Where Was The Scorch Trials Filmed? A Stunning Sci-Fi Dystopian Flick!

If you like to watch dystopian films, then I’m sure you’ve seen the movie The Scorch Trials (2015). Yes, you’ve guessed it right, this is the sequel to the 2014 movie The Maze Runner. The sci-fi dystopian adventure movie showcases stunning visuals and scenes that are filmed in spectacular locations. If you wish to learn about those filming locations, then continue reading. In this article, I’ll discuss the movie and tell you where was The Scorch Trials filmed. 

The Scorch Trials, which is also known as Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials follows a group of Gladers who finally managed to escape the Maze. Soon, they come across new and even more difficult challenges on the open road of an uninhabited landscape. The dystopian sci-fi adventure movie features renowned actors like Giancarlo Esposito, Aidan Gillen, Dylan O’Brien, Kaya Scodelario, and Dexter Darden. Esposito starred in the highly rated TV show Breaking Bad, whereas Gillen starred in Game Of Thrones.

Now let me clear your doubt regarding where The Scorch Trials was filmed. The sci-fi adventure movie was shot in New Mexico, United States of America.

Helmed by Wes Ball and written by T S Nowlin, The Scorch Trials premiered in New York City on 15th December 2015, followed by its wide release in the United States on 18th September 2015. It was made available on various digital platforms on 3 December 2015. The sci-fi dystopian adventure movie is a Temple Hill Entertainment production distributed internationally and in America by 20th Century Fox. However, let’s move ahead and learn more about the filming locations.

Where Was The Scorch Trials Filmed? The Scorch Trials Filming Locations!

Wes Ball’s The Scorch Trials garnered mixed responses from critics, who criticized the movie’s narrative and lack of character development. San Francisco Chronicles’ Walter Addiego stated “There’s lots of eye candy, and the pace is fast, but somehow the movie falls short”. However, the movie did great at the box office and was a commercial success, earning over $312 million against a budget of $60.

American filmmaker Wes Ball is best known for the Maze Runner film trilogy and other sci-fi thrillers. The Scorch Trials received a rating of 6.3 on IMDb and an audience score of 54% on Rotten Tomatoes. However, without any further ado, let’s check out where was The Scorch Trials filmed.

New Mexico, United States Of America

The entire filming of The Scorch Trials took place in New Mexico, primarily in Albuquerque. Principal photography of the sci-fi dystopian adventure movie got underway on 27th October 2014 and was wrapped up on 27th January 2015. The production team shot extensively in and around Albuquerque, filming against suitable backdrops.

Many of the sequences in the movie were filmed on built-in sets created by the production team from scratch. Some of the other scenes were shot on sound stages at the Albuquerque Studios, which is situated at 5650 University Boulevard SE, Albuquerque. With eight well-equipped and high-tech sound stages, several production offices, and a massive back lot area, the studio is one of the biggest film studios in America. 

Filming of the critically acclaimed crime drama series Breaking Bad took place here as well. Popular movies like The Avengers, The Book of Eli, Logan, and El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie were also filmed at Albuquerque Studios.

Besides filming on built-in sets and at the film studio, the cast and crew of The Scorch Trials also filmed several scenes on location in Albuquerque. It has a population of 572,864, making it the largest city in the state of New Mexico. The city is often called the Duke City and is situated in the Albuquerque Basin. The Sandia Mountains surround it on one side and the Rio Grande on the other. With both urban and natural landscapes, Albuquerque is an ideal filming location.

Other Filming Locations

Some of the additional scenes of the dystopian adventure movie, The Scorch Trials, were filmed in different locations including New Zealand, South Africa, and Australia. However, due to lack of information, it won’t be possible to discuss the exact shooting spots. Having said that, if you oversee the movie, maybe you’ll be able to guess some of the famous landmarks shown in the backdrop. 

The Plot of The Scorch Trials (2015) | It Is Just the Beginning!

The story of The Scorch Trials revolves around the character of Thomas, played by Dylan O’Brien. After trying for several years, Thomas and a few of the other Gladers, who are also his close friends, managed to escape the Maze. But only if they knew what awaited them. Moving through the open roads of a desolate landscape known as the Scorch, they meet their worst nightmare.

Thomas and other Gladers come across several dangerous obstacles and find out they’re being tracked by the members of the powerful and mysterious organization WCKD. While trying to outrun them, Thomas and the other Gladers realize they must also be careful of the virus-infected Cranks. They must be prepared for everything and anything that might come their way.

Final Words

Now that you know where was The Scorch Trials filmed, it’s about time you start making a plan and check out the filming locations I mentioned. If you haven’t got the chance to watch the movie yet, you better hurry up and watch it soon. You can stream it on several OTT platforms. And to read more interesting filming location articles, keep visiting the Viebly website.