Stories Set in the Desert

29 films, ranked on my own star ratings by Arwin Edward Bagaslao. Updated 2026-05-20.

These films don’t use the desert as a backdrop. They live in it. The sand, the heat, the emptiness, and the distance shape every decision, every mistake, every moment of survival. In these stories, the environment is not scenery. It is pres

1. 1
   Dune: Part Two (2024)

   ★★★★★

   This review is coming from me as someone who didn't read the books so spare me if may misinterpretations Ang tagal ko nang hindi naexperience yung ganitong saya…

2. 2
   Sirāt (2025)

   ★★★★★

   The film starts like a search story but slowly turns into a meditation on grief, and by the end I felt less entertained and more emotionally drained, like it just sits…

3. 3
   The Last Temptation of Christ (1988)

   ★★★★★

   I don’t know why, but I felt really unmotivated to watch this.

4. 4
   Dune (2021)

   ★★★★½
5. 5
   Star Wars (1977)

   ★★★★½
6. 6
   Lawrence of Arabia (1962)

   ★★★★

   Monumental in scale and craft. The film immediately impresses with its vast desert imagery, warm yellow and brown palette, and a swelling score that makes everything…

7. 7
   Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (2010)

   ★★★★
8. 8
   Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009)

   ★★★★
9. 9
   There Will Be Blood (2007)

   ★★★★

   The first thing that stood out to me was the sound design.

10. 10
    127 Hours (2010)

    ★★★★
11. 11
    The Wall (2017)

    ★★★★

    The silence builds the tension and sustains it.

12. 12
    The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)

    ★★★★

    To be frank, there are some really nice cinematic shots here, especially in the desert sequences.

13. 13
    Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)

    ★★★½
14. 14
    Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

    ★★★½
15. 15
    Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)

    ★★★½
16. 16
    Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)

    ★★★½
17. 17
    Mary (2024)

    ★★★½

    I kept yelling wow at the visuals. For a moment I really thought this was shot by Greig Fraser, but to my surprise it is not.

18. 18
    Kandahar (2023)

    ★★★½

    This movie is a solid cat and mouse war thriller elevated by strong cinematography and tension driven action.

19. 19
    Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (2024)

    ★★★
20. 20
    The Mummy (1999)

    ★★★
21. 21
    The Mummy Returns (2001)

    ★★★
22. 22
    Rango (2011)

    ★★★

    An animated film with a strong western motif, elevated by Roger Deakins’ lighting, which makes it feel surprisingly cinematic.

23. 23
    Cowboys & Aliens (2011)

    ★★★

    I like this most when it leans fully into its weird cowboy and sci-fi blend.

24. 24
    Jarhead (2005)

    ★★½

    The training sequence is engaging. It almost feels like a coming of age story, pero military training version.

25. 25
    Sand Castle (2017)

    ★★½

    Sand Castle feels modern and clean even though the story takes place in 2003.

26. 26
    No Country for Old Men (2007)

    ★★½

    The film starts off like a painting: a vast desert drenched in silence and gold.

27. 27
    Asteroid City (2023)

    ★½

    The visual style reminds me of the opening of Toy Story 3 mixed with those old Instagram filters that turn lips orange, layered with Wes Anderson’s pastel palette.

28. 28
    For a Few Dollars More (1965)

    ★½

    Shots are great, especially in the stand offs and one on one scenes.

29. 29
    Quantum of Solace (2008)

    ★

    The film starts with chaotic camera movement and very fast cutting.