© Martindol🎬Explore the Western Fjords Like a Movie Star!
Norway’s Western Fjords have long been a magnet for filmmakers, with their dramatic landscapes, towering mountains, and deep fjords creating the perfect backdrop for action films, thrillers, and epic adventures. From James Bond to Star Wars, this region has played a starring role in some of the world’s biggest productions. If you’re a movie buff or just want to explore breathtaking locations, here’s a guide to famous filming spots in Vestland and Møre og Romsdal.
James Bond
– No Time to Die (2021)
📍 Location: Atlantic Ocean Road & Romsdal Alps
Daniel Craig’s final Bond film featured thrilling car chases along the Atlantic Ocean Road, one of the world’s most scenic coastal drives. The film also shot breathtaking scenes in the Romsdal Alps, with jagged peaks providing a dramatic setting for high-stakes action.
🚗 Visit Tip: Drive the Atlantic Road yourself and stop at Varden Viewpoint in Molde for a panoramic scene worthy of a Bond movie.
Mission: Impossible
– Dead Reckoning Part One
📍 Location: Hellesylt, Geirangerfjord & Trollstigen
Tom Cruise’s Mission: Impossible films are known for jaw-dropping stunts, and in Dead Reckoning Part One, he filmed a motorcycle jump off a Norwegian cliff. While the exact location was in Romsdalen, nearby Hellesylt and Geirangerfjord also appear in the film.
🚀 Visit Tip: Take a fjord cruise from Hellesylt to Geiranger and drive the Trollstigen road, one of Norway’s most spectacular drives.
Black Widow (2021)
📍 Location: Hjørundfjord & Sunnmøre Alps
Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow features stunning aerial shots of Hjørundfjord, one of Norway’s lesser-known but most dramatic fjords. The Sunnmøre Alps, with their rugged peaks rising straight from the water, provided the perfect setting for Marvel’s spy thriller.
🌄 Visit Tip: Take a boat trip from Ålesund to Sæbø for the full Marvel experience, or hike up Saksa Mountain for a superhero-worthy view.
Dune (2021)
📍 Location: Stadlandet & Refviksanden
Denis Villeneuve’s Dune transformed parts of Norway into the landscapes of Arrakis, using Stadlandet’s wild coastline and Refviksanden’s white sand beaches to create an otherworldly setting.
🏝️ Visit Tip: Stadlandet is famous for surfing, and Refviksanden is one of Norway’s most beautiful hidden beaches—perfect for a desert planet vibe without the heat!
Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
– Finse (Planet Hoth)
📍 Location: Hardangerjøkulen Glacier, Finse
One of the most famous Star Wars locations, Planet Hoth, was filmed on Hardangerjøkulen Glacier near Finse. The iconic battle between the Rebel Alliance and the Empire’s AT-AT walkers took place on this icy Norwegian landscape.
🛷 Visit Tip: You can take the Bergen Railway to Finse and go on a guided glacier walk on Hardangerjøkulen—just watch out for wampas!
The Wave (2015)
📍 Location: Geiranger
This Norwegian disaster film tells the terrifying story of a tsunami hitting the famous fjord town of Geiranger. Though fictional, the movie is based on real geological threats in Norway.
🚤 Visit Tip: Take a fjord cruise to experience the towering cliffs and stunning waterfalls, and visit the Geiranger Fjord Center to learn about the area’s geological history.
Ex Machina (2014)
📍 Location: Juvet Landscape Hotel
This sci-fi psychological thriller, starring Alicia Vikander and Oscar Isaac, was filmed at the Juvet Landscape Hotel in Valldal. The futuristic, minimalist architecture fits perfectly into the untouched Norwegian nature, making it the ideal setting for a film about AI and isolation.
🏡 Visit Tip: You can stay at Juvet Hotel, which offers one of Norway’s most unique nature experiences, blending modern design with a remote wilderness setting.
The Snowman (2017)
📍 Location: Bergen, Rjukan
Based on Jo Nesbø’s bestselling crime novel, The Snowman features eerie, foggy shots of Bergen’s old streets and waterfront, making the city look even more mysterious.
🌧️ Visit Tip: Walk along Bryggen Wharf and visit Fløibanen for a high-up view of Bergen’s moody skyline.
Troll (2022)
📍 Location: Rauma, Åndalsnes, Romsdalen
The Netflix film Troll brought Norwegian folklore to life, with stunning fjord and mountain scenery playing a key role in this modern fantasy film. Many scenes were filmed in Rauma, near Åndalsnes, where dramatic rock formations and rugged landscapes look straight out of a legend.
🧌 Visit Tip: Hike to Rampestreken Viewpoint in Åndalsnes for troll-worthy panoramic views.
With so many legendary films and TV series shot in Vestland and Møre og Romsdal, the Western Fjords are a real-life Hollywood backdrop. Whether you want to chase James Bond through the mountains, walk in the footsteps of a Jedi, or explore the dark world of Scandinavian crime fiction, Norway’s film locations offer the perfect setting for an unforgettable adventure.
© Fokke Baarssen
