Sofia De Vera combines a heartfelt passion for cinema with over 15 years of critiquing for esteemed film publications, wielding academic credentials from the University of Southern California and New York University, to serve as your personal guide through the enchanting worlds of film and television. Her full guest bio can be found here.
Turkey has a lot to offer both national and international filmmakers with exquisite natural and urban landscapes, a rich cultural heritage – and generous film tax credits and incentive programs. So it will come as no surprise that there are so many unforgettable movies set in Turkey.
Watching a good movie is the best way to get inspired and choose your next destination. It is the reason we have assembled various lists of the best films shot in some of our all-time favorite travel destinations: Afghanistan, Oregon, South Africa, Thailand, Barcelona and Dubai.
There are things that a photo alone can’t capture. We are human, and we need movement: the waves crashing against an isolated beach, the sun rising about improbable rock formations, and people walking side by side through a bustling market. These are things that are better experienced with movement. These are things that belong in movies. And these things are Turkey.
For a long time, both foreign and native directors have captured on film some of the most stunning sights and landmarks of the country. The local Turkish cinema industry might not be well-known in the West, but Turkey has definitely gained popularity in recent years as a highly desirable filming location for Hollywood. Producers have begun to embrace Turkey as a platform, particularly Istanbul, bringing a number of major Hollywood actors to the country. including Kevin Costner, Daniel Craig, Morgan Freeman, and Matt Dillon.
In terms of local film production, Turkey has the same story as many of the twentieth-century national cinemas. Film production did not begin in earnest until the 1950s, and the film business, in general, was dominated by a few big import corporations competing for dominance in the most populous and wealthy cities, such as Istanbul. Following World War II, Turkey’s film output rose dramatically.
With a total of 49 films made in 1952, Turkey produced more films in a single year than in all prior years combined. During the 1960s, Turkey rose to the fifth-largest film producer in the world, with yearly film output reaching the 300-film threshold at the start of the 1970s. In comparison to other national cinemas, the Turkish film industry’s accomplishments after 1950 are still exceptional.
Filmmaking grew again in the 1970s, then the age of black-and-white films came to an end. The rise of television, as well as economic and societal changes, all harmed Turkey’s film industry. Many producers had to battle to stay in business as viewership shrank dramatically. Nonetheless, those years might be considered the most fruitful.
The films in this list of movies set in Turkey paint a picture of a complex country filled with gorgeous sights and diverse voices. With this, we hope to help audiences step into the often-contradictory world of Turkey and experience the scenery, subcultures, and different dynamics that make Turkey what it is today.
These Turkish films frequently boast narratives that rely on their settings as much as their main protagonists, and as a result, spectators get a glimpse of Turkey through the director’s eyes. Be forewarned that not all of these films are happy – tragedies and misery are as unavoidable in cinema as they are in life – be we promise that each one provides panoramic vistas and thought-provoking narratives from this tantalizing country…
Wondering where to watch? It depends on where you live in the world and which streaming services you have. We link to the streaming service we watch on in each case - be it Netflix, Amazon Prime, Apple TV+, or elsewhere.
You can get one month free of Amazon Prime (or a 6-month trial for students) of Amazon Prime and also get immediate access to FREE Two Day shipping, Amazon Video, and Music. While you won't be charged for your free trial, you'll be upgraded to a paid membership plan automatically at the end of the trial period - though if you have already binged all these, you could just cancel before the trial ends.
Apple TV+ also has a one-week trial, and Hulu has a one-month trial (which can be bundled with Disney!). Another option might be using a VPN to access Netflix titles locked to other regions. Netflix is now available in more than 190 countries worldwide and each country has a different library and availability. US Netflix is (understandably) one of the best.
While we wish everything could just be in one place - for now, it seems these are the best streaming platforms to watch on.
