Written by Kianna Best on May 1, 2025. Posted in Production News

Summer 2025 Blockbuster Season: A Global Tour of Hollywood’s Biggest Hits

From the jungles of Thailand to the streets of London, summer 2025’s biggest blockbusters are not just showcasing A-list talent and billion-dollar budgets—they’re also shining a spotlight on the real-world locations that are becoming stars in their own right. This year, film-goers are being transported across the globe through the lens of Hollywood’s most ambitious productions yet.

How To Train Your Dragon image courtesy of Universal Pictures

As the summer box office heats up, studios are once again betting big on massive franchises, live-action reimaginings, and high-concept action thrillers. But beyond the CGI spectacle and star-studded casts, one thing is clear: location is everything. Summer 2025’s most anticipated films are using international backdrops not only for their cinematic value, but also to ground their stories in tangible reality—turning once-remote places into recognisable cultural landmarks.

Leading the charge is Jurassic World Rebirth, Universal’s high-stakes reinvention of the dinosaur saga. Helmed by Gareth Edwards, known for his visually immersive work on Rogue One, the production tapped into the dense tropical landscapes of Thailand’s Khao Phanom Bencha National Park, adding visceral authenticity to the dino-chase sequences. Malta also plays a key role, with its fortified coastlines and labyrinthine streets standing in for a rogue biotech enclave. And back in London, Sky Studios Elstree provided state-of-the-art production space for the film’s more effects-heavy sequences. This globe-hopping production is emblematic of a wider trend—studios are marrying cutting-edge technology with on-location shooting to anchor fantasy in reality.

Jurassic World Rebirth image courtesy of Universal Pictures

Marvel’s Thunderbolts continues this international approach, blending the sleek aesthetic of espionage thrillers with superhero grit. Principal photography took place in Atlanta’s Trilith Studios, but the story extends far beyond American borders. Kuala Lumpur was chosen for a major set piece involving the antihero ensemble navigating a black-market arms deal gone wrong, while Utah’s otherworldly desert landscapes serve as the site of a covert U.S. military experiment. Marvel’s use of such diverse locations underscores the franchise's pivot toward grounded, morally ambiguous storytelling—visually reinforced by placing characters in places with real geopolitical resonance.

Tom Cruise returns in Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, the concluding chapter of the Ethan Hunt saga, and once again uses London as a production and narrative hub. Cruise, renowned for his insistence on practical effects and real stunts, reportedly performed a high-altitude skydive over the Scottish Highlands and commandeered a boat chase along the Thames. London has long been a mainstay for the franchise, previously hosting production for Rogue Nation and Fallout, and in 2025 it cements its place as the go-to city for spy drama. UK incentives and access to diverse architecture—from Victorian rooftops to hyper-modern skylines—make it an evergreen choice for blockbusters.

Thunderbolts image courtesy of Disney

Meanwhile, DreamWorks’ live-action adaptation of How to Train Your Dragon is breathing new cinematic life into the windswept coasts of Northern Ireland. Filmed largely around the Belfast Harbour Studios and along the Antrim Coast, the production taps into the same magic that made Game of Thrones a visual juggernaut. Director Dean DeBlois returns to his original creation, aiming to balance visual spectacle with intimate performances from newcomers Mason Thames and Nico Parker. With Gerard Butler reprising his role as Stoick, and sweeping drone shots of rugged cliffs and stormy seas, the film marks Northern Ireland as a growing fantasy filmmaking stronghold.

Even Disney’s live-action Lilo & Stitch keeps it real with a heartfelt return to Oahu, Hawaii. Despite production delays from last year’s industry strikes and a set fire, filming resumed to capture the lush authenticity of island life. Hawaii has long been integral to the original’s charm, and its return marks a significant shift from green screen convenience to cultural respect and realism. The local economy has welcomed the boost, reinforcing Hawaii’s unique place in the cinematic landscape.

Beyond simply serving as backdrops, these filming locations are integral to the storytelling fabric of 2025’s tentpole releases. From tax incentives to natural beauty, from historical resonance to logistical convenience, each site is a character in itself—adding texture, scope, and authenticity to the summer’s most ambitious narratives.

As Hollywood aims to bring audiences back to theatres, it’s not just the stars or the stories that are drawing viewers in—it’s the worlds they inhabit. And this summer, those worlds are as real as they are spectacular.