Simply walking through the streets in Malta’s cities and towns, you can find yourself on location in any number of films or TV shows. But Malta is rarely itself in these movies. One of the few major films was the Malta Story, released in 1953, which was partially shot in Malta but used mainly archival footage of WW2 aerial combat over the island.
I visited Popeye Village with my children and despite knowing it was built for making the “Popeye” movie starring Robin Williams, I had no idea that Malta was used as a filming location for other movies. That was until I watched the movie “Munich” and recognised the Sliema promenade. The 2005 movie, a thriller concerning the attack on athletes at the 1972 Munich Olympics stars Eric Bana and Daniel Craig. The action takes place in Israel and Lebanon amongst other locations, except many scenes were shot in Malta. The Sliema promenade became the boulevard in Tel Aviv, while the Cospicua docks became Beirut and many other parts of Malta served as cities across Europe and the middle east.
Fort Ricasoli, is used as a movie lot for producing many movies, and a visit is a great experience. We stood on the grand square and streets of Troy recreated for the movie of the same name. The latest blockbuster filmed on the old British military compound is Gladiator 2, scheduled for release in 2024.
The Maltese archipelago is a movie set. When exploring Malta, be aware you could be standing on the same site as film stars.
Stand on the sands of Għajn Tuffieħa and imagine being with Brad Pitt as the Greeks and Trojans battle it for control of Troy.
Valletta has impersonated all manner of numerous sites. Walk through the streets of Valletta to Fort St Elmo and you could be hearing the screams of the zombie apocalypse in “World War Z”. You could be inside the walls of a Turkish prison and escaping Istanbul in “Midnight Express”, as the film-makers captured Malta everywhere from the opening scenes at Luqa airport, to running through the streets of Valletta and Rabat, which deceived the viewer into thinking they witnessed the story in Turkey.
Valletta has also imitated Jerusalem. Whether it is musing about unravelling a murder outside Customs House in Valletta, where Kenneth Branagh filmed scenes for “Murder on the Orient Express” or being in the middle of the action in the film “Assassin’s Creed”, Valletta was made into Jerusalem.
Visit Gozo and you can be transported to southern France. Stand at the water’s edge of Mġarr ix-Xini, one of the best beaches in Gozo, where Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt shot “By the Sea”. The Azure Window featured in the marriage scenes in the “Game of Thrones” (GoT). While Malta was not the primary filming location for the entire GoT series, it did serve as a backdrop for iconic scenes, in particular Mdina became the city of King’s Landing.
Many factors make Malta a favourite country for filming movies:
Scenic Locations: Malta offers a diverse range of scenic locations, from historic cities to stunning coastlines, medieval fortresses, and unique architecture. This versatility allows filmmakers to create a wide variety of settings without needing to travel to multiple countries.
Production Infrastructure: Malta has a well-developed film industry with experienced local crews, production companies, and equipment rental services. This infrastructure makes it easier for filmmakers to set up and efficiently execute their projects.
Historic Sites: The country’s rich history is reflected in its well-preserved historic sites and ancient architecture. Filmmakers often utilize these locations to create period pieces or scenes requiring an authentic historical backdrop.
Accessibility: Malta’s small size makes it easy to access different locations quickly, which is a practical advantage for filming. Filmmakers can shoot in various settings without dealing with extensive travel. English is one of Malta’s official languages, which simplifies communication between international filmmakers and local crews.
Supportive Government: The Maltese government offers incentives, grants, and tax breaks to attract foreign filmmakers. These incentives help reduce production costs and make filming in Malta more attractive. Malta has film friendly regulations in place that facilitate the film production process
Mediterranean Climate: The Mediterranean climate provides filmmakers with consistent weather conditions, including ample sunlight. This predictability is essential for maintaining shooting schedules and achieving desired lighting conditions.
All these factors combined make Malta a favourable destination for filmmakers seeking diverse locations, skilled crews, and a supportive environment to bring their creative visions to life. Even when it is rare that Malta, appears as itself.
Here is a short list of major movies that have been filmed in Malta:
“Napoleon” (2023)
“Jurassic World Dominion” (2022)
“Gladiator” (2000)
“Assassin’s Creed” (2016)
“Captain Phillips” (2013)
“World War Z” (2013)
“The Devil’s Double” (2011)
“The Da Vinci Code” (2006)
“Munich” (2005)
“Troy” (2004)
“Alexander” (2004)
“The Count of Monte Cristo” (2002)
“U-571” (2000)
“Popeye” (1980)
“Midnight Express” (1978)
“The Spy Who Loved Me” (1977)
“Waterloo” (1970)
Add to this list, TV shows that use Malta. Sometimes as a backdrop to reality melodrama such as in “Below the Deck Mediterranean” or used as a substitute for other European locations in “The Good Ship Murder”.
If you have been to malta, when next watching a TV show or movie with a story based around the mediterranean, play spot the Maltese landmark and check the credits.
When next visiting Malta, consider if you are really there or have you been transported to another place through the magic of cinema?
Thanks to Joanne Mohr for the use of the Mgarr ix-Xini photo, you can see more of her fantastic photography on Facebook.
Check out my book, The Maltese Web, set in Malta, and where Malta is really Malta, here on Amazon.
This article was published in the Maltese Journal edition #513.
