The Middle East isn’t just home to some of the world’s oldest civilizations; it’s also one of Hollywood’s favorite backdrops. The historic ksour (fortified granaries) around Médenine and nearby villages were transformed into the desert planet Tatooine across the Star Wars saga, including Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999). Director Denis Villeneuve used the endless golden landscape to capture the planet’s immense scale, filming sweeping desert scenes featuring Paul Atreides, the Fremen, and the iconic sandworm-filled environment. It appeared in Lawrence of Arabia (1962), helping recreate historic Middle Eastern settings during the epic’s sweeping desert journey. Via RedditWhether they’re standing in for ancient kingdoms, distant planets, or epic adventure settings, these historic Middle Eastern landmarks prove that reality can be just as cinematic as fiction.