Montana
Info
Locations
Incentives
Film Credits
Contact
Introduction to Filming in Montana
“Montana is just glorious. I mean, like, just being here has been special. You look out the window, you see mountains, you see all these beautiful landscapes. So, once I got here, I was like, ‘Okay, we’ve got to widen out and show all of this in our movie.’”
– Tommy DeNucci, director, as told to KULR8.com
“I grew up in New York City, live in Los Angeles…two really big, sprawling, you know, chaotic places. And then you come here (Montana) and you finally can hear the blood flow through your own veins, and you can hear your own innermost thoughts.”
– Ron Perlman, actor, as told to KULR8.com
About the Montana Film Office
Call it the Treasure State, the Big Sky State or the Last Best Place; there’s no way around it: One look at the diverse landscapes in Montana proves those nicknames are well deserved. There’s a good reason this state is often described as not just a location, but as a character in the films and shows that shoot here.
Spectacular national parks, Yellowstone and Glacier, are highlights of an incredible landscape of roaring rivers, dramatic mountain ranges and serene prairies. Montana-based films showcase prehistoric dinosaurs, historical battles and unforgettable vistas. Its blend of landscapes will appeal to productions that seek an epic scope. Come discover the ultimate location.
Established in 1974, the award-winning Montana Department of Commerce Film Office markets the state as a business destination for production companies and provides technical assistance to productions that choose Montana. It is the responsibility of the Film Office to ensure the state is production-ready and to work with producers to find locations that fit their scripts.
Our team can be trusted to help navigate permitting, explain regulatory processes, and assist with location nuances. In the film industry, time really is money, and this office has a reputation for solution-driven expediency and a willingness to facilitate successful film productions in Montana.
Productions That Call Montana Home
Production Credits
- Pluribus(Season 1, Episode 9)
- Dutton Ranch (Season 1, Episode 1)
- The Madison, Broke
- A River Runs Through It
- 1923
- Yellowstone
- Thunderbolt and Lightfoot
- Northfork
- Blood for Dust
- Father Stu
A Few Filming Locations in Montana
Helena
Fort Benton
Great Falls
Fort Peck Lake
Helena
Montana’s capital city, surrounded by four different mountain ranges, provides plenty of unique filming locations. Helena’s downtown is home to a plethora of historic buildings and a restored miners’ village, Reeder’s Alley. A short drive away sits Canyon Ferry Lake, which stretches for 32 miles. The Capitol Building appears frequently in the TV phenomenon “Yellowstone,” and the Cathedral of St. Helena stars as the real-life landmark in the biopic “Father Stu” with Mark Wahlberg and Mel Gibson.
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Yellowstone Film Ranch
This Western backlot near Livingston is styled after 1800s gold rush towns. It uses five fully functional interior/exterior sets with support buildings against the backdrop of Emigrant Peak and the Paradise Valley. The 28 unique structures include a church, a saloon, a general store, and a barn. Additionally, a main street allows for shootouts and establishing shots. Out of view of the town is a trapper’s cabin and a homestead house and barn.
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Fort Benton
Known as “Montana’s Birthplace,” Fort Benton is the oldest continuously occupied settlement in the state. This scenic small town sits along the banks of the Missouri River, surrounded by the sweeping prairie and striking rock formations. From the iconic Grand Union Hotel to the historic Old Fort Benton Museum, Main Street provides a visual timeline of the town’s rich past.
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Missoula
Montana’s “Garden City,” situated along the Clark Fork River in western Montana, offers access to both indoor and outdoor filming locations. New production studios: Treasure State Studios and Story House, Inc., offer space and equipment for all your production needs. An hour down the road in Hamilton is another studio, Pharohplex Studios, along with the stunning Bitterroot Valley.
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Great Falls
Home to Malmstrom Air Force Base, this central Montana city was discovered in 1805 by the Lewis and Clark expedition. Great Falls has access to the Rocky Mountain Front, the Missouri River and the high plains of Montana. This historic city retains its unique downtown architecture while incorporating a modern flair. Great Falls houses the famed C.M. Russell Museum and has welcomed such films as Thunderbolt and Lightfoot, Telefon, and The Slaughter Rule.
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Butte
The largest historic district in the country was transformed for the location shoot of 1923 starring Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren. Productions can utilize the stately mansions and Victorian architecture of the uptown business district as well as the numerous ghost towns in outlying areas. The Highland Mountains and the east ridge of the Continental Divide surround the city of Butte.
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Fort Peck Lake
Montana’s largest body of water, Fort Peck Lake, runs about 134 miles long and has over 1,520 miles of shoreline. The lake is surrounded by over one million acres of public prairie land managed by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Featured in Michael Polish’s Northfork, this striking location can double for the ocean on screen.
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Old Montana Prison
This historic site in Deer Lodge is the oldest Territorial Prison in the Western United States, dating back to 1870. The prison was decommissioned in 1979 and is available for filming. The facility houses cell blocks, warden’s quarters, a chapel, gates, and impressive walls of grey sandstone for your next prison-set production. The location’s wide yard can accommodate the crew and extras. The Old Montana Prison also serves as an auto museum with hundreds of classic cars on display.
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Billings
Montana’s largest city offers easy access to the Yellowstone River, Crow Indian Reservation and local talent. Popular locations include the Billings Depot (a massive passenger station that can accommodate hundreds of extras), the Moss Mansion (a 28-room building with original furnishings) and the Rimrocks (an environment of ancient sandstone cliffs and hiking trails).
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Incentives & Rebates
The Big Sky Film Grant builds and supports partnerships with filmmakers and production companies that intend to create jobs in Montana’s film industry. Filming in Montana also comes with a host of bonus incentives, including no sales tax, vehicle licensing exemptions, and free location breakdowns.
Learn More About Rebates & Incentives
Unlock the Perfect Backdrop for Your Production
CONTACT
Montana Department of Commerce
montanafilm@mt.gov
(406) 841-2876
www.montanafilm.com