*This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Over the last few decades, there have been a lot of movies about Greece. The main reason for this is because it is such a fascinating place and the films that are based there can give the viewer an unforgettable experience.
However, it is important to remember that not all the films that are based there are very good and that you need to be careful when choosing them as just watching all the movies about Greece is a great way to get annoyed with all of the movies about the place.
Some of the movies below are based in ancient Greece while others are set in the modern day.
So let’s dive into some of the best movies about Greece.
1. Mamma Mia
Originally a Broadway musical, Mamma Mia is based on ABBA songs and is set in Greece. The movie features great performances and has incredible costumes. It’s one of the best movies about Greece and is sure to inspire travelers to the country.
It’s a romantic comedy that tells the story of a young woman who moves to Greece to find out who her father is. She discovers her mother had an affair with three men. She then invites the men to her wedding, even though she has no idea if her mother is the father.
This movie has many popular actors including Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, and Amanda Seyfried.
It was shot on the Greek islands of Skiathos, Damouchari, and Skopelos. The cast spent five days on each of these islands and filmed most of the outdoor scenes on Skopelos.
The island of Skiathos has a bustling main town with a beautiful airport. The island is part of the Sporades archipelago, which is north of Athens. The Sporades group includes Skopelos, Skyros, Peristera, and Alonissos.
The island of Damouchari is on the eastern side of the Greek mainland. This is where the cast shot most of the scenes at the beginning of the movie. It’s a popular destination for travelers to Greece.
2. The Big Blue
‘The Big Blue’ is one of the most cult films of the 1980s. It’s a fictional story about two free divers who retrace the steps of Odysseus across Greece. It also contains some spectacular underwater cinematography as well as many ancient ruins.
The film was directed by French director Luc Besson and it earned 10 million dollar box office sales. It was screened at the opening of the Cannes Film Festival in 1988.
The Big Blue has been dubbed as the best French film ever made. The film features a score by composer Eric Serra.
The Big Blue is about a group of friends who travel across Greece to search for answers about their pasts. They have to face a series of trials and tribulations along the way. Some of the characters have to deal with relationship issues, political unrest, and death. They also have to deal with the question of what life is all about.
The movie’s climax is a watery affair, which is fitting considering the story’s underwater theme. The film features spectacular CGI effects. It also has a heartwarming, charming, inscrutable style.
3. Shirley Valentine
Among the myriad movies about Greece, one stands out from the rest. It’s a British feel-good comedy that’s both a romantic comedy and a social commentary.
The movie is based on a one-character play written by Willy Russell. It follows the life of a middle-aged housewife named Shirley. Its central premise is to bust the myth that working-class women cannot have it all.
The movie does a good job of presenting a female protagonist. The film’s star is a blue-collar Manchester housewife named Shirley. She’s a bit of a bore and has lost her zest for life. She isn’t exactly the type to show off the latest gadgets or make the most of a vacation.
The movie features a memorable performance by Pauline Collins. She reprises the role she originated onstage. In addition to her performance, the film features a number of other notable performances. Its main cast includes Bernard Hill, who plays Shirley’s husband. It’s also notable for its non-explicit sex scenes.
It’s no secret that Shirley has a midlife crisis. Her husband Joe doesn’t acknowledge her as the woman she once was. Her daughter assumes that she’s going to Greece to have an affair with the tycoon. Luckily for her, her best friend Jane wins a holiday to Greece.
4. Bourne Identity
Despite rumors that The Bourne Identity was a commercial flop, it has proven to be a successful action movie. It is a very suspenseful film with excellent acting. It is based on the three best-selling novels by Robert Ludlum.
The story of the Bourne Identity revolves around a CIA agent named Alexander Conklin (played by Matt Damon). He oversees a covert assassination program known as Operation Treadstone. He is inspired by Colonel Oliver North. He also has a close friend, Ward Abbott (Tommy Lee Jones), who works in the CIA’s cybersecurity operations division.
He wants to expose the agency’s black ops programs.
During the Reagan era, there was an emphasis on anti-government sentiment. In particular, the Patriot Act allowed unlimited access to telephone records, credit card information, and bank accounts. This led to public debate.
The CIA has a history of assassinating foreign leaders. In fact, Jason Bourne was inspired by an Assassin who lost his memory. It was a good way to give the film a modern touch.
The Bourne Identity is an action thriller that is packed with suspense and special effects. The movie has some excellent acting and intense cinematography. It was directed by Doug Liman, who had been trying to make the movie since the success of Swingers.
5. My Big Fat Greek Wedding
‘My Big Fat Greek Wedding’ is a movie about an unmarried Greek girl who falls in love with an American teacher. It’s a lighthearted romp that celebrates Greek-American culture while sending a message about body image.
The story begins with Toula Portakalos, a middle child in a Greek family. At thirty years old, she works at a family restaurant and dreams of having her own family one day. Her family believes that Greek girls are supposed to marry Greek boys. They’re disappointed that she’s married an American, but Toula is determined to make it work.
In the movie, Toula’s husband is a handsome American teacher named Ian Miller. When Toula and Ian have a romantic dinner at her family’s Greek restaurant, she learns about her husband’s ancestry and falls in love.
The movie also shows how traditional Greek culture is still a relevant part of American life. Toula’s grandmother shows off the crown she wore to her own wedding. She also shows off her collection of pictures of herself as a young woman.
This movie uses a variety of filming locations which in turn help keep this movie feeling authentic.
6. The Two Faces Of January
Touted as one of the best thrillers of the year, The Two Faces of January is an enticing tale of two halves. In fact, the film is not without its own set of problems. Aside from being a bit cliche, The Two Faces of January has its fair share of mishaps, misguided employees, and a bevy of thugs to match.
And with such a rich backdrop, there’s a good chance that a sleazy hotel room may be the place to be when one is not in the clear.
As for the rest of the cast, Oscar Isaac and Viggo Mortensen are the only ones with a starring roles. The film strays from the usual suspects a couple of times, but a cursory inspection reveals that a few notable names have been at it for the better part of the last year.
The film’s main protagonists have some major kinks to work out, while the supporting cast does their best to patch the holes. And if you’re a sucker for a good mystery case, The Two Faces of January is not a bad place to start.
7. Clash Of The Titans
Clash of the Titans is one of those rare action movies that never seemed to get made after the eighties. It is a historical drama that is based on the Greek myth of Perseus and a group of gods in the ancient world.
In the original myth, Perseus is a son of Zeus, the god of lightning, thunder, and thunderbolts. He is also the son of a mortal woman, Io, and his brother is Poseidon, the god of the seas. Perseus meets his destiny as a Greek hero.
In the remake, Perseus is played by Sam Worthington. He pushed to have the character take on the mission as a human, rather than an immortal. He is given some help from the gods, but refuses their help, mainly because of the way they act.
In the sequel, Wrath of the Titans, Perseus is accompanied by his wife Andromeda (Rosamund Pike), and he faces a much larger threat. He has to battle Ares, the god of war, and his son Heleus. The movie has a lot of good effects and great action.
The original film’s story is a little more over the top than the source material. However, that doesn’t detract from the overall quality of the film. It’s also a lot of fun.
8. Summer Holidays
Probably the most popular of the many British musicals of the 60s, the Summer Holiday was a cheerful classic film. Taking a cue from the hit television series, the cast includes Ron Moody, Jacqueline Wendy, Lionel Murton, Nicholas Phipps, and the eponymous Barrie Daryl.
The film also features an all-star cast of the vocal variety, with the likes of Teddy Green, Melvyn Hayes and Christine Lawson. The film was directed by Peter Yates, the man whose film credits include Top of the Pops.
As well as being a hit on the silver screen, the film also made its mark on the soundtrack front, as well as at the box office.
The song “Big News” by the Beatles was the official single track and became the anthem of the film. The aforementioned soundtrack also featured a number of hit singles, including “Ain’t it a shame” by The Who, “The Girls’ Generation” by the Rolling Stones, and “Love Me Do” by the Beatles.
As with all musicals of its era, the cast was also well supported by a string of supporting players.
A number of other noteworthy performances were included in the film, including the aforementioned “Big News” by the Beatles, “Ain’t it a shame” from The Rolling Stones, “The Girls’ Generation” by the Beatles, “Love Me Do” by the Beatles and “Benefacts” by the Rolling Stones.
The film was also notable for containing one of the first on-screen appearances of Una Stubbs, the actress known for her roles in the James Bond film From Russia with Love and “Til Death Do Us Part” and a number of memorable musicals. Despite being a tad dated, the movie still managed to hold up well in the decades that followed.
This movie is certainly worth watching
9. Sisterhood Of The Traveling Pants
Adapted from Ann Brashares’ book series of the same name, the movie follows four best friends who find magically fitting jeans. During the summer, each girl goes through crucial life experiences. They also have to deal with the challenges of summer vacation. The movie is a sweet, sometimes surprisingly touching story.
The four best friends have been together since childhood. They have been through marriages, divorce, and death. They have also done charity work together. They even attended weddings for one another.
Now, the girls are preparing to spend their first summer apart.
Lena Kaligaris is about to leave for Greece to spend the summer with her grandparents. She has been best friends with Tibby Tomko-Rollins since childhood. Tibby is now staying in Bethesda, Maryland.
Lena’s grandmother knows that her family and Kostos’ family are enemies. Lena’s grandfather agrees to allow Lena to see Kostos before he leaves for Athens.
Eventually, Lena and Kostos start a secret relationship. Lena begins to fall in love with Kostos, but she is afraid of his opposite sex. She also finds a loophole in the rules of the pants.
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants is a feel-good movie. It has romantic themes, friendship themes, and adventure themes. It’s also a comedy movie.
It was released on Blu-ray on October 11, 2005. The movie has received good reviews from critics. The movie has a $26 million budget. It was targeted at girls aged 12-19.
The movie has been successful at the box office. It earned $43 million. There have been two sequels, The Second Summer of the Sisterhood and Forever in Blue.
This movie is available to stream or rent on a variety of streaming services including Amazon Prime.
Originally a best-seller by Alistair MacLean, Force 10 from Navarone was adapted into a film in 1978. It didn’t match the original, but it was a modest success.
In The Guns of Navarone, Gregory Peck plays the captain of a commando team sent to Greece in World War II to destroy two big guns on the island of Navarone. It’s a big adventure film, with plenty of action across many archaeological sites. And though it doesn’t have the classic status of other war movies it’s still a good one.
This is one of the most successful films ever produced by Columbia, and it’s still entertaining. And there’s a whole slew of extras. It includes a new commentary by filmmaker Stephen J. Rubin, who talks about the film’s production, the film’s themes of heroism and war, and his personal memories of watching the film when he was in grade school.
Besides the commentary, there are a number of featurettes. Forging the Guns of Navarone: Notes from the Set includes interviews with the cast and crew. And for those who want to dig deeper, An Ironic Epic of Heroism digs into Greek mythology. It also includes Sir Christopher Frayling’s analysis of the film.
There are also a number of various locations. The film was filmed on the Greek island of Rhodes. There are also several featurettes that discuss the film’s music and image quality issues. There are even several interviews with deceased actors.
And if you like to play games, you can check out the interactive feature The Resistance Dossier of Navarone. Unlike many films that have a game, the player is not simply trying to blow up the guns. He/she must strategically place bombs in order to detonate them and end the war.
11. A Touch Of Spice
Among the best movies about Greece is Tassos Boulmetis’ A Touch of Spice. This film is about a Greek boy growing up in Istanbul, and the tensions between Greece and Turkey. It also focuses on the allure of spices.
A Touch of Spice is a coming-of-age story, a comedy, and a love story. It also touches on the effect of uprooting on a young child. Its message of emigre is universal. The film has great production values and a funny third act.
It is one of the most popular Greek films in recent history. It won several awards at the 2003 Greek State Film Awards.
The plot revolves around a seven-year-old Greek boy named Fanis Iakovidis. His grandfather is a spice store owner, and Fanis learns about spices, herbs, and cooking from him. Fanis falls in love with a Turkish girl named Saime.
The Turkish invasion of Cyprus creates a barrier between Fanis and his mentor.
The film won the Best Director award at the 2003 Greek State Film Awards. It also won Best Screenplay, Best Music, and Best Cinematography. It was also a nominee for the Greek Oscar. The Greek Film Critics’ Prize and the FIPRESCI Prize were also awarded.
The film was also a winner at the Locarno International Film Festival, where it won the Best Actor award for Giorgos Karayannis. The film was also nominated for Best Film at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival.
The film is one of the most successful Greek movies of all time. It grossed over $1 million in Greece and earned $9 million in Europe. It has also been subtitled in German, Spanish, and Latin American.
12. Laura Croft Tomb Raider
Despite being one of the best films that have been adapted from a video game, the Lara Croft Tomb Raider movie was considered by some to be a flop. The movie was a sequel to the original Tomb Raider movie and starred Angelina Jolie.
The plot of the movie involves Lara Croft’s quest to retrieve the box called Pandora’s Box. She travels to different locations in order to find the box. At one point, she visits Athens. This is where she hopes to close the doors to parallel universes.
She meets Terry Sheridan, who is an old flame and a mercenary. Terry saves her from a killer. They also meet a mysterious mercenary named Kosa. The two travel to Africa to find a mythical sphere. The sphere is said to lead to the box. But it is not easy to find.
The main villain of the movie is Jonathan Reiss, who is an evil chemical weapons dealer. He also wants to use the box to create a plague. The box is protected by a group of monsters, known as Deathless Ones. These creatures are stronger than humans and come with ancient armor.
The movie features several action sequences. A few of these are considered some of the best in Tomb Raider movies. There are also several near-death experiences. The movie also features some betrayals.
The movie also features the famous Croft family manor house in England. This manor house is known for being one of the most beautiful country houses in the world. The location was also used in the movie The Last Days of the American Crime City.
Lara Croft Tomb Raider was based on the video game series. Angelina Jolie played the main character. The film was directed by Jan De Bont. The sequel was canceled after Jolie declined to reprise the role.