23 Famous Movies Filmed & Set In The Caribbean

Why major productions choose the Caribbean

Productions come here not just for beaches and palm trees, but because the region offers a mix of cost savings, convenience, and visual range.

Several islands provide filming incentives, including tax breaks, grants, and government support. Locations like the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and Jamaica have dedicated film commissions and local crews with experience working on international productions.

The islands also offer a wide variety of landscapes in close proximity — historic towns, rainforests, mountains, and open ocean — making it easy to shoot diverse scenes without changing countries.

On top of that, being close to the U.S. reduces travel time and shipping costs, which matters for productions with large crews and tight schedules.

Movies filmed or set in the Caribbean

Pirates of the Caribbean (2003–2017)

Starring: Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley

Filming locations: St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Dominica, Bahamas, Puerto Rico

One of the most iconic franchises ever shot in the Caribbean. The region defines the visual identity of the series, with multiple islands used for Port Royal, Tortuga, and open-sea adventures.

James Bond: Dr. No (1962)

Starring: Sean Connery, Ursula Andress, Joseph Wiseman

Filming location: Jamaica

The first Bond film, shot entirely on location in and around Kingston, Oracabessa, and Dunn’s River Falls. Helped establish the Caribbean as a go-to location for exotic spy thrillers.

James Bond: Live and Let Die (1973)

Starring: Roger Moore, Yaphet Kotto, Jane Seymour

Filming location: Jamaica

Voodoo-themed Bond entry with boat chases and island intrigue. Scenes were filmed around Montego Bay and other Jamaican coastal areas.

James Bond: Casino Royale (2006)

Starring: Daniel Craig, Eva Green, Mads Mikkelsen

Filming location: Bahamas

Early scenes, including Bond's beach house and hotel chase, were filmed in Nassau. The Bahamas stood in for multiple tropical settings in the film.

Cool Runnings (1993)

Starring: John Candy, Leon, Doug E. Doug

Filming location: Jamaica

Loosely based on the real Jamaican bobsled team, this feel-good comedy was partially filmed in Jamaica before shifting to Calgary for the Olympic scenes.

The Rum Diary (2011)

Starring: Johnny Depp, Aaron Eckhart, Amber Heard

Filming location: Puerto Rico

Based on Hunter S. Thompson’s novel, this film follows an American journalist navigating corruption and culture clashes in 1950s Puerto Rico.

Speed 2: Cruise Control (1997)

Starring: Sandra Bullock, Jason Patric, Willem Dafoe

Filming locations: Saint Martin, Saint Thomas

The action-packed sequel was partly filmed in the Caribbean, with its climactic cruise ship crash staged in Saint Martin using custom-built harbor sets.

How Stella Got Her Groove Back (1998)

Starring: Angela Bassett, Taye Diggs, Whoopi Goldberg

Filming location: Jamaica

A successful, middle-aged woman finds love and renewal while vacationing in Montego Bay. Filmed entirely in Jamaica.

Haven (2004)

Starring: Orlando Bloom, Zoë Saldaña, Bill Paxton

Filming location: Cayman Islands

This crime drama about money laundering and moral breakdown was filmed entirely on Grand Cayman, offering a grittier side of Caribbean life.

Island in the Sun (1957)

Starring: James Mason, Joan Fontaine, Dorothy Dandridge, Harry Belafonte

Filming locations: Barbados, Grenada

Set on a fictional island, this film explores racial tensions and politics in a post-colonial Caribbean setting. Filmed on location in the Lesser Antilles.

The Mighty Quinn (1989)

Starring: Denzel Washington, Robert Townsend, Mimi Rogers

Filming location: Jamaica

A detective investigates a murder on a fictional Caribbean island. Stars Denzel Washington and showcases authentic Jamaican settings.

After the Sunset (2004)

Starring: Pierce Brosnan, Salma Hayek, Woody Harrelson

Filming location: Bahamas

A heist movie starring Pierce Brosnan and Salma Hayek. Set on Paradise Island, with scenic shots of beaches, yachts, and resorts.

The Fate of the Furious (2017)

Starring: Vin Diesel, Dwayne Johnson, Charlize Theron

Filming location: Havana, Cuba

The first major U.S. film to shoot in post-embargo Cuba. The movie opens with a street race through Havana’s historic neighborhoods.

Guava Island (2019)

Starring: Donald Glover, Rihanna, Nonso Anozie

Filming location: Cuba

A musical-political short film starring Donald Glover and Rihanna. Filmed entirely in Cuba and released as a free stream during Coachella.

Caribbean Summer (2022)

Starring: Heather Hemmens, Ser’Darius Blain, Elizabeth Conboy

Filming location: Caribbean (exact island unconfirmed)

A Hallmark Caribbean romance movie set on a fictional island. Filmed on location with the Caribbean coast and culture as the backdrop.

Dirty Dancing 2: Havana Nights (2004)

Starring: Romola Garai, Diego Luna, Sela Ward

Filming location: Dominican Republic

Set in 1950s Cuba during the revolution, but filmed in the Dominican Republic due to U.S. restrictions on filming in Cuba.

Treasure Island (1999)

Starring: Jack Palance, Kevin Zegers, Patrick Bergin

Filming location: Jamaica

A TV movie adaptation starring Jack Palance. Filmed on location in Jamaica, bringing a real Caribbean backdrop to Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic tale.

The Old Man and the Sea (1958)

Starring: Spencer Tracy, Felipe Pazos, Harry Bellaver

Filming location: Bahamas (with some footage from Cuba)

Based on Ernest Hemingway’s novel. Ocean scenes were filmed off the coast of the Bahamas, with some limited Cuba footage used in the background.

The Lost City (2022)

Starring: Sandra Bullock, Channing Tatum, Daniel Radcliffe

Filming location: Dominican Republic

The Lost City was filmed in the Dominican Republic, with key scenes shot in the lush jungles and dramatic coastline of the Samaná Peninsula, the beaches of Punta Cana, the luxury resort area of Casa de Campo, and the vibrant capital city, Santo Domingo.

Movies about the Caribbean are not always what they look like

These films weren't primarily set or filmed in the Caribbean, but they include memorable scenes or visual references that tie into the region — either through flashbacks, final shots, or doubles for Caribbean locations.

Jurassic Park (1993)

Starring: Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum

Caribbean reference: Dominican Republic

The film opens with a reference to amber mining in the Dominican Republic, which sets the foundation for how the dinosaurs were created. No actual filming was done there — scenes were shot in Hawaii.

The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

Starring: Tim Robbins, Morgan Freeman, Bob Gunton

Filming location: St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands

The final beach reunion scene, set in the fictional Mexican town of Zihuatanejo, was filmed on the Caribbean island of St. Croix.

King Kong (1933)

Starring: Fay Wray, Robert Armstrong, Bruce Cabot

Filming reference: Saba (Dutch Caribbean)

Though mostly filmed on Hollywood soundstages, Saba was the inspiration for Skull Island in the original King Kong movie.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)

Starring: Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, Taraji P. Henson

Filming location: St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands

Some of the overseas travel scenes, including a brief romantic interlude, were filmed in St. Thomas, giving the film a short but scenic Caribbean appearance.

Visiting Caribbean film locations: A guide for film tourists

Many Caribbean filming locations are open to visitors — and some have embraced their Hollywood history as part of the tourism experience. Whether you’re a fan of action blockbusters or classic cinema, these spots offer a chance to walk where the cameras rolled.

Wallilabou Bay, St. Vincent

Featured in: Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl

This small bay served as the Port Royal harbor. Some of the original sets remain standing and are open to tourists. A small museum on-site showcases props and behind-the-scenes photos.

Oracabessa and Laughing Waters Beach, Jamaica

Featured in: Dr. No (1962)

This is where Bond met Honey Ryder in one of the most iconic scenes in film history. The beach is part of a private estate but is sometimes accessible via local tours.

Nassau, Bahamas

Featured in: Casino Royale, Thunderball, After the Sunset

Nassau has served as a backdrop for multiple Bond films and heist movies. Locations like Albany House and Coral Harbour are now luxury properties but can often be viewed from the beach or by boat tour.

Old San Juan, Puerto Rico

Featured in: Bad Boys II, Fast & Furious 8, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

With its Spanish colonial architecture, Old San Juan has doubled for Havana and other historic cities. Visitors can explore the cobblestone streets, forts, and plazas seen in the films.

Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

Featured in: Miami Vice, Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights, The Lost City

The capital’s Zona Colonial offers 16th-century buildings and atmospheric streets that have been used to replicate Cuba and other tropical cities.

Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands

Featured in: Haven

Though not a typical tourist movie, Haven shows the real streets and coastlines of George Town. It's a good stop for fans of lesser-known Caribbean-set thrillers.

St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands

Featured in: The Shawshank Redemption (final scene)

The closing reunion scene, often mistaken for Mexico, was shot on a beach in St. Croix. It’s now a popular photo spot for film fans visiting the island.

Havana, Cuba

Featured in: The Fate of the Furious, Guava Island

With U.S. filming restrictions easing slightly in recent years, parts of Havana have finally appeared on screen as themselves. The city’s historic architecture and classic cars make it a visual highlight.

These locations blend film history with real Caribbean beauty — making them ideal for travelers who want more than just beach time. Local tour operators in Jamaica, St. Vincent, and Puerto Rico often include film stops in their packages. If you want the full Caribbean movies list, visit its Wikipedia page.

How the Caribbean is used as a location for movies in the tropics

Filmmakers often use the Caribbean to stand in for other parts of the world — especially places that are politically difficult to film in or lack production infrastructure. Thanks to its colonial architecture, tropical landscapes, and reliable weather, the Caribbean can easily double for Cuba, Latin America, remote islands, or even fictional nations.

Cuba — without filming in Cuba

Due to the U.S. embargo, many films set in Cuba have been shot elsewhere.

• Bad Boys II (2003): Filmed its "Cuba" scenes in Puerto Rico, including the mansion raid and village sequences.
• Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights (2004): Filmed in the Dominican Republic to represent 1950s Havana.
• Miami Vice (2006): Used Santo Domingo in the DR as a stand-in for Havana, including streets and club interiors.

Generic tropical or “undiscovered” islands

• Pirates of the Caribbean used real Caribbean islands to represent fictional ports like Tortuga and Isla de Muerta.
• Treasure Island (1999) and The Old Man and the Sea (1958) used Jamaica and the Bahamas to represent remote, timeless settings not tied to any specific country.

Fictional or ambiguous settings

• Island in the Sun (1957) takes place on an unnamed island, but was filmed in Barbados and Grenada to convey a politically charged post-colonial Caribbean atmosphere.
• Guava Island (2019) is set in a fictional country but filmed entirely in Cuba, blending realism with allegory.

This flexibility makes the Caribbean a frequent solution for location challenges, offering film crews a mix of logistical ease, visual authenticity, and political neutrality — all within a few hours of the U.S.