Morocco has always been a great location for film shoots, especially when the film is partially or wholly set in the Arab world. Here’s a look at 7 films that were shot in Morocco in the last decade:
1. War Dogs
Released in 2016, War Dogs is an American biographical crime war comedy-drama film based on the story of two arms dealers, Efraim Diveroli and David Packouz who receive a government contract to supply weapons for U.S. troops in Afghanistan. Starring Jonah Hill, Miles Teller and Bradley Cooper among others, the film was shot in several locations around the world including Morocco.
Morocco was used in filming parts of the movie that depicted Jordan and Iraq. Jonah Hill said he was impressed with the country.
“Morocco is a really interesting place. So different than anywhere I’ve ever been. It’s a Muslim country, which I never spent time in, which I enjoyed,” Hill said, according to Thrillist.
2. American Sniper
Released in 2014, American Sniper is an American biographical war drama film based on the memoir American Sniper: The Autobiography of the Most Lethal Sniper in U.S. Military History.
The film depicts the life of Kyle (played by Bradley Cooper), who ultimately became the deadliest marksman in U.S. military history, killing 255 people from four tours in the Iraq War, of which 160 were officially confirmed by the Department of Defense.
The film was shot in and around Rabat in northern Morocco (to portray Iraq) where the team spent six weeks there.
3. Captain Phillips
Released in 2013, Captain Phillips is an American biographical survival thriller inspired by the story of the 2009 Maersk Alabama hijacking, where merchant mariner Captain Richard Phillips (played by Tom Hanks) was taken hostage by Somali pirates in the Indian Ocean.
The film was shot in various parts around the world, with a majority of the film shot in Malta and Virginia. But parts of the film were shot in Morocco, mainly Agadir and Sidi Bibi.
4. Body of Lies
Released in 2008, Body of Lies is an American action spy film following the attempts of the CIA and Jordanian Intelligence to catch a terrorist.
Set in the Middle East, the film, which features both Leonardo DiCaprio and Russell Crowe, was shot largely in both the United States and Morocco, mainly Casablanca and Rabat, as a stand-in for Jordan.
5. The Hills Have Eyes II
Released in 2007, The Hills Have Eyes II, a sequel to the 2006 remake film, is an American horror film depicting the fight for survival between the U.S. Army National Guardsmen and the mutant people living in a New Mexico desert.
Although the plot of the film was set in New Mexico, the film itself was largely shot in Morocco, specifically in Ouarzazate, for budget reasons.
6. Spectre
Released in 2015, Spectre is the 24th James Bond film produced by Eon Productions, featuring Daniel Craig. The film was considered to be the most expensive Bond film, and one of the priciest films ever made.
The film was shot across various countries in the world, including Morocco, specifically in Oujda, Tangier and Erfoud. The stunt explosion scene, which was filmed in Morocco, actually holds a Guinness World Record for the “largest film stunt explosion,” at the time of publication.
7. Inception
Released in 2010, Inception is a science fiction heist thriller about a professional thief who steals information by infiltrating the sub-conscious.
The cast of the film was pretty impressive including Ellen Page, Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy, Joseph Gordon-Levitt among others. The film was partly shot in Morocco, the old souk of Tangier specifically, as a stand-in for Kenya’s Mombasa.