Hollywood might be the de-facto film capital of the world, but it does not mean all U.S. films are filmed there. In fact, many films and television shows are shot on location in places like Georgia rather than Los Angeles. While green screen and digital effects have allowed movies to be transported to entirely different worlds and places, sometimes shooting on-location cannot be beaten.
That is why, outside of the U.S., many Hollywood films have found themselves in the cold, beautiful landscape of Iceland. From Reykjavík to Djúpavík, sci-films to superhero blockbusters, here are a few films you didn’t know were filmed in Iceland.
Interstellar
Christopher Nolan’s sci-fi epic and clear tribute to Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey made breakthroughs in the visual effects industry with its revolutionary visualization of black holes. But, to rescue Matt Damon for what seems like the 50th time, Nolan and crew went to Iceland to create Damon’s icy, uninhabitable planet.
Still, that was not the only Icelandic location used in the film. Nolan utilized the ocean expanse of Máfabót to portray the terrifying endless ocean planet known as Miller. Which, apparently while filming there Anne Hathaway contracted hypothermia, almost halting production completely.
Justice League
While you are waiting for the Snyder Cut to one day be released, you can re-watch the theatrical release knowing that a few key scenes were actually shot in Iceland. When Ben Affleck’s Batman ventures off in search of Aquaman, played by Jason Momoa, he finds him in a remote village in northwestern Iceland.
This small isolated village, known as Djúpavík, is apparently Aquaman’s retreat from the Atlantis and the rest of the world. For a realistic portrayal, Momoa even learned some Icelandic for some lines in the film.
Die Another Day
Pierce Brosnan’s final outing as the indelibly suave M16 agent is neither the best James Bond film, nor the best Brosnan-Bond film (it’s Goldeneye and Skyfall, respectively), but the movie has some memorable moments. One of these moments, the iconic car chase, utilizes the breathtaking Icelandic landscape to create an unforgettable scene.
Every James Bond film has an adrenaline-pumping car chase, usually showcasing an Aston Martin or any other luxury sports car. But, this car chase has cars with machine guns and rocket launchers skidding on the icy tundra and swerving around glaciers. Thank you, Iceland.
The Fate of the Furious
Speaking of car chases on ice, the climactic scene of the latest Fast and the Furious movie not only featured automobiles on ice, but the shooting location was also in Iceland. Though not filmed in the exact same location as Die Another Day, the intense action sequence was filmed in Northern Iceland on Lake Mývatn. After bringing car chases to every corner of the globe, it was inevitable that the franchise finally brought tires to the ice. They had to one-up Furious 7’s scene of driving cars through skyscrapers somehow.
Journey to the Center of the Earth
Iceland actually served as a main plot point for this classic sci-fi tale, as Trevor Anderson, played by Brendan Fraser in his prime, and his crew investigates a dormant Icelandic volcano. As they hike up to the volcano, they discover an entranceway that leads them to the center of the Earth. Journey to the Center of the Earth is an often-forgotten movie, but it is peak Brendan Fraser so it is still worth a watch. Hopefully, Iceland cashes in on that “center of the Earth” tourism soon.
Prometheus
Another sci-fi film on the list, this time helmed by science-fiction legend, Ridley Scott, for his Alien prequel Prometheus. At the beginning of the film, a buff humanoid alien drinks a strange liquid that immediately begins to dissolve its body as it subsequently falls into a large waterfall.
Prometheus was a weird film, but at least the background of the opening scene was visually appealing. That’s because the waterfall the scene was filmed at is the Dettifoss waterfall in Iceland, and not on some alien planet.
The Tree of Life
Terrence Malick’s visually stunning masterpiece searches for answers to the meaning of life. Malik went to Northern Iceland to provide part of his landscape for his experimental and existential drama. The Tree of Life is Malick’s first-time filming in the country, but not his last. The acclaimed director returned to Iceland for his documentary, The Voyage of Time, and it has returned recently to film his latest film starring Ben Kinglsey. It seems like the Malick has found the Nordic island extremely picturesque.
Lara Croft: Tomb Raider
Before the likes of Detective Pikachu showed up, the original 2001 Lara Croft: Tomb Raider was the best live-action video game movie. Which is not saying much, considering its predecessors was the Super Mario Bros. movie and Mortal Kombat. But, at the time, the film was the highest-grossing female-led action film, over a decade before Wonder Woman.
For the climactic scene, the production crew traveled to Iceland to film Croft traveling by boat through an ice lagoon. While the film identifies the place as Siberia, the scene was actually filmed in Iceland.
Star Wars: Force Awakens
J.J. Abrams’ first installment in the Star Wars sequel trilogy, introduced audiences to new characters and brought back some beloved characters. The film showcases several new planets and worlds, including the snow-filled planet known as Starkiller Base, which housed a deadly superweapon.
Even if Starkiller Base was just a resampling of the original trilogy’s Death Star, it differentiated itself with its snowy climate. Yet, the visual landscape of Starkiller Base is not on a planet in a galaxy far, far away, but rather in Iceland. Although only the background shots were filmed in Iceland, the entire aesthetic of the film’s final act would look completely different without Iceland’s snowy peaks.
Batman Begins
Nolan’s first Batman film undeniably changed superhero films forever. Early in the film, Christian Bale’s Batman heads to Tibet for combat training under the mentorship of Ra’s al Ghul, played by Liam Neeson. Batman hikes through roads and mountains to reach there, showing off the beautiful landscapes of Tibet on his journey.
Except, none of the shots were taken in Tibet and were all filmed in Southern Iceland. Even the iconic sword duel between Batman and Ra’s was shot on Icelandic glaciers. So, if you want to retrace Batman’s steps and hike the same path, head to Iceland not Tibet.
