Movies to Watch Before Going to Greece

I can’t count how many times a movie has made me want to book a plane ticket.

For Greece, it all started with a certain ABBA-fueled fever dream called Mamma Mia! (very original I know). Then came the sweeping historical epics, the sun drenched romcoms, and the black and white classics that made me think I could just…move to a tiny island and run away from all my problems.

Greek cinema and Greek-set films are all over the map, literally and tonally. You’ve got big budget Hollywood blockbusters about ancient battles, quiet art films that take their sweet time, and musicals where Pierce Brosnan’s singing voice becomes part of the plot tension.

Watching these before your trip is a great way to kill time, while also being a way to set the tone for your adventure, learn a little about the culture, and fully romanticize your entire vacation. That’s why I’ve put together my ultimate list of movies to watch before going to Greece, because nothing gets you in the mood for your trip like a good on-screen escape.

I’ve broken this list into three parts:

1. Entertainment and FOMO Films: The ones that make you want to throw your phone in the sea and run away to a remote Greek island immediately.
2. Greek History & Mythology Movies: Dramatic and sometimes insanelyyy inaccurate, but they’ll give you a crash course in legends and battles.
3. Documentaries for the History Buffs: Because some of us (it’s me) actually want to spend our vacation talking about city-states and ancient plumbing.

Whether you’re traveling to Greece or not, these picks will entertain, inspire, and educate, depending on which one(s) you choose.

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For the Aesthetic and the Escape

If you’re after pure wanderlust fuel, this is where to start. These movies to watch before going to Greece are the cinematic equivalent of booking a ferry ticket after two glasses of wine. They’re gorgeous, they’re fun, and they’ll have you mentally moving into a whitewashed villa before the opening credits are over.

Mamma Mia! (2008)

If you’ve been alive the past two decades, this one should come as zero surprise. I grew up belting ABBA songs with my two aunts and sister at full volume, like hairbrush as a microphone type performances.

When the movie came out in 2008, it was a full girls’ day with me, my aunts, my sister, my grandma, and my mom at the theater. I was 100% sold on the Mamma Mia dream. Sunshine, ABBA, and a messy tea romance… what’s not to love?

The story follows Sophie, a bride-to-be on the fictional Greek island of Kalokairi, who secretly invites three men to her wedding after discovering they might all be her father.

Her mother Donna, a former wild-child now running a remote Greek villa, is blindsided by their arrival, leading to a weekend of old flames, awkward secrets, and a whole lot of singing. With a backdrop of turquoise seas and olive groves, the film is basically two hours of joy, fun, and pure Greek island escapism.

As far as movies to watch before going to Greece, this one is literally a no brainer. It’s the kind of feel good chaos that makes you want to throw on a flowy dress and hop the very next plane to Greece. I loved it so much that before my first ever trip to Greece (which was solo), I watched it as a comfort movie to calm my nerves.

Also last year, I ended up making it to Skopelos (the very island where they filmed much of the first movie) and was able to see many of the movie’s iconic locations. I guess you could say I was inspired.

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (2005)

This one is a little personal for me. Growing up, I was obsessed with the book and movie series. Partly because I was told I looked and acted like Lena when I was in middle school.

Considering middle school was when I was at my most insecure (like rock bottom level), that comparison gave me a much needed confidence boost.

The movie follows four best friends who spend their summer apart but stay connected through a shared pair of “magic” jeans. Lena, the shy and artistic one, heads to a picture perfect Greek island to visit family, only to fall for Kostas, a sweet local boy caught in the middle of a decades-old family feud.

The rest of the girls, Bridget, Tibby, and Carmen, navigate their own summer challenges involving sports camp romance, an unexpected friendship, and messy family drama, respectively. But Lena’s story is the one that put Greece permanently on my bucket list. Turquoise seas, winding whitewashed streets, and sunsets that look airbrushed.

As far as movies to watch before going to Greece, this one delivers pure romantic escapism. Turns out, I ended up living my own mini-Lena storyline. On my first trip to Greece, I fell for (and ended up dating for three years) my Greek tour guide.

While my love story didn’t end the same way Lena’s did (at least in the movie), the parallels were almost too uncanny. Life imitates art… just sometimes with a messier third act.

Shirley Valentine (1989)

I went into this one with zero expectations. I’d never even heard of it before writing this list. And honestly, before halfway through, I almost cut it from my list of movies to watch before going to Greece.

The first half felt slow, and I wasn’t convinced it was really going anywhere. But I stuck it out, and I’m SO glad I did, because that first act ended up being the perfect setup for one of the most quietly empowering films I’ve ever watched.

The story follows Shirley, a 42 year old Liverpool housewife whose life has been whittled down to cooking dinners that no one thanks her for and wondering what happened to the girl she used to be. When a friend wins a trip to Greece, Shirley goes, hesitantly, and finds herself stranded on a Greek island after her travel buddy ditches her for a vacation fling.

What follows is a gorgeous, sometimes funny, sometimes bittersweet journey of self-discovery, complete with Greek wine, boat trips, sunsets, and a playboy taverna owner named Costas.

The moment that really stuck with me is when Shirley finally lives out her dream of sipping wine on a beach at sunset, only to realize it’s not the fulfilling fantasy she thought it would be.

Instead, it hits her how much life has slipped by without her truly living it. She asks, “Why do we get all this life if we don’t ever use it?” That one line alone could be printed on a postcard and mailed to anyone considering a big life change.

Watching it, I couldn’t help but relate. I’ve had my own “Shirley Valentine moments” in Greece, those gut-punch realizations that life is too short to settle for the version of it other people expect from you. This movie is proof that it’s never too late to rewrite your story… and maybe have a fling with a Greek local while you’re at it.

Boy on a Dolphin (1957)

I’m including this one in my list of movies to watch before going to Greece for two reasons: the jaw-dropping shots of 1950s Greece and Sophia Loren. That’s it.

The Plot? Fine. The Adventure? Sure. But Sophia Loren is so distractingly beautiful here I nearly forgot a statue was even part of the storyline… and I’m a straight woman.

The movie follows Phaedra, a Greek sponge diver who stumbles upon a 2,000 year old statue of a boy riding a dolphin (as one does). She gets caught in a tug-of-war between an honest archaeologist who wants to return it to Greece and an art dealer who wants to cash in.

It’s very “1950s adventure flick” in pacing and tone, but what makes it worth watching now are the locations. You get Hydra, which was even more devoid of modernity back then, and glimpses of a Greece from the past that feel like stepping into a time machine.

If you’ve been to Greece, half the fun is spotting places you recognize and then realizing how much they’ve changed. If you haven’t been yet, this film might just make you book a ticket, though sadly, you’ll have to leave the ancient underwater treasure hunting to Sophia

My Big Fat Greek Wedding 1 & 2 (2002 & 2016)

When I got my first TV in my room in 2006 (a major rite of passage, basically my “I’m a grown up now” moment), it came with a built in DVD player. My mom handed me a stack of DVDs to watch and keep in my room, and right there in the pile was My Big Fat Greek Wedding.

I must’ve watched it a dozen times that year. The sequel came out years later and it’s definitely worth the watch if you loved the first one as much as I did.

The first film follows Toula Portokalos, a thirty-year-old woman living in Chicago with a large, loud, and nosy Greek family whose life mission seems to be marrying her off to a “nice Greek boy” before she gets “too old”. She meets Ian, a non-Greek English teacher, and their love story unfolds against a backdrop of Windex, unsolicited life advice, and more family involvement than anyone could possibly prepare for. It’s ridiculously heartwarming and full of moments that are just as relatable for anyone who’s ever grown up in a big, meddling family, Greek or not.

The sequel picks up years later, with Toula now married to Ian, raising their teenage daughter and still navigating her endlessly involved relatives. This time the chaos revolves around Toula’s parents discovering that their marriage license was never signed, meaning they were never technically married. Cue a vow renewal with all the over the top Portokalos craziness, their daughter’s coming of age storyline, and, of course, more Windex.

As far as movies to watch before going to Greece, this one doesn’t exactly give you the caldera views or island landscapes you might expect, but it does give you a crash course in exaggerated Greek family dynamics, traditions, and humor.

Is it accurate? Not exactly. Greek families aren’t as cartoonishly overbearing as the film portrays (actual Greeks were quite confused about their portrayal in this film), but I related to it instantly because it reminded me of my big Italian-American family. Loud af gatherings, relatives in your business, and massive amounts of food… It’s a vibe.

I haven’t seen My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 yet, but it’s locked and loaded on my plane movie list for my next trip to Greece!

My Life in Ruins (2009)

Back in the days when we still had cable, my family had an HBO subscription, aka my gateway to a weird and wonderful rotation of movies I never would have picked for myself.

One afternoon, I was channel surfing and landed on a film starring Nia Vardalos (My Big Fat Greek Wedding royalty) that also happened to be set in Greece. That was all the convincing I needed to drop the remote and watch it start to finish.

In My Life in Ruins, Vardalos plays Georgia, a laid-off professor of Classical Greek studies who’s been downgraded to leading bus tours for the most delightfully annoying group of tourists imaginable. She’s burnt out, bored, and has lost her “kefi” (Greek for mojo), but through a string of crazy pit stops, rival tour guide drama, and the arrival of a new, brooding bus driver, Georgia starts to loosen up. With some help from Richard Dreyfuss’s amazing widower character, she rediscovers the joy of life, love, and Greece itself.

As far as movies to watch before going to Greece, this one won’t give you a perfectly accurate version of what a tour bus experience is like, but it does offer a fun, scenic, and slightly ridiculous glimpse of the country.

You get your share of ancient ruins, island shots, and classic Greek humor, all wrapped in a feel good romcom bow. Plus, I’ll watch Nia Vardalos in anything. She could star in a movie about assembling IKEA furniture and I’d watch.

For the History Nerds and Mythology Fans

This is where we trade turquoise water montages for sword fights, epic speeches, and enough slow-motion battle shots to make you feel like you should start training for the Spartan army.

Are all these movies historically accurate? Absolutely not.

Some of these films take major creative liberties, but they still manage to capture the drama, mythology, and sheer awe that make Greece so captivating, and honestly, a little historical inaccuracy never stopped me from booking a trip.

300 (2006)

When 300 came out, I was in middle school, which meant two things:

1. I was absolutely not allowed to watch it because it was rated R.
2. Every boy on the playground was suddenly running around screaming “THIS. IS. SPARTAAAAA!” like they were auditioning for Gerard’s role.

Years later, when I finally watched it, I understood the hype. The stylized, graphic-novel visuals were unlike anything I’d seen before and (while the “history” part of this historical epic is… let’s say loosely interpreted) it made the Spartans feel larger than life.

Just don’t use this as your sole history prep before visiting Greece, unless you want to be the cringey tourist yelling Leonidas quotes at the top of your lungs in front of ancient ruins.

Based on Frank Miller’s graphic novel, 300 tells the story of King Leonidas and his 300 Spartan warriors as they make a heroic last stand against the massive Persian army at the Battle of Thermopylae. The film blends stylized action, slow motion combat, and larger than life dialogue into a gritty, hyper-dramatic retelling of one of ancient Greece’s most famous battles.

If you’re working your way through movies to watch before going to Greece, 300 is the over the top, slow motion, battle heavy fantasy you throw in for pure entertainment value.

No, it won’t help you pass a Greek history exam, but it might inspire you to see the real site of the Battle of Thermopylae… anddd maybe inspire you to hit the gym.

Troy (2004)

I’m not even going to pretend this isn’t one of my all-time favorite movies. It’s my guilty pleasure, the cinematic equivalent of eating an entire block of cheese straight out of the fridge.

I first watched Troy in college, when my Brad Pitt crush was fully alive, well, and thriving. And this movie DELIVERED. For anyone who loved reading The Iliad in high school (hi, yes, that was me), this is a very fun, very shirtless visual aid.

The film follows the events of the Trojan War, starting with Paris stealing Helen away from her husband, King Menelaus, and sparking a decade-long conflict between Troy and the Greek kingdoms led by Agamemnon. You’ve got Hector being noble, Achilles being legendary (and hot af), Odysseus being clever, and pretty much everyone making very poor romantic choices that doom entire nations. There’s the beach landing, the duel between Hector and Achilles, and of course, the infamous Trojan Horse.

And yes, it deviates heavily from Homer’s epic (if you’re looking for meddling Greek gods like in the book, you’re not going to find them here) but it still manages to be an incredibly entertaining retelling of one of the greatest war stories ever told.

Honestly, historical inaccuracy aside, Troy is still one of the best movies to watch before going to Greece. It’s got ancient cities, epic battle scenes, and enough brooding hero shots to keep you glued to the screen.

Plus, it’s basically a travel ad for ancient Aegean coastlines… with bonus Brad Pitt in leather armor.

Alexander (2004)

Okay, full disclosure… I’ve only watched Alexander in its entirety once, years ago.

Yes, it’s long, and in my opinion, it does drag on, but it earns a spot on this list of movies to watch before going to Greece because it covers one of the most fascinating figures in world history, Alexander the Great, the guy who conquered nearly the entire known world at the time and still managed to die at just 33.

His military strategies are literally still studied by armies today, which is more than you can say for most ancient kings.

The film follows Alexander’s rise from Macedonian prince to ruler of an empire that stretched from Greece to India, showing his complicated family drama, his legendary battles against Persia, his deep (and sometimes romantic) relationships, and his endless ambition to push further east. Along the way, we see some creative liberties (Colin Farrell’s blond wig and eyeliner just being some of them) but also some impressive attempts at historical accuracy.

I’ll admit, Alexander isn’t the most thrilling epic ever made (that honor belongs to Return of the King and I will die on that hill). It can drag, and the pacing sometimes feels like it’s trying to match the length of his actual military campaigns.

But even with that, this movie sparked my own deep dive into the real history. And honestly, if a film can get you Googling battle formations at 2 AM, it’s worth a watch before your trip to Greece.

Zorba the Greek (1964)

This one had to be included in my list of movies to watch before going to Greece not because it’s my personal all-time favorite (we’ll get to that), but because it’s basically a cultural institution.

Beloved by Greeks and non-Greeks alike, it’s the kind of movie people watch over and over, quoting lines, playing the soundtrack, and yes, attempting the famous beach dance. It’s got Anthony Quinn at his most magnetic, rugged Cretan landscapes, and that intoxicating mix of joy and tragedy that feels deeply, unmistakably Greek.

The story follows a reserved English-Greek writer who travels to Crete to revive a mine he’s inherited. Along the way, he picks up Zorba, a larger than life free spirit who becomes his guide to the wild highs and devastating lows of life in a rural Greek village. There’s friendship, love, betrayal, dancing, death, and a contraption for transporting timber down a mountain that goes… spectacularly wrong. Through it all, Zorba lives in the moment, embracing pleasure, grief, and disaster with the same infectious energy.

I’ll be honest, this movie didn’t fully sweep me off my feet like it has for so many others. But even if the story didn’t hook me completely, I still see why it’s considered essential viewing. It captures Greece in the 1920s with an unfiltered eye, mixing beauty and brutality in equal measure.

And the core message, that there’s always something to dance about, even after your elaborate plan ends in spectacular failure, feels timeless. Watch it for the cultural impact, the performances, and the fact that Anthony Quinn makes dancing in slacks on a deserted beach look like peak life happiness.

The Big Blue (1988)

I first visited Amorgos in 2022, and within about five minutes of stepping off the ferry, I learned this island had a claim to cinematic fame.

Locals brought up The Big Blue in nearly every conversation, usually starting with, “Did you know they filmed a movie here?” Now years later, I finally watched it, and I get why it’s such a point of island pride.

While the story hops around the globe, the Amorgos scenes are gorgeous, especially when I recognized the exact town I stayed in. It’s one of those movies to watch before going to Greece if you want to see the Cyclades in all their cinematic glory.

And while it’s hardly a history lesson, the film is a heavily fictionalized take on the real-life friendship and rivalry between champion free divers Jacques Mayol and Enzo Maiorca, which earns it a spot in this section.

The film follows childhood friends Jacques and Enzo, who grow up on Amorgos in the 1960s before becoming world-class free divers. Their friendly rivalry turns into a high stakes competition as they push the limits of human ability, with dolphins, love interests, and life or death dives all in the mix. Between daring rescues, record-breaking descents, and an emotional finale that involves one last, mysterious plunge into the deep, the movie blends adventure, romance, and tragedy in equal measure. The Amorgos coastline is the silent co-star with its crisp white buildings, blue blue waters, and a backdrop that makes you want to book the next ferry out.

I went into this movie excited to see Jean Reno (because Léon: The Professional is one of my favorites), and he absolutely stole the show for me as the charismatic Enzo. The dolphins were a fun touch, but I’ll be honest here, after years of visiting Greece, I still haven’t seen a single dolphin there, so keep your expectations realistic.

Story-wise, it’s equal parts hypnotic and heartbreaking, but visually, it’s stunning. Watching it made me miss Greece in a way only a beautifully shot film can.

The Odyssey (1997) (mini series)

Okay, so technically The Odyssey from 1997 isn’t a movie, it’s a two-part mini-series, but it absolutely earns a spot on this list of movies to watch before going to Greece.

Why? Because it’s hands-down the most faithful film adaptation of Homer’s epic you’re going to find, special effects and all. And yes, by “special effects” I mean those gloriously 90s CGI moments that look like they belong on an ancient video game cutscene.

But honestly? That’s part of the charm.

I first saw this in high school English class after we read the poem, and it totally pulled me in. Armand Assante plays Odysseus with just the right mix of ego, cunning, and “why do the gods hate me so much?” energy. Over the course of twenty years, you get a war, a cyclops, witches, sea monsters, jealous gods, and an endless parade of “almost home” moments ruined by poor decisions or divine sabotage. It’s like the ultimate Greek road (sea) trip gone wrong.

If you’re into Greek mythology or want a crash course in one of the most important pieces of Greek (and world) literature, watch this before your trip.

Even with its slightly dated visuals, it captures the heart of the story and will give you a deeper appreciation when you’re standing in front of ruins, imagining the kind of adventures the ancient Greeks dreamed up thousands of years ago.

Documentaries to Watch Before Going to Greece

If you’re the kind of traveler who wants to walk into the Parthenon and casually rattle off its construction dates like you’re auditioning for Jeopardy, this section is for you. These picks are the kind that’ll have you pausing every few minutes to say, “Wait, I need to write this down.”

This part of my movies to watch before going to Greece list is for the history buffs, archaeology nerds, and anyone who secretly gets emotional over a well-preserved temple column (no judgment, I’ve been there). By the time you step foot on ancient ruins or wander through a Greek museum, you’ll know exactly what you’re looking at without having to eavesdrop on someone else’s tour guide.

The Greeks: Crucible of Civilization (2000)

If you only watch one documentary before heading to Greece, make it this one. It’s hands-down one of the best (if not the best) documentary about ancient Greece out there.

I was first introduced to it by my Greek ex, who claimed he’d seen it “over 100 times.” (I’m convinced it was closer to 300. The man could quote it like other people quote The Office no cap).

When he finally sat me down to watch it, I didn’t expect to get hooked… but here we are. It’s accurate, fascinating, and somehow manages to make ancient politics feel like high-stakes reality TV.

The series, narrated by none other than Liam Neeson, follows the rise, glory, downfall, and legacy of ancient Greece through the lives of its most iconic figures. Thanks to early 2000s computer graphics, dramatic storytelling, and genuinely great scholarship, the whole thing feels alive, like you’re actually there, watching democracy take its first breath.

It’s part history lesson, part cinematic experience, and all around binge-worthy.

There are three episodes, each focusing on a turning point in Greek history:

• Episode 1: The birth of the world’s first democracy, told through Athenian nobleman Cleisthenes.
• Episode 2: The Greeks’ epic victory over the Persian Empire, seen through the brilliant (and slightly shady) general Themistocles.
• Episode 3: Athens at its peak… and then its self-inflicted downfall in the Peloponnesian War with Sparta, told through the eyes of philosopher Socrates.

This is the one to watch if you want to walk into the Acropolis knowing exactly why it matters. Or if you just want to hear Liam Neeson narrate ancient battle scenes like he’s about to threaten someone with “a particular set of skills”.

Secrets of the Parthenon (2006)

I first watched this in a college humanities class right after we’d finished a unit on ancient Greek art, architecture, and literature. THIS was the documentary that made me decide, “Yup, I’m going to stand on the Acropolis one day if it kills me.”

It follows a modern team of archaeologists and stonemasons as they restore the Parthenon, mixing fascinating history with a behind the scenes look at the most meticulous construction project in human history.

The doc dives into how the Parthenon isn’t actually “perfectly straight” like everyone assumes. It’s actually full of subtle curves and optical illusions that make it look flawless.

It also shows how the restoration team corrected mistakes made by earlier repairs (apparently 19th-century restorers weren’t exactly playing the long game), recreated missing marble pieces by hand, and used both ancient techniques and cutting edge tools to fit everything together within fractions of a millimeter.

Basically, it’s one giant architectural puzzle, except every piece weighs several tons and is older than your entire family tree.

It’s absolutely mind blowing what humans are capable of. Both 2,500 years ago and today. If seeing the Acropolis in person has been on your bucket list forever, watching this will only make the obsession worse (but in a good way).

Athens: The Truth About Democracy (2007)

This is another gem my Greek ex introduced me to. He was also a historian and archaeologist, which meant there was a never-ending supply of Greek documentaries queued up on his laptop. This one was my gateway into the wonderful world of Bettany Hughes documentaries, and honestly, I was hooked.

She’s a captivating storyteller, and here she digs into how a barren rock in the middle of the Mediterranean became the birthplace of democracy 2,500 years ago. If you’re into movies to watch before going to Greece that actually teach you something (while still being wildly entertaining), this one deserves a spot on your list.

Bettany goes full Indiana Jones, exploring underground chambers, silver mines, and ancient tombs to uncover what life in Athens was really like. And btw, the “Golden Age” had a lot of… tarnish.

Athens may have pioneered democracy, but it was still built on slave labor, run by manipulative aristocrats, and wasn’t exactly a feminist utopia. Women wore veils, and political power was strictly a boys-only club.

The documentary covers epic moments like the Athenian navy’s victory over Persia at the Battle of Salamis and the construction of the Parthenon, not just as a temple but as a flex of Athenian power. It’s a fascinating mix of groundbreaking achievements and very human flaws.

Battle of Greece and Battle of Crete – World War II (2021)

Ever since the History Channel decided to blow their budget on Bigfoot hunts and reality shows where people destroy entire ecosystems for one pebble of gold (yeah, I have beef you “History” Channel), I’ve turned to YouTube for my historical deep dives. And honestly? It’s the best.

That’s where I stumbled across this awesome video, which is hands down one of the best movies to watch before going to Greece if you want to understand the country’s more recent history. It’s not lighthearted, but it’s important.

If your only WWII knowledge involves Normandy and Pearl Harbor, you’re in good company. I had no clue what Greece endured during the war until recently. This documentary covers the German invasion of Greece in April 1941, which led to the country being occupied by German, Italian, and Bulgarian forces.

Then came the Battle of Crete, when German paratroopers tried to take the island from British, Australian, New Zealand, and Greek defenders. It’s a fascinating blend of strategic maneuvers and sheer chaos of the incredible battle, told with clear visuals and great animations that make it easy to follow.

The thing that really got me? How little this is talked about outside Greece, even though the aftermath was devastating. Once the Axis took control, the country endured one of the most brutal occupations of the war, with famine, mass executions, and a level of suffering that’s just hard to wrap your head around.

This documentary will give you a whole new level of respect for Greece and its resilience. Something worth keeping in mind when you’re walking around those sunny, peaceful streets today.

Final Thoughts

Every time I’ve gone to Greece, I’ve realized how much watching these movies beforehand changed the way I experienced the country.

It’s one thing to see the Parthenon in a documentary, and another to stand in front with all the knowledge you acquired through years of binging random docs and movies. Or to look out over the harbor of Hydra and think, “Oh this is where Sophia Loren dove into the sea in her dripping sponge-diving outfit”.

These movies and documentaries make the ruins, the islands, and even the food feel more layered. Like you’re not just looking at a site, you’re in on its backstory. And honestly, why wouldn’t you want to show up in Greece already armed with a little history, a little cinematic romance, and maybe a borderline irrational crush on a fictional Greek fisherman?

So pour yourself some ouzo or Greek wine, queue up a couple of these, and start planning your trip.

And if I missed your favorite? Tell me in the comments or DM me your all-time best Greece-inspired scenes! The ones that made you open Skyscanner at 2 AM and seriously consider a one-way ticket.

Who knows? I might watch it and add it to this list.