TORONTO — It’s always a delight to see and hear John Malkovich on film – and now a just-released travel-themed mini-movie shows the legendary actor paying homage to his Croatian roots.
Pete Radovich, a 45-time Emmy Award-winning producer who also has Croatian roots, produced the film.
Created in partnership with the Croatian National Tourist Board, which calls the Hollywood-caliber production “a cinematic destination film redefining how Croatia is experienced by the world”, the 6-minute movie strikes an almost anti-promotional tone with its script – and that’s exactly why it succeeds.
It’s perfect for prodding hesitant new-to-Croatia travellers to give the European gem a try, because that’s exactly what Malkovich does in the film.
‘Croatia – I Hear It’s Beautiful’, available as a short 1-minute teaser as well as the 6-minute full version, shows a hilariously cantankerous and exasperated Malkovich gradually coming around to Croatia’s charms. Viewers, caught up in the storyline, see the country’s islands, culture, gastronomy and natural landscapes unfold as Malkovich experiences the country.
Trogir, Zagreb, Dubrovnik, Split and Voćni Square, Šibenik & St. Nicholas Fortress, Kornati National Park, Krka National Park, Hvar and many more provide cinematic backdrops.
The Croatian National Tourist Board says the film serves as a new visual resource that travel advisors can use to inspire clients and support luxury bookings. The tourism board says the film can serve as a client-facing tool for advisors seeking to bring Croatia to life during the planning process and help travellers envision experiences beyond the traditional Mediterranean destinations.
“It is a cinematic travel experience — paced, scored, and composed like a film — designed to make audiences feel Croatia before they visit it,” says the tourism board.
As reported last month Croatia capped off 2025 with a record 7% growth from Canada, totalling 188,000 Canadian visitors with 555,000 overnights. It was a record year for Canadian arrivals, the highest since before the pandemic. This year Croatia has seen 10% growth from Canada during the first few months, with expectations of over 200,000 Canadian visitors by the end of 2026.
