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Stand in the Mahoya desert near Abanilla on any given day and you might find yourself on the border between Mexico and the United States, or in Mauritania, or the streets of Budapest. That's the thing about Murcia as a filming location: it can be almost anywhere, and an increasing number of major productions are figuring that out.

 

If you've been wondering why film crews keep turning up in your neighbourhood, the answer is that Murcia has become one of the most in-demand shooting locations in Spain. In 2024, around thirty productions were filmed here, including Venom: The Last Dance.

 

In 2025, that number climbed to nearly fifty, with the FAST franchise transforming the city of Murcia into Budapest for two weeks, a Hollywood blockbuster that generated considerable excitement across the region.

 

The Walking Dead also brought its cast and crew to Cartagena, a shoot that took seven months of negotiations just to secure access to the port of Escombreras, and during which the production company spent €200,000 in just two days of filming.

 

The Film Commission is now targeting 75 productions before the end of 2026, most of which have already been completed. Confirmed titles for the rest of the year include an RTVE series about the robbery of the Banco Popular in Yecla, an international feature called "Non gioco più" and a new film from director Alfonso Albacete.

 

Manuel Cebrián, director of the Film Commission, explains the appeal simply. "At first glance, one might think that the size of the Region could be a disadvantage, but it is actually one of its advantages. It is common for a film to require shooting several different exterior locations, and we have the capacity to have many diverse landscapes within a short distance." Nearly 400 locations are on offer, from the lunar desert of Abanilla to the coastline around Cartagena, Mazarrón and Águilas. For every euro invested in the industry, the economic return is estimated at nine euros.

 

There's also something less quantifiable working in Murcia's favour. "They speak wonders of the people here, how easy it is to work with them, their willingness to help, and the gastronomy, which they love," Cebrián says. "When they come, they fall in love, especially the foreigners." Unlike in Madrid or other saturated filming cities, locals here tend to welcome rather than resent the presence of a film crew.

 

The Film Commission also has plans to develop film tourism later this year, so visitors and residents alike can explore the locations that have appeared on screen. Private investment is following too, with Grupo Immersive planning large-format studios in Cabezo de Torres and a connection to Ciudad de la Luz, just 60 kilometres away in Alicante. Its CEO Domingo Egea is direct about the ambition. "The Region shouldn't settle for being a cheap location for two days, but should aspire to attract long-term shoots, which is what will really bring in money."

 

Just over a century after its debut as a filming location in 1923, Murcia finds itself at a genuinely exciting moment.

 

Image: AI generated