Where Was Jesus Christ Superstar Filmed? A Musical Drama From The 1970s!!

Are you a fan of Hollywood superstar Ted Neeley? Then you must have seen his musical drama film, Jesus Christ Superstar. But do you know where was Jesus Christ Superstar filmed? If not, then you can read this article and find out all the filming locations of this incredible film.

The American historical film Jesus Christ Superstar was released in the third week of August 1973. Norman Jewison was at the helm of affairs for this project. Interestingly enough, apart from giving direction, Norman also pitched in as a screenplay writer working alongside Melvyn Bragg.

The basic premise of Jesus Christ Superstar revolves around the story of Jesus Christ and his last few days of salvation. The story is told in an anachronistic format with modern-day costumes and props.

The commercial performance of Jesus Christ Superstar was decent enough to satisfy the makers. This unconventional film grossed over $24 million in worldwide collections against a production budget of just $3 million. Apart from collecting several prestigious nominations, Jesus Christ Superstar was also nominated for an Oscar and won multiple prestigious awards.

Are you ready to find out where was Jesus Christ Superstar filmed? Then without further ado, let’s get started.

Where Was Jesus Christ Superstar Filmed? Let’s Know This Musical Drama Film Closely!

As the story of Jesus Christ Superstar was adapted from a famous stage play, Norman knew he had to make certain changes to the overall premise. So, during the initial stages of pre-production Norman and other co-screenwriters paid special attention to making the historical story more captivating.

The cast members selected for the lead roles also had to undergo special training to bring life to the characters. After these tasks were completed, Norman and his team began looking for potential filming locations.

As per reports, Norman and his team scouted around a number of locations in Israel. As the director wanted to film around authentic locations, he thought of checking the locations in person with the team.

But, it’s equally important to mention that some sequences of Jesus Christ Superstar were also filmed in England as well. The production members mainly traveled to the UK to capture the interior sequences of the movie.

The majority of the outdoor sequences of the film were captured in and around Israel. The principal photography commenced in the third week of August 1972 and continued for several months. 

Let us take a closer look at where Jesus Christ Superstar was filmed.

Israel

The movie’s opening sequence was filmed near the Dead Sea in Israel. The musical sequence of the movie featuring King Herod’s song was also captured around the same location in Israel.

After capturing a couple of other outdoor shots, the production members moved near Bell Caves in Beit Guvrin. But before filming in this location, the production members ran into a major problem.

One of the cameras on set, which was used to capture the majority of the slow tracking footage, started malfunctioning. This kept the crew from shooting the sequences and delayed the filming schedule. 

After a week or so, filming finally resumed, and the production members arranged for another camera to be brought in from California. Additional sequences of the movie were then captured near Herodium Fortress in the Judean Desert. 

The ending sequence of the movie was shot near Avdat, after which the production members moved to the UK. The remaining interior sequences and a few soundtracks were then recorded inside Olympic Studio, Church Road, Barnes.

So, if you plan on visiting Israel later this year, then we suggest you look up Tel Aviv-Yafo, Jerusalem, Haifa, Sea of Galilee, and Eilat. 

Apart from holding great religious and historical significance, these places in Israel are absolutely beautiful. The next time you’re in Israel, make sure to check out these locations in person. 

Let us now take a closer look at the plot of Jesus Christ Superstar. In the meantime, you can also read I Love Lucy, Ferris Bueller, and Moonrise Kingdom.

Plot Of Jesus Christ Superstar | What’s It About

The story of Jesus Christ Superstar is centered around Jesus Christ and his twelve apostles. At the very beginning of the film, the first apostle, Judas Iscariot, appears to be near Christ, advising about a complex situation in Jerusalem.

As the story progresses further, the conversation between Christ and his apostles is depicted with melodious songs and sermons. The encounter with Mary Magdalene, Simon, and King Herod is also shown. Finally, the ending sequence of the movie showcases Christ’s Last Supper.

Watch Jesus Christ Superstar and witness the awe-inspiring story of Jesus Christ in a modern format.

Final Words

Alright, guys! I hope you’ve noted all the filming locations of Jesus Christ Superstar, which I’ve mentioned above. If you have any other questions regarding where was Jesus Christ Superstar filmed, let us know in the comments section below.

But if you’re interested in reading similar pieces, then browse through other entertaining articles on Viebly. I’m also adding some interesting FAQs below, you can check them out as well.