Whatever the genre, there’s something charming about a movie set on an island. From the sandy beaches to the crashing waves, there’s something inviting about an island setting, especially if you don’t live near the coast. The thing about island settings is that they are very versatile. Islands can be the setting for a romantic encounter, a glamorous vacation or even tension and tragedy. Islands have been a go-to setting for several movies and TV shows over the years. From the hit show Lost to the hugely popular Mama Mia! and HBO’s new island-focused show, The white lotusthe island environment is a hit.
If you want to visit an island – through your TV screen, that is – check out these nine great movies set on an island.
9/9 A Perfect Vacation (2009)
A perfect holiday is about a group of couples on vacation in Hawaii when murders suddenly occur on the island, leaving the couples to think that someone in the group could be a murderer. This thriller premiered in 2009 and received generally positive reviews. It’s a standard “whodunnit” mixed with slasher movie energy, and while it can be a little corny and predictable, it’s still a fun watch. It has scenes of real suspense, bits of humor and was filmed in beautiful Hawaii and Puerto Rico.
8/9 Fantasy Island (2020)
Fantasy Island is about a group of people visiting the island of the same name and the mysterious Mr. Meeting Roarke (Michael Peña) who makes all the guests’ fantasies come true. However, things are not as good as they seem as the guests’ fantasies turn into nightmares and they unravel the mystery of Fantasy Island to escape and survive. It is a horror film remake of the 1977 TV show of the same name. It was produced by Blumhouse and premiered in 2020. The concept of Fantasy Island is awesome and has the potential to be both scary and innovative. However, it is ultimately full of clichés and does not live up to its potential. That said, it’s still worth checking out, even if it’s just for the tropical resort view.
7/9 The Rock (1996)
This 1996 action/thriller follows an FBI chemical warfare expert (Nicolas Cage), a British spy (Sean Connery), and a group of Navy SEALs who go on a mission to stop a general from using chemical weapons on Alcatraz. Island in San Francisco. While Alcatraz Island probably isn’t the first island that comes to mind when you think of island-based movies, The stone is still a worthy watch to make this list. It’s a perfect mix of action and suspense, making for a thrilling film.
6/9 Old (2021)
From the mind of M. Night Shyamalan comes Old, about a group of people who visit a tropical island on vacation, but discover that the island causes them to age quickly, reducing their entire lives to a single day. It is based on the sci-fi graphic novel, sandcastle, by Frederik Peeters. This thriller premiered in 2021 and was a box-office success, but saw mixed reviews from critics. The concept of Old is brilliant and fresh. However, there are times when it feels like the ideas haven’t been fully fleshed out. And while this may not be an island you want to add to your list of places to visit, it is a very interesting watch.
5/9 Shutter Island (2010)
Directed by Martin Scorsese, Shutter Island is a psychological thriller about an American Marshal (Leonardo DiCaprio) who investigates a mental institution Shutter Island with his partner (Mark Ruffalo) when one of the patients mysteriously goes missing. Shutter Island Premiered in 2010, it received positive reviews and was listed as one of the top 10 films of 2010 by the National Board of Review. Based on Dennis Lehane’s 2003 novel of the same name, Shutter Island is full of twists that will keep you guessing until the very end. From start to finish it is nothing but mystery and suspense. The plot itself is great, but what really makes this film is the impressive performances from the cast, especially Mark Ruffalo.
4/9 50 first dates
This 2004 rom-com is about Henry (Adam Sandler), a marine veterinarian in Hawaii who falls in love with Lucy (Drew Barrymore), a woman with short-term memory loss. Lucy can’t remember anything from the day before, so Henry has to make sure she falls in love with him every day, hence the movie title. 50 first dates follows the romcom recipe to a T, perfectly combining laughter with heartwarming romance. The film also features a signature Sandler/Barrymore duo, which is always a successful combination, as seen in other films such as The wedding singer. While 50 first dates is not a groundbreaking film, it is sweet and fun and brings a smile to your face when you watch it.
3/9 Jaws (1975)
The original summer blockbuster. When jaws premiered in 1975, summer seemingly came to a halt because people feared swimming in the ocean and becoming a shark’s next meal. jaws is set in a New England seaside town called Amity Island, and was shot mostly on location on Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts. jaws is a masterclass in well-crafted storytelling that blends seamlessly with real terror and suspense. The film has been immortalized – and for good reason – as not only one of Spielberg’s best works, but also one of the greatest thrillers ever made.
2/9 Mama Mia!
Mama Mia! premiered in 2008, this jukebox movie musical is based on the songs of global pop group ABBA. Set in the Greek islands, it centers on a young bride-to-be (Amanda Seyfried) who invites three men from her mother’s (Meryl Streep) past to her wedding, hoping that one of them will be her real father and to walk her down the aisle. If you don’t like musicals, you probably won’t like musicals Mama Mia!, however, it’s hard to deny the film’s impact as it continues to be hugely popular today and has seen both sequels and stage performances. With an ensemble cast, great soundtrack, rom-com energy and beautiful island backdrop, Mama Mia! is undeniably fun.
1/9 Put away
.jpg)
Put away is a survival drama about a FedEx troubleshooter (Tom Hanks) who is stranded on a desert island after his plane crashes in the South Pacific. The film, which premiered in 2000, is all about Hanks’ struggle for survival and desperate attempts to return home. The “stranded on an island, fighting for survival” trope in movies has been recreated multiple times, even in TV shows like the hit Lostbut Put away does it in a way that feels real and raw. Part of what makes the film so great is Hanks’ performance, for which he won a Golden Globe for Best Actor. You can feel his desperation through the screen and he takes the audience with him every step of the way as he starts to lose his mind and put on a very believable one man show.