Toppa Top 10: Movies Filmed in the Caribbean

Words by DJ Gravy

Even way back in the early sixties, it was obvious the Caribbean would be an amazing location for a visually stimulating film. Such was the case in James Bond’s investigation of a missing colleague in Jamaica, that leads him to the island of the mysterious Dr. No and a scheme to end the US space program.

Maybe the British agent was lookin’ out for the U.S. because Bond’s name was borrowed by writer Ian Fleming from famed ornithologist James Bond. Son of the Pennsylvania-based Bond family, Bond allowed Fleming the use of their estate in Jamaica (now owned by Chris Blackwell and known as Golden Eye Resort) to write these wild tales of spies, espionage and adventure, very loosely based off his own experience in intelligence agencies.

Nothing really specified why these are my top 10, some are corny, but all have great scenery and elements of Caribbean music, art and people. And for the record Cool Runnings was NOT filmed in the Caribbean!

10. Captain Ron (1992): Filmed In San Juan National Historic Site, Puerto Rico

Kurt Russell gets his “Yaaar” on as captain for Martin Short and his privileged family! Smooth sailing… right?!

9. GoldenEye (1995): Filmed in Puerto Rico

That’s right, as a result of spending much of his time in England (where Jamaican food is always the best… ahem, only option) Bond enjoys some bacalaitos and empanadillas just as much as the next guy. Bond, Señor James Bond.

8. Mighty Quinn (1989): Filmed in Jamaica

Even one of the best Black actors (Denzel) and comedians (Robert Townsend) of our time can’t get their Yard flex correct, really some of the worst character acting, ever! Come on Denzel, coulda taken a few months in the Islands and get di ting sort out! Ya zeeit!

7. Miami Vice (2006): Filmed In the Dominican Republic

Ok, no one will ever do a cheezier Jamaican accent than Tubbs on the original Miami Vice TV Show, NO MON! But the show was pretty dope in its time, you could catch guest characters by a young John Leguizamo, also John Tuturo, Luis Guzman, Phil Collins, Frank Zappa. Then there’s the music, I could hear Vybz Kartel pon it, maybe a Pitbull collab?!

The movie has are some breathtaking shots jetting across the Caribbean Sea, and some explosions…and then there’s the plot!

6. Fool’s Gold (2008): Filmed in The Bahamas

Though it is a romantic comedy (with some updated urbanized Pirates of The Caribbean adventure thrown in) this is not a bad watch. The scenes at sea are predictably amazing, Alexis Dziena provides eye candy as the spoiled, ditzy daughter, and seeing Theo Huxtable try and get his Island vibe on is pretty suspect!

5. Splash (1984): Filmed in Nassau, The Bahamas

Check the super-corny trailer (if you’re into that). But this relatively recent “Making Of Splash” is actually really cool and pretty funny. Daryl Hannah, already a seasoned diver, was better than the stunt mermaids. Ron Howard and Tom Hanks give her major props!

4. How Stella Got Her Groove Back (1998): Filmed in Montego Bay & Cornwall, Jamaica

I’ll tell ya’, Stella ain’t the first, nor the last, to regain some groove dung’ ah yard! It’s a popular practice among middle-aged women in need of a strong young buck! If you don’t believe me, go walk around Negril for a while on any given evening and hear this: the ladies don’t always have to look quite like Angela Basset circa ’98!!!

3. Cocktail (1988): Filmed in Dunn’s River Falls, Ocho Rios, St Ann and Sandals’ Royal Plantation, Jamaica

The now famous beach bar scenes were staged at Dragon Bay Beach and Port Antonio, where the bar is now called Surprise ­Cruise Bar. The waterfall scene is Reach Falls, on the Drivers River, inland from Manchioneal on the northern coast. And Tom Cruise is still… a Scientologist, why, what’d you think I was gonna say?!

2. Club Paradise (1986): Filmed in Port Antonio, Jamaica

This is a classic! Robin Williams, with the help of an unknown Reggae singer (played by Jimmy Cliff) opens a shabby resort and has to fight evil British / Caribbean imperialists to keep it. Rick Moranis and Eugene Levy are trying to get stoned and / or laid, whichever comes first (neither work out!) Though Jah blesses them in the end, they just can’t hang! Shouts to Earl Chinna Smith for his cameo as guitarist in Cliff’s band.

1. Dr. No (1962): Filmed in Kingston, Jamaica

You already read about the plot, but consider the music…I have the soundtrack on vinyl and it’s really dope, featuring Byron Lee and the Dragonaires, plus other fun Jamaica Calypso of the time.