It's no secret that the Garden Island is popular among filmmakers and celebrities. With the island's unparalleled beauty, pristine beaches and the easy-going residents, Kauai is the perfect place to film an award-winning movie. So if you're a Kauai resident or frequent visitor, check out the movies that have been filmed on your favorite paradisiacal island to see if you can recognize any of your cherished locations.
King Kong & Mighty Joe Young – 1976
The classic movie and impressive remake featuring Jeff Bridges, Jessica Lange and Charlize Theron was filmed near the Napali Coast. The beaches and jungle were claimed as the South Pacific, but they were actually the shores and jungles of Honopu and Kalalau Valley.
Lord of the Flies – 1990
This time-honored film and book-lover favorite was filmed at stunning Ke'e Beach. This movie was released in 1990 and is home to most of the film's beach scenes.
Hook – 1991
Hook is a Steven Spielberg version of the Disney classic, Peter Pan. Featuring Robin Williams and Dustin Hoffman, this movie's set of Neverland is actually an air tour over Kipu Kai Beach.
Outbreak – 1995
Another Dustin Hoffman film, Outbreak, was filmed on Kauai, displaying the island's beautiful jungles as the set for the African home of a lethal and contagious virus. The exotic locations of Kamokila Village and Kipu Ranch were the perfect spots for a fictitious virus to develop.
Tropic Thunder – 2008
The hilarious Ben Stiller, Robert Downey Jr., and Jack Black comedic production was filmed all over the island. From Hanalei, Lumahei Valley, Kapaa, and Kilauea to Bishop Estate, Kauai Sands Hotel and the Grove Farm Property, Tropic Thunder is said to have physically and financially impacted the entire island positively.
Avatar – 2009
You might be surprised to learn that the scenes of a mythical planet were filmed on the beautiful Kauai. Avatar filmed many of their scenes inside the Keahua Arboretum on Kauai's eastern shore and the rest were filmed in picturesque New Zealand.
Just Go With It – 2011
A Jennifer Aniston and Adam Sandler film, Just Go With It, chose Kauai as the production location because of the island's beautiful waterfalls. Small adjustments were made to the waterfall scene to make it more lush and jungle-like, but the production designer said it was exactly what they were looking for.
The Descendants – 2011
There's nothing like having George Clooney filming a movie on Kauai! The director of the movie made the film with the hopes of revealing the island through the locals' eyes. A significant amount of the movie was filmed on popular and picturesque Hanalei Bay, the perfect area for this novel-turned-film set.
Pirates of the Caribbean – 2011
You can add Johnny Depp to the ever-growing list of actors who've fallen in love with the island while filming on Kauai. The popular Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides was filmed at Allerton Garden in Koloa, Kipu Ranch, Valley House Ranch, Honopu Beach, and Kapaa. Many of the other locations are inaccessible by land so the characters and film crew had to travel by helicopter.
Jurassic World – 2015
The much-anticipated fourth installment of Jurassic Park, Jurassic World, was largely filmed on Kauai. A lot of the screen time was captured on the North Shore near the Napali Coast, the East Side near the Wailua River and the South Shore. As a favorite vacation spot for many celebrities, it wasn't difficult to convince the actors to stay there while filming.
Kauai has so many beautiful locations that when it comes to filming a movie on the island – it's a no brainer. And with the island's hope of promoting tourism, it's a win-win situation. Do you have another Blockbuster favorite that didn't make this list? Comment below and let us know about other movies filmed on the Garden Isle!
Posted by Anne Eliason on
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