Unlike Game of Thrones or the Jurassic Park films, today’s blockbuster comic book movies don’t give fans many filming locations to visit, because most of the action takes place on a sound stage or the streets of a major city.
But that doesn’t mean you’re totally out of luck if you want to walk in the footsteps of your favorite caped crusader. Some recent superhero movies have still chosen island locations for filming or inspiration, so in honor of the release of Avengers: Endgame and National Superhero Day on April 28, here are eight comic book movie filming locations you can visit right now.
Themyscira, Wonder Woman – Amalfi Coast, Italy
The quest to find a location that could serve as the perfect hidden Amazonian paradise was difficult for Wonder Woman director Patty Jenkins and the production designers. They wanted cliffs overlooking a beach big enough for a fight scene, but most of the beaches that fit their needs vanished beneath the tide.
Italy’s Amalfi Coast checked all of the boxes, and with a little CGI help, cliffs were added and Diana Prince’s home island was brought to life. However, as thousands of tourists learn each year, the Amalfi Coast’s beauty isn’t much of a secret.
Cuba beach battle, X-Men: First Class – Jekyll Island, Georgia
Georgia’s Tybee Island was the first pick for the climactic sandy showdown in X-Men: First Class, but the production designers instead chose Jekyll Island because a Google Earth search showed it had bluer waters. After adding 300-500 palm trees — that proved difficult to keep alive — they had their Cuba.
What tourists regularly find on this barrier island is 10 miles of beach, four golf courses and a very well-preserved ecosystem that promises plenty of wildlife encounters.
Thanos’ hut, Avengers: Infinity War — Ifugao, Philippines
You won’t actually find a mad titan unwinding in the province of Ifugao, but you will see the Banaue Rice Terraces, which are the real-life inspiration for Thanos’ “vacation” spot at the end of Avengers: Infinity War. Every year tourists travel to the Philippines to visit the terraces, where tour guides offer hiking and backpacking tours, and mumbakis conduct traditional healing rituals.
Black Panther’s Warrior Falls — Iguazu Falls, Brazil/Argentina
In Black Panther, Warrior Falls is the setting of an epic battle for the throne of Wakanda. In reality, the scene took place on a sound stage in Georgia and was enhanced with the magic of CGI, but the production team used Iguazu Falls, the world’s largest waterfall system, for inspiration.
Featured in other movies like Moonraker and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, the Iguazu Falls have attracted tourists from all over the world. Visitors can access the falls from Foz do Iguaçu in Brazil and Puerto Iguazú in Argentina, and there are different options for exploration and viewing the unique islands in the Iguazu River, including walkways and helicopter tours.
Odin’s final resting place, Thor: Ragnarok – Lofoten Islands, Norway
“Remember this place… home.” Odin offered this final parting advice to Thor and Loki, referring to a vast green field in Norway. The scene was actually filmed on a field in Atlanta and an image of the Lofoten Islands was used to add the background scenery through CGI. Odin might as well have been talking about the real Lofoten Islands, though, because the array of adventures, from fishing and scuba diving to skiing and surfing, make this destination a must-visit.
Asgard forest, Thor: Ragnarok – Cedar Creek Falls, Queensland, Australia
When Hela returns home to Asgard, Heimdall leads the people through the forest and waterfalls to a safe haven in the mountains. The forest and falls are located within Cedar Creek Falls in Queensland, Australia, and the sanctuary is nearby Tamborine Mountain.
Visitors to Cedar Creek Falls can take walks around the falls and check out the flora and fauna, or bring a towel and sunscreen to spend some time in and around the rock pool.
Bruce Wayne’s meeting with Aquaman, Justice League — Djúpavík, Iceland
Bruce Wayne had to trek through ice and snow to visit the rural village of Djúpavík for the sake of recruiting Arthur Curry (AKA Aquaman) to join the Justice League and save the world. However, most visitors should travel to Djúpavík in the summer for a day of hiking and viewing the Djúpavíkurfoss waterfall. Or stay longer and enjoy the area’s peaceful solitude, which has inspired bands like Sigur Rós and Of Monsters and Men to write and record songs there.
Arthur Curry Lighthouse, Aquaman – Hastings Point, New South Wales, Australia
The construction of Arthur Curry’s family cottage and lighthouse at a popular spot in Hastings Point didn’t come without controversy. Residents are extremely proud of everything their small town offers, from surfing to whale watching. In fact, when the Curry lighthouse scenes began filming, Aquaman director James Wan called New South Wales “magical” after witnessing whales breaching at night.
