Top 50 Western Movies Set In Africa
Movies set in Africa
Westerners have been gravitating towards locations in Africa for quite a while. Whether it’s for the exotic backgrounds or historical insights, many films with foreigners as the protagonists define what the essence of Africa is (whether accurate or not) has been quite influential. Despite inherent practices of vilification on their part, some of the greatest films ever made were created in the continent of Africa.
Here’s a list of 50 Western films I recommend you watch that were shot in Africa or the story itself is set there.
Also don’t forget to…
50.Cry Freedom (1987) Lesotho
Random Fact 1: The filmmakers intended to shoot in South Africa as early as October 1986 with permission from select prominent figures including Oliver Tambo and Winnie Mandela. After interviewing Mandela, the chief production crew was tailed around by the S.A gestapo all the time and was forced to leave South Africa. Also, the SABC at that time deliberately misinterpreted Richard Attenborough’s decision of shooting the film in October and instead broadcast the news of him starting a revolution sponsored by Russia.
Random Fact 2: Denzel Washington was cast for the role of Biko after Richard Attenborough saw him in an episode of St. Elsewhere (1982).
49.Out of Africa (1985) Kenya
Random Fact 1:Sydney Pollack didn’t consider Meryl Streep for the role of Karen Blixen as he thought she wasn’t sexy enough. Streep landed the part by showing up for her meeting with the director wearing a low-cut blouse and a push-up bra.
Random Fact 2:The film was shot on location in Africa, but local laws prohibited the use of wild animals in film. Trained lions were imported from California.
48. Africa: The Serengeti (1994)
Random Fact 1: The Serengeti is an immense area of grassland in Tanzania, Africa.
Random Fact 2: Annually, during drought season, close to two million herd animals such as antelopes travel north to feed and mate before moving south again, when plants there begin to blossom.
47.Blood Diamond (2006)
Random Fact 1:De Beers Group, which is the largest player in the diamond trade, has expressed reservations that the film will reduce public demand for diamonds. De Beers maintains the trade in conflict diamonds has been reduced from 4% to 1% by the Kimberley Process and it has been suggested the company pushed for the film to contain a disclaimer saying the events are fictional and in the past. De Beers has denied this.
Random Fact 2:Leonardo DiCaprio and Russell Crowe were Edward Zwick’s first two choices for the role of Danny Archer. They later starred together in Body of Lies (2008).
46.Passion in the Desert (1997) Egypt
Random Fact 1: Though the film is set in Egypt, filming took place in Jordan and the ruins in Petra.
Random Fact 2: Director Lavinia Currier used animals that were chosen at birth to be raised with enough human interaction, thereby making the process of filming scenes with the leopard much easier.
45.Motherland (2009)
Random Fact 1: Directed by Jennifer Steinman who also filmed Desert Runners (2013)
Random Fact 2: Six American mothers, each grieving the death of a child, journey to South Africa to volunteer with impoverished children.