When ‘Asteroid City’ by Wes Anderson premiered in 2023, audiences were immersed in the sun-scorched atmosphere of the American Southwest in the 1950s. The frames are filled with dusty roads, endless horizons, and the distinctive retro-futurism that has become the director’s trademark. Yet behind this impeccable visual style lies a geographical secret: the legendary American desert in the film has nothing to do with the United States. So where was ‘Asteroid City’ actually filmed?
The movie is often described as both an aesthetic and directorial masterpiece, though it stands somewhat apart in Anderson’s filmography. Unlike the dynamic The Grand Budapest Hotel or the childlike sincerity of Moonrise Kingdom, Asteroid City feels more melancholic. The story unfolds in a tiny settlement famous for its crater, where gifted children and their parents gather for several days. Beneath the layer of romance and science fiction, however, lies a deeper reflection on how people lost their bearings during the pandemic.
The real filming location turned out to be quite unexpected. Initially, the production planned to shoot in the area of Death Valley in California. In reality, Asteroid City was entirely recreated in Spain, just 45 kilometers from Madrid, near the town of Chinchón. A complete set of the fictional town was built there, including a gas station, a motel, an observatory, and the famous crater. The Spanish landscapes gave the film its soft light and allowed Anderson to preserve his signature visual style — precise symmetry, a rich color palette, and meticulous attention to detail.
One of the film’s greatest strengths is its impressive ensemble cast. The story intertwines the lives of characters played by such stars as Scarlett Johansson, Margot Robbie, Maya Hawke, Adrien Brody, Tom Hanks, Tilda Swinton, and Willem Dafoe. They blend seamlessly into this fictional world which, despite its Spanish origins, becomes the quintessence of the American dream and melancholy. As a result, the film is not only a fantastical drama but also a meditation on the nature of art, memory, and human connection.
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