Where Was Conan The Barbarian Filmed? Arnold’s Action-Fantasy Flick From 1982!!

Whether you prefer watching action, crime or even comedy movies, Arnold Schwarzenegger has done it all. Today I’ll discuss the infamous action-fantasy film, Conan the Barbarian, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger in the lead role. Furthermore, I’ll also let you in on where was Conan the Barbarian filmed.

The American action-adventure movie, Conan the Barbarian, was inspired from the fictional character of a warrior, created by Robert E. Howard for a pulp magazine. The wide popularity of the original character amongst readers during the 1930s, enticed John Milius to make this sorcery film. 

The basic premise of Conan the Barbarian recounts the heroic tale of a chivalrous warrior, who defends the honor of his people, by bravely fighting against evil lords. Conan fearlessly engages against the sorcerers of the medieval time with all his might and strength.

Conan the Barbarian grossed somewhere between $68-79.1 million at the box office and came out to be a roaring success. The fans were mesmerized by the awe-inspiring physique and acting talent, displayed by Arnold on-screen while playing the lead role. This intense-action film also won a couple of awards, including the Golden Globes in 1983.

So, without further ado, let’s explore where was Conan the Barbarian filmed so that you be able to analyze the filming locations closely. Plus, as promised before, I’ll also give you a brief overview of Conan the Barbarian.

Where Was Conan The Barbarian Filmed? Let’s Know This Action Fantasy Film Closely!

The 1980s saw a huge influx of blockbuster films in Hollywood. Movies like The Evil Dead, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Possession and Chariots of Fire came out during the first half of the ‘80s and became record-breaking successes. Thus, in order to follow the same trend, John Milius decided to make this action-fantasy film with Arnold in the lead role.

So, after the cast members for Conan the Barbarian were selected, the director shifted his attention to choosing a perfect filming location. John was hellbent on choosing a sort of shooting location which would not only be beautiful but would also hold some historical significance, with regard to medieval times.

Thus, after scouting a number of potential filming sites in and around America, the director was absolutely knackered, as he couldn’t find any. Other members of the unit then suggested John to explore international shooting locations. Subsequently, Milius quickly arranged a team of 5 members and extensively scouted Spain. Soon, the regions of Andalucia and Segovia were selected and the principal photography commenced in January 1981.

Filming in Spain lasted for about 4 months or so. Reportedly, there were no major incidents on set, which delayed the filming schedule. So, without waiting any longer, let us now discuss where was Conan the Barbarian filmed in-depth, and find out more about the specific shooting sites.

Almeria, Andalucia | Spain

The southernmost autonomous region of Andalucia in Spain was perfect to shoot the opening sequence of the movie. This region is abundant with rocky hills, wide rivers and farmlands bordering the southern coast of Spain. Thus, the opening scene of the movie where we are introduced to the lead character living inside a cave with his companion was actually filmed here.

The production members then moved to the historical city of Almeria in Spain and captured the exterior shots of the city. However, the majority of the shooting in Almeria was done on the outer part of the city, to maintain the same rugged and arid background.

In order to capture the sequence of Conan and Subotai running through the desert, the production members arrived at Desierto de Tabernas. A make-believe structure was also created to portray the Tower of the Serpent shown in the film.

Segovia, Castilla y Leon | Spain

The other half of the movie was then filmed in and around the city of Segovia. This beautiful and historical city is located in the northwest part of Madrid and holds a rich architectural legacy. Exterior shots near the ancient Roman aqueduct were captured. 

The production members then finally moved to Fuenlabrada in Madrid and recreated the interior shots of the film inside a renowned studio. As mentioned, filming lasted till the first week of April 1981 in Spain, after which the entire filming process was wrapped and the crew returned to America.

Alright folks, now allow me to quickly acquaint you with the plot of Conan the Barbarian. So that you can get a fair idea about the storyline of this action film. Meanwhile, you can check out In the Heat of the Night, The Peripheral, and The Walking Dead as well.

Plot Of Conan The Barbarian | What’s It About

The basic premise of Conan the Barbarian, revolves around the character of Conan, an extremely powerful and fearless medieval warrior. At the very beginning of the film, the early life of Conan is shown, where he gets trained by his father in sword fighting and other forms of combat techniques.

Later in the film, the lead character gets lured to explore the restricted part of Zamora city, by his companion, Subito. As the story progresses further, Conan gets acquainted with a warlord, while traveling through the desert and learns about the Tower of the Serpent. Watch Conan the Barbarian to find out what happens, when the fearless warrior enters the cursed tower.

Final Words

Ok friends, so now that you know where was Conan the Barbarian filmed, I hope you liked the read. Check out other articles on Viebly to find out more about other such intriguing films and shows. You can also tell us about your favorite movie or series that you’d like us to cover, in the comments section below.