Movies & TV Shows Filmed in iceland

Producers and filmmakers choose Iceland because the country is so varied in nature and the distances are short, so the country can represent a variety of places or countries. Additionally, you can get a highly professional Icelandic production crew and the country has a good infrastructure. Iceland is easy to access from both the US, UK and the rest of Europe (for example, Iceland is only 5 hours away from the US, and a 2.5-hour flight from London). 

Here are a few examples of films and TV shows that have been filmed in Iceland- and the locations of the filming as well. 

GAME OF THRONES

An incredible amount of footage from Game of Thrones is shot in Iceland. Everything that happens, North of the Wall, is filmed in Iceland. 

A lot of footage of Arya and the hound is shot in Iceland, such as when they come to vale the Arryn and when the hound and Brienne fight. These scenes are filmed in and around Pingvellir National Park, on the South Coast of Iceland. 

BATMAN BEGINS (2005)

The 2005 Batman film: Batman Begins was partially filmed in Iceland. There are training scenes that were shot in Skaftafell in Iceland and a computer-made temple was even edited onto the Icelandic ground to show authenticity to the film. 

Vatnajokull glacier is a popular filming destination to substitute more inaccessible mountains, such as the mountain in Tibet. 

TOMB RAIDER (2001)

Another film that was filmed at Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon was Tomb Raider. In this hit film, Iceland represents the frozen tundra in Siberia.

If you ever feel like going on a boat ride of the lagoon in the same type of car/ boats as you can see in the film, then you can! that's the beauty of Iceland!

OBLIVION (2013)

Iceland provides the perfect canvas for a post-apocalyptic universe in this sci-fi movie with Tom Cruise. The movie was filmed at Hrossaborg crater in North-East Iceland, as well as Jarlhettur (Earl's Peak) and Drekavatm in the interior of the country. 

THOR: THE DARK WORLD (2013)

It is very fitting that Thor is partially filmed in Iceland because Thor comes from the Nordic region. Thor was filmed both in the interior of Iceland, as well as Skogafoss in the South of Iceland. Skogafoss is featured on any South Coast tours of Iceland and is a very popular tourist destination. 

ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY

Even before Rogue One was released, it was obvious from the trailer that the scenes were shot on the South Coast of Iceland. Many people recognised the black sands and mossy green mountains at the beginning of the trailer.

Iceland portrays the planet Lah'mu in the film, where Jyn Erso and her parents are hiding at the very beginning of the film. The black, sandy, and alien-looking beaches can be found in the South of Iceland (Myrdalssandur). 

INTERSTELLER (2014)

Interstellar used two Icelandic destinations to represent two different planets, these being Mafabot and Svinafellsjokull. Both locations are in the South-East of Iceland, a stone throw away from each other. 

Not only this, but the Svinafellsjokull glacier is nearby (the largest in Europe). This glacier represents Mann's ice planet in the movie. When visiting the glacier, you'll feel like exploring alien territory yourself by hiking on the Svinafellsjokull glacier. 

THE SECRET LIFE OF WALTER MITTY (2013)

This blockbuster film starring  Ben Stiller used ALL of Iceland to shoot the scenes. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty takes place in the US, Greenland, Iceland and the Himalayas, In fact, the film is only shot in the US and Iceland represents Greenland and the Himalayas. This is one of the few films that credits Iceland as itself.

Ben Stiller's character travelled and filmed across Iceland, from Stykkisholmur on Snaefellness peninsula (representing Greenland), as well as Reykjavik and Reykjanes peninsula, in the South of the Country and South East around Vatnajokull glacier (representing Nepal), and all the way East in Seyoisfjorour (with the erupting volcano).

FROZEN 2

While the first Disney phenomenon, Frozen, was based in Norway, the second instalment is inspired by Iceland. Even in the Frozen 2 trailer, it is completely obvious that the film used references to Iceland. Towering basalt stack columns, black sand beaches, massive ice tunnels, and more- Iceland is filled with magical sites, You can take a Frozen 2 tour in Iceland to explore the awesome locations and Nordic folklore scattered throughout the movie. 

The video above highlights the places in Iceland that the characters visit throughout the movie. When Frozen filmmakers described their trip to Iceland to the press, they emphasized that the "stark beauty of Iceland" stood out. When they went to the black sand beaches around Iceland, director Chris Buck confirmed that it inspired Frozen 2's colour palette and landscapes. You can visit the very same black sand beach in the Snaefellness Penninsula in West Iceland on one of our South Iceland tours.