Where was The Magnificent Seven shot? All filming locations explored

Directed by John Sturges, The Magnificent Seven is widely regarded as one of the greatest American Western films ever made. Based on Akira Kurosawa’s 1954 hit, Seven Samurai, the movie presents an American version of the original narrative and is set in a small Mexican village.

The movie featured a range of stellar shooting locations across Mexico and the USA, including Tucson, Cuernavaca, Mexico City, Bavispe, Tepoztlan, Durango, and Bacanora.

The plot centers around a group of seven gunfighters hired to fight against a group of bandits. The film's official synopsis reads:

“Seven gunfighters are hired by Mexican peasants to liberate their village from oppressive bandits.”

The movie featured a range of superstars, including Yul Brynner, Steve McQueen, Horst Buchholz, Charles Bronson, Robert Vaughn, Brad Dexter, and James Coburn. It was a huge critical and commercial success and was nominated for an Academy Award in 1960.

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The Magnificent Seven's primary filming locations: Cuernavaca, Tucson, and more

1) Cuernavaca, Mexico

The Magnificent Seven was most notably shot in Cuernavaca, located in Morelos, Mexico. This small town, known for its old-school colonial architecture and several churches, was primarily used for the film's many standoff scenes.

The city’s lush landscapes, breathtaking views, and valleys were prominently featured in the movie. Cuernavaca was also home to the movie’s iconic final scene, which led to the killing of Calvera, Eli Wallach’s character.

2) Tucson, Arizona, USA

Moving on, while the city of Tucson in Arizona was home to a range of scenes, these were primarily filmed indoors at Old Tucson Studios. The studio is renowned for its association with many iconic Westerns, including 1959’s Rio Bravo and the John Wayne-starring El Dorado.

The theme park associated with the studio also served as the setting for some of the standoff scenes seen in The Magnificent Seven. The set included a range of buildings and authentic props that had previously appeared in other films, adding to the movie's authenticity.

3) Mexico City, Mexico

Mexico’s capital, Mexico City, was also featured heavily in The Magnificent Seven, with many scenes filmed at Churubusco Studios. This site has been the backdrop for several iconic productions, including Man on Fire, Total Recall, and 1984’s Dune. It served as an ideal setting for some of the action-packed scenes in The Magnificent Seven, especially those that needed the use of extensive firearms.

Additionally, several minor scenes were shot in other smaller Mexican cities. Towns such as Bavispe, Tepoztlan, Durango, and Bacanora were chosen for their picturesque locations and expansive natural landscapes.

Bavispe served as the ideal location for The Magnificent Seven scenes that were set in rugged landscapes, while Tepoztlan’s lush greenery was also heavily featured in some of the scenes, especially those related to the village itself.

The La Presa El Novillo dam in Sonora also served as the backdrop for some of the water-related scenes in the movie. Finally, some locations across Sonora’s Huasabas also featured in the film, which was due to the town’s likeliness to the American West.

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The Magnificent Seven is available for streaming on Amazon Prime.