6 Places in Argentina that Appeared on International Films

Snowy peaks, impressive waterfalls, cement, and history coexist in some of the most fascinating stories of the Hollywood film industry. And what natural film set has been chosen? The country of asado, tango, and wine; the country with an unusual variety of landscapes; the country with the southernmost city in the world: Argentina.

Every corner of this country displays dreamlike panoramic views that pair very well with internationally renowned actors and award-winning directors. Now, let’s make a tour around the national territory together with these incredible films:

Buenos Aires in Focus

Year 2015, Will Smith and Margot Robbie would stir up the streets of the Argentinian capital with a comedy about scams and romance. A mega production was being prepared, and one of the chosen locations was Buenos Aires.

Focus portrays the life of two fraudsters who, after several years, meet again in a city that exudes passion and seduction: Buenos Aires. The plot mixes comedy with action and shows typical places in the capital of Argentina. The colours of the well-known neighbourhood of La Boca, Puerto Madero’s skyscrapers, Retiro and Recoleta’s buildings, and San Telmo’s unmistakable stone-paved streets with vintage vibes.

Tierra del Fuego in The Revenant

We could say that Argentina did its bit to the well-deserved Oscar awarded for the first time to Leonardo DiCaprio. Why? Because part of the film in which he starred was filmed in the southernmost place in the world: Tierra del Fuego, with shots on the banks of Olivia River, in Ushuaia. Directed by the prestigious Alejandro González Iñárritu, The Revenant was nominated for 12 Oscars, winning three of them (best actor, director and photography). This blockbuster also had Tom Hardy in its cast. It was a masterpiece of photography and the use of natural light.

The story revolves around Hugh Glass (DiCaprio), an explorer on an expedition to the western United States. Survival, desertion, revenge, and redemption are some of the ingredients of the film with an iconic scene involving a bear and a stellar performance by Leo. Nobody can miss it.

Misiones in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

We bet you are humming the jingle while you read this. That’s what this famous saga starring Harrison Ford generates! Created by George Lucas and directed by Steven Spielberg (the magical duo that brought Star Wars to life), the Indiana Jones franchise is one of those that raised the highest takings in film history, also bringing about series, video games, toys, and attractions at Disney theme parks. The fourth instalment (released in 2008) follows the character’s legendary journeys in search of the Crystal Skull of Akator. All the scenes in which there are waterfalls are filmed in none other than one of the Seven Wonders of the Natural World: Iguazú Falls, in the province of Misiones. The breathtaking images finish framing the adventure that characterises the film, featuring general pannings and others inside the falls.

A fun fact? The star-studded cast returns to the big screen in a new instalment: Indiana Jones 5, scheduled for June 2023.

Mendoza in Seven Years in Tibet

The director was not allowed to shoot the film in Tibet, so his second-best option was Aconcagua, in the province of Mendoza. Who was the star in the middle of the mountain? None other than the award-winning Brad Pitt. The story portrays Heinrich Harrer, a famous Austrian mountaineer who tries to climb the Himalayas on a unique journey back in 1939. Plans radically change when he ends up a prisoner in a British concentration camp in India. Adrenaline, emotion, ambition, and amazing landscapes are fused in a must-see film based on real events.

In addition to the Mendoza snow, some scenes were also recorded in La Plata, in the south of the province of Buenos Aires, re-enacting Austria in the 1930s.

Neuquén in X-Men: First Class

Mutants, action, and a sublime cast. Marvel released this comic series in film format in 2000, and the result was a phenomenal success that continues to this day. Patrick Stewart, Hugh Jackman, Ian McKellen, and Halle Berry starred in the first film adaptations, bringing the dearest characters in the saga to life. Later, Jennifer Lawrence, James McAvoy, and Michael Fassbender, among many others, took their places on the set.

The interesting thing linked to Argentina took place in 2011 with the release of X-Men: First Class. After World War II, Magneto (Fassbender) embarks on a journey through Argentina looking for answers about his past. Mountains, lakes, and wooden buildings appear in a scene that lasts a few seconds, but reads “Villa Gesell –Argentina” on the graph. An unfortunate error because the location was actually Villa La Angostura, in Neuquén. Far from the mountainous elevations and crystal-clear water mirrors, Villa Gesell is located on the eastern coast framed by sand dunes and Atlantic Ocean waves.

Salta in Gerry

The duo Matt Damon and Casey Affleck embark on a desert adventure that puts all their instincts, resilience, and friendship to test. The location of the film? Salta, the northern province of Argentina that dazzles everyone with its landscapes. The first idea was to leverage Salinas Grandes salt flats for all the shoots, but the temperature range hindered the plans, so the directors ended up filming half in Argentina, and the other half in Death Valley, California.