If you love Greece and its stunning islands, you might enjoy watching some movies and TV shows that showcase their beauty and culture. Whether you are looking for romance, adventure, comedy or drama, there is something for everyone in this list of the best movies and TV shows that were filmed or set on the Greek islands. You can watch them online or on DVD and get inspired for your next trip to Greece!
Mamma Mia (2008) and Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (2018)
These musical movies, based on the songs of ABBA, tell the story of a single mother, her daughter and three possible fathers on a fictional Greek island called Kalokairi. The first movie was filmed on the islands of Skopelos and Skiathos, while the second one was filmed in Croatia but still set in Greece. The movies feature stunning views of the sea, the beaches, the villages and the churches of the islands, as well as catchy songs and a star-studded cast.
Where to watch: Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube
Zorba the Greek (1964)
This classic movie, based on the novel by Nikos Kazantzakis, stars Anthony Quinn as Zorba, a charismatic Greek man who befriends a British writer (Alan Bates) and teaches him how to live life to the fullest on the island of Crete. The movie was filmed around Chania, on the north-west coast of Crete, and features scenes of the town, the harbour, the lighthouse and the famous Stavros beach, where Zorba dances his famous sirtaki.
Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, YouTube
The Big Blue (1988)
This cult movie, directed by Luc Besson, tells the story of two childhood friends who become rivals in free diving in the 1960s. The movie was filmed on the islands of Amorgos and Ios, and features breathtaking underwater photography and spectacular scenery. The movie explores themes of friendship, love, freedom and death in a mystical way.
Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video
Shirley Valentine (1989)
This romantic comedy, based on a play by Willy Russell, follows Shirley (Pauline Collins), a bored English housewife who goes on a holiday to Mykonos by herself and falls in love with a Greek waiter named Costas (Tom Conti). The movie was filmed entirely on Mykonos and shows off its white-washed houses, blue-domed churches, windmills and nightlife. The movie is a funny and touching story of self-discovery and empowerment.
Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video
The Guns of Navarone (1961)
This war movie, based on a novel by Alistair MacLean, stars Gregory Peck, David Niven and Anthony Quinn as Allied commandos who are sent to destroy a Nazi gun emplacement on a fictional Greek island. The movie was filmed on Rhodes and features scenes of its harbour, its temple, its castle and its beaches. The movie is an action-packed adventure with suspense, drama and heroism.
Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video
The Durrells (2016-2019)
This TV series, based on the memoirs of Gerald Durrell, tells the story of a British family who moves to Corfu in the 1930s and their adventures with the locals and the wildlife. The series was filmed on Corfu and features scenes of its old town, its countryside, its beaches and its animals. The series is a charming and humorous portrayal of a family’s adaptation to a new culture and environment.
Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, PBS
Before Midnight (2013)
This movie, directed by Richard Linklater, is the third installment of the Before trilogy, which follows the romance of Jesse (Ethan Hawke) and Celine (Julie Delpy) over two decades. The movie was filmed on the Peloponnese peninsula and the island of Kefalonia and features scenes of its ancient ruins, its olive groves, its villages and its sunsets. The movie is a realistic and poignant exploration of love, marriage and parenthood.
Where to watch: Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube
Captain Corelli’s Mandolin (2001)
This movie, based on a novel by Louis de Bernières, tells the story of a love affair between an Italian officer (Nicolas Cage) and a Greek woman (Penelope Cruz) during the Italian occupation of Greece in World War II. The movie was filmed on Kefalonia and features scenes of its mountains, its forests, its beaches and its villages. The movie is a romantic and tragic saga of war, loyalty and passion.
Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video
My Life in Ruins (2009)
This comedy movie, written by Mike Reiss, follows Georgia (Nia Vardalos), a Greek-American tour guide who tries to find love and happiness in Greece. The movie was filmed on various locations in Greece, including Athens, Delphi, Olympia and Santorini. The movie showcases the history, the culture and the beauty of Greece in a funny and heartwarming way.
Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (2005) and The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 (2008)
These movies, based on the novels by Ann Brashares, tell the story of four best friends who share a pair of jeans that magically fits them all and their summer adventures in different countries. One of them, Lena (Alexis Bledel), goes to Greece to visit her grandparents on the island of Santorini. The movies feature scenes of Santorini’s iconic caldera, cliffs, houses and churches, as well as Lena’s romance with a local boy named Kostas (Michael Rady).
Where to watch: Netflix, Amazon Prime Video
Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life (2003)
This action movie, based on the video game series Tomb Raider, stars Angelina Jolie as Lara Croft, an adventurer who searches for Pandora’s box in various locations around the world. One of them is Santorini, where she finds clues in an underwater temple. The movie features scenes of Santorini’s volcano, sea and landscape, as well as Lara’s stunts and fights.
Where to watch: Netflix, Amazon Prime Video
