terrifying locals.
Scenes were shot at a law office in downtown Grand Junction, with a lot of the exterior action taking place on BLM land by Glade Park.
Dragon Soldiers is available on Prime Video and for free on Tubi.
Killer Tumbleweeds (2008)
Another B movie creature feature, this low-budget feature is a tongue-in-cheek horror movie, in the vein of Sharknado.
In this case, it’s not sharks, but tumbleweeds, that are killing locals and livestock alike.
It was produced by Butch McCain and his brother Ben.
Butch was a popular longtime weatherman at KKCO who always delivered in a friendly, smooth delivery, and his presence is greatly missed on the airwaves.
You can find Killer Tumbleweeds on Amazon Prime Video.
Machine Head (2000)
This was another low budget “B” science fiction flick shot in and around Fruita.
Unlike the hookers and tornadoes scene from “The Lucky Ones,” this movie was much more realistic. It’s about a dead man who comes alive when a teenager straps a lawn mower engine on his head.
A scene shot on Fruita’s main street, E. Aspen, featured the Machine Head (the awesome Rich Cowden), standing on top of a car before it explodes.
I was in this movie too, as I somehow figure out a way to worm myself into many local productions, despite no looks or talent. If you watch it and are dazzled by the performance of “Police Officer 3,” just know that’s your humble author.
The director, a great guy named Michael Murphy has since passed away, but told me years earlier that the movie was a cult hit in Japan. You can find DVD copies of this on Amazon.
Cannibal The Musical (1993)
Before they were the brains behind “South Park,” Trey Parker and Matt Stone (who I may have had film classes with at the University of Colorado), filmed this low budget musical partially in Grand Junction.
The film is a musical about Colorado’s most famous (only?) cannibal, Alfred Packer.
I believe the local scenes were shot on the Redlands and/or Glade Park. According to the movie’s IMDB page XXXXXX, two CMU students were recruited the morning of filming to play the Japanese Indians (yes there are some in this film).
Moira Kelly, who has appeared in 22 episodes of the “West Wing” along with movies like “The Cutting Edge” and “The Lion King” appears in this.
Other
- A 1956 movie staring James Cagney titled “Tribute to a Bad Man” was apparently filmed (in parts) in Grand Junction, but I haven’t seen it, nor can you find much information about it.
- I have seen from the Best Slope Hub Facebook group that a Grand Junction director, Todd E. Braley, has directed several movies shot locally, including “Silence,” “Do You Like to Draw?” and the upcoming, “Shadows of the Night.”
- To my knowledge, there haven’t been any movies filmed in Fruita (other than “Machine Head” or Palisade. If I’m wrong about that, please let me know and I’ll correct this article. Thank you.
(By Steve Beauregard. Photos copyright GJFruita.com)