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'The Fellowship of the Ring' (2001) -

The first installment in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, 'The Fellowship of the Ring' set the Kiwi cinema scene visually, using a host of outstanding locations and cherished landmarks as backdrops, places that include Tākaka Hill and Lake Alta on South Island.

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'The Two Towers' (2002) -

Similarly, 'The Two Towers' was filmed across New Zealand, with scenes shot in Tongariro National Park on North Island, and Canterbury and Milford Sound on South Island, among many other locations.

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'The Return of the King' (2003) -

For 'The Return of the King,' filming again took place across a variety of locations, including Mount Ruapehu and the Rangipo Desert on North Island. 

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'The Piano' (1993) -

Jane Campion's acclaimed period drama starring Holly Hunter was shot at various North Island locations, notably Karekare Beach near Auckland, where the famous piano scene takes place, and the mountainous Northern Taraniki region.

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'Hunt for the Wilderpeople' (2016) -

Sam Neill and Julian Dennison star in this adventure-comedy drama, shot on North Island at locations that include the Central Plateau and the Waitākere Ranges.

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'Heavenly Creatures' (1994) -

Peter Jackson's biographical drama is based on the notorious 1954 Parker–Hulme murder case and stars Kate Winslet and Melanie Lynskey in their feature film debuts. The entire film was shot on location in Christchurch on South Island, where the real-life killing took place.

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'The Last Samurai' (2003) -

Though set in Japan, 'The Last Samurai' was actually filmed in New Zealand, mostly in the North Island region of Taranaki. In fact, Mount Taranaki appears in the movie as Mount Fuji. Tom Cruise and Ken Watanabe head the cast.

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'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey' (2012) -

Soon after Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings trilogy wrapped, the director began filming 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,' the first of a three-part movie adaptation based on J. R. R. Tolkien's 1937 novel 'The Hobbit.' New Zealand again stands in for Middle-earth. Filming locations included the aptly named The Remarkables, an impressive mountain range in Otago, South Island.

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'The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug' (2013) -

New Zealand's stunning landscape features throughout 'The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug,' in scenes filmed at Passburn Valley and the Organ Pipes rock formation, among other South Island locations.

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'The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies' (2014) -

The third and final instalment, 'The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies,' was again filmed against epic New Zealand panoramas.

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'X-Men Origins: Wolverine' (2009) -

Filmed in the Otago region of South Island as well as in Australia and Canada, 'X-Men Origins: Wolverine' stars Hugh Jackman as the titular character.

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'King Kong' (2005) -

Positively received for its special effects, performances, and sense of spectacle, the 2005 version of 'King Kong' was made in New Zealand by Peter Jackson, who used locations as varied as Lyall Bay in Wellington on North Island to film the Skull Island scenes, and Wellington's Opera House, which doubled up as a Broadway theater.

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'The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe' (2005) -

British writer C. S. Lewis's children's epic fantasy series is brought to life in three movies, the first of which, 'The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe,' was filmed in various New Zealand locations, including Flock Hill and Purakaunui Bay on South Island.

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'The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian' (2008) -

The adventure continued with 'The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian,' with the scene where the Pevensies return to the ruined Cair Paravel shot at Cathedral Cove on the Coromandel Peninsula on North Island. However, much of this instalment was in fact shot in various European destinations.

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'The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader' (2010) -

'The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader,' the third and final film in the series, was shot in Australia and New Zealand, with North Island's Whakaari/White Island serving as a location.

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'Mission Impossible 6 : Fallout' (2018) -

Part of the set for 'Mission Impossible 6 : Fallout' was built in the Nevis Valley on South Island. Filming also took place in Rees Valley and Cromwell.

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'The Lovely Bones' (2009) -

Mark Wahlberg, Rachel Weisz, Susan Sarandon, Stanley Tucci, Michael Imperioli, and Saoirse Ronan star in this Peter Jackson-directed supernatural thriller that, while set and largely filmed in the United States, includes scenes shot in studio in New Zealand.

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'Without a Paddle' (2004) -

New Zealand replicated the United States for this comedy. It's about three buddies who go in search of the loot of long-lost real-life airplane hijacker D. B. Cooper. North Island film locations include Taupo, Rotorua, Wanganui, Waikato, and Wellington.

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'The World's Fastest Indian' (2005) -

Much of the action in this biographical sports drama takes place on the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah in the United States. But the scenes where New Zealander motorcycle racer Burt Munro (Anthony Hopkins) tests his bike on the beach were shot at Oreti Beach in Invercargill, South Island.

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'Guns Akimbo' (2019) -

Daniel Radcliffe stars in this wacky action comedy, much of which was shot on the streets of Auckland, on North Island. In-studio filming also took place in Munich, Germany.

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'Whale Rider' (2002) -

Whangara, a small community in the northeast of New Zealand's North Island, provided the backdrop for Niki Caro's critically acclaimed family drama starring Keisha Castle-Hughes.

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'Vertical Limit' (2000) -

Chris O'Donnell, Bill Paxton, Robin Tunney, Scott Glenn, and Izabella Scorupco all appear as if they are climbing K2 in Pakistan's Karakoram range, and indeed this corner of the world did serve as an establishing location. However, New Zealand's highest mountain, Aoraki (Mount Cook), provided the setting for much of the outdoor action in this survival thriller.

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'The Frighteners' (1996) -

Michael J. Fox and Trini Alvarado star in this Peter Jackson-directed supernatural comedy, which was filmed entirely in New Zealand, even though the movie is set in the Midwestern United States.

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'The Dead Lands' (2014) -

James Rolleston and Lawrence Makoare star in this film about the teenage son of a slain Maori chieftain looking to avenge his father's murder. It was filmed in and around Auckland.

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'Once Were Warriors' (1994) -

Rena Owen stars in 'Once Were Warriors,' a drama that centers on an urban Māori family and was also filmed in the Auckland area. The movie, directed by Lee Tamahori, is one of the highest-grossing and critically acclaimed pictures to come out of New Zealand.

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'Boy' (2010) -

Another highly regarded New Zealand production, 'Boy,' directed by Taika Waititi, stars James Rolleston as the titular character who's reacquainted with his absentee criminal father. Much of the story takes place at Waihau Bay near Gisborne, North Island.

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'The Bounty' (1984) -

Gisborne again serves as an idyllic backdrop for 'The Bounty,' which stars Mel Gibson and Anthony Hopkins. Mo'orea, in French Polynesia, was also used. The film marks an early appearance by Daniel-Day Lewis.

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'Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence' (1983) -

Directed by Japanese filmmaker Nagisa Ōshima, 'Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence' was partly filmed in New Zealand, specifically the boarding school sequence which was shot on location at King's College, a private high school in Auckland. The city also briefly served for other location scenes. David Bowie, Tom Conti, and Ryuichi Sakamoto head the cast.

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'Black Sheep' (2006) -

A domestic hit, this comedy horror picture was made in and around the Wairarapa region of North Island. 'Black Sheep' stars Nathan Meister and Peter Feeney.

Sources: (New Zealand History) (The New Zealand Herald) (FBI) (NZ On Screen) 

See also: Discover New Zealand, North and South

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