Where Was Raising Arizona Filmed? Nicolas Cage’s Phenomenal Crime Comedy Flick!

Raising Arizona (1987) is one of Nicolas Cage’s films that gives us an idea about his unparalleled talent. The crime comedy film follows an ex-con and a police officer who marry and find out they cannot have a baby. So, out of desperation, they kidnap one and try to keep it a secret. In this article, I’ll discuss the movie and tell you where was Raising Arizona filmed.

Nicolas Cage plays one of the leads in the movie along with Holly Hunter. Both of them are Academy Award-winning actors who have been in multiple successful movies and have been the recipient of several accolades. Not many people know this, but Nicolas Cage belongs to the famous Coppola family of filmmakers and performing artists. His real name is Nicolas Kim Coppola. Nicolas Cage is his stage name. The crime comedy movie also features renowned actors like Trey Wilson, John Goodman, William Forsythe, and Frances McDormand.

Now I know you are curious to find out where was Raising Arizona filmed; well, the crime comedy flick was filmed in Phoenix, Arizona, United States of America.

Helmed by Joel Coen, Raising Arizona had its premiere in New York City on 6th March 1987, followed by its limited release in the United States on 13 March 1987. The crime comedy film was released on OTT platforms on 2 September 2014. However, let’s dig deeper and find out more about the filming locations.

Where Was Raising Arizona Filmed? Raising Arizona Filming Locations!

Joel Coen’s Raising Arizona was declared one of the best movies of 1987, and it was also added to AFI’s 100 Years…100 Laughs list. Despite receiving a limited theatrical release, the crime comedy film did quite well at the box office and earned over $29 million against a budget of just $5.5 million. The movie garnered mixed responses from critics back in the day. But in the following years, the movie was praised by several critics for its originality.

Joel Coen is an American filmmaker known for his offbeat, indie movies with original stories. He is a critically acclaimed director who has won several accolades. The crime comedy flick got an amazing score of 90% on Rotten Tomatoes and a rating of 7.3 on IMDb. However, it’s time to get into the details of where was Raising Arizona filmed.

Phoenix, Arizona, United States of America

Joel Coen’s crime comedy film Raising Arizona was filmed in Arizona, particularly in and around Phoenix, except for a few scenes filmed in Scottsdale, a nearby city. The movie was shot within ten days, and several crew members working on Coen’s previous films returned for Raising Arizona. 

Several scenes were filmed near Camelback Mountain, Phoenix. The Short Stop Grocery store in the movie, which Herbert used to rob, is a shop called Circle K at 2311 West Deer Valley Road in Phoenix. 

The “ Maricopa County Maximum Security Correctional Facility For Men ” to which Herbert was sent every time he robbed is the 24th Street Water Treatment Plant on North 24th Street near the Arizona Canal. A couple of other scenes were filmed at the Home Depot at 12434 North Cave Creek Road, Cave Creek, a suburban area of Phoenix.

Remember the scene where Herbert chatted with Glen in the desert, which ends up in a fight? That scene was shot at Lost Dutchman State Park at 6109 North Apache Trail in Apache Junction, Arizona. The city of Scottsdale served as another filming location for the movie. The “Farmers and Mechanics Bank of La Grange” in the film was a restaurant called Reata Pass Steakhouse at 27500 North Alma School Parkway, Scottsdale. 

All the scenes involving Herbert and Edwina’s mobile home were shot in Scottsdale, Arizona. The police station scenes where Herbert meets Edwina for the first time while she takes his mugshots were filmed at the Tempe Police Station at 120 East 5th Street, Tempe, Arizona. The scene in which Nathan Jr. plays football was shot at Sun Devil Stadium at 500 East Veterans Way in Tempe, Arizona.

Plot Of Raising Arizona (1987) | A Tale Of A Desperate Married Couple!

The story of Raising Arizona revolves around Herbert, played by Nicolas Cage, and Edwina, played by Holly Hunter. Herbert is a former convict who used to rob convenience stores. He came across Edwina at the police station, who is an officer. She was the one who took his mugshots. Later, Herbert discovers that Edwina’s fiancé has left her, so he proposes. After a few days, they get married and move into a mobile home. 

Eventually, when they try to have a baby, they discover they cannot have one as Edwina is infertile. On top of that, it won’t be possible for them to adopt because of Herbert’s criminal record. Not knowing how to deal with the situation, out of desperation, they kidnap a baby that belongs to a local businessman, Nathan Arizona, played by Trey Wilson. They keep it a secret, but things eventually become complicated.

Final Word

You’ve probably seen Nicolas Cage’s recent movies like the Ghost Riders franchise or Face Off. Well, it’s about time you see him as a young actor in the 80s. Raising Arizona is highly recommended for people who love to watch movies with offbeat and unconventional stories. And if you’ve never visited Arizona before, this is your chance to visit. Please let me know if you enjoyed reading the article in the comments section.