10 Famous Movies Filmed in Iceland

by Alyssa Ramos

Iceland is probably the best place in the World to film movies because it looks like something you’d see straight out of one. Some say it looks like the end of the World, other’s say it looks like it’s from another world, I say it’s freaking magical and awesome, and made me feel like I was in Walter Mitty the entire time I was there.

From massive waterfalls to eerie glacier lagoons, and even a volcano that “leads to the center of the Earth”, there’s no question that Iceland has a surplus of scenery that you’d see in anything from action thrillers to sci-fi fantasies, and even one of America‘s most loved TV series!

I made it a point to check out all of the places where some popular movies (and a show) were filmed in Iceland, and got the chance to feel like my own life was a movie while I was there! Here are a few you just might recognize:

1. Lara Croft: Tomb Raider – Jökulsárlón

The director says that Iceland is a great place to film because it’s so diverse, and that there’s not many places in the world that you can find not only glaciers, but a lagoon filled with icebergs. I was just as impressed, and also felt like a badass Tomb Raider chick marching around the icy banks of Jökulsárlón.

2. James Bond: Die Another Day & A View to Kill – Jökulsárlón

My version:

Clearly iceberg lagoons and glaciers are the best place to film James Bond movies…along with exotic locations, dangerous locations, other awesome locations, etc.

3. Batman Begins – Vatnajökull

Batman definitely would have picked here as a place to battle. It just looks Batman-ey.

4. Prometheus – Vatnajökull

I can’t really tell which waterfall that is, but this is one of the glacier patches you can stand on in Vatnajökull…although I’m not entirely sure if you’re “supposed” to. Prometheus would.

5. Thor: The Dark World – Skógafoss

My version:

Chris Hemsworth says Iceland’s scenery is epic. Enough said. Another character says “It’s bigger than your imagination”, and Natalie Portman is clearly left breathless, as was I when I saw the massive, powerful waterfall called Skogafoss, located in the South coast of Iceland.

6. Journey to the Center of the Earth – Snæfellsjökull

Snæfellsjökull is located in the northwestern part of Iceland and is their most famous glacier/volcano because it’s said to be the portal to “the center of the Earth”. I guess that makes sense since it’s a volcano, but also because there’s so much strange scenery surrounding it like waterfall (troll) caves, black sand beaches, and lava rock formations! Obviously, this is the reason why the movie based on it was filmed there.

7. Hostel: Part II – The Blue Lagoon

I have never and will never watch any scary movies like Hostel II, but if you have or if you watch the clip above (I won’t even watch that), it was filmed in the infamous Blue Lagoon geothermal pool and spa in Iceland.

8. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty – Everywhere

“The energy hits you when you get there.” –Ben Stiller . Yes Ben, I’d have to agree.

9. Game of Thrones – Everywhere

“It’s all real, it’s all natural, it’s not like we have to take out hoses and spray them to get these effects.”

10. Star Wars: The Force Awakens – ????

I’m not entirely sure where the new Star Wars movie was filmed since it hasn’t come out yet and people like to keep those things top secret…but Iceland was listed on the production locations and judging from the trailer, looks a lot like one of the glaciers that Game of Thrones was filmed on!!

Bonus: Frozen!!

I know, I know, Frozen is a made-up Disney cartoon that could potentially have underlying addictive qualities or incorporate every other Disney movie into one…BUT I just want to throw it out there that the talking snowman’s name is Olaf…and there’s a town called “Olafsvik” right near one of the most popular and most magical glaciers in Iceland!