Top 6 movies you didn’t know were filmed in Croatia
BLOG
These days being entertained is not the easiest thing in the world. Staying home, it’s hard even to keep track of time. Honestly, what day is it today? If you’re facing similar challenges, we have a treat for you! We gave ourselves the task of making the list of movies that are filmed in Croatia.
We are proud of our country and everything Croatia has to offer, as small as it may be! Thanks to its natural beauties and historical sites, Croatia attracts a lot of movie productions.
So, scroll through our list and find your next must-watch movie!
Sophie´s choice (1982)
We are starting this list with a classic, one of the best movies ever made – Sophie’s Choice. The one and only Meryl Streep gave a heart-wrenching performance in World War II drama as a Polish immigrant in America. Her portrayal of a woman trying to come to terms with the choices she was forced to make is truly an unforgettable one. How can anything be filmed in Croatia, you may ask? Flashback scenes were filmed in Jadran studio in Zagreb.
Diana (2013)
Princess Diana is one of the most beloved people in history, so it’s no wonder her life inspired several movies. One of the latest ones, filmed in 2013, stars renowned actress Naomi Watts in the titular role and it focuses on the last two years of her life. The movie production took place on several locations in Croatia, the capital Zagreb and the Adriatic gems of Rovinj and Opatija.
Robin Hood (2018)
Robin Hood is a character that will always be interesting to moviemakers and audiences alike. The latest rendition, starring Taron Egerton as Robin Hood, Jamie Dornan and Oscar winner Jaime Foxx brings a contemporary vibe to this historical figure. It was filmed in Istria and Dubrovnik. Various locations around the Old City of Dubrovnik were used for filming, including the port, the main street Stradun and St. Dominic Street. The crew and cast had a great time here and fell in love with Croatia. Just look at this Jamie Instagram post telling how dreams can come true!
Mamma Mia - Here we go again (2018)
Musical genre fans rejoiced once it was announced that a sequel of a smash hit Mamma Mia is going into production! People in Croatia, on the other hand, rejoiced when they found that the filming will take place at one of our islands.
Islands of Vis “pretended” to be a Greek island of Kalokairi, with several locations around the island were used. If you’ve ever been on Vis, maybe you’ve recognized the town of Vis harbour, the St. Jerronim church, restaurant Jastožera, Stiniva bay, Srebrna bay, Barjoška bay where most of the beach scenes were filmed or the “Greek” market, which is actually the square in the Vis town. Oh, and one of the largest scenes, with over 300 people singing ABBA song is also filmed here, just north of Barjoška bay!
So, even if you’re not a fan of the genre, just diving in the vistas of Vis will be worth watching this movie!
Star Wars The Last Jedi (2017)
It’s no secret that Dubrovnik is one of the most popular places in Croatia, so there is no wonder that it’s attractive to so many movie and TV productions. Remember that Dubrovnik is King’s Landing in Game of Thrones?
One of the latest and most famous movies filmed here has got to be Star Wars: The Last Jedi. The filming of episode VIII was kept under wraps as much as possible, as usual for these kinds of movies. Got to keep the spoilers away! Locals were excited with this once in a lifetime opportunity to witness the Holywood at its shiniest in their own town! The streets and landmarks of Dubrovnik were a set for Canto Bight, casino city where John Boyega and crew had their share of adventure.
The best part is that most of the sets are built with slight modifications so it’s possible to recognize Dubrovnik in this legendary sci-fi movie series!
The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard (TBD)
The sequel to the 2017 sleeper hit – The Hitman’s Bodyguard, has been filmed during the past year, with stars Ryan Reynolds, Samuel L. Jackson and Salma Hayek returning to their roles. The rest of the star-studded cast includes Morgan Freeman, Antonio Banderas, Richard E. Grant and Tom Hopper. Oh, and a part of the filming took place in Croatia! So, needless to say, there are plenty of reasons for excitement!
The production spent around 50 days in Croatia, with a crew of 200 people and over 750 extras! Istrian gem of Rovinj allegedly doubles as an Italian town and some of the scenes were filmed in Zagreb.
Another fun fact, Ryan Reynolds liked Rovinj so much that he even used the time there to film the commercial for his Aviation gin - click HERE to watch it!
