Films and Tv series shot in Iceland

In recent years, Hollywood has turned its eye on Iceland, and more and more films and tv productions are being at least partially recorded on the island, usually in wild and remote areas. Based on our customers’ frequent questions about this, many seem to be aware that cult tv series “Game of Thrones” is partially shot in various Iceland locations. The show is so popular that Game of Thrones-inspired itineraries have sprouted all over. However, “Game of thrones” is just the tip of the iceberg!

Have you spotted familiar Icelandic panoramas in the following movies and tv series?

• In “Die another day” (2002), you can see James Bond in an action-packed car chase across the glacial lagoon of Jökulsárlón (warning: do not try these shenanigans yourself. Also, there is no ice palace on the lagoon or anywhere in Iceland – bummer, I know).
• In “Batman Begins” (2005), glacier Svínafellsjökull does a good job at pretending to be Tibet.
• Clint Eastwood’s war epics “Flags of our fathers” (2006) and “Letters from Iwo Jima” (2006) were set in Japan but recorded on the black beaches of Reykjanes, an area in the South-West close to the international airport.
• Sci-fi saga “Prometheus” was recorded in various places around Iceland, including waterfall Dettifoss and active volcano Hekla. Apparently, director Ridley Scott chose Iceland because it looks otherworldly and dangerous.
• Apparently many directors think Iceland looks unearthly. In 2007 the small town of Höfn, in Hornafjörður (unrelated information: they have amazing lobster), was the backdrop for the fantasy landscape in “Stardust”; glacier Svínafellsjökull was used to represent a frozen, alien planet in “Interstellar” (2014); the Icelandic Highlands became alien lands in sci-fi movie “Oblivion” (2014); various locations in South Iceland were used to represent pre-Flood Earth in “Noah” (2014).

Right now, in north Iceland, they are shooting "Fast & Furious 8" !

If you are a film buff, the country’s film commission has compiled a fun map with all the main filming locations of recent Hollywood films set in Iceland. Time to plan another trip to the country, perhaps?