Famous Movies Filmed In USVI

Six Movies Filmed In US Virgin Islands

The US Virgin Islands are a beautiful and idyllic vacation retreat, as well as a permanent or seasonal home for many wealthy US citizens and their families. There have been a number of famous movies that have been filmed in whole or in part on various islands in the Caribbean island chain, to little surprise, since the Virgin Islands have some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. 

If you find yourself in the area, you may find it entertaining to see some of the locations where your favorite movie moments happened in real life. Due to the close proximity of things on the islands, many locations are only a short walk or boat ride from residential or hotel areas.

The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button

Superfans of superstar Brad Pitt will likely have already logged this one in their “to-do” list for when they visit, but many others may be surprised to learn that Brad Pitt sat on Honeymoon Beach with his co-star Cat Blanchett to film a scene for the romantic drama. The movie stars Pitt as a man who is born elderly and infirm and begins to age in reverse to the surprise of the medical community.

The famous movie was filmed at Honeymoon Beach, which is located on Water Island, US Virgin Islands. Water Island is located at the far western end of Charlotte Amalie harbor, and even though the beautiful but small beach was only closed for a single day, it is reported that the island’s residential community was not exactly pleased with the inconvenience. If you plan to visit, you will need a boat, since there is no bridge connection to Amalie harbor.

The Island Of Dr. Moreau

This 1977 science fiction horror blend is an adaptation of the original H.G. Wells work, in which a misguided scientist tries to convert animals into “humanimals” was filmed in the US Virgin Islands on the island of Saint Croix. The entirety of the movie was filmed on the island, and many locations can be seen and visited as in the film.

The Shawshank Redemption

If you happen to be in the Virgin Islands, you can visit one of the most heartwarming scenes in one of the famous movies of all time. While most portions of this legendary but originally underrated movie were filmed indoors at Ohio State Reformatory, the final scene featuring the characters Andy played by Tim Robbins, and Red played by Morgan Freeman, was filmed at a well-known beach.

The final scene occurs when the two co-stars meet each other after both getting out of lengthy prison terms, and walk towards each other for a reunion. The scene occurs on Saint Croix, USVI, on a beach in the Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge.

Trading Places

The riotous stock market fish out of water comedy starring Dan Akroyd and Eddie Murphy was filmed in the Virgin Islands on the island of Saint Croix in 1983. While you would never recognize the area today, since the development of the Marriott Renaissance Carambola Beach Resort, the beach where the movie’s final scene was filmed, Davis Bay, was a small and primitive-looking beach at the time.

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn

The gorgeous island of St. Thomas features a quiet bay, Magens Bay, with the perfect heart-shaped mile-long white sand beach, was the instantly recognizable location where a culminating scene from the 2011 vampiric romance blockbuster Breaking Dawn was filmed.

The characters of Edward and Bella, played by Robert Pattison and Kristen Stewart respectively, portray a pair of vampires recently married, celebrating their union in the pale moonlight. Those present for the filming of the movie state that since the scene was the last one filmed before shooting wrapped for the movie, when it finished, the stars stayed on the beach with cocktails to watch the sunrise.

Weekend At Bernie’s II

This sequel to the huge buddy comedy takes place in the US Virgin Islands on the island of St. Thomas, and those who want to retrace the steps of Larry, Richard, and of course Bernie can start at the hotel that was featured, formerly Stouffer’s beach resort currently the Renaissance Grand. From there, visitors can do a tour of a number of local beaches where different scenes were filmed. One of the beaches where many scenes were filmed is Magens Beach, in Magens Bay. There are additional locations featuring local businesses and other attractions that visitors to the island may experience.

When you visit the US Virgin Islands, be sure to visit one or two of the locations mentioned above. Who knows you might remember famous movies that were also shot in the islands there.