The Islands of Tahiti and the Cinema

Published on 24 August 2023

Reading time: 3 min.

The natural beauty of The Islands of Tahiti has been the background for many well-known films. Many famous actors have starred in films that were made in these islands, including Richard Thorpe, Robert Flaherty and of course, Marlon Brando.

This exotic destination provides a perfect setting for a film, with superb scenery and ideal conditions year round. These are just some of the films labeled ‘made in Tahiti’.

The best-known films

Images of French Polynesia have featured in many films and have helped to publicize the beauty of The Islands of Tahiti. Films have been made in these islands from as early as the 1930s. Here are some of the more famous ones:

‘Mutiny on the Bounty’ was released in 1962 starring Hollywood legend Marlon Brando. The film traced the events of a real-life mutiny that took place in these islands in 1789. The magnificent scenery played an important role in the worldwide success of the film.

Affiche du film Gauguin Photo du film Gauguin ©DR — Photo du film Gauguin ©DR

In the French film ‘Gauguin: Voyage à Tahiti’ directed by Vincent Cassel and released in 2017, the beauty of The Islands of Tahiti is a major feature. The film traces the life of artist Paul Gauguin who came to Tahiti 1890s and spent his last years in Hiva Oa in the Marquesas Islands.

Cannes Film Festival

The Islands of Tahiti has featured in many other films, including the classic adventure film ‘Point Break’ starring Patrick Swayze and Keanu Reeves, and the comedy ‘Couple’s Retreat’ starring Vince Vaughn and Jon Favreau.

French Polynesia was also the location for certain scenes in the blockbuster movie ‘Batman vs Superman’.

Two very successful French thrillers, ‘Meurtre à Tahiti‘ and ‘L’ordre et le morale‘, were filmed in The Islands of Tahiti.

The Islands of Tahiti were the setting for the drama thriller ‘Pacifiction’ starring Benoît Magimel which was presented at the Cannes Film Festival where it won awards for Best Actor and Best Cinematography. The film explores the sombre secrets of a small island community, with the superb scenery of French Polynesia as a background.

The beauty of the islands, the perfect weather conditions, the warmth of the local population and the enthusiastic support of the local government make French Polynesia an ideal location for filmmakers worldwide.