Iceland on the big screen

For a population of only around 400,000 people, Iceland has an enormous creative output.

You may know Iceland’s creativity from its renowned music scene, its genre-defying literature, or its cozy knitwear. But Iceland is also a country with a deep love of cinema and a history on screen. Maybe you’ve come to know the country and its phenomenal landscapes through the movies and TV series made in Iceland by Icelanders, or thanks to the international productions filmed here (that landscape sure looks like outer space – but it really might be Iceland).

Let us introduce you to the local film industry, and to the film and TV productions that make use of Iceland’s landscapes. From movies filmed in Iceland to Icelandic movies that you shouldn’t miss, we want to show you how the spirit of Iceland shines through on the big screen, and behind the scenes too.

This is a long list, and likely filled with some familiar names and landscapes: from The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, in which Iceland stood in for Greenland and Nepal, to Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga, in which Will Ferrell plays an Icelandic musician aiming for Eurovision glory.

There have been car chases on Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon in the classic James Bond film Die Another Day, World War II battle re-enactments on the black sands of Reykjanes, and a lot of Icelandic landscapes standing in for alien planets or post-apocalyptic Earth.

Interstellar utilized Icelandic glaciers, as did Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens and Batman Begins for endless icy escapades. And who can overlook the boon in tourism from Iceland starring as the Land Beyond the Wall in Game of Thrones? Filming locations for the hit TV series include iconic Kirkjufell mountain and Skógafoss waterfall, among other natural highlights.

Filmed in Iceland

We’ve followed in the footsteps of movie-makers, and spoke to directors and actors about how they’ve experienced working in Iceland. Here are some of the insights they shared with us.

By Tina Jøhnk Christensen.

Follow in the footsteps of the industry’s best location scouts at these photogenic Icelandic filming locations.

Read more about the movies and TV series filmed on location in Iceland at the following resources:

Film in Iceland – a great list of productions, plus locations

The Hollywood sights of Iceland – a handy overview from Visit Iceland

Do you fancy a deep dive into Icelandic cinema? Here’s a list of recommendations, ranging from modern arthouse to nostalgic classics beloved by locals.

A database of Icelandic movies is run by the Icelandic Film Centre, whose website is a mine of information. There you can find more information on how to watch each film.

• 101 Reykjavík (2000)
• A Letter from Helga (2022: in Icelandic Svar við bréfi Helgu)
• A White, White Day (2019; in Icelandic Hvítur, hvítur dagur)
• Angels of the Universe (2000; in Icelandic Englar alheimsins)
• Children of Nature (1991; in Icelandic Börn náttúrunnar)
• Godland (2022: in Icelandic Volaða land)

• Heartstone (2016, in Icelandic Hjartasteinn)
• Jar City (2006; in Icelandic Mýrin)
• Lamb (2021; in Icelandic Dýrið)
• Life in a Fishbowl (2014; in Icelandic Vonarstræti)
• Noi the Albino (2003; in Icelandic Nói albínói)
• Of Horses and Men (2013; in Icelandic Hross í oss)
• Rams (2015; in Icelandic Hrútar)
• Remote Control (1992; in Icelandic Sódóma Reykjavík)
• Stella on Holiday, also known as The Icelandic Shock Station (1986; in Icelandic Stella í orlofi)
• The Deep (2012; in Icelandic Djúpið)
• Touch (2024; in Icelandic Snerting)
• Woman at War (2018; in Icelandic Kona fer í stríð)

As well as filming locations, Iceland is home to many cinematic creatives.

Here’s a little about the talented movie-making Icelanders we spoke to:

Actor Ingvar E. Sigurðsson might be recognized for roles in local and international productions, spanning from big-name movies Everest (2015) to The Northman (2022). He is also a lead in the acclaimed Icelandic-Danish movie Godland, directed by Hlynur Pálmason.

Ingvar has been cast in a number of films made by prolific Icelandic producer/writer/director Baltasar Kormákur, whose projects range across film, television and theater. Baltasar has founded a large studio in Reykjavík in order to bring more international productions to Iceland.

Ísold Uggadóttir is an award-winning director and screenwriter, whose feature film debut, And Breathe Normally (2018) premiered at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival, where she received the Directing Award in World Cinema Dramatic Competition.

Benedikt Erlingsson directed well-known local movies Woman at War (2018) and Of Horses and Men (2013), stories rich in Icelandic lore. Benedikt directed actress Halldóra Geirharðsdóttir in the lead role of Woman at War.

Producer Lilja Ósk Snorradóttir has worked in the film industry for more than 20 years and is managing director of the production company Pegasus Pictures.

And let’s not forget the remarkable people making music for film. Icelanders have developed a stellar reputation for film and TV scores thanks to award-winning talents like Atli Örvarsson and Hildur Guðnadóttir. Hildur’s score for Joker (2019) saw her become Iceland’s first Oscar-winner.