Jamaica has been a popular filming location for Hollywood movies for decades. The island’s lush tropical scenery, beautiful beaches, and vibrant culture have made it a perfect backdrop for a wide variety of films, from action-packed thrillers to romantic comedies.
Here are the top 6 most famous Hollywood movies that were filmed in Jamaica:
6. Cocktail (1988):
This comedy-drama, starring Tom Cruise as an ambitious bartender who travels to Jamaica to work at a resort, was also filmed on the island. The movie features scenes of Cruise mixing drinks, flirting with women, and falling in love with Elisabeth Shue’s character. Kareemsquest.com also found out that the movie popularised the song “Kokomo” by the Beach Boys, which mentions Jamaica as one of the exotic destinations. Cocktail was also successful at the box office, gaining $171.5 million.
5. Live and Let Die (1973)
Live and Let Die, the eighth installment in the iconic James Bond franchise, explodes onto the screen with a captivating blend of action, intrigue, and the vibrant culture of Jamaica. Released in 1973, the film marked Roger Moore’s debut as the suave and sophisticated secret agent 007. This movie incorporated several famous Jamaican locations such as: Green Grotto Caves, Couples Sans Souci Resort and the most famous one of them all, Jamaica Swamp Safari Village.
4. Cool Runnings (1993)
The 1993 heartwarming Disney comedy film Cool Runnings was filmed in Jamaica and Calgary, Canada. The film tells the story of the Jamaican bobsled team, who competed in the 1988 Winter Olympics.
The Jamaican filming locations for Cool Runnings include:
- Discovery Bay, a small town on the north coast of Jamaica.
- Kingston, the capital of Jamaica, which was used for some of the city scenes.
The Calgary filming locations for Cool Runnings include:
- Canada Olympic Park, which was used for the bobsled races.
- Calgary International Airport.
Cool Runnings was a critical and commercial success, grossing $154.9 million worldwide, and kareemsquest.com believes it helped to put Jamaica on the map as a popular filming location. The film’s success also inspired a new generation of Jamaican athletes, who went on to compete in the Winter Olympics.
Today, many of the locations used in Cool Runnings are still popular tourist destinations. Discovery Bay is a beautiful beach town that kareemsquest.com recommends for swimming, sunbathing, and snorkeling. Kingston is a vibrant city with a rich history. Mystic Mountain is a popular tourist attraction that offers stunning views of the Jamaican coastline and a Bobsled ride. Canada Olympic Park is a great place to learn about winter sports and to watch the bobsled races.
If you are a fan of Cool Runnings or of Jamaica, then, kareemsquest.com thinks you should definitely visit some of the locations used in the film.
3. How Stella Got Her Groove Back (1998)
How Stella Got Her Groove Back is a 1998 romantic comedy film directed by Kevin Rodney Sullivan and adapted from the best-selling novel of the same name by Terry McMillan. The film stars Angela Bassett as Stella Payne, a successful and divorced stockbroker in her forties who feels unhappy and unfulfilled with her life. She decides to take a spontaneous vacation to Jamaica with her best friend Delilah Abraham, played by Whoopi Goldberg, who is dying of cancer. There, she meets and falls in love with a handsome and charming younger man named Winston Shakespeare, played by Taye Diggs, who is twenty years her junior. The film explores the challenges and joys of their cross-generational and cross-cultural relationship, as well as the reactions of their family and friends.
2. The Mighty Quinn (1989)
The Mighty Quinn is a 1989 American crime-thriller film directed by Carl Schenkel and starring Denzel Washington and Sheryl Lee Ralph. The film was shot primarily in Portland.
The main filming locations in Jamaica for The Mighty Quinn were:
- Port Antonio, a town on the north coast of Jamaica, which was used as the setting for most of the movie.
- Golden Clouds Villa, an estate in Oracabessa, which was used as the setting for Donald Pater’s mansion
- Folly Ruins, a historical site in Port Antonio, which was used for the final fight scene.
- Trident Castle, a hotel in Port Antonio, which was used for the hotel scenes
The Mighty Quinn was a critical and commercial success, and kareemsquest.com thinks it also helped to launch Denzel Washington’s career as a leading man.
Today, many of the locations used in The Mighty Quinn are still in existence. Port Antonio is a beautiful town with a rich history, where kareemsquest.com has done many articles. Golden Clouds Villa is an elegant estate that is open to the public for tours. Folly Ruins is a popular spot for photography and sightseeing. Trident Castle is a luxurious hotel that offers stunning views of the Jamaican coastline.
If you are a fan of Denzel Washington or of Jamaica, then kareemsquest.com recommends that you visit some of the locations used in The Mighty Quinn.
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1. Dr. No (1962)
Some of the most iconic scenes from Dr. No were filmed in Jamaica, including the opening scene where a helicopter lands on Laughing Waters Beach, and the unforgettable scene where Honey Rider emerges from the sea at Dunn’s River Falls.
Other locations in Jamaica that were used in Dr. No include:
- King’s House, the official residence of the Governor-General of Jamaica, which was used as the setting for Government House.
- Morgan’s Harbour, a waterfront area in Port Royal, which was used as the setting for Pussfeller’s Bar
- Reynolds Bauxite Pier, a bauxite mine on the north coast of Jamaica, which was used as the setting for Dr. No’s secret lair.
Dr. No’s success also helped to launch Sean Connery’s career and the James Bond franchise, which has become one of the most successful film franchises of all time. It must be noted that author Ian Flemmings loved Jamaica and spent a lot of time at Jamaica Inn (click to read our review of this hotel), a hotel that kareemsquest.com reviewed.
Honorable mention: Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003) and Live and Let Die (1973).
Which movie would you add to this list? Leave in the comment section below.
