There are several ski resorts across Europe and North America that have been lucky enough to make it on to the big screen! If you’ve seen some epic runs and stunning slopes featured in a ski movie and wondered where exactly that scene was filmed, look no further, as we’ve compiled a list of some of the best ski movies of all time for you!
1. Bridget Jones: Edge of Reason (2004)
One of the UK’s most famous romantic comedies, Bridget is invited to go to luxurious Lech by her boyfriend Mark Darcy for their first holiday together. Bridget – not having skied before – is left on her own on the slopes and – due to the shock of thinking she might be pregnant – proceeds to recklessly tear down the piste, inadvertently gate-crashing an official slalom event (and beating the participating skiers). The scene ends with her skiing into a pharmacy in Lech’s centre and struggling with the language barrier when requesting a pregnancy test.
Inghams recommends:
The 5* Hotel Berghof is exclusive to Inghams guests, and in an enviable location in the centre of Lech village. You’ll discover traditional Austrian charm in this family-run hotel, with fantastic dining, as well as a sauna, steam room and gym for guests use.
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This classic comedy involving Jim Carrey sees the two dim-witted main characters attempting to deliver a briefcase to a woman in Aspen. The briefcase contained money left on purpose for her husband’s kidnappers, but Harry and Lloyd think they can help by returning the briefcase. There is a particularly funny scene where Harry licks an ice cold pole on a chair lift and becomes stuck to the lift! The film had a lot of filming done in Breckenridge.
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3. Hot Tub Time Machine (2010)
Four men travel to Fernie in Canada for a ski holiday in a lodge which has a hot tub. After an all-night party in the hot tub, the men wake up in 1986. Before realising this, the four set out for a day on the slopes, encountering people wearing fluorescent one-piece ski suits and individual leg warmers. The group eventually realise what has happened when they see a man with a jerry curl haircut and are told that Michael Jackson is still black in a very amusing comedy in one of Canada’s best resorts.
Inghams recommends:
It would be remiss of us not to recommend a lodge with a hot tub in Fernie! So, head to the Lizard Creek Lodge and Condos and you’ll discover a convenient ski-in-ski-out location and well-equipped accommodations…as well as the heated outdoor pool and whirlpool!
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An absorbing psychological thriller, Inception also features a ski scene based in Fortress Mountain, a 100km drive from Banff, again in Canada. A battle breaks out in the mind of Robert Fischer – within whose mind the team are attempting to plant an idea – and members of the team trying to plant the idea must ski away from the defenders of Fischer’s subconscious in a scene inspired by the James Bond film: On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.
Inghams recommends:
The Ptarmigan Inn in Banff is exclusive to Inghams and offers a price including half board dining. In a great location, it’s just a short walk to the centre where you’ll find shops, restaurants and Banff’s famous après ski.
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Location: St Anton, Austria
Another British romcom, Chalet Girl showed us the lifestyle of a high-end chalet worker in the illustrious resort of St Anton in Austria. Main character, Kim, has never skied or been to the Alps before and so – in amongst waiting on glamorous guests – she learns to snowboard. After an initial struggle to learn, she finds she can transfer much of the talent from her skateboarding days, enters a snowboarding competition and ends up winning the event and the prize money of £25,000.
Inghams recommends:
Any fan of Chalet Girl, surely needs to stay in a chalet? The Chalet Alpenheim in St Anton is only 250m from the village centre and ski lifts but you can also ski-in/ski-out. With our Inghams Chalet staff catering for you 6 nights of the week, you’ll enjoy a buffet breakfast, afternoon tea and a 4 course meal in the evening with complimentary wine, as well as free WI-FI and a lovely cosy chalet atmosphere after a day’s skiing.
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Another British romcom, Chalet Girl showed us the lifestyle of a high-end chalet worker in the illustrious resort of St Anton in Austria. Main character, Kim, has never skied or been to the Alps before and so – in amongst waiting on glamorous guests – she learns to snowboard. After an initial struggle to learn, she finds she can transfer much of the talent from her skateboarding days, enters a snowboarding competition and ends up winning the event and the prize money of £25,000.
Inghams recommends:
Any fan of Chalet Girl, surely needs to stay in a chalet? The Chalet Alpenheim in St Anton is only 250m from the village centre and ski lifts but you can also ski-in/ski-out. With our Inghams Chalet staff catering for you 6 nights of the week, you’ll enjoy a buffet breakfast, afternoon tea and a 4 course meal in the evening with complimentary wine, as well as free WI-FI and a lovely cosy chalet atmosphere after a day’s skiing.
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Skiing at the movies, wouldn’t be complete without a nod to Britain’s favourite spy on skis, James Bond! Since his first appearance on the slopes, James Bond has always had a link with skiing. Here’s some of the history of Bond's skiing hijinks.
Location: St Moritz, Switzerland
Likely the most iconic and impressive of Bond’s ski scenes. Bond, in his bright yellow snowsuit has to escape his Soviet attackers by skiing through the glorious off piste of St Moritz. He kills one with his pole/gun and evades the others by launching himself off a cliff (this part was filmed in Canada), only to unfurl the famous Union Jack parachute. The scene lives long in the memory of many and the cliff jump scene blew everyone away - a piece of stunting history.
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Likely the most iconic and impressive of Bond’s ski scenes. Bond, in his bright yellow snowsuit has to escape his Soviet attackers by skiing through the glorious off piste of St Moritz. He kills one with his pole/gun and evades the others by launching himself off a cliff (this part was filmed in Canada), only to unfurl the famous Union Jack parachute. The scene lives long in the memory of many and the cliff jump scene blew everyone away - a piece of stunting history.
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On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969)
This 1969 epic sees George Lazenby’s first and last foray into the James Bond world and features multiple ski scenes. Most of the film is based atop Murren’s Schilthorn Mountain in Switzerland, which neighbours Wengen and Grindelwald which is used as Blofeld’s headquarters. There are a few ski scenes, including one of Blofeld’s associates getting churned up by a piste-basher and Bond skiing away from baddies on one ski! Rumour has it, ski legend Jean Claude Killy doubled as Bond for the ski scenes shot in Zermatt and Saas Fee, showing Bond's prestige.
Inghams recommends:
The 4* Hotel Eiger in Murren is less than 10 minutes’ walk from the Schilthorn lifts. It also boasts superb views of the mountains and great facilities including indoor pool, Jacuzzi and sauna.
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Location: St Moritz, Switzerland
Bond used World Snowboarding Champion, Tom Sims as stuntman for this scene which helped popularise snowboarding. When his snowmobile is shot at by a helicopter, Bond is forced to abandon it before it explodes. One of the blades from the snowmobile lands next to him and he fashions it into a snowboard, escaping the bad guys by skating across a lake where their skis cannot get them across. This groundbreaking scene was filmed on a glacier bordering Switzerland and Italy, right by St Moritz.
Inghams recommends:
The Art Boutique Hotel Monopol is somewhere you can imagine Mr Bond sauntering through. In the heart of this stylish resort with great views out over the mountains from the top floor area with sauna, steam bath and whirlpool, you’re in for a very memorable holiday here!
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Bond used World Snowboarding Champion, Tom Sims as stuntman for this scene which helped popularise snowboarding. When his snowmobile is shot at by a helicopter, Bond is forced to abandon it before it explodes. One of the blades from the snowmobile lands next to him and he fashions it into a snowboard, escaping the bad guys by skating across a lake where their skis cannot get them across. This groundbreaking scene was filmed on a glacier bordering Switzerland and Italy, right by St Moritz.
Inghams recommends:
The Art Boutique Hotel Monopol is somewhere you can imagine Mr Bond sauntering through. In the heart of this stylish resort with great views out over the mountains from the top floor area with sauna, steam bath and whirlpool, you’re in for a very memorable holiday here!
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Location: Cortina D’Ampezzo, Italy
A scene filmed on the beautiful slopes of Cortina D’Ampezzo in the magnificent Dolomites, James is – as you might have suspected – on the run (or in this case on the ski) from baddies equipped with winterised motorcycles. He manages to force one to crash by skiing through trees, clothes-lining him with a pole between two tree trunks, and the other after a chase down a bobsleigh run, enabling his getaway.
A scene filmed on the beautiful slopes of Cortina D’Ampezzo in the magnificent Dolomites, James is – as you might have suspected – on the run (or in this case on the ski) from baddies equipped with winterised motorcycles. He manages to force one to crash by skiing through trees, clothes-lining him with a pole between two tree trunks, and the other after a chase down a bobsleigh run, enabling his getaway.
Inghams recommends:
Stay in the centre of the famous Corso Italia at the Chalet Hotel Parc Victoria and you won’t be disappointed. It’s in a great location for shops, bars and restaurants as well as the cable car, and you’ll receive Chalet Hotel dining including 4 course evening meals and complimentary wine.
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The World Is Not Enough (1999)
Bond’s most modern ski venture, James has to evade the paraglide equipped skimobiles – used by Renard’s henchmen – that chase him down the couloirs of Chamonix. He manages to make two crash into trees and uses a cliff jump to slash his ski through the parachute of one, making it crash into the other in mid-air. Bond then uses his protective bubble to shield him and Electra from a mini avalanche caused by the crashing snowmobiles before they escape.
Inghams recommends:
Sit back and relax in a quiet location with views towards the magnificent Mont Blanc at our Chalet Hotel Sapiniere. A perfect location for the Savoy nursery slopes and teleski lift, means you can reach the slopes within minutes of the hotel.
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How to book your holiday
Simply give us a call to book your holiday. Flights, hotel and transport? We’ve got you covered.
