1. 'Granite Flats'
Created and produced by BYU alumni, “Granite Flats” was BYUtv’s first original scripted television series. Premiering in 2013, the show introduced viewers to a 1960s Colorado town mired in Cold War paranoia.
Utah filming locations: Salt Lake City; Old Granite High School; Copperton; Olmstead power plant; Magna
2. 'Deidra & Laney Rob a Train'
Ashleigh Murray and Rachel Crow star as sisters Deidra and Laney, who decide to start robbing trains after their mother ends up in jail. The movie premiered at the Sundance Film Festival this January.
Utah filming locations: Judge Memorial Catholic High School; Orem; Park City; Ogden; Heber City
3. 'Dear Dumb Diary'
“Dear Dumb Diary” is a made-for-TV movie musical based on cartoonist Jim Benton’s book series of the same name. The movie first aired on the Hallmark Channel in September 2013, and it was released on Netflix in December 2014.
Utah filming locations: Salt Lake City
4. 'The Saratov Approach'
“The Saratov Approach” tells the true story of Elders Andrew Propst and Travis Tuttle, who were kidnapped in Russia in 1998 while serving their LDS missions. The film, which had a limited release in 2013, was released on Netflix in April 2015.
Utah filming locations: Salt Lake City
5. 'Waffle Street'
“Waffle Street” is based on author James Adams’ 2010 memoir about his journey from hedge fund manager to diner server. The 2015 movie adaptation was primarily filmed in the Lehi diner One Man Band.
Utah filming locations: Lehi; Salt Lake City
6. 'Once I Was a Beehive'
Writer-director Maclain Nelson, who previously starred in “The Saratov Approach,” told Meridian Magazine he was inspired to create the female-driven camp film in an effort to appeal to “all ages and religions.”
Utah filming locations: Payson; Provo Canyon
7. 'Forever Strong'
“Forever Strong” was the first sports film made by Utah-based production company Go Films. The movie is based on a collection of true stories about members of Highland High School’s rugby team.
Utah filming locations: Granite High School; Provo; Springville; Salt Lake City
8. 'Forrest Gump'
Director Robert Zemeckis filmed the 1994 movie in locations all over the United States, but locals will recognize southern Utah’s geography in the scene when Tom Hanks’ character decides to stop his three-year cross-country run. In the middle of Highway 163, Hanks abruptly stops, turns around, and tells his followers, “I’m pretty tired. I think I’ll go home now.”
Utah filming locations: Monument Valley
9. - 11. 'High School Musical,' 'High School Musical 2,' and "High School Musical 3"
"High School Musical"
"High School Musical 2"
"High School Musical 3"
When it first aired on Disney Channel in January 2006, “High School Musical” quickly became an unexpected phenomenon. The family-friendly film, which was entirely filmed in Utah, spawned two more sequels that also became hits.
Utah filming locations: East High School; Murray High School; downtown Salt Lake City; University of Utah; St. George; Midvale
12. 'Minor Details'
Featuring Jennette McCurdy of “iCarly” fame, “Minor Details” tells the story of four boarding school students who work together to solve the mystery of why so many of their classmates are getting sick. Salt Lake City residents Sally Meyer and Annie Edwards wrote the film’s script with the intent to provide clean acting roles for their teenage daughters, said the Daily Herald.
Utah filming locations: American Fork Junior High School
13. 'The Giver'
“The Giver” is based on Lois Lowry’s 1993 best-selling dystopian novel of the same name. Most of the movie was shot in South Africa, but the final scene at the end of the movie — when Jonas finally reaches Elsewhere — was filmed at a cabin in Big Cottonwood Canyon.
Utah filming locations: Brighton
14. 'Read It and Weep'
“Read It and Weep” stars Kay Panabaker as Jamie Bartlett, a high school student who accidentally turns in her diary as a school assignment. After her assignment wins a writing contest, Jamie’s diary becomes a best-selling novel.
Utah filming locations: Murray High School; downtown Salt Lake City
15. 'El Dorado'
Howard Hanks’ 1967 movie “El Dorado” borrows heavily from his earlier film “Rio Bravo.” Nevertheless, the film is critically acclaimed, and maintains a 100 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Like many Westerns, the movie uses southern Utah as a scenic backdrop.
Utah filming locations: Kanab
16. 'Always'
“Always” stars Richard Dreyfuss as an aerial firefighter who dies and must provide spiritual mentorship to a new pilot, who falls in love with his girlfriend. Steven Spielberg directed the film, which is based on the 1943 movie “A Guy Named Joe.”
Utah filming locations: Wendover
17. 'Jackie & Ryan'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvueCDMu8t0“Jackie & Ryan” stars Katherine Heigl as a single mother who falls in love with Ryan (Ben Barnes), a traveling musician. The film features an original folk music soundtrack with performances by both Heigl and Barnes.
Utah filming locations: Ogden Union Station; Salt Lake City
18. 'The Adventures of Food Boy'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdQcuYGCgdAStarring Lucas Grabeel, who previously appeared in “High School Musical,” “The Adventures of Food Boy” revolves around a teenager who discovers he has the superpower to make food appear from his hands.
Utah filming locations: Timpview High School