10 famous films shot in the Canary Islands

If you find yourself in the Canary Islands on your next holiday, we propose a new way of discovering the wonders they hide through the eyes of cinema.

Canary Islands is one of the preferred destinations for film production companies, both nationally and internationally.

One of the key factors in the choice of the Canary Islands as a location for the filming of blockbuster movies is attributed to the great variety of landscapes and natural scenery The islands are equipped with the necessary resources to recreate scenes that combine beach and forest or terrestrial and underwater life.

In this post we have created a list for you to learn more about the 10 most famous films shot in the Canary Islands. In addition, we have also added the location of the shootings, so that you can discover the marvellous landscapes that captivated these super-production companies to shoot their feature films.

2. Films shot in Gran Canaria

The landscapes of Gran Canaria have been a key setting for the filming of different movies over the years. Natural landscapes such as the Maspalomas Dunes and more urban landscapes such as the city of Las Palmas have been chosen as film sets for the following films:

ALLIES (2016)

This film stars Brad Pitt y Marion Cotillardset in North Africa in the 1940s, in which the protagonist is a spy who falls in love with a French resistance fighter, who could be a double agent collaborating with the Nazis.

Part of the film's story is set in the city of Casablanca, so in order to recreate the setting of the place as well as possible, we used parts of the old quarter of Vegueta and part of The Maspalomas Dunes.

AS QUEENS (2016)

This American comedy starring the famous actresses Shirley MacLaine, Jessica Lange y Demi Moore, in which Eva (the main character), after being widowed and receiving an inheritance of 5 million dollars, decides to travel to the Canary Islands with her best friend, but things go wrong in a very comical way.

The capital city of Las Palmas de Gran Canariathe old part of the Neighbourhood of Vegueta and the Hotel Lopesan Costa Meloneras Spa & Resort, brought the story of this comic film to life.

TAXI TO GIBRALTAR (2019)

This Spanish comedy by the actors Dani Rovira, Joaquín Furriel e Ingrid García Jonsson, in which the three protagonists go in search of a supposed shipment of gold hidden in the tunnels of the Rock of Gibraltar, was filmed in the capital of Gibraltar. Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.

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3. Films shot in Tenerife

National and international film producers who have chosen the island of Tenerife as a set for their productions have been fascinated by the great variety and distinction of landscapes where the coast and geographical features formed by volcanic rocks come together, as in Punta de Teno, as well as more urban and everyday settings such as the La Salud neighbourhood in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

A clear example of this is the following films:

FURY OF THE TITANS (2010)

This fantasy film stars Sam Worthington, Liam Neeson and Gemma Arterton, which adapts the myth of Perseus, son of Zeus, who sets out on a dangerous mission to save the life of Princess Andromeda.

We can observe that practically the 80% of the film was shot in Tenerife, specifically in the northwest and centre of the island where we can appreciate parts of Punta de Teno, Barranco de Masca and the Teide National Park.

FAST & FURIOUS 6 (2013)

This American crime film is part of a 9-film saga, starring the actors Vin Diesel, Dwayne Johnson and Paul Walker. ‍

In short, the plot of the film is about a mission where Don's team will have to collaborate with agent Hobbs to catch some mercenary drivers.

At the beginning of the film, we can see several scenes shot in the north of Tenerife, specifically in the tunnel of Punta de Teno and in the village of Garachico. Also near the end of the film there is an incredible scene with a tank where you can see the southern road, the Island Ring.

JASON BOURNE (2016)

This latest film in the Bourne saga, starring Matt Damon y Tom Lee Jones, shows us a Bourne who must fight against an organisation that uses technology to spread terror in society, while being pursued by the CIA.

We can see that part of the story unfolds on the streets of Santa Cruz de Tenerifewhich are depicted in the film as the streets of Greece, as well as one of the main fights which takes place in the municipality of Güímar.

RAMBO: LAST BLOOD (2019)

The famous Rambo film saga is coming to an end and a large part of its filming set was located on the island of Tenerife. On this occasion Sylvester Stallone plays a Rambo who seeks justice after the kidnapping and death of his niece at the hands of drug and women traffickers from Mexico.

Places such as Santa Ursula, the Teide National Park, the Gladioli and El Rosario were used to recreate Arizona and Mexico, the cities in which the film was set.

If you are curious to see the locations used for the filming of these movies, I recommend you to have a look at the article of the best viewpoints in Tenerife (especially those in the north), from which you will be able to recognise several of the landscapes that appear in some of these films and enjoy magnificent views of the island.

4. Films shot on Fuerteventura

The desert landscapes are an identifying element of the island of Fuerteventura and are reflected in places such as the El Matorral Beach or the Natural Park of the Corralejo Duneswhich have served as the background for the following films:

EXODUS: GODS AND KINGS (2014)

An adventure and drama film starring Christian Bale, María Valverde y Joel Edgertonin which Moses, the main protagonist, discovers his Hebrew heritage and vows to free his people from slavery, even if he has to end his brotherhood with Ramses in order to do so.

With the different landscapes offered by the island of Fuerteventura, the shooting of this feature film is given free rein.

We can observe in its scenography the natural parks of the Corralejo and Jandía dunes, the coastal area of El Cotillo, the Barranco del Mal Paso ravine and Cofete beach.

THE ORCA LIGHTHOUSE (2016)

This Spanish production starring Maribel Verdú, Joaquín Furriel y Joaquín Rapalini, tells the story of Lola and her autistic son Tristán, who travels to Patagonia in search of improving her son's situation through contact with the Orcas.

We can see how the island of Fuerteventura enters into this story through the scenery offered by the places of the island. village Las Playitas and the peninsula of Jandía.

HAN SOLO (2018)

This American science fiction film starring Alden Ehrenreich, Woody Harrelson and Emilia Clarke, tells the story of young Han Solo where he and his band of smugglers attempt to steal coaxium from the planet Kessel.

As you can see in this feature film, one of the main scenes is located in a desert, which comes to life with the dunes that are in the middle of the desert. the beach of El Matorral in the municipality of Pájara.