When thinking about a dream vacation, the beaches and mountains of Hawaii are one of the most popular destinations. Tourists are not the only ones who prize the lush environment though. Filmmakers also enjoy the mountains, beaches, and wildlife of the islands. They are a perfect backdrop for a plethora of films, many of which you will recognize. If you want to discover Hawaii’s secrets through film, make sure to watch these ten movies filmed in Hawaii.
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10. Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, Disney+ and Prime Video (2011)
Our first selection is none other than Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. Several of the Pirates movies were filmed in Hawaii, as it provided the perfect backdrop for finding treasure. In this installment, Jack Sparrow and Barbossa are trying to find the Fountain of Youth but instead stumble into Blackbeard and his daughter Angelica. When Sparrow is forced onto Blackbeard’s ship, he must find a way to get off and find a way to the treasure first.
Filming Locations: Kilauea Falls, Haleiwa, Honopu Beach, Halona Beach Cove
– IMDb score: 6.6
9. Kong: Skull Island, Vix and Prime Video (2017)
Similar to other Kong movies, Kong: Skull Island found a home in Hawaii too. Scenes like walking through the bamboo forest and the fields of skulls are just a few that were filmed in various locations on and off the big island. In the movie, the U.S. Government funds a trip to an unexplored island in the South Pacific under the guise of “geological research.” When they arrive they discover some unexpected wildlife, like the giant ape known as Kong.
Filming Locations: Oahu, Kualoa Ranch, Lulumahu Falls Trail, Waialua
– IMDb score: 6.7
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8. 50 First Dates, STARZ and Prime Video (2004)
Our next selection is set in Hawaii, so it makes sense that 50 First Dates was filmed in several Hawaiian locations. In the movie, Adam Sandler stars as Henry Roth, who meets Lucy Whitmore and feels like a serious relationship is possible. When they wake up the next morning though and Lucy doesn’t recognize him, Henry is told that Lucy has short-term memory loss. This just means that Henry has to get Lucy to fall in love with him every day.
Filming Locations: Kaneohe, Ka’a’awa, Wahiawa, Makapu’u, Waimānalo, Honolulu
– IMDb score: 6.8
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7. Jurassic World, MAX and Hulu (2015)
There’s no way we could have this list without mentioning at least one Jurassic Park movie. From both aerial shots and scenes that depict the dinosaurs, several parts of Hawaii are used to create the films, including the Jurassic Kahili Ranch. In Jurassic World, 22 years have passed since the original park failed and a new one has emerged, also known as Jurassic World. When the scientists genetically engineer a new breed called the Indominus Rex, their missteps lead to a catastrophic meltdown that puts all the guests in danger.
Filming Locations: Kualoa Ranch, Jurassic Kahili Ranch, Manoa Falls, Blue Hole
– IMDb score: 6.9
6. Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, Hulu and Fubo TV (2017)
“Call out its name!” Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle is an adventure set within a video game, and of course needs lush environments like Hawaii to make the scenes feel real. In the movie, four high-school kids stumble upon an old video game console while cleaning up the school’s basement for detention. When they get sucked into the game, they must complete each level to survive and get back to the real world, all while adjusting to their avatars in the game.
Filming Locations: Honolulu, Hilo, Kualoa Ranch
– IMDb score: 6.9
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5. Tropic Thunder, Pluto TV and Paramount Plus (2008)
Tropic Thunder was filmed in several locations in Hawaii, including Hanalei and Grove Farmland to accurately display the jungles and terrain the group is forced to navigate after being plunged into a real war zone. In the movie, a group of actors are trying to film a war movie, but it becomes terrifyingly real when they stumble upon a true war zone and must fight their way out.
Filming Locations: Kaua’i, Grove Farmland, Hanalei, Kapaa, Lumahai Valley
– IMDb score: 7.1
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4. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, AMC+ and Philo (2013)
One of the best scenes from Hunger Games: Catching Fire is when Peeta and Katniss are on the beach and he gives her a pearl, as well as confessing their true feelings and connection to each other. Fortunately for us this was filmed in Hawaii, along with several other scenes from the “clock” arena. Catching Fire occurs only a year after Katniss and Peeta win, and are plunged right back into the spotlight after being chosen for the 75th Games, or Third Quarter Quell. This time the fighters are all past victors, and Katniss must put herself to the test once again to survive President Snow.
Filming Locations: Oahu, Halona Blow Hole Lookout, Waimea Valley, Kahana Bay Beach Park
– IMDb score: 7.5
3. Avatar, Disney+ and MAX (2009)
One of the biggest films and franchises ever, Avatar did film a few scenes in Hawaii to depict Pandora where the Na’vi live. In the movie, paraplegic Marine Jake Sully is sent to Pandora after taking the place of his late brother, to help mend relations between the Na’vi and humans. When Sully realizes that the team just wants to exterminate the Na’vi and take their precious materials, he must take a stand with the Na’vi and fight back in an epic battle.
Filming Locations: Hāmākua Coast, Oahu, Kaua’i
– IMDb score: 7.9
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2. Jurassic Park, Netflix and Apple TV (1993)
I mentioned before that Jurassic Park would appear on this list, and it’s found a home in the second-best spot. The original film may have premiered in 1993 with new CGI capabilities, but the shots of Isla Nubar are straight from Hawaii’s beaches. When John Hammond successfully brings dinosaurs back to life, he invites four scientists and his two grandchildren to see the progress. But no one is safe when their cages are opened, and the group must fight for their survival.
Filming Locations: Kaua’i, Limahuli Garden, Hanapepe Valley, Jurassic Kahili Ranch
– IMDb score: 8.2
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1. Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark, Disney+ and Paramount Plus (1981) / Movies Filmed in Hawaii
Our final film is the first installment in the Indiana Jones franchise, this one titled Raiders of the Lost Ark. Of course, an Indiana Jones movie is not complete without an uncharted island, and Hawaii can provide those visuals through places like Kaua’i and the Huleia National Wildlife Refuge. In the movie, Indiana Jones is able to secure a golden statue in the far reaches of South America, and afterwards receives information about a biblical artifact called The Ark of the Covenant. When he goes looking for the artifact though, he will have to get past his enemy Rene Belloq and a band of Nazis to find it.
Filming Locations: Kaua’i, Huleia National Wildlife Refuge, Nā Pali Coast State Park
– IMDb score: 8.4