Most people love watching a movie, and sometimes, we become so passionate about it, that we invest time and energy in knowing everything about it. One of the things that some of you may be curious about is the set or location in which a movie is filmed. The good news is that there are many such locations that are open to tourists, and you will find some of them below. Hopefully, you will be able to reach some of them and put yourself in the place of your favorite movie characters.
Explore Middle Earth – New Zealand
Source:youtube
Both Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit are considered major franchises, which is why there are millions of fans around the world. As you already know, people invest a lot of money in merchandise, so why not go to where the magic happened? All you have to do is go to Matamata, New Zealand. Not only the location is gorgeous, but you can see where Frodo and Bilbo lived. You may need a visa or an ETA to go there, visit ivisa.com to check. But trust me, it is all worth it.
Timberline Lodge – Oregon, USA
Source:timberlinelodge.com
If you are a fan of the classics, then you surely loved The Shining. The producer used the real Timberline Lodge in Oregon for his movie. Don’t worry, it is not as creepy in real life. You will not come across the ghosts of twin girls, and nobody will chase you down the halls with an ax either. The location is open for tourists all year round, and it is amazing to walk the same halls as Jack Nicholson. Plus, since the lodge provides the longest-running ski season in the US, you can enjoy some winter sports as well. Just do not go on a ghost hunt. You will be disappointed.
Aye aye matey – Wallilabou Anchorage, the Caribbean
Source:wallilabou.com
Personally, I don’t know anyone who is not a fan of the Pirates of the Caribbean or at least liked the movie. It was made according to the perfect recipe: action, comedy, and of course, some drama. We all sobbed a little when Will got cursed. However, did you know that you can visit the location where captain Jack Sparrow fought the evil pirates back in 2003? The place is called Wallilabou, and you can find it off the main island in St. Vincent in the Caribbean. The set is located near a hotel where you can stay. Plus, you are given the opportunity to see some of the sets and props used in the making of the movie. Neat, right?
Alohomora, the door to Harry Potter’s World – London, UK
Source:trendpolice.com
I don’t know about you, but I grew up with Harry Potter. I was 10 when it came out, so we were about the same age. As a Harry Potter fan, apart from the merchandise, you have to take a tour of the London area and discover some of the most famous locations in the movie. Platform 9 and ¾, the dining hall inside Hogwarts, and the Great Hall are all included in the tour. So enjoy!
May the force be with you while traveling to Morocco and Tunisia
Source:tripsavvy.com
Star Wars is one of the world’s most celebrated franchises. In fact, it is a billion-dollar franchise. People are so into it that it makes your head spin. The merchandise, Comic Con, the fan base, everything screams big when it comes to Star Wars. But did you know that you can actually go to Tatooine? Well, not exactly Tatooine. More like the deserts of Morocco and Tunisia. It is remote, sandy, and it looks like it’s from a galaxy far far away. It is easy to see why the producers picked the Sahara.
While there are many sets around the world you can visit, I believe that the ones described above should be your top 5 as well. They are pretty reachable. Some of the locations above are accessible with only a passport. Plus, there is no argument when it comes to the classics. After all, nobody cares about the sets of some low-budget movie that didn’t even hit the box office, right? We all want to see where great actors played the best roles of their lives. And the sets above should meet that purpose.
