The best island movies, as selected by our editors: Since the dawn of the silver screen, Hollywood filmmakers have used dreamy, remote islands around the world to set the scene for their blockbuster films.
Dr. No
James Bond fans know that the 007 film Dr. No was filmed on the island of Jamaica.
50 First Dates
50 First Dates
This romantic comedy starring Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore was set in the Hawaiian Islands – primarily at Sea Life Park between Koolau Range and Makapuu Beach.
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The Blue Lagoon
The Blue Lagoon
The original Blue Lagoon, starring Christopher Atkins and Brooke Shields, was shot on the islands of Fiji – specifically Nanuya Levu.
Castaway
Castaway
Tom Hanks’ Castaway was shot on Monuriki, part of the Mamanuca archipelago off Viti Levu, Fiji.
Couples Retreat
Couples Retreat
The ensemble comedy Couples Retreat, starring Vince Vaughn and Jason Bateman, was set on Bora Bora.
Paradise, Hawaiian Style
Paradise, Hawaiian Style
Elvis fans will remember the 1966 classic Paradise, Hawaiian Style – shot, of course, on Oahu.
Donovans Reef
Donovans Reef
John Wayne’s 1963 film Donovan’s Reef was shot on neighboring Kaui.
Eat, Pray, Love
Eat, Pray, Love
The Julia Roberts romantic comedy Eat, Play, Love was set in Bali, in addition to scenes filmed in India and Italy.
Escape From Alcatraz
Escape From Alcatraz
Clint Eastwood fans will remember the 1979 film Escape from Alcatraz, set on the island just offshore from San Francisco.
Forgetting Sarah Marshall
Forgetting Sarah Marshall
The Jason Segel comedy Forgetting Sarah Marshall was set on the Hawaiian Island of Oahu at Turtle Bay Resort.
George of The Jungle
George of The Jungle
Disney’s live-action George of the Jungle, starring Brendan Frasier, was shot in Hawaii‘s Waimea Valley.
Guns Of Navarone
Guns Of Navarone
The 1961 film Guns of Navarone, starring Gregory Peck, was filmed in Rhodes, Greece, as well as Malta.
Jaws
Jaws
The first of these cult-classic films was shot on and around Martha’s Vineyard.
Lord of The Flies
Lord of The Flies
The movie Lord of the Flies was shot around Puerto Rico, including Aguadilla, Vieques and El Yunque.
Papillon
Papillon
Fans of Steve McQueen and Dustin Hoffman will remember Papillon, shot on Devil’s Island in French Guiana.
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor, starring Ben Affleck and Kate Beckinsale, was shot – of course – on Oahu, Hawaii.
Six Days Seven Nights
Six Days Seven Nights
This Harrison Ford film was shot on the island of Kauai.
The Beach
The Beach
Leonardo DiCaprio’s film, The Beach, was shot on Kho Phi Phi Le, a small island just off Phuket.
The Rock
The Rock
The 1996 thriller The Rock was shot on Alcatraz in California.
Pirates of The Caribbean
Pirates of The Caribbean
Between the four Pirates of the Caribbean films, what islands haven’t they used? The cast and crew have shot on St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Tortuga, Dominica, the Bahamas, Singapore, Molokai, Puerto Rico, and even England.
Jurassic Park
Jurassic Park
Kauai, the smallest of the four major Hawaiian islands, served as the prehistoric backdrop for the blockbuster Jurassic Park.
Casino Royale
Casino Royale
In Casino Royale, after receiving a license to kill, James Bond (Daniel Craig) spends time at the luxurious One&Only Ocean Club in the Bahamas. Pro tip: Book Villa 1085 if you want to enjoy Nassau, Bond style.
