Movie and TV Shows Shot in Iceland: A Guide for Film Lovers

Last Updated: Jan 23, 2024
Reading Time: 9 minutes
By: Shaun

Iceland is a land that has inspired and attracted many filmmakers from around the world. Iceland is a film lover’s paradise, a place where you can see some of the most amazing scenes and locations that have been used for many popular movies and TV shows.

In this post, we will explore some of the films and shows that were shot in Iceland and how they enhanced the stories and the visual effects. Whether you are a fan of fantasy, sci-fi, adventure, drama, or comedy, you will find something that will interest you and make you want to visit Iceland and see the film sites for yourself.

So let’s go: lights, camera, action.

James Bond series

Icebergs in Jokulsarlon with auroas | Image by Moyan Brenn on Wikimedia Commons

Iceland has been a filming location for two James Bond movies: A View to a Kill (1985) and Die Another Day (2002). In both movies, the iconic spy visits the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, a spectacular sight of icebergs floating on a glacial lake. The lagoon was used as the setting for the villain’s lair in A View to a Kill and as the location of a car chase scene in Die Another Day. You can take a boat tour of the lagoon and admire the scenery up close. You might even spot some seals or birds along the way.

Another filming location for Die Another Day is the town of Höfn, where Bond meets the American agent Jinx. The town is located on the southeast coast of Iceland and offers a panoramic view of the Vatnajökull glacier, the largest ice cap in Europe. You can explore the town and its surroundings, which include a harbour, a golf course, and a museum. You can also join a glacier tour or a snowmobile adventure on the Vatnajökull glacier and experience the thrill of being on the ice.

Star Wars saga

Viti crater | Image by PxHere

Iceland has been a filming location for two Star Wars movies: The Force Awakens (2015) and Rogue One (2016). Some of the scenes and locations are:

• In the Force Awakens, the planet of Jakku, a desert wasteland where Rey lives, was filmed in the Eyjafjallajökull glacier, the Svínafellsjökull glacier, the Krafla volcano, and the Mýrdalssandur desert.
• In Rouge One the opening sequence where the scientist Galen Erso and his family are in hiding is located close to the town of Vík in the south of the country.

Game of Thrones

Kirkjufell | Image by razvan casian on Pixabay

One of the most popular TV shows of all time, Game of Thrones, has also used Iceland as a filming location. The show has filmed in various places in Iceland, mostly to depict the lands beyond the Wall, where the wildlings and the White Walkers live.

Some of the iconic scenes and locations that were filmed in Iceland include the following:

• The Frostfangs, the mountain range where Jon Snow and the Night’s Watch go to find the wildling leader Mance Rayder. The location is actually Höfðabrekkuheiði, a hiking area near the town of Vík in south Iceland.
• The Fist of the First Men, the ancient hill fort where the Night’s Watch make their camp and where they are attacked by the White Walkers. The camp was actually located at Mýrdalsjökull, a glacier that covers the volcano Katla.
• The Wildling Camp, where Jon Snow meets Ygritte and falls in love with her. In reality, this place is Dimmuborgir, a lava field with bizarre rock formations near Lake Mývatn in north Iceland.
• Around Lake Mývatn one finds the cave where Jon Snow and Ygritte consummate their relationship. The cave is called Grjótagjá, and is a geothermal spring inside a lava cave.
• The Bloody Gate, the entrance to the Vale of Arryn, where Arya Stark and the Hound encounter Brienne of Tarth and Podrick Payne. This was filmed at the Þingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where the continental plates of Europe and America meet and where the Icelandic parliament was founded in 930 AD.
• The Hound’s Duel, where the Hound fights Brienne of Tarth for the custody of Arya Stark. The fight was filmed at Hengill, a volcanic area with geothermal activity and hot springs near Reykjavík.
• In seasons 6 and 7, Kirkjufell Mountain on the Snaefellsnes peninsula was used as the Arrowhead Mountain.

Batman Begins

Another blockbuster movie that was filmed in Iceland is Batman Begins (2005), the first installment of Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy. The movie features scenes that show the training of Bruce Wayne by the League of Shadows in the Himalayas, but these scenes were actually filmed in the Svínafellsjökull glacier and the Vatnajökull glacier in Iceland.

The glaciers provide a stunning and realistic backdrop for the action sequences and the dramatic dialogues. You can visit the glaciers by car or by guided tours, and you can even walk on the ice or explore the ice caves with proper equipment and guidance.

Interstellar

Reykjadalur Valley | Image by Jakub Fryš on Wikimedia Commons

Another Christopher Nolan’s movie that shot parts of the production in Iceland is Interstellar (2014). This sci-fi movie explores the concepts of space, time, and gravity and shows the journey of a team of astronauts who travel through a wormhole to find a new home for humanity.

One of the planets they visit is an icy world with frozen clouds and mountains. This planet was filmed at the Svínafellsjökull glacier and the Máfabót glacier in Iceland. The glaciers create a surreal and alien atmosphere that matches the theme of the movie. You can visit the glaciers by car or by guided tours, and you can witness the majestic and mysterious scenery for yourself.

Prometheus

Dettifoss | Image by Bernd Thaller on Flickr

Another famed director, Ridley Scott, filmed in Iceland for his movie Prometheus (2012). This sci-fi movie serves as a prequel to the Alien franchise and follows a team of explorers who search for the origins of mankind on a distant planet. The planet, however, turns out to be a hostile and dangerous place, where they encounter ancient secrets and deadly creatures.

The planet was filmed in two locations in Iceland: the Dettifoss waterfall and the Hekla volcano. The waterfall is the most powerful in Europe, with a thunderous roar and a massive spray. The volcano is one of the most active in Iceland, with a history of eruptions and lava flows. Both locations create a stunning and dramatic contrast between water and fire and add to the tension and suspense of the movie. You can visit the waterfall and the volcano by car or by guided tours, and you can experience the awe and the thrill of being in these places.

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

Stykkishólmur | Image by Patricia van den Berg on Pixabay

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013) is a comedy-drama movie that follows the adventures of a timid and bored office worker who escapes into his fantasies. The movie, starring Ben Stiller, shows Walter Mitty travelling to various exotic locations, such as Greenland, Afghanistan, and the Himalayas. However, most of these locations were actually filmed in Iceland.

The movie features scenes that show the town of Seyðisfjörður, where Walter skateboards down a winding road; the town of Stykkishólmur, where Walter jumps onto a helicopter; the Vatnajökull glacier, where Walter encounters a snow leopard; and the Garður peninsula, where Walter finds the photographer he was looking for. All these locations are in the east and west of Iceland and can be reached by car or by guided tour, so you can follow the footsteps of Walter and discover the charm and beauty of these places.

Oblivion

Oblivion (2013) is a sci-fi movie starring Tom Cruise that depicts a post-apocalyptic Earth where most of humanity has been wiped out by an alien invasion. It tells the story of a drone repairman who discovers a hidden truth about his mission and his identity.

The movie features scenes that show the Jarlhettur mountain range, where the repairman lives in a tower; the Langjökull glacier, where he finds a crashed spaceship; and the Hrossaborg crater, where he meets a group of survivors.

Fast & Furious 8

Akranes | Image by Helgarun on Wikimedia Commons

Dom Toretto and his gang also made it to Iceland in Fast & Furious 8 (2017). The movie shows the exploits of a team of street racers who are recruited by a mysterious hacker to perform a series of heists.

The movie features scenes that show the Mývatn lake, where the team races on the frozen surface; the town of Akranes, where the team faces a submarine attack; and the Þrengsli bridge, where the team escapes from a missile strike.

Fortitude

Fortitude is a British horror psychological thriller series that aired on Sky Atlantic from 2015 to 2018. The show was created and written by Simon Donald. The show is set in the fictional Arctic Norwegian town of Fortitude, which is one of the safest places on earth, until a series of violent and bizarre murders shatter the peace and reveal the dark secrets of the town and its inhabitants.

Throughout the show’s first two seasons, the town of Reyðarfjörður in the south-east of the country provided the backdrop for the town of Fortitude.

Katla

Vik | Image by Matt Hardy on Pexels

Our last entry is the Icelandic show Katla, which became a hit when it came out on Netflix. Katla is set in Vík, a coastal village in the south of Iceland that gets covered in ash and surrounded by glaciers with the europtio of the nearby Katla volcano.

The few remaining residents have to deal not only with the threat of the volcano but also with the strange phenomena that emerge from the ice. People who died or disappeared in the past start to reappear, looking exactly as they did before. But are they really who they claim to be, or are they something entirely different? If sci-fi or horror shows are for you, then Katla is a must-watch.

Honourable mentions

The above is just a short list of popular TV shows and movies that were shot in Iceland. Some more that could have very well made the list include

• Black Mirror
• Sense8
• Captain America: Civil War
• Star Trek: Into Darkness
• Noah
• Dilwale
• Hostel Part II
• Lara Croft: Tomb Raider
• The Tree of Life
• The Fate of the Furious
• Thor: The Dark World
• Transformers: Age of Extinction
• Justice League

Conclusion

Iceland is a paradise for movie and TV lovers. The country offers a variety of filming locations that showcase its natural beauty and diversity. Whether you are into action, adventure, drama, comedy, or sci-fi, you will find something to suit your taste in Iceland.

You can visit these filming locations and experience the magic and wonder of the movies and TV shows that were filmed there. You can also explore the culture and history of Iceland and learn more about its people and its traditions. Iceland is a destination that will not disappoint you. So, what are you waiting for? Book your trip to Iceland today and enjoy the show!