If you like cinema, you should know that there is a wide variety of films shot in Gran Canaria, whose directors chose the island’s incredible natural landscapes to bring greater realism and emotion to each of their settings.
So, if you want to visit some of these “film sets”, in this article we will give you a list of the 12 best films shot in Gran Canaria.
Which films were shot in Gran Canaria?
Major productions have used natural locations in different countries to create realistic settings and promote tourism in those regions. This is how Gran Canaria has been chosen on several occasions as the setting for many films thanks to its spectacular subtropical landscapes.
Below, we will tell you which are the best films shot on this beautiful island:
4 latas
This film was directed by Gerardo Olivares and starred Jean Reno, Enrique San Francisco, Hovik Keuchkerian and Francesc Garrido, filmed in the Maspalomas Dunes during 2018. It premiered on 12 July 2019, and during promotion, both the actors and the director of this work highlighted the positive experience they had on the island.
What Are You Playing At?
In 2019, the film “¿Qué te juegas?” was released, which used the capital of Gran Canaria as the setting to develop its main storyline. This work belongs to Inés de León, whose roots come from this island, making it quite a personal production and very entertaining for lovers of comedies.
Taxi to Gibraltar
Another film shot in Gran Canaria is “Taxi a Gibraltar”, directed by Alejo Flah and starring Dani Rovira, Ingrid García Johnson and Joaquín Furriel. This Spanish production also takes place in the island’s capital. It premiered on 14 November 2019 and tells the story of an unlikely group searching for treasure in the Gibraltar tunnel.
Cliff
The best scenes of the film “Acantilado” were shot in Gran Canaria, including the Avenida Marítima in the capital and other locations on the island such as San Bartolomé de Tirajana. It premiered in 2016 and was directed by Helena Taberna. The main actors were Daniel Grao, Juana Acosta, Goya Toledo, Ingrid García and Ciro Miró.
The Pekingese Strategy
Las Palmas was the perfect setting to film “La estrategia del pequinés”, directed by Elio Quiroga, who adapted the novel of the same name to create an unforgettable work. The supporting cast included Kira Miró, Jorge Bosch and Unax Ugarte, successfully capturing the essence of the island and the storyline.
Fast & Furious
Not only Spanish films have been shot in Gran Canaria; this island has also been chosen by international film productions such as the “Fast & Furious” saga.
“Fast & Furious 6” starred Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Dwayne Johnson and Michelle Rodríguez, and filming used natural locations in Gran Canaria and Tenerife.
Wild Oats
Another of the films shot in Gran Canaria is “Como Reinas”. An American comedy starring Shirley MacLaine, Jessica Lange and Demi Moore, which was mostly filmed in the stunning facilities of the Hotel Lopesan Costa Meloneras Resort & Spa.
In this feature film, memorable scenes were also shot in several historic locations in the island’s capital, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, such as the Old Town of Vegueta, the Gabinete Literario and the Casa de Colón. Don’t miss the film trailer!
Exodus
Another major international film production that used the islands of Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura as main settings was “Exodus”. This film was directed by Ridley Scott and starred Christian Bale, Aaron Paul, Joel Edgerton and María Valverde, portraying the classic biblical story of the Egyptian army pursuing Moses’ people in the Red Sea.
Ulises contra Hércules
The Maspalomas Dunes were a perfect setting for filming “Ulises contra Hércules” in the 1960s. At that time, there were no tourist complexes, making it an ideal location to simulate an ancient desert battle. If you watched this film back then, you can visit the Maspalomas Dunes to relive its scenes.
El niño
In the south of the island of Gran Canaria, one of the scenes of the film “El niño” was shot, recreating a helicopter crash at sea. Directed by Daniel Monzón and starring Luis Tosar, Eduard Fernández and Jesús Castro, the film was a box office success and won several film awards.
Exploring the locations of films shot in Gran Canaria is a unique way to discover the island from a different perspective, combining cinema, nature and culture in one journey.
To fully experience this, you can stay at one of the Lopesan hotels in Gran Canaria, located in prime areas such as Meloneras, Maspalomas or Playa del Inglés. From there, you can easily explore many of these locations while enjoying an unforgettable stay by the sea.
