Macau is known to many as the Las Vegas of Asia because of its range of casinos and shopping centers on the Cotai Strip. Like Las Vegas, Macau has also been the backdrop of several blockbuster movies. There’s something about the ambiance of its East-meets-West architecture that attracts filmmakers from all over the world. Here are a few of the most well-known movies filmed in Macau.
Skyfall—2012
The number one movie on our list is probably the most famous as well. Skyfall was the 23rd movie released as part of the James Bond franchise. The epic film featured scenes from the Golden Dragon Casino in the gambling capital of the world, Macau, the most famous being when Bond comes face to face with the film’s villain Raoul Silva. However, none of the movie took place in Macau. Instead, Pinewood Studios in the UK used the Golden Dragon logo and interiors to transform the set into a Macau look-a-like. It was Daniel Craig’s third appearance as James Bond and broke box office records, raking in $1 billion worldwide.
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom—1984
This beloved film’s opening scene was shot in Macau at the Pensão Sun Sun Hotel, known in the movie as Club Obi-Wan. One of the most famous movie franchises ever filmed, Harrison Ford starred in this iconic trilogy and then returned to the role for the 2008 release of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. The fifth Indiana Jones movie is slated for release in 2023.
The Indiana Jones films have won several Academy Awards, including Best Visual Effects for the Temple of Doom, Best Sound Effects for the Last Crusade, and Best Art Direction for Raiders of the Lost Ark.
Macau only makes an appearance at the beginning of the movie as Indiana Jones tries to make a deal with the villain Lao Che at Club Obi-Wan. Although the movie treats these scenes as Shanghai, the footage of Indiana’s deal with Lao Che and the subsequent car chase were all filmed in Macau.
Now You See Me 2—2016
With so many must-see movies being released this year, it’s easy to forget about past hits like Now You See Me. The first release was a runaway blockbuster hit grossing $351 million worldwide and winning the 2014 People’s Choice Award for Favorite Thriller Movie. The second movie did almost as well, grossing $334 million globally.
The sequel to Now You See Me finds the “Four Horsemen” transported from the US to Macau to steal a data chip containing highly valuable personal information. The movie stars Dave Franco, Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, and Mark Ruffalo as the aforementioned horsemen. Several scenes from the movie were filmed around Macau, including at the Macau Science Center, as the horsemen try to pull off an impossible heist against a tech genius.
The Man With the Golden Gun—1974
The oldest film on our list was the first to put Macau front and center, making it a favorite location for Hollywood directors. This Bond classic stars Roger Moore as 007 with the floating casino named Macau Palace in the spotlight. Almost half a century later, many online casinos use the boat as a backdrop for their games.
The movie’s director chose Macau because its many casinos made it the perfect location for the film. Although the movie almost sunk the James Bond franchise, today it’s considered a classic. The floating casino where the movie was shot closed in 2007; however, it’ll always be a part of this classic Bond film.
Johnny English Reborn—2011
This film starring Rowan Atkinson, also known for his famous role as Mr. Bean, follows spy Johnny English as he faces off against international assassins in his search for Chinese Premier Xiang Ping. A lot of the movie’s action is set in Macau and features shots of the interior and exterior of the Casino Lisboa and its neighbor, the Casino Grand Lisboa.