14 Stunning Film Locations

These days, movies are made everywhere. And being that movies are so visual, what the viewer sees is always very important. As a result, directors and producers would often travel the world, scouting for the most visually-appealing destinations to shoot sequences. Here are some of the most stunning destinations where movies have been shot.

1. GreeceThe islands of Greece have long been a Hollywood favorite. The small islands with turquoise blue waters all around, coral reefs, homes and villas perched on the cliffs, vivid white and blue colors, and the historical landscapes certainly makes the Greek backdrop stunning. There have been countless movies that have been shot in these islands, including the recent Mamma Mia.

2. Jericoacoara, Brazil – Jericoacoara has consistently been voted as one of the most stunning beach paradises in Brazil. The white sands and blue water here makes this a perfect destination. Walter Lima Jr. made good use of this landscape in his 1997 movie The Oyster and the Wind. Viewers were hooked on both the movie and the scenery.

3. New Zealand – New Zealand is a hugely popular tourist destination, and for good reason, too. Those in the travel trade and some well-travelled people knew how pristinely beautiful the country is, but it was the Lord of the Rings trilogy that brought the country to the limelight.

4. ParisWhen a movie is shot in Paris, the city is almost always as important as the film. Breathless, Charade, Amelie, The DaVinci Code, and 2010’s Inception are just some of movies that have been shot in this beautiful European city.

5. Switzerland – The Hindi movie industry of Mumbai, India, makes the largest number of films anywhere in the world. The hills, meadows, cities and lakes of Switzerland have been a favorite destination of Bollywood for the last 50 years. Thousands of films have been shot in these scenic locales.

6. Canada and Alaska – A lot of movies have been made here because of the stunning vistas. Filmmakers and audiences, too, love the wilderness and adventure the vast open spaces offer.

7. United KingdomThe countryside of the UK is certainly stunning. There are plenty of locations worth visiting and Harry Potter brought them into the limelight. Many crime thrillers and television series have also been set here.

8. The islands of Thailand – You won’t get too many more scenic islands than those in Thailand. Danny Boyle showed this to the world with The Beach, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, which was made on the Phi Phi Islands in Krabi.

9. Siem Reap, Cambodia – The computer game Lara Croft: Tomb Raider was made into a movie in 2001 featuring Angelina Jolie alongside the Angkor Wat temple. Other ancient Cambodian temples have been featured in films as well, including City of Ghost starring Matt Dillon and James Caan.

10. AustriaSound of Music, a classic, was shot at Salzburg and showed the world just how gorgeous this small country in Europe really is.

11. The Amalfi Coast, Italy – The world loved the friendship of Pablo Neruda and his postman depicted in the wonderful, critically-acclaimed Il Postino (The Postman) of 1994. It also showcased the beauty of the Amalfi Coast.

12. Kenya – The wildlife of Kenya is definitely a top draw, but there’s much more appeal in this beautiful country. The vast open spaces with Mt. Kilimanjaro looming over stuns viewers. Out of Africa showed the world the beauty of Kenya and won seven Academy Awards to boot!

13. Latin AmericaThe film Motorcycle Diaries depicted some of the most stunning Latin American destinations very well. On display were the deserts of Chile, the hills of Peru, the Amazon River, and the Patagonian coast.

14. Florence, Italy – Florence is a beautiful city that was shown to the world in the 1985 classic A Room with a View. The world fell in love with both the film and the city.