Colorado residents have no doubt that the historic and natural beauty of the state deserves its place on the silver screen. And over the years, Hollywood types have agreed. Some of the best examples of American cinema have scenes that were filmed right here in Colorado. Take a look at the list below, watch the movie—then go out and stand where great motion pictures were made.
Show me movies made in Colorado in the:
1950s
1960s
1970s
1980s
1990s
2000s
1950s
Around the World in Eighty Days (1956)
Staring: David Niven, Cesar Romero, Shirley MacLaine, Red Skelton, Frank Sinatra, Buster Keaton, Edward R. Murrow
Colorado’s Connection: Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad in Durango, Durango
Awards
Oscars
Best Writing, Best Screenplay — Adapted (1957)
Best Picture (1957)
Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture (1957)
Best Film Editing (1957)
Best Cinematography, Color (1957)
Golden Globes
Best Motion Picture — Drama (1957)
Best Motion Picture Actor — Comedy/Musical (1957)
National Board of Review
Best Picture (1956)
New York Film Critics Circle Awards
Best Film (1956)
Best Screenplay (1956)
Writers Guild of America
Best Written American Comedy (1957)
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1960s
How the West Was Won (1962)
Staring: Henry Fonda, Gregory Peck, Debbie Reynolds, John Wayne, James Stewart, Walter Brennan
Colorado’s Connection: Bent’s Old Fort, Denver & Rio Grand Western Railroad in Durango, Durango, Uncompaghre National Forest
Awards
Oscars
Best Film Editing (1964)
Best Sound (1964)
Best Writing, Story and Screenplay — Written Directly for the Screen (1964)
American Cinema Editors
Best Edited Feature Film (1964)
Motion Picture Sound Editors
Best Sound Editing — Feature Film (1964)
Photoplay Awards
Gold Medal (1963)
Western Heritage Awards
Theatrical Motion Picture (1964)
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)
Staring: Robert Redford, Paul Newman
Colorado’s Connection: Silverton, Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad, Durango
Awards
ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards
Most Performed Feature Film Standards for the song "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on my Head" (1988)
Oscar
Best Cinematography (1970)
Best Music, Original Score for a Motion Picture (not a Musical) (1970)
Best Music, Original Song for the song "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head" (1970)
Best Writing, Story and Screenplay Based on Material Not Previously Published or Produced (1970)
BAFTA Awards
Anthony Asquith Award for Film Music (1971)
Best Actor: Robert Redford (1971)
Best Actress: Katharine Ross (1971)
Best Cinematography (1971)
Best Direction (1971)
Best Film (1971)
Best Film Editing (1971)
Best Screenplay (1971)
Best Sound Track (1971)
Golden Globes
Best Original Score (1970)
Grammy Awards
Best Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or Television Show (1970)
Laurel Awards
Action Drama (1970)
Music Man (1970)
Writers Guild of America
Best Drama Written Directly for the Screen (1970)
True Grit (1969)
Actors: John Wayne, Glen Campbell, Jeremy Slate, Robert Duval, Dennis Hopper
Colorado’s Connection: Buckskin Joe Frontier Town & Railway in Cañon City, Cañon City, Castle Rock, Gunnison, Montrose, Ouray, Owl Creek Pass, Ridgeway
Awards
Oscar
Best Actor in a Leading Role: John Wayne (1970)
Golden Globe
Best Motion Picture Actor — Drama: John Wayne (1970)
Laurel Awards
Action Performance: John Wayne (1970)
General Entertainment (1970)
Western Heritage Awards
Theatrical Motion Picture (1970)
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1970s
Vanishing Point (1970)
Actors: Barry Newman, Timothy Scott, The Dodge Challenger
Colorado’s Connection: Denver, Rifle
Sleeper (1973)
Actors: Woody Allen, Diane Keaton
Colorado’s Connection: Boulder, Denver, Church of the Risen Christ in Denver, Currigan Exhibition Hall in Denver, Denver
Botanical Gardens, Genesee Park just west of Denver, Greenwood Village, Lakewood, National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder
Awards
Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America
Best Dramatic Presentation: Woody Allen (1975)
Hugo Awards
Best Dramatic Presentation (1974)
Every Which Way But Loose (1978)
Actors: Clint Eastwood, Beverly D’Angelo
Colorado’s Connection: Denver, Georgetown
Awards
American Movie Awards
Best Song "Every Which Way But Loose” (1980)
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1980s
National Lampoon's Vacation (1983)
Actors: Chevy Chase, Beverly D’Angelo, Randy Quaid, Eugene Levy, John Candy, Christie Brinkley
Colorado’s Connection: Alamosa, Durango
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989)
Actors: Chevy Chase, Beverly D’Angelo, Randy Quaid, Juliette Lewis, Johnny Galecki, John Randolph, Doris Roberts, Julia Louis-Dreyfus
Colorado’s Connection: Breckenridge, Summit County
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)
Actors: Harrison Ford, Sean Connery, River Phoenix
Colorado’s Connection: Cumbres & Toltec Railroad in Antonito
Awards
Oscar
Best Effects, Sound Effects Editing (1990)
BMI Film & TV Awards
BMI Film Music Award (1990)
Hugo Awards
Best Dramatic Presentation (1990)
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1990s
Die Hard 2 (1990)
Actors: Bruce Willis, John Amos, John Leguizamo
Colorado’s Connection: Stapleton International Airport in Denver
Awards
BMI Film & TV Awards
BMI Film Music Award (1991)
City Slickers (1991)
Actors: Billy Crystal, Jack Palance, Jeffrey Tambor, David Paymer, Daniel Stern
Colorado’s Connection: Durango
Awards
ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards
Top Box Office Films (1992)
Oscar
Best Actor in a Supporting Role: Jack Palance (1992)
American Comedy Awards
Funniest Actor in a Motion Picture (Leading Role): Billy Crystal (1992)
Funniest Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture: Jack Palance (1992)
Genesis Awards
Feature Film — Comedy (1992)
Golden Globe
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture: Jack Palance (1992)
MTV Movie Awards
Best Comedic Performance: Billy Crystal (1992)
People's Choice Awards
Favorite Comedy Motion Picture (1992)
Ladybugs (1991)
Actors: Rodney Dangerfield, Jonathan Brandis, Vinessa Shaw
Colorado’s Connection: Denver, Littleton
Cliffhanger (1993)
Actors: Sylvester Stallone, John Lithgow
Colorado’s Connection: Durango
Awards
ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards
Top Box Office Films (1994)
Dumb and Dumber (1994)
Actors: Jim Carrey, Jeff Daniels
Colorado’s Connection: Aspen, Breckenridge, Copper Mountain, Estes Park, Fort Morgan, Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Stapleton International Airport in Denver
Awards
BMI Film & TV Awards
BMI Film Music Award (1995)
MTV Movie Awards
Best Comedic Performance: Jim Carrey (1995)
Best Kiss: Lauren Holly, Jim Carrey (1995)
Lightning Jack (1994)
Actors: Paul Hogan, Cuba Gooding Jr., Beverly D’Angelo
Colorado’s Connection: Buckskin Joe Frontier Town & Railway in Cañon City
Tall Tale (1995)
Actors: Patrick Swayze, Oliver Platt
Colorado’s Connection: Glenwood Springs, Carbondale
Alferd Packer, The Musical (1996)
Actors: Trey Parker (Director/Writer)
Colorado’s Connection: Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, Boulder, Buckskin Joe Frontier Town & Railway in Cañon City, Ouray
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2000s
Nurse Betty (2000)
Actors: Morgan Freeman, René Zellweger, Chris Rock, Greg Kinnear, Aaron Eckhart
Colorado’s Connection: Durango
Awards
Cannes Film Festival
Best Screenplay (2000)
Golden Globe
Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture — Comedy/Musical: Renée Zellweger (2001)
Satellite Awards
Best Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical (2001)
Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical: Renée Zellweger (2001)
About Schmidt (2002)
Actors: Jack Nicholson, Kathy Bates, Dermot Mulroney
Colorado’s Connection: Boulder, Denver
Awards
Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards
Best Actor: Jack Nicholson (2003)
Casting Society of America
Best Casting for Feature Film, Comedy (2003)
Costume Designers Guild Awards
Excellence in Costume Design for Film — Contemporary (2003)
Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Awards
Best Actor: Jack Nicholson (2003)
Best Supporting Actress: Kathy Bates (2003)
Golden Globe
Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture — Drama: Jack Nicholson (2003)
Best Screenplay — Motion Picture (2003)
Golden Trailer Awards
Best Comedy (2003)
Best Music (2003)
Best Voice Over (2003)
Best of Show (2003)
Kansas City Film Critics Circle Awards
Best Film (2003)
London Critics Circle Film Awards
Film of the Year (2003)
Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards
Best Actor: Jack Nicholson (2002)
Best Picture (2002)
Best Screenplay (2002)
National Board of Review
Best Supporting Actress: Kathy Bates (2002)
Washington DC Area Film Critics Association Awards
Best Actor: Jack Nicholson (2002)
Best Supporting Actress: Kathy Bates (2002)
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Colorado Film Commission
updated: 12/12/06