Follow Hollywood scenes in Turkey
Hundreds of movies are shot every year, and fortunately not all are shot in front of the green cards in Hollywood studios. Some of them are filmed in their real surroundings, which gives us the opportunity to feel the real surroundings.
Just as a well-played role would generate more business for actors, so will a good movie in the small town or country where it was shot. Films are one of the most effective ways to present a country or a city. The movie “Casablanca” had attracted many tourists to Morocco for years. Similarly, thousands of tourists, following in the footsteps of “Indiana Jones”, still travel to Jordan to see the treasure in the rock-hewn temple.
Sometimes you may not even enjoy the movie, but the historic street in the background can grab your attention and motivate you to learn more about where the movie was shot. Or if you’ve already chosen your next destination, why not check out some movies shot in there to keep up?
If Turkey is one of your next destinations, here is the list of some well-known movies that were shot in Turkey, mainly in Istanbul. These films captured many tourist highlights, as well as lesser-known places that could spice up your itinerary:
o The world is not enough (1999) is the nineteenth film in the James Bond series. The film was directed by Michael Apted and is Pierce Brosnan’s third James Bond film. The Bosphorus and the Maiden’s Tower are the main places seen in the film. “I always wanted to have Christmas in Turkey.” is the famous James Bond quote.
o Hitman is a 2007 film based on the video game series of the same title. An agent hired by a group known as ‘The Organization’ is trapped and hunted by both Interpol and the Russian military while touring Russia, Eastern Europe and Turkey. In this movie you can see the alleys of old Istanbul and the crowded bazaar area.
o Gallipoli is a 1981 Australian film directed by Peter Weir and starring Mel Gibson and Mark Lee. It is about two Australian sprinters who face the brutal reality of the First World War when they are sent to fight in the Gallipoli campaign in Turkey. Although the entire film was shot in Australia, it is about the Gallipoli site in northwestern Turkey and a district in the Canakkale province.
o The Accidental Spy is a 2001 Hong Kong martial arts action film starring Jackie Chan and directed by Teddy Chan. It all starts on a normal boring day, Bei, a salesman at a training equipment store, follows his instincts to follow two suspicious-looking men down an alley and this leads him on an adventurous journey from Korea to Turkey. The scene where Jackie Chan runs naked in the Grand Bazaar is the most disturbing moment in the film.
o Topkapi (1964) is a film directed by Jules Dassin and the film is based on the novel by Eric Ambler Daylight. The film stars Melina Mercouri, Maximilian Schell, and Peter Ustinov. The film is about a man with passport problems who mixes with a gang of thieves who conspire to rob the Topkapi museum in Istanbul.
o From Russia with Love (1963) is the second spy film in the James Bond series with Sean Connery as the fictional MI6 agent James Bond. In the film, James Bond is sent to aid Corporal Tatiana Romanova’s defection in Turkey. Most of the movie was shot in Turkey and the main locations are; Egyptian Spice Bazaar, Sultanahmet, Bosphorus and Blue Mosque.
o The Net 2 (2006) is a film directed by Charles Winkler and starring Nikki Deloach, Demet Akbag and Sebnem Donmez. The life of a computer systems analyst is thrown into chaos when, after arriving in Istanbul to start a new job. This movie was also shot in Istanbul, mainly in the Sultanahmet district and most of the actors are famous Turkish movie stars.
o Head On (2004) is an award-winning film directed by Fatih Akin. The film is about a Turkish man named Cahit in his 40s who has given up everything in life and seeks solace in drugs and Sibel, another German Turk who has attempted suicide due to his conservative family. In this movie you can see the real local life in Istanbul.
The above list includes the top movies; however, there are several other European, Hindi and Asian movies filmed in various parts of Turkey. If you’re planning your next Turkey tour, why not grab some of the above movies from your local video store and get ready for a Christmas in Turkey like our old friend Bond.