Are you a movie buff? Whether you're a Marvel or DC fan or prefer your thrillers over your dramas, one common theme that Hollywood movies share is that they are filmed worldwide. Yes, really! It's not all fake smoke and green screens – often, it's the real thing. Many Hollywood movies were filmed in South Africa, including some of these iconic hits.
You might recognise some of these movies, but if you haven’t, you know what to do - get adding them to your watchlist!
1. Avengers: Age of Ultron
Released in 2015, Avengers: Age of Ultron is the highly anticipated sequel to The Avengers featuring the classic, star-studded team: Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, Black Widow, Hawkeye, Hulk, and none other than Nick Fury leading the team. Whilst a great deal of the movie was filmed in the US, parts of the movie were also filmed in South Africa in February 2014. Marvel is such a big brand that it was quite a coup for some of it to be filmed on the African continent.
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2. Tiger House
Tiger House is the story of an injured gymnast who must defend her boyfriend's house from a gang of robbers. Filming for the thriller occurred in 2014 during February and March in Wynberg, Cape Town, which doubled for parts of Surrey, England.
3. Blended
Love rom-coms? Then you'll definitely love Blended. Starring Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore, Blended is a romantic comedy and sees the third collaboration between the delightful duo. After a terrible blind date, Jim and Lauren find themselves stranded at a resort together with their children. However, the pair gradually develop feelings for each other as their story takes an unpredictable twist. The movie features the beautiful location of Sun City, which doubles as part of the resort. If you're a cricket fan, you'll also be pleased to know that there is an exclusive cameo from South African cricketer Dale Steyn.
4. Safe House
Safe House stars Ryan Reynolds teaming up with two-time Oscar-winning actor Denzel Washington for an action-packed thriller on the streets of Cape Town. Filmed in Johannesburg and Cape Town, Safe House follows CIA operative Matt Weston, tasked with getting a dangerous criminal out of an agency safe house that's come under attack. Can Weston get Frost to a more secure location, or will their lives be threatened? Watch the movie to find out.
5. Dredd
Did you know that Dredd was the first project to be filmed at the Cape Town Film Studios? Released in 2012, Dredd is set in a violent, futuristic city where the police have the authority to act as judge, jury, and executioner. The movie tells the story of a cop teaming up with Dredd to take down Ma-Ma (played by Lena Headey), a big-time drug lord who will stop at nothing to protect her empire.
6. The Last House on the Left
Based on the book by Wes Craven, The Last House on the Left is a contemporary remake of the 1972 film of the same name. The thriller is set in a holiday house, which was filmed on location in the Helderberg Nature Reserve. The movie sees a mother and father take revenge on a gang who brutally assaulted their daughter.
Conclusion
As you can tell, South Africa has had quite the input in Hollywood. South Africa continues to be a popular filming location today with its star-studded scenes and tranquil sights.If you’re interested to learn more about some of South Africa’s popular filming destinations like Johannesburg, why not see what else has to offer? From the famous Apartheid Museum to the beautiful Gold Reef City, there is plenty to see and do. So you needn't worry about filling out your itinerary if you plan to visit soon.
