Location scout: four films that were shot in Israel

Once adapted to film, this famed rock opera was a huge box office success (it was the 8th highest grossing film in 1973), and given its main subject, it's no surprise that it was filmed here. Shoot locations included the ruins of Advat, Beit Guvrin and the Dead Sea.

This 1988 action flick is part of the series that sky-rocketed Sylvester Stallone to global fame. Blood, guts and glory are the name of the game and filming took place in Tel Aviv, Jaffa and Eilat, with locations set to replicate the film's plot taking place in Afghanistan. The Guinness World Records deemed the movie the most violent film ever made (at the time).

Bruno was filmed documentary-style in several locations, including Jerusalem’s Old City streets. Acting as a gay Austrian fashion reporter, Sasha Baron Cohen, sporting nothing but a sleeveless vest, hot pants and a few traditional Haredi items, caused a huge raucous. In another scene, he interviews former Mossad agent Yossi Alpher and Palestinian politician Ghassan Khatib near the Zion Gate, during which he purposefully confuses hummus with Hamas.

This comedy follows the ridiculous high jinks of Zohan Dvir, an Israeli counter-terrorist commando who dreams of becoming a hair stylist in New York City. Believe it or not, it’s actually loosely based on the real life of Nezi Arbib, a former Israeli soldier and current salon owner in San Diego, California. The box office success features quintessential Tel Aviv beach scenes and a sound track featuring legit Israeli musicians, including Hadag Nahash, Infected Mushroom and Dana International.