The Canary Islands maybe famous for sunshine and beaches, but what about movies? That's right, the islands have been the setting for some surprising films, so get ready to discover some blockbusters you never knew were filmed here in the Canaries!
The Canary Islands, located off Africa's northwest coast, offer a unique mix of beauty, culture, and art. This combination attracts Hollywood filmmakers and tourists. Let's explore why these islands are so appealing.
The Canary Islands have amazing landscapes with big volcanoes, thick forests, and clean beaches. Each island is different, some look like the surface of the moon, and others are covered in green valleys. There are even special places protected by UNESCO, like Teide National Park, which shows how important nature is to the Canary Islands!
The Canary Islands are two things: beautiful and full of traditions! Settlers from Spain, Africa, and South America all came to the islands over time, and mixed their cultures together which is why the music and dance in the islands is so much fun, and their food is so tasty (try papas arrugadas con mojo!). There are also some awesome carnivals with parades and colourful town fiestas (festivals) to explore.
The Canary Islands have inspired artists, writers, and creatives worldwide. Their unique landscapes, colours, and history are perfect for creativity, for example, César Manrique was deeply inspired by Lanzarote's volcanoes.
Today, modern artists also find inspiration here, pushing creative boundaries. If you love art, we definitely would recommend that you travel to the islands and take in what they have to offer.
Visiting the Canary Islands for their art is great, but, you can still explore art without travelling. Art films, documentaries, and other shows offer insights into artistic expression. You can easily find these on YouTube, Netflix, BeeTV, and other streaming providers.
BeeTV, in particular, stands out for its focus on art-based content. You'll find movies and documentaries related to clay art, sculpting, and many other art forms, some of which are deeply rooted in the artistic culture of the Canary Islands. Intrigued? You can easily find step-by-step instructions for beginners to install BeeTV on Firestick or even on your computer. Once you are done, you will have a wide range of content from all over the world at your fingertips.
Filmmakers find the Canary Islands perfect for filming. The islands offer diverse landscapes and consistent sunshine. This makes them ideal for many genres, from adventures to romantic comedies. Hollywood directors choose the Canary Islands for their flexibility and ease of use. The islands have modern infrastructure and skilled local crews, simplifying production.
So, let's take a look at a selection of the films that you maybe didn't know were shot in the Canary Islands:
The movie "Moby Dick" from 1956 filmed its ending on a real beach. They filmed it at Las Canteras beach in Gran Canaria to make the fight scene with the whale look more real. Another movie, "In the Heart of the Sea”, starring Chris Hemsworth, filmed there too in 2015. Maybe the director wanted his movie to be connected to the older one.
This classic film, starring Raquel Welch, whisks viewers to prehistoric times. It suggests humans and dinosaurs lived together. The Canary Islands' volcanic landscapes were its backdrop. Key scenes were filmed in Tenerife's Teide National Park and Lanzarote's Timanfaya and Lago Verde. These rough terrains and stunning views beautifully created an ancient, wild world.
Guess where they filmed most of "The Dictator" starring Sacha Baron Cohen? Not Africa! They used Fuerteventura because its deserts look just like the fictional country of Wadiya in the movie. Filming in Africa wouldn't have worked out, so the island was perfect.
The movie "Fast & Furious 6," featuring Vin Diesel and the late Paul Walker had a lot of scenes shot in Tenerife, including the opening on the beautiful north coast, and the famous tank scene on the motorways in the south of the island. It had the space and dramatic views for the film. Also, the island worked well with the filmmakers, which ensured safe, effective stunts and effects. It all resulted in an exciting movie.
Ridley Scott's epic, "Exodus: Gods and Kings," retells Moses' story. It's a co-production with Spain. The film uses Fuerteventura's diverse landscapes to create ancient Egypt. The team spent months building sets in Cofete, Punta de Jandía, and El Cotillo. These sites became the Sinai Peninsula and the Red Sea which enhanced the film's realism and grandeur.
Gal Gadot was back as Wonder Woman for another adventure in "Wonder Woman 1984," and guess where they filmed some of it? The Canary Islands, specifically, Fuerteventura with its crazy landscapes. They used the island to stand in for a bunch of different places around the world. It's beautiful and perfect for all the action scenes.
"Jason Bourne" showcases Matt Damon's character navigating diverse locations. Interestingly, the chase scene, set in Greece, was actually filmed in Santa Cruz (Tenerife). Shop names and signs were all changed from Spanish names to Greek names to give it authenticity. Also, the fight scenes at the beginning of the movie were filmed at a old deserted leper colony in Abades in the south of the island, highlighting Tenerife’s versatility for film makers.
The comedy movie "Wild Oats" wasn't just filmed in a studio, they filmed much of it in Gran Canaria. The island has fancy hotels, amazing ocean views, and lots of sunshine, and all this beauty and fun energy helped make the movie funnier and more exciting.
In "The Titan" (2018), space travel came to Gran Canaria! The film's story of genetic evolution for space exploration found its perfect setting in the island's unique and varied environments.
In "Rambo: Last Blood," Sylvester Stallone returned for the last instalment of the Rambo series, filmed in Tenerife, Spain. Key locations included Santa Úrsula, Teide National Park, and El Rosario. These locations were made to look like the Arizona and Mexico border. Tenerife's rough landscape and stunning views added realism and excitement to Rambo's final story. This made it a perfect end to the iconic series.
Hold on, "Taxi to Treasure Rock" wasn't filmed in Gibraltar? Believe it or not, they used Las Palmas de Gran Canaria instead. The city's historical buildings and lively streets look surprisingly similar to Gibraltar, making it the perfect filming location for this Spanish comedy. The setting adds a whole new layer to the movie's humour.
The Canary Islands transformed into a real-life adventure for The Eternals. Angelina Jolie and Salma Hayek led the cast on a filming adventure in Fuerteventura and Lanzarote, which has cool volcanoes and mountains. The filmmakers used these features to create the settings for the superhero story. The beauty of the islands and their different types of landscapes were perfect for filming action scenes.
The Canary Islands are a top choice for film studios. They've hosted classics like "Moby Dick" and blockbusters like "Eternals." The diverse landscapes and beauty help make stories more engaging. These settings work for films set in the past, ancient times, or the future. So, the next time you watch one of these films, you'll appreciate the stunning backdrops that the Canary Islands provide, adding to the magic of the movies.
