Famous Movies Filmed In Greece

BuzzSeptember 14, 2017

Greece has long been a favorite tourist destination due to its natural beauties and because of its historic sites. It is not so well-known that many famous movies were filmed there. Maybe you’ve already seen some of them, but you had no idea they were filmed in Greece. Let’s check.

Here are some of the most famous movies which were filmed in Greece.

Mamma Mia! (2008)

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The musical Mamma Mia!, starring Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, and Colin Firth, is based on the ABBA songs. It was filmed on the island of Skopelos and the mountain landscape of Pelion. After the filming of this movie, this island became very popular not only among tourists and honeymooners but also among the film fans and fans of the group Abba itself. So, basically, the movie takes place in Greece, is based on Swedish music, has a title in Italian, and is played in English – so unusual, right?

Captain Corelli’s Mandolin (2001)

This movie‘s stars are Penelope Cruz, John Curt, Nicolas Cage, and Christian Bale. It was filmed on the island of Kefalonia, and it depicts the events from 1943. The capital city Argostoli was made by the movie’s crew to look the same as it was in the 40s before the earthquake struck it in 1953. The movie was based on a novel with the same title written by Louis de Bernieres.

Before Midnight (2013)

The landscape of the Peloponnese was just the perfect for this movie. Before Midnight is a famous movie made by Richard Linklater, who was nominated for an Academy Award. It tells a romantic story of two lovers who enjoy the beauty of the Peloponnese. This romantic drama is the third part of a trilogy about a couple who met for the first time in Before Sunrise (1995), then parted and accidentally met again in Before Sunset (2005). In Before Midnight, they are a married couple with two twin daughters.

My Life in Ruins (2009)

This movie was filmed in Athens. It is a romantic comedy about a young history teacher who guides excursion bus tours through Greece. Many famous local Greece attractions can be seen in My Life in Ruins, for example, Delphi, the Acropolis, and Olympia. However, many people don’t care about it and come to Greece for shopping rather than to enjoy the scenery and artifacts. In a clash of personalities and cultures, this movie gives its viewers a good laugh, and it is no wonder that adventurous people like it very much.

Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life (2003)

Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life is one of the first highly popular Angelina Jolie’s movies. It was not filmed on the island of Santorini, as many would assume, but in the sea near Santorini (the scene with wet Angelina Jolie riding a jet ski). Also, the other Greek islands were filmed from a helicopter, so the actors did not actually spend time in Greece.

Zorba the Greek (1964)

Zorba the Greek is one of the most famous movies ever filmed in Greece, starring Anthony Quinn and Alan Bates. It won three Oscars and another four wins and 16 nominations. The island of Crete is its site, where the protagonists meet with Greek culture and learn to dance the Sirtaki!

The Big Blue (1988)

This cult Luc Besson’s movie was filmed back in 1988 on the island of Amorgos. One of the main characters was played by Jean Reno, and Jean-Marc Barr played his childhood friend, Jacques.

For Your Eyes Only (1981)

One of the movies about agent James Bond 007 is called For Your Eyes Only and was filmed back in 1981 on Santorini island. It is the 12th movie about superspy James Bond, played by Roger Moore.

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (2005)

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In this movie, we can see Oia, Amoudi port, and many other rocky places of the Greek islands. The movie had great success with young people who wished to come and visit Greece, so it brought some new tourists to Santorini area.

Mediteran (1991)

The movie Mediteran was filmed on the island of Kastelorizo, in areas Megisti, and the island in the port Mandraki. It got an Oscar for best foreign language film. The movie is about the Italian squad that comes to the smallest and most remote island in the Aegean Sea during World War II.