13 International Movies Shot in Indonesia

Blackhat (2015) - Hollywood

Chris Hemsworth, wisata di Sunda Kelapa

One of the best international movies to have ever been filmed in Indonesia, Blackhat stars Chris Hemsworth (Thor) and was directed by Michael Mann. The last 20 minutes of the movie are in Jakarta in locations such as the airport, Tanah Abang, the Papua Freedom Monument or Sunda Kelapa.

Eat, Pray, Love (2010) - Hollywood
I don't think it's necessary to introduce Eat, Pray, Love as it is the most successful movies to have ever been shot in Indonesia. Starring Julia Roberts and Javier Bardem, it is so popular that you have tours in Bali where customers can visit the locations used in the film. Most scenes were taken in the surroundings of Ubud and Padang Padang Beach.

The movie, initially released under the name "The Philosopher" was entirely shot in Indonesia with an international cast. The main actors are not big stars but they all had minor roles in famous Hollywood productions:  Sophie Lowe, Freddie Stroma, Rhys Wakefield, Katie Findlay, Bonnie Wright, James D'Arcy and Daryl Sabara. The beautiful Indonesian actress Cinta Laura also played a part.

The funny thing about this movie is that it opens with a semi-nude love making scene and you also have a nude gay sex scene in the middle. Both of them could be considered as porn according to the 2008 Pornography Law. The director, the actors and the Indonesian producer (SCTV) risk up to 12 years in jail for that.

I could recognize several locations in the movie such as The National Archive Museum, the Monas, Prambanan Temple, Sewu Temple, Belitung Island and the Bromo.

Rogue Trader (1999) - UK

Ewan McGregor and Anna Friel having a bintang and mie goreng

Starring Ewan McGregor and Anna Friel who can both be seen in Jakarta for about 10 minutes, it tells the true story of the trader Nick Leeson who caused the bankrupt of Barings Bank. During a street food dinner somewhere in the city, they have this conversation: "Anna Friel: When they told me I was going to Jakarta I had to look on a map. Ewan McGregor: As a matter of fact so did I".

Iseng (2016) - Malaysia/Indonesia
Shot entirely in Jakarta with Indonesian actors but a Malaysian director/producer, Iseng is one of the few films in Bahasa that are being released with English subtitles. It will premiere in March 2016 and I advise you to watch it. It follows several characters in Jakarta who are flirting with the limits of morality, living their life without thinking about the consequences: Prostitutes, gangsters, lovers or cheating husbands. Slowly you see the stories getting more complicated until they take a more tragic turn.

The cast of the movie includes Donny Alamsyah, Donny Damara, Fandy Christian, Zuli Silawanto, Yayan Ruhian, Tio Pakusadewo, Dayu Wijanto, Ayu Shita, Wulan Guritno and Manda Cello.

This movie, directed by Rob Cohen who did the first Fast and Furious, stars Tyler Perry as Alex Cross, Matthew Fox, Edward Burns, Jean Reno and Rachel Nichols. One of the final scenes is in Bali in a villa on Pantai Jasri, Candidasa.

You can see the character played by Jean Reno being wrongfully arrested for drug smuggling by the Indonesian police. On the phone, Alex Cross, who framed him says: "Do you have any idea what the punishment is for drug smuggling where you are? It's death by firing squad". You can also hear Jean Reno speaking a few sentences in bahasa.

Part of the film is set on Bintan island, particularly on Lagoi Bay where two of the protagonist get lost. It stars Vinay Pathak and Kay Kay Menon. 

Toute La Beauté du Monde (2006) - France
This French movie is mostly shot in Bali and Lombok. It tells the story of a French woman played by Zoé Felix who goes to Bali to forget the death of her husband. She falls in love with both the island and a French guy (Marc Lavoine). It's a bit similar to Eat, Pray, Love.

Bali is filmed as a paradise on earth, which is quite far from the reality. For instance, you can see the actors in Seminyak with no noise, no pollution and no traffic. You also see the girl meditating in Tanah Lot with barely any tourists.

An odd scene is when one of the actors buys a ring for Rp10,000 and later complains: "I paid it double the normal price, you could have helped me bargain harder".

Pijnstillers (2014) - Holland
I didn't get the subtitles for this movie so I didn't really understand the plot. You have two scenes in Jakarta where you can see actor Raymond Thiry alone taking pictures.

War Photographer (2002) - Switzerland
This documentary is about the work of James Nachtwey, one of the world's most famous war photographers and photo journalists. You can see him shooting in Jakarta and in Kawah Ijen.

Other International films shot in Indonesia:

Car chase in Jakarta in The Raid 2

The three movies of Gareth Evans can be considered international as they had a worldwide release. They are: "Merantau" (2009), "The Raid: Redemption" (2011) and "The Raid 2" (2014).

The two movies "Baraka" (1992) and "Samsara" (2011) have scenes in Indonesia among several other locations on earth.

The two critically-acclaimed movies from Joshua Oppenheimer "The Act of Killing" (2012) and "The Look of Silence" (2014) were both shot in Indonesia, in particular in Medan, Sumatra. Both films were nominated for Best Documentaries at the Academy Awards.

Films with a story in Indonesia but not shot in Indonesia:

Nick Nolte is the main character in Farewell to The King

"Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid" (2004) is supposed to take place in Borneo but the location of the shooting was in the Fijis.

"Paradise Road" (1997) with Glenn Close, Frances McDormand and Julianna Margulies. Even though it is a movie about the internment camps of Sumatra during WW2, it was shot in Malaysia for "technical reasons".

"Farewell to the King" (1989): Shot in Borneo, Sarawak, Malaysia and not in Indonesia as some people think.

"The Year Of Living Dangerously" (1982) with Mel Gibson and Sigourney Weaver was shot in the Philippines and Australia but the plot is in Jakarta during the fall of Soekarno.