Ever since Hollywood discovered the beauty of Greece, there have been more and more movies filmed in this picturesque country. With so many different genres to choose from, it’s hard to know where to start. If you’re looking for a movie that will inspire your travel plans, look no further than these 17 amazing movies about Greece!

movies about Greece, movies set in greece
Movies set in Greece

Amazing Famous Movies filmed in Greece you should watch some of the movies before your trip to Greece.

Zorba the Greek

Zorba the Greek movie by Michael Cacoyannis was nominated for six Academy Awards.

It is set in Crete, Greece and stars Anthony Quinn as Alexis Zorba with Alan Bates and Irene Papas costars.

The story of one man’s struggle to find meaning in his life, and discover what it really means to live! The film was a fantastic adaptation from Nikos Kazantzakis’ great work and starred Anthony Quinn as “Zorba”–a carefree spirit who becomes an inspiration for all around him with his joie de vivre. He finds that living is not about seeking out pleasure but rather finding happiness through personal contentment or selflessness, as no matter what anyone wants—life goes at its own pace.

One of the most famous scenes from the movie shows the Sirtaki Dance done by Basil and Alexis which is noted as the national dance of Greece and is one of the best-known Greek dances.

The movie captures the landscapes of Greece and Cretan culture beautifully, with scenes of village life in Crete’s mountains—the intense blue sky, the snow-capped peaks, goats grazing on hillsides dotted with small white houses.

 The Movie is shot around Chania, on the northern coast of Crete. The village is Kokkino Chorio, and the beach is Stavros Beach, on the Akrotiri Peninsula, east of the town.

My Big Fat Greek Wedding

This 2002 movie stars Nia Vardalos as a Greek woman who falls in love with and marries an American, much to her family’s dismay. The film was nominated for three Golden Globes—Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, Best Actress – Musical or Comedy (Vardalos), and Best Actor – Supporting Role (John Corbett).

My Big Fat Greek Wedding was filmed in the Canadian cities of Toronto and Hamilton, Ontario. However, some scenes were shot on location or set at locations throughout Greece such as Kastoria (the church), Athens (Kalamaki beach) and Santorini. The wedding scene is actually from a Greek Orthodox ceremony held at St Sophia’s Cathedral in Toronto.

This movie is just so funny! We can’t count how many times we’ve seen this one either because it never gets old or you forget how hilarious it really is. Everyone knows someone like Toula–she may not be conventional but she has a heart that make her shine brighter than everyone else around her. Her family might drive her insane at times with their crazy antics but she wouldn’t change them for the world.

Mamma Mia

Mamma Mia is a story about love, laughter and friendship. 20-year-old Sophie ( Amanda Seyfried ) has one dream: to be escorted to the altar at her wedding by her real father. It is difficult because her father was just a holiday romance of eccentric Donna ( Meryl Streep ) – her mother. Desperate, Sophie finds a diary, from which she manages to select three potential candidates ( Colin Firth, Pierce Brosnan, Stellan Skarsgård ). She invites them to her wedding, hoping to unravel the mystery.
“Mamma Mia!” it’s a great opportunity to fall in love again with ABBA’s great hits: “Dancing Queen”, “SOS”, “Money, Money, Money” and “Take a Chance on Me”. Get ready for over two hours of emotions and amazing impressions in the company of the greatest movie stars.
The action of the movie is set on a fictional Greek island – Kalokairi, though the main shooting locations for the film were the Greek islands of Skopelos, Skiathos (Damouchari town) and Thassos. In addition, it was also filmed in California.

Its a best musical set in Greece it was directed by Phyllida Lloyd

300

Movie 300 is an epic war drama set in ancient Greece. The film is a praise of the work of Frank Miller (authors of the popular comic book “Sin City”). It is an interpretation of the award-winning graphic novel “300” by him, published in 1999. It tells about one of the most important moments of Greece history – the Battle of Thermopylae, which took place in August 480 BC. It was then that a key turn in history took place for the Greeks. The 300 Spartans led by King Leonidas I put up fierce resistance in this isthmus against the 100,000-strong army led by the Persian king Xerxes. The heroic and self-sacrificing defense undertaken by this handful of soldiers gave time to the Greek troops returning to the capital to fortify and withdraw the fleet, which in the same year, in the September Sea Battle of Salamis, smashed and drove the Persian army out of Attica for good.
The film stars Richard Egan, Ralph Richardson, David Farrar, Diane Baker and Barry Coe. 

Mamma Mia! Here we go again

Sequel to the acclaimed Mamma Mia ! (2008), the new film follows Sophie as she plans a wedding for her daughter, putting herself in charge of almost every detail. But this time, groom Sky’s mother is determined to make his life difficult and it’s not just because they’re different cultures; Tanya has an agenda that includes getting what she wants from Harry!

Released in 2018, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again featured some of the old cast returning for an encore, including Dominic Cooper, Pierce Brosnan, Julie Walters and Andy Garcia

The movie is shot against the backdrop of Skopelos, Skiathos, and the Pelion coast.

Captain Corelli’s Mandolin (2001)

Captain Corelli’s Mandolin (2011) is the adaptation of Louis de Bernière’s romantic novel. It’s a war drama shot on the beautiful island of Kefalonia. the main roles are played by Nicolas Cage and Penelope Cruz

A recreation of the island’s capital of Argostoli was necessary since it was devastated by the island-wide earthquake of 1953. The production rebuilt it in Sami, on the east of the island. The movie also features Antisamos Beach nearby and Myrtos Beach in the north-west of the island.

Starring Nicolas Cage, Penélope Cruz

Boy on a dolphin (1957)

Boy on a dolphin is a movie about a boy who falls in love with one of the dolphins at an aquarium. He goes to live underwater and becomes friends with all the other sea creatures

“Boy on a dolphin” is the first American movie ever filmed in Greece. It’s not an exaggeration to say that this film actually put Greece on the tourist map.

It describes the story of a young Greek woman (poor sponge diver) who finds an ancient statue while diving in the sea. The main star is Sophia Loren, it was her English language debut, who was greeted by huge crowds when she first set foot in Greece. It appears that her popularity increased even further after her famous wet dress scene.

The film stars Alan Ladd, Clifton Webb and Sophia Loren.

Shirley Valentine

Shirley Valentine is a young woman who tastes in life in all its aspects. Her youthful dreams are quickly verified when she marries a simple man. This simple man took the joy of life from the heroine. Shirley fears that it will be like that for the rest of her life. She enviously looks at her friends who do not have a family, but who enjoy life, travels the world and, of course, look better than her neglected housewife. One day, at the urging of a friend, without telling anyone, he packs his bags and leaves for Greece.

Shirley is directed by  Jules Dassin starring Pauline Collins and Tom Conti.

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants is the story of four girls (Blake Lively, Alexis Bledel, Amber Tamblyn, and America Ferrera) who have been friends since time immemorial. However, this summer holidays they are going through a friendly crisis. While shopping, one of them buys a pair of jeans from a cheap pants store that fit any figure. For the first time since their friendship began, Lena, Tibby, Bridget and Carmen have to spend the summer separately. The friends decide to use them as a way to stick together. Each of them wears these magic pants for a week to see what happens happily during that time and pass it on

Lena visits her grandparents in Greece, Tibby stays home and shoots a movie, Bridget goes to a sports camp, and Carmen visits her father in South Carolina where she discovers a shocking secret. Despite the separation, the girls find a way to communicate with each other – a magical pair of pants that fit each of them.

The film is based on a youth novel by Anne Brashares.

The Big Blue (Le Grand Bleu) 

The Big Blue (directed by Luc Besson ) is not only one of the best films shot in Greece ( mainly on the island of Amorgos,) and one of my favourite movies about the friendship between two Divers

Jacques Mayol is a homo Delphinus – a diver who feels better with dolphins in their sea kingdom than with humans. He competes with his childhood friend Enzo for the title in “Free Diving” and breaks new depth records in scuba diving. The fight, combined with the mutual fascination of both heroes, can lead to a tragedy. After all, they both love the sea and diving in their own way and cannot imagine their lives without it. There seems to be a place for both of them, but what about Jacques Johan’s longings, who loves this strange man – the dolphin with all her heart.

Never on Sunday (1960)

The film Never on SUnday (directed by  Jules Dassin) is a story about a beautiful girl (Melina Mercouri) who is a prostitute and lives in Piraeus – Greece. When the girl is swimming in the sea, she provokes the port workers with this behaviour. Every Sunday her house becomes a place full of music, guests, good food and fun.

At this time, an amateur philosopher comes to Piraeus to investigate the causes of the fall of the power of the ancient Greek civilization. Having met the girl, he begins to see her as a living example of this fall. The man decides to save her and for this purpose, he borrows money to buy books and educate her. Good intentions, stubbornness and honesty of intentions – is it enough to change the reality and way of life of a girl?

Touch of Spice (“Politiki kouzina”)

“Politiki kouzina” is the story of a young Greek – Fanis who grew up in Istanbul, where his grandfather – a culinary philosopher and mentor – taught him that life, like food, needs a pinch of salt to taste. Fanis becomes an excellent cook thanks to his ability to spice up the lives of the people around him. Thirty-five years later, he leaves Athens and returns to Istanbul to reunite with his grandfather and his first love. On this journey, he discovers that he has forgotten to add spice to his life.

Mediterraneo, 1991

The Second World War. The Italian ship leaves a handful of soldiers on a small Greek island to spot the enemy and defend the island from invaders. However, the mission turns out to be not that terrible – as a result, Italians and Greeks find a common language, they go out in fishing boats, they play soccer with locals

Movie directed by  Gabriele Salvatores

The Two Faces of January

The charismatic and elegant Chester MacFarland ( Viggo Mortensen ) and his phenomenal and seductive wife, Colette ( Kirsten Dunst ) travel around Europe. In one of the exclusive hotels, they attract the attention of a tour guide and con artist Rydal ( Oscar Isaac ). Tempted by Colette’s dazzling beauty and Chester’s wealth and refinement, Rydal accepts an invitation to dinner from an American couple without hesitation. He does not know that this is the beginning of a dangerous plot. A game will begin between the three heroes, and the winner will be the one who overtakes the opponent’s moves.

Two Faces of January

Eleni

After thirty years, Nicholas Gage played by John Malkovich, a reporter for the New York Times, returns to his hometown of Lia in Greece. He wants to explain the circumstances of the death of his mother, Eleni Gatzoyiannis, during the Greek civil war in 1946-49.

“Eleni”is A tribute to my mother, Eleni, 

Arcadia Lost (2010)

The story of two orphaned teenagers, Charlotte ( Haley Bennett ) and Sye ( Carter Jenkins ), who, after a car accident, are left to their own devices. Wandering the dusty roads of Greece and admiring the beautiful views of the Peloponnese, they meet the wanderer Benerji ( Nick Nolte ). He becomes a guide for them and with it they embark on an adventurous journey.

Troy

Troy is a movie with a lot of history behind it. It’s based on the Trojan War, and tells its story from both sides: Troy, led by the mighty King Priam (Peter O’Toole) and his beautiful wife Helen; as well as Greece, led by Achilles (Brad Pitt).

Never on Sunday (1960)

The film (directed by  Jules Dassin) is a story about a beautiful girl (Melina Mercouri) who is a prostitute and lives in Piraeus – Greece.  Every Sunday her house becomes a place full of music, guests, good food and fun. At this time, an amateur philosopher comes to Piraeus to investigate the causes of the fall of the power of the ancient Greek civilization. Having met the girl, he begins to see her as a living example of this fall. The man decides to save her and for this purpose, he borrows money to buy books and educate her.

Before Midnight

They first met almost twenty years ago before sunrise on the train to Vienna. They spent the night together to find each other again nine years before sunset in Paris. Nine more years have passed since that summer. now they are in Greece The film was shot in Kardamili, Pylos and Kalamata 

The director of ” Before Sunrise “ and ” Before sunset “,  Richard Linklater presents the final part of the trilogy hailed by critics as the greatest romance of contemporary cinema, in which Julie Delpy and Ethan Hawke played their life.

The guns of Navarone

The year is 1943. The Nazis have occupied almost all of Greece, with the exception of Crete and the small islet of Cheros off the coast of Turkey. The only escape route for soldiers cut off from the world is through the isthmus in the Aegean Sea. Access to it is protected by a battery of powerful guns in Navarone, hidden in impenetrable rocks. Six decisive commandos set out on the mission of blowing up the cannons, and the fate of two thousand soldiers depends on the success of their actions.

The movie is inspired by the Battle of Leros (Dodecanese Campaign of World War II) and has an awesome cast Gregory Peck, Anthony Quinn, and David Niven 

The Greek Tycoon

Greek millionaire Theo Tomasis ( Anthony Quinn ) meets a young couple at a party – the beautiful Liz ( Jacqueline Bisset ) and her husband, future US President James Cassidy ( James Franciscus ). Fascinated by the phenomenal woman, Tomasis tries to strive for contacts with the Cassidy family. Soon, Liz, lost in despair after personal tragedies come to visit her friend in Greece. 

The movie is based on love affair between Jacqueline Bisset (Jacqueline Kennedy) and Aristotle Onassis a wealthy Greek shipping tycoon.

Phaedra

Phaedra (Melina Mercouri ), a beautiful woman who is married to an older wealthy man Thanos (Raf Vallone). She is going to London to bring her stepson Alexis (Anthony Perkins) to Greece for the summer.

The two fall madly in love and embark on what will later be called one of cinema’s most infamous affairs. But when they get back into Greece their relationship becomes strained with guilt because Phaedra feels that she ruined her husband’s life by marrying him so late and ruining any chances at having children herself. When Thanos tries arranging another marriage of him she can’t help feeling jealousy that leads to a tragic series of events.

Life Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life

The “Cradle of Life” is a 2003 sequel to the 2000 movie “Tomb Raider”. The film is also a continuation of 2001’s “Lara Croft: Tomb Raider”, which was based on the game. The movie starts when on the beautiful Greek island of Santorini strong earthquake uncovers the Luna Temple and the lost treasure of Alexander the Great.

For Your Eyes Only


The action of this next episode of super-agent adventures, full of amazing stunts and special effects, takes place in the picturesque scenery of the Greek coastline. James Bond ( Roger Moore ) is tasked with finding super-secret equipment that allows full control of nuclear-powered submarines, which cannot fall into the hands of the Russians.
Carole Bouquet as Melina, Roger Moore as James Bond in For Your

My Life in Ruins

Georgia ( Nia Vardalos ) is a lecturer in classical Greek at the University of Athens. One Day Pushed by circumstance she starts work as a tour guide. Struggle with tourists, handsome bus drivers and beautiful Greek Landmarks like Acropolis and Delphi make this film a perfect movie about Greece.

Eternity and a Day

The protagonist of Theo Angelopoulos ‘s slow story is Alexander, an old, terminally ill writer who prepares to leave the villa by the sea that has always been his home. He finds a letter from his wife Anna reminiscing about another bright summer day many years ago. And so Alexander sets out on a one-day, perhaps last journey, in which the past is intertwined with the present. On the streets of Saloniki, the writer meets a young boy, an Albanian refugee, whom he rescues from traffickers and helps him find his home. This meeting will make him realize what responsibility for another person is, what love is. He will understand that the abandonment of his family years ago to sell the soul of poetry, following the example of rebellious romantic heroes, brought him fame, but also emptiness and loneliness in the face of death.

Jason and the Argonauts (1963)

A film adaptation of the Greek myth about Jason, which led a group of Argonauts to Colchis in search of the golden fleece. Stars Todd Armstrong, Nancy Kovack

The Trip to Greece, 2020

Actors Rob Brydon and Steve Coogan follow the footsteps of Odysseus and travel from Troy to Ithaca visiting various restaurants and enjoying greek Cuisine.

Movies about Greece

If you are looking for a good movie to watch, why not try one movie set in Greece? We have listed some of our favorites. Pick your favourite and enjoy! The Big Blue (Le Grand Bleu)

Movies Set In Greece Pin it

Privacy Policy Disclaimer

This website uses affiliate links for income and support.

If you like our website, please consider using these links. You will be directed to the vendor, and we will get a small commission on your purchase price at no increased cost to you.

We have researched facts stated here as far as practicable but please check anything critical before committing your time and money. We do not claim any special knowledge or expertise, and we are not consultants for our readers.