🏷 Discover The Best Desert Movies & TV Shows To Watch Today

85 titles with this tag

Explore the vast and unforgiving landscapes of the desert through some of the best movies and TV shows that capture the essence of these arid regions. From thrilling survival stories to deep, introspective dramas, these cinematic gems offer a unique glimpse into the beauty and brutality of desert life.

Cast

David Attenborough

Planet Earth II (2016) TV Show

8.6 937 votes

Genre: Documentary, Family

Country: United Kingdom, United States of America

Seasons: 1

Episodes: 6

Audience: TV-G

Story: David Attenborough presents a documentary series exploring how animals meet the challenges of surviving in the most iconic habitats on earth.

Style: inspiring, captivating

Plot: ocean, sea, mountain, fish, island, climate change, earth, forest, ...

Cast

David Attenborough

Africa (2013) TV Show

8.4 118 votes

Genre: Documentary

Country: China, France

Seasons: 1

Episodes: 6

Audience: TV-PG

Story: Africa, the world's wildest continent. David Attenborough takes us on an awe-inspiring journey through one of the most diverse places in the world. We visit deserts, savannas, and jungles and meet up with some of Africa's amazing wildlife.

Plot: africa, sea, savannah, jungle, miniseries, desert, animals, kalahari, ...

Star Wars (1977)

8.2 22.5K votes

Genre: Action, Adventure, Science Fiction

Country: United States of America

Duration: 121 min.

Audience: PG

Story: Princess Leia is captured and held hostage by the evil Imperial forces in their effort to take over the galactic Empire. Venturesome Luke Skywalker and dashing captain Han Solo team together with the loveable robot duo R2-D2 and C-3PO to rescue the beautiful princess and restore peace and justice in the Empire.

Plot: empire, galaxy, rebellion, android, hermit, smuggling (contraband), freedom, rebel, ...

Cast

Timothu00e9e Chalamet

Zendaya

Rebecca Ferguson

Javier Bardem

Dune: Part Two (2024)

8.1 8.2K votes

Genre: Adventure, Science Fiction

Country: United States of America

Duration: 167 min.

Audience: PG-13

Story: Follow the mythic journey of Paul Atreides as he unites with Chani and the Fremen while on a path of revenge against the conspirators who destroyed his family. Facing a choice between the love of his life and the fate of the known universe, Paul endeavors to prevent a terrible future only he can foresee.

Plot: sandstorm, chosen one, distant future, creature, planet, desert, destiny, giant worm, ...

Cast

Peter O'Toole

Alec Guinness

Omar Sharif

Anthony Quinn

Lawrence of Arabia (1962)

8.0 3.5K votes

Genre: Adventure, History, War

Country: United Kingdom

Duration: 228 min.

Audience: PG

Story: During World War I, English officer Thomas Edward 'T.E.' Lawrence sets out to unite and lead the diverse, often warring, Arab tribes to fight the Turks.

Style: provocative

Plot: arabian, horse, british army, british empire, damascus, camel, based on true story, historical fiction, ...

Time: world war i

Place: cairo, jerusalem

No Country for Old Men (2007)

7.9 13.5K votes

Genre: Crime, Thriller, Western

Country: United States of America

Duration: 122 min.

Audience: R

Story: Llewelyn Moss stumbles upon dead bodies, $2 million and a hoard of heroin in a Texas desert, but methodical killer Anton Chigurh comes looking for it, with local sheriff Ed Tom Bell hot on his trail. The roles of prey and predator blur as the violent pursuit of money and justice collide.

Plot: vietnam veteran, sheriff, trailer park, based on novel or book, hitman, psychopath, drug trafficking, motel, ...

Time: 1980s

Place: texas

Cast

Alexander Skarsgu00e5rd

James Ransone

Lee Tergesen

Jon Huertas

Generation Kill (2008) TV Show

7.9 518 votes

Genre: Action, Drama, War

Seasons: 1

Episodes: 7

Audience: TV-MA

Story: The first 40 days of the war in Iraq as seen through the eyes of an elite group of U.S. Marines who spearheaded the invasion along with an embedded Rolling Stone reporter. A vivid account of the soldiers and of the forces that guided them in an often-improvised initiative.

Plot: based on novel or book, miniseries, iraq war, desert, warfare, us military, war journalism, violence

Cast

Timothu00e9e Chalamet

7.8 15.1K votes

Genre: Adventure, Science Fiction, War

Country: United States of America

Duration: 155 min.

Audience: PG-13

Story: Paul Atreides, a brilliant and gifted young man born into a great destiny beyond his understanding, must travel to the most dangerous planet in the universe to ensure the future of his family and his people. As malevolent forces explode into conflict over the planet's exclusive supply of the most precious resource in existence - a commodity capable of unlocking humanity's greatest potential - only those who can conquer their fear will survive.

Plot: empire, army, prophecy, dystopia, emperor, sand, spice, chosen one, ...

Time: future

Cast

John Wayne

Jeffrey Hunter

Vera Miles

Ward Bond

The Searchers (1956)

7.7 1.6K votes

Genre: Western

Country: United States of America

Duration: 119 min.

Audience: NR

Story: As a Civil War veteran spends years searching for a young niece captured by Indians, his motivation becomes increasingly questionable.

Plot: brother, new mexico, native american, uncle, racist, prejudice, racism, massacre, ...

Time: 1860s

Place: texas

Cast

Claire Trevor

John Wayne

George Bancroft

Andy Devine

Stagecoach (1939)

7.6 1.2K votes

Genre: Western

Country: United States of America

Duration: 96 min.

Audience: G

Story: A group of people traveling on a stagecoach find their journey complicated by the threat of Geronimo, and learn something about each other in the process.

Plot: marriage proposal, prostitute, new mexico, arizona, infant, outcast, fugitive, shootout, ...

Cast

Susan Sarandon

Geena Davis

Harvey Keitel

Michael Madsen

Thelma & Louise (1991)

7.6 3.9K votes

Genre: Adventure, Crime, Drama

Country: United Kingdom, United States of America

Duration: 130 min.

Audience: R

Story: Taking a break from their dreary lives, close friends Thelma and Louise embark on a short weekend trip that ends in unforeseen incriminating circumstances. As fugitives, both women rediscover the strength of their bond and their newfound resilience.

Style: philosophical, intimate, provocative

Plot: robbery, waitress, southern usa, self-defense, highway, housewife, female friendship, arkansas, ...

Cast

Sean Connery

Harry Andrews

Ian Bannen

Alfred Lynch

The Hill (1965)

7.5 253 votes

Genre: Drama, War

Country: United Kingdom, United States of America

Duration: 123 min.

Audience: NR

Story: North Africa, World War II. British soldiers on the brink of collapse push beyond endurance to struggle up a brutal incline. It's not a military objective. It's The Hill, a manmade instrument of torture, a tower of sand seared by a white-hot sun. And the troops' tormentors are not the enemy, but their own comrades-at-arms.

Plot: prison, libya, sadism, africa, heat, british army, sahara desert, military prison, ...

Time: world war ii, 1940s

Place: north africa

Cast

Temuera Morrison

Ming-Na Wen

The Book of Boba Fett (2021) TV Show

7.5 3.0K votes

Genre: Action, Science Fiction

Country: United States of America

Seasons: 1

Episodes: 7

Audience: TV-14

Story: Legendary bounty hunter Boba Fett and mercenary Fennec Shand must navigate the galaxy’s underworld when they return to the sands of Tatooine to stake their claim on the territory once ruled by Jabba the Hutt and his crime syndicate.

Plot: clone, bounty hunter, mercenary, miniseries, space western, desert, female mercenary

Cast

Anya Taylor-Joy

Chris Hemsworth

Tom Burke

Alyla Browne

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (2024)

7.4 5.0K votes

Genre: Action, Adventure, Science Fiction

Country: Australia, United States of America

Duration: 149 min.

Audience: R

Story: As the world falls, young Furiosa is snatched from the Green Place of Many Mothers into the hands of a great biker horde led by the warlord Dementus. Sweeping through the wasteland, they encounter the citadel presided over by Immortan Joe. The two tyrants wage war for dominance, and Furiosa must survive many trials as she puts together the means to find her way home.

Plot: chase, post-apocalyptic future, warlord, prequel, wasteland, spin off, struggle for survival, desert, ...

Cast

Dennis Weaver

Jacqueline Scott

Eddie Firestone

Gene Dynarski

Duel (1971)

7.4 2.1K votes

Genre: Action, Thriller, TV Movie

Country: United States of America

Duration: 74 min.

Audience: PG

Story: Traveling businessman David Mann angers the driver of a rusty tanker while crossing the California desert. A simple trip turns deadly, as Mann struggles to stay on the road while the tanker plays cat and mouse with his life.

Plot: panic, chase, gas station, falsely accused, cliff, deputy, car crash, truck, ...

Place: california

Cast

Emily Blunt

Benicio del Toro

Josh Brolin

Victor Garber

Sicario (2015)

7.4 9.6K votes

Genre: Action, Crime, Thriller

Country: United States of America

Duration: 122 min.

Audience: R

Story: An idealistic FBI agent is enlisted by a government task force to aid in the escalating war against drugs at the border area between the U.S. and Mexico.

Plot: mission, assassin, central intelligence agency (cia), corruption, bomb, fbi, smoking, border, ...

Place: mexico, texas

Cast

Mel Gibson

Bruce Spence

Michael Preston

Max Phipps

Mad Max 2 (1981)

7.4 4.2K votes

Genre: Action, Science Fiction, Thriller

Country: Australia

Duration: 96 min.

Audience: R

Story: Max Rockatansky returns as the heroic loner who drives the dusty roads of a postapocalyptic Australian Outback in an unending search for gasoline. Arrayed against him and the other scraggly defendants of a fuel-depot encampment are the bizarre warriors commanded by the charismatic Lord Humungus, a violent leader whose scruples are as barren as the surrounding landscape.

Style: exploitation

Plot: mask, chase, explosive, dystopia, boomerang, deal, post-apocalyptic future, pilot, ...

Place: australia

Cast

Zhang Yi

Johnny Huang

Hai Qing

Du Jiang

Operation Red Sea (2018)

7.4 439 votes

Genre: Action, Adventure, Thriller

Country: China, Hong Kong

Duration: 138 min.

Audience: R

Story: A squad of the Jiaolong Commando Unit - Sea Dragon, a spec ops team of the Chinese Navy, carries out a hostage rescue operation in the nation of Yewaire, on the Arabian Peninsula, and fiercely fights against local rebel groups and Zaka, a terrorist organization.

Plot: red sea, historical fiction, desert, hostage situation, tank battle, uranium, peoples army, naval battleship

Khaleja (2010)

7.4 64 votes

Genre: Action, Comedy, Fantasy

Country: India

Duration: 163 min.

Story: A village is hounded by an unknown disease, decimating its population. The village priest prophesies that God's avatar will save them. Siddha goes in search of this supernatural potential and finds it in Seetarama Raju, a cab driver.

Style: suspenseful

Plot: prophecy, village, supernatural, chosen one, calamity, premonition, desert, destiny, ...

Operation Condor (1991)

7.4 651 votes

Genre: Action, Adventure, Crime

Country: Hong Kong, China

Duration: 107 min.

Audience: PG-13

Story: Hired by a Spanish baron, Hong Kong treasure hunter Jackie, a.k.a. "Asian Hawk" and his entourage seek WWII Nazi gold buried in the Sahara Desert.

Style: melancholy

Plot: gold, nazi, wilderness, treasure hunt, desert

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Top Movies Set in the Desert

If you're a fan of the desert's stark and unforgiving landscapes, you'll find a wealth of cinematic treasures that capture the essence of these arid environments. These movies not only showcase the visual splendor of deserts but also delve into the human spirit's resilience and the challenges faced by those who dare to venture into these harsh terrains.

1. The English Patient (1996)

Set during World War II, this romantic epic follows the story of a critically injured man, presumed to be a burned English patient, and a Canadian nurse who cares for him in an abandoned Italian monastery. The film beautifully captures the haunting beauty of the North African desert, where the main characters' pasts are slowly revealed.

Director: Anthony Minghella
Starring: Ralph Fiennes, Juliette Binoche, Willem Dafoe

2. Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)

This post-apocalyptic action thriller is a visual spectacle that takes place in a desolate desert wasteland. Directed by George Miller, the film features a relentless chase across the desert, filled with stunning action sequences and a powerful message about survival and redemption.

Director: George Miller
Starring: Tom Hardy, Charlize Theron, Hugh Keays-Byrne

Top TV Shows Set in the Desert

For those who prefer the longer format of a TV series, there are several shows that explore the desert setting with depth and nuance. These series offer a more immersive experience, allowing viewers to delve deeper into the characters' lives and the unique challenges of desert environments.

1. Breaking Bad (2008-2013)

Set in Albuquerque, New Mexico, this critically acclaimed series follows the transformation of high school chemistry teacher Walter White into a ruthless drug kingpin. The vast, open deserts of New Mexico serve as a stark backdrop to the moral ambiguity and intense drama of the series.

Created by: Vince Gilligan
Starring: Bryan Cranston, Aaron Paul, Anna Gunn

2. Longmire (2012-2017)

This Western drama series is set in the fictional Absaroka County, Wyoming, where Sheriff Walt Longmire navigates a world of crime and personal loss. The series beautifully captures the rugged beauty of the Wyoming desert, adding a layer of authenticity to the storytelling.

Created by: Hunt Baldwin, John Coveny
Starring: Robert Taylor, Katee Sackhoff, Lou Diamond Phillips

Whether you're a fan of intense action, deep drama, or romantic epics, the desert setting provides a rich and multifaceted backdrop that enhances the storytelling. From the scorching sands of Africa to the vast expanses of the American Southwest, these movies and TV shows offer a compelling glimpse into the human experience in one of nature's most challenging environments.