Since the 1960s, Andalusia has been a coveted location for film production. In those years the “Spaghetti Western” was booming and was basically shot in the Tabernas Desert in the province of Almeria, where Clint Eastwood started his career and the inhabitants of the villages in the area worked as extras.
That landscape is so spectacular that even in more recent years there is still a lot of interest in shooting films there, such as Ridley Scott’s Exodus, Risen, Assasins Creed and Game of Thrones.
Films shot in Malaga
Only more recently has international production also looked more towards Malaga, with no less impressive natural settings, as well as an enormous diversity of natural spaces, from high peaks and snow-capped mountains to beautiful valleys, rivers, forests and a rich cultural heritage.
Come with us to visit the places in the province of Malaga where have been shot some of the most famous movies.
El Chorro, being nowadays one of the most visited natural areas in Spain after the spectacular reformation of the Caminito del Rey, was the scene of some scenes of “The Bridge of San Luis Rey Die Brücke von San Luis Rey” from 2004 with Robert de Niro, recreating the colonial Lima of the 18th century. Other spaces that appeared in this film were the Antequera Bullring, as well as the Plaza del Obispo in Malaga.
Anyone who has seen “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” 2009 may remember a scene at the end of the film where Lisbeth Salander walks by the sea, which is Pablo Ruiz de Picasso’s promenade. Discover that and other sea promenades in Malaga.
The series “Snatch” with Rupert Grint about a group of young swindlers who find themselves with a truck loaded with stolen gold bars and soon find themselves involved in the world of organized crime, has been filming in many spaces in Malaga such as Malaga city, Marbella or Torre del Mar.
Another series shot largely in Malaga is “Living the Dream” a comedy drama series about a British family moving to the U.S. But of course, Florida is actually Malaga.
Another recent series filmed in Malaga and starring the Malaga-born Antonio Banderas is “Genius: Picasso“, where the most remarkable filming space is the Plaza de la Merced in the heart of the old town, where the painter Pablo Picasso, the most famous son of the city, was born, followed by Banderas.
“The Only Way is Essex” has been filming in beach clubs and other locations in Marbella every summer since 2012. This was followed by the first Life on Marbs series in October 2014.
Only a few years ago the big Bollywood producers also took note of Malaga, especially the Axarquia on the eastern Costa del Sol and Nerja.
Netflix is preparing a new fantasy genre series you might already have heard about: “The Warrior Nun“, a young girl wakes up with extraordinary powers in a morgue and gets caught in a battle between good and evil. Most of the scenes will be shot in Antequera at La Real Colegiata de Santa María La Mayor, a 16th century Renaissance temple.
Between Marbella, Malaga and Antequera as filming locations, there is also La Cueva del Tesoro in Rincón de la Victoria, the only cave of marine origin in Europe that can be visited.
Another Netflix production, considered the most expensive one by the production company, is “The Crown“, which has also chosen Malaga, where a good part of the filming will take place, although little is known about the locations.
¿Did you know that..?
Have you seen the comedy film “Murder Mystery” with Adam Sandler and Jenifer Anniston? The protagonists, after landing at Malaga airport, are welcomed by a woman in a Flamenco dress, a guitarist, a guide dressed in the colours of the Spanish flag in front of an old bus with the sign “Gonzales Tour”.
This has generated quite a lot of controversy among the people of Malaga, above all because of the clear stereotypes about the image of Spain. And besides, no scene has been shot in Malaga, but in Santa Margherita Ligure on the Italian Riviera.
Where to watch movies in original version on the Costa del Sol?
These are the cinemas that frequently show English language films on the Costa del Sol.
Malaga
Address: Inside the Málaga Nostrum Shopping Centre, Calle Jaén, 1, 29004 Málaga
Phone: 952 17 63 18
Address: Calle Alcazabilla, 4, 29015 Málaga
Phone: 951 57 11 15
Address: Plaza Mayor, C/ Alfonso Ponce de León 1,
Phone: 902 22 09 22
Coín
Address: Shopping centre La Trocha, Carretera Málaga Km 1, Coín
Phone: 951 31 51 53
Fuengirola
Address: Calle Camilo José Cela, 6, Fuengirola
Phone: Teléfono: 952 59 35 87
CineSur Miramar
Address: Inside the Shopping centre Miramar. Avenida de la Encarnación, Parque Miramar, Fuengirola
Phone: 667 77 08 43
Marbella
Address: Inside the Shopping centre La Canada, Highway Circunvalación, exit Ojén, Marbella
Address: Avenida J. Iglesias s/n, (Puerto Banús) Marbella
Phone: 951 19 66 66
Rincón de la Victoria
Yelmo Cineplex
Address: Inside the shopping centre Rincón de la Victoria, Calle Arroyo Totalán, 36, Rincón de la Victoria
Phone: 902 22 09 22
Vélez-Málaga
CineSur El Ingenio
Address: Inside the shopping centre El Ingenio, Avenida Juan Carlos 1, Vélez-Málaga
Phone: 952 54 05 71
- No refuelling fee
- Free cancellation
- Hire without intermediaries
- Pay when you pick up your car
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The best Costa del Sol Escape Rooms;)
Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG / GLP) or Autogas in Malaga;)
Travelling to Malaga in May-June