Celebrate the 2025 Academy Awards, also known as the Oscars, with a holiday to the destination that your favourite movie was filmed in.

With this handy guide, you can discover the best locations for a blockbuster escape and feel like the star of your own film. Famous landmarks will ensure your pictures look sensational and that all your friends are jealous! Blend beach holidays and city escapes with the same epic adventures of the best-known on-screen characters and explore the stunning scenery that acts as their backdrop. Venture to the jungles of Thailand, ancient cities of Europe, secluded islands of the Indian Ocean and beaches of the Caribbean for a perfect holiday with your family, partner, friends or even by yourself. Take in the exhilarating sites of the UAE, visiting iconic structures like the Burj Khalifa and embark on a desert excursion like no other. You’ll encounter romance, action, mystery and adventure when you visit these incredible locations.

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Dubai and The UAE

The futuristic metropolises of the UAE have featured in a number of epic blockbusters that highlight the iconic architecture and monumental structures. The Emirates seamlessly blends historical and traditional with modern and innovative, making it a brilliant backdrop in many of your favourite flicks. Dubai, the largest emirate, is the perfect place to visit if you’re a fan of the action-packed Tom Cruise favourite, Mission: Impossible. You can visit the Burj Khalifa and see in-person the world-famous building his character scales in the fourth installment, Ghost Protocol (2011). Abu Dhabi also has a few well-known strings to its bow, including Furious 7 (2015), which showcased Paul Walker’s final appearance in the Fast and Furious franchise, and Dune (2021) starring Timothée Chalamet, Oscar nominated at the 2025 Academy Awards. Dune captures the beauty of the Liwa Oasis and The Empty Quarter of the Arabian Desert. Ryan Reynolds’ 6 Underground (2019), was shot in 24 locations across the UAE, including Ras Al Khaimah, Sharjah and Al Ain in Abu Dhabi.

Thailand

A holiday to Thailand will leave you feeling like a main character as you retrace the steps of Hollywood greats. Whether you’re seeking a beach holiday or an escape to the bright lights of the city, you’ll find it all and more. Hit the streets of Bangkok, Hangover-style, where you hopefully won’t recreate the antics of Part II (2011) but will have just as much fun. A Thailand multicentre is another way to experience this movie to its full extent, as Krabi’s Phulay Bay, A Ritz-Carlton Reserve hotel is where Stu has his wedding. Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (2004) takes us to the blissful shores of Phuket, which is famous for its immaculate beaches and lively nightlife. Action fans may recognise Rambo’s (2008) backdrop as the verdant jungles of Chiang Mai, where holidaymakers can expect a relaxed atmosphere, while other film buffs may want to travel to Phi Phi, where The Beach (2000), starring award-winner Leonardo DiCaprio, takes centre stage.

Caribbean

The sparkling azure waters, soft sugary sands and swaying palm trees of the Caribbean offer not only the perfect backdrop to your dream beach holiday but also to an array of visually outstanding blockbuster movies. If you’re a fan of the swash-buckling Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, then a holiday to St Vincent and the Grenadines should be at the top of your bucket list as this glorious paradise is the setting for the Curse of the Black Pearl (2003) and Dead Man’s Chest (2006). The picturesque landscape of Jamaica is a firm favourite for movie-makers as well as sun-seekers, and it has seen legendary characters like James Bond in Dr. No (1962) and Bob Marley, portrayed in the recent biopic Bob Marley: One Love (2024), but it is the family-favourite Cool Runnings (1993) that highlights the vibrancy of this island. The spellbinding scenery, delicious cuisine and laid-back atmosphere of Barbados is authentically represented in the classic film The Tamarind Seed (1974), starring Hollywood royalty Julie Andrews and Omar Sharif, and you can soak it all up too.

Indian Ocean

Escape to the serene sanctuary of the Indian Ocean to relax in lush surroundings. If you’re seeking bliss in the Maldives, to wade in the turquoise lagoons and admire a multicolour marine world beneath the waves, you’ll find heaven on earth. A holiday to the Maldives is made even better if you’re a Sci-Fi fan, as the space epic Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) takes place on the secluded islands of Kudafushi and Maafushi. The Seychelles also feature in many films, including Thunderbirds (2004) and Crusoe (1988), the movie adaption of the classic novel Robinson Crusoe, and you can cross off visiting these famous backdrops, particularly Praslin and La Digue, with a rejuvenating holiday to this archipelago. Sri Lanka is a haven for nature and culture-lovers as you can explore pristine beaches, green forests and ancient ruins, the very same that feature in Tarzan, the Ape Man (1989). Julia Roberts’ stans will love embarking on their own journey of discovery in Bali, Indonesia, where she filmed Eat, Pray, Love (2010).

Europe

Europe offers a myriad of divine destinations for your next holiday, whether you’re searching for a city adventure, beach fun or relaxing poolside in your luxury hotel. The mythical Greek Isles promise surreal sunsets, mythology and mouthwatering cuisine, and you can live your Mamma Mia-inspired (2008) life here on your next summer holiday. The iconic white and blue-domed buildings of Santorini are showcased in Lara Croft Tomb Raider – The Cradle of Life (2003), while For Your Eyes Only (1981) highlights the natural beauty of Corfu. The mega blockbusters, Clash of the Titans (2010) and Wrath of the Titans (2012), take us back to the age of Zeus but were filmed in Tenerife in the Canary Islands, where you can wander the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Teide National Park, as the character Perseus does. Malta’s ancient architecture makes it a superb choice for a holiday and to shoot a historical epic, like the Oscar-nominated Troy (2004) and Gladiator II (2024). Malta is probably most famous for the filming of Robin William’s Popeye (1980), which has a Sweethaven set that you can still visit for a family-friendly day out.