10 Movies Shot in Bali

Discover Bali in the movies with these great film selections. Various iconic movies have either focused on the stunning tropical island itself or featured scenes that were filmed on location around Bali, but whose director and crew have taken artistic liberty to depict some other place, despite using unmistakably Balinese cultural backdrops.

Those who haven’t been to Bali may very well be inspired to discover the island and the specific filming locations themselves after having a glimpse of Bali in these movies. Movie buffs will notice that some of these selections are indispensable classics that form part of Hollywood history.

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1. Eat Pray Love (2010)

A deluge of women tracing Julia Roberts’ journey

Good for: Adventure, Photo

Eat Pray Love (2010) is a film that critics love to hate and Bali lovers have learned to live with. Once upon a time, this adaptation of a novel of the same name was partly responsible for the deluge of young women travelers to Bali tracing the footsteps of author Elizabeth Gilbert’s journey.

This included anything from riding a bicycle through rice fields north of Ubud, in a tropical dress and straw hat like actor Julia Roberts, to swimming in the clear waves of Padang Padang Beach. And even attempting to meet up with real-life spiritual man (the late) Ketut Liyer in his Pengosekan village home.

Location: Pecatu, South Kuta, Badung, Bali, Indonesia

2. Legong, Dance of the Virgins (1935)

A nostalgic glimpse into pre-independence Bali

Good for: History, Unusual

This fine gem of a silent film was shot long before Indonesia declared Independence, meaning it shows Bali closest to its truest and exotic form. This includes an all-Balinese cast going about their lives with traditional dance and music featured, albeit with a fictional script. It tells of a heartbreaking love triangle between a gamelan player and 2 Legong dancer sisters.

The rural settings against the tropical nature of old Ubud, complete with old temple settings evoke a sense of nostalgia. Directed by Henry de La Falaise during the height of the so-called “exploitation film” era, Dance of the Virgins is among the last silent Hollywood films and the last shot using the 2-color Technicolor process.

Location: Ubud, Gianyar, Bali, Indonesia

3. Baraka (1992)

A kaleidoscope of beautiful Balinese scenes

Good for: Adventure, Photo

A wonderful cinematic treat, Baraka (1992) has no narrative. It uses snippets shot all over the world over the course of 20 years and leaves the plot and connections up to you as the viewer. This visual poetry of a film takes you on a journey of long tracking shots, time-lapse sequences, and rare footage of some of the least-explored places on the planet.
Directed by Ron Fricke, the movie shows sweeping and sometimes haunting scenes, including Auschwitz, Tuol Sleng, hidden jungle tribes, and beautiful places in Bali such as the rice fields of Tabanan, Tampaksiring, and Tegallalang. The dramatic Uluwatu Temple also features as well as a dramatic Kecak dance sequence against the Gunung Kawi Temple.

Location: Pecatu, South Kuta, Badung, Bali, Indonesia

4. The Ring of Fire, an Indonesian Odyssey (1972)

An epic adventure lasting 2 decades

Good for: Adventure, Photo

The Ring of Fire, an Indonesian Odyssey (1972) is a series of 4 documentary films that follow the epic journey of filmmaking brothers Lorne and Lawrence Blair, who set out on a Bugis schooner to trace the journey of naturalist Sir Alfred Russel Wallace. The sail led the brothers to the Komodo islands, Aru and New Guinea, the Celebes, and finally on to Bali.

Scenes include traditional boats on the coast of Sanur, rituals in southern Bali, and Mount Agung and Besakih temple in Karangasem. With financing from the BBC and Ringo Starr, the Blairs set off from England in 1972 and documented the different ecologies and cultures of the Indonesian islands over the span of 2 decades.

Location: Jungutan, Bebandem, Karangasem, Bali, Indonesia

5. The Fall (2006)

A compelling adventure fantasy

Good for: Families, Photo

Directed by Tarsem Singh, The Fall (2006) stars Lee Pace in a compelling adventure fantasy film. Set in 1915, Pace as stuntman Roy Walker is hospitalized after a filming accident, when he meets a young girl recovering from a broken arm, and tells her a fantastical story that is visually depicted throughout the movie.

Various exotic locations from around the world were used in the movie. Bali locations include the Tegallalang rice terraces and the Gunung Kawi temple in Tampaksiring, with traditional Kecak dance performed in front of it.

Location: Jl. Raya Tegallalang, Kec. Tegallalang, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80561, Indonesia

6. Alex Cross (2012)

Chasing a fugitive across Bali

Good for: Photo

An action film based on the novel I, Alex Cross by James Patterson, this Rob Cohen-directed film (starring Tyler Perry as the titular character) was, unfortunately, a box office flop. Nevertheless, Bali had its part in the movie, with the visually striking stony coast of Jasri village in Karangasem, East Bali, among its exotic filming locations. A local crew of 35 were involved, and 20 local extras also featured as police.

The plot of the novel is around a chase between Detroit lieutenant Alex Cross and a ruthless fugitive who murdered his wife, which leads to a manhunt in Bali. Mercier, the criminal ringleader played by Jean Reno, is finally caught in a Karangasem villa at the climax of the movie.

Location: Gg. Kangkung, Subagan, Kabupaten Karangasem, Bali 80811, Indonesia

7. Goona Goona or The Kriss (1932)

A love triangle and a magic potion

Good for: History, Photo

The film that gave way to the term “goona-goona epic”, this old piece by Andre Roosevelt and Armand Denis refers to the name of a magical love potion that is common among Indonesian cultures. Also known as The Kriss, its plot revolves around a love triangle between a Balinese prince, a commoner, and a slave girl.

The film is best known for its portrayal of the island as a primitive utopia, along with narrative cliches like “the last paradise”. Nevertheless, Goona Goona is a great watch for a glimpse of the Bali of yesteryear with natural village scenes, an elaborate temple procession, a market scene, and noble Balinese gathering to discuss matters.

8. Toute la Beauté du Monde (2006)

Bali’s beauty showcased

Good for: Adventure, Couples, Photo

Toute la Beauté du Monde is an emotional French film that tells of the awkward relationship between Franck and Tina. Franck loves Tina, but she can’t seem to love him back as she has just recently lost her lover who passed away. In a journey to heal, they see the world through a trip to Asia and eventually Bali, hence the title, which translates to “all the beauty of the world”.

Franck somewhat becomes Tina’s travel guide and companion, and their journey takes us to see beautiful Bali backdrops: Kuta Beach without the crowds, Legian, Tanah Lot temple, Ubud, and a particular scooter riding scene through the flowing rice terraces of Jatiluwih and the rural Mount Batukaru countryside.

Location: Kuta, Badung, Bali, Indonesia

9. Endless Summer II (1994)

A surfing documentary with plenty of Balinese culture

Good for: Photo, Adventure

In this follow-up to Bruce Brown’s 1966 surfing documentary, the filmmakers and surfer dudes, Robert “Wingnut” Weaver and Patrick O’Connell return after almost 3 decades to surf the wonderful waves of exotic spots around the world, which include Bali. Along the way, they meet up with locals, and rediscover great surf spots Bruce visited during the first film.

In the Bali part of their tour, it’s not just about surfing and waves, as they interlace scenes with the gorgeous landscapes, rice paddies, culture, and colorful ceremonies. Also featured is gamelan music, rural village scenes, Tanah Lot Temple, Uluwatu Temple that overlooks one of the island’s best surf spots, Kuta Beach, and some crazy traffic scenes in Denpasar.

Location: Beraban, Kediri, Tabanan, Bali 82121, Indonesia

10. Incontro d’amore (1970)

An absurd plot saved by Bali’s beauty

Good for: Couples, Photo, Unusual

This Italian movie, directed by Ugo Liberatore and Paolo Heusch, was a box office failure at its time of release, which owes much to its rather absurd plotline. There’s some Italian-movie style nudity, a murder scene at the beginning, and melodrama throughout in this partly exotic travelogue film.

With the strange plot aside, there’s the beauty of Bali’s landmarks as backdrops to make up for it. A pair of lovers are shown walking through the waves at Tanah Lot (a dangerous idea) and the beautiful Goa Lawah temple is featured. Its other working title is simply, “Bali”.

Location: Jl. Raya Goa Lawah, Pesinggahan, Kec. Dawan, Kabupaten Klungkung, Bali 80761, Indonesia

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