Kingsman: The Golden Circle (2017) Directed by Matthew Vaughan

Based on the comic book series The Secret Service by Mark Millar and Dave Gibbons, this sequel to the 2014 film sees Colin Firth, Taron Egerton and Mark Strong returning for more comedy espionage in a story of deadly global security. Despite its opening car chase being set in London, it was actually filmed on the winding city streets of Birmingham. Principal photography began in May 2016 with Colmore Row and the surrounding streets closed overnight to allow for filming. The film itself polarised critics yet still made over $400million at the box office and Midlands film fans will spot various city locations during the exciting black cab chase including Waterloo Street, Edmund Street, Margaret Street and Cornwall Street.

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005) Directed by Andrew Adamson

Not one but two screen adaptations of C.S. Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia were filmed in Shropshire. One-hour away from Birmingham, Highley village train station, originally built in 1862, is featured near the start of the film to show the 4 children evacuating London during World War 2. In the movie it is referred to as Pewsey Station. The Severn Valley Railway itself is a full-size steam railway that runs between Kidderminster (Worcestershire) and Bridgnorth (Shropshire) and it can also be seen in the 1978 version of The Thirty-Nine Steps. Aside from this, both the movie and the well-received 1988 BBC series used the Grotto at Hawkstone Park. Hawkstone’s rocky clefts, towers and outcrops conjured up the magical landscapes of Narnia and can also be visited throughout the year if you fancy a trip.

American Assassin (2017) Directed by Michael Cuesta

American Assassin is a 2017 action thriller starring Dylan O'Brien, Michael Keaton and Taylor Kitsch and was based on Vince Flynn's 2010 novel of the same name. The movie centres around a young man who, following the loss of his parents, joins covert missions to combat global terrorism involving rogue nuclear weapons. Despite its worldwide theme, some scenes were shot much closer to home in Birmingham. Various locations were utilised including the Jewellery Quarter (Ludgate Hill, Lionel Street, Water Street), Birmingham Council House courtyard and Margaret Street. Not only that, it also stars West Midlands’ very own superstar stuntman Scott Adkins as well! Read about Scott’s Midlands background in our interview here.

Ready Player One (2018) Directed by Steven Spielberg

Oscar-winning cinematic legend Steven Spielberg did indeed head to the Midlands to film his action-packed adaptation of the novel by Ernest Clyne. The film tells of a boy (Tye Sheridan) who escapes his mundane existence in a 2045 shanty town to enter an online virtual reality world where he competes in a number of video-game challenges to defeat an evil corporation. Somewhat sadly, to stand in as the real world’s rough and ready town, the production decided to use extensive parts of Birmingham. The city’s abandoned Typhoo Tea Factory acts as a safehouse and Telephone House on Newhall Street was used as a high school. But as the final action ramps up, we see the rebellion’s vehicles blaze through Newhall Street, Henrietta Street, Ludgate Hill, Lionel Street, Mary Anne Street, Livery Street and Water Street (all in the Jewellery Quarter). At times Spielberg cuts directly between Birmingham locations – such as the Digbeth’s brick railway arch on Floodgate Street – to other parts filmed in London. And the area’s famous M6 motorway interchange known as Spaghetti Junction can be viewed briefly from underneath as well.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (2010) Directed by David Yates

The 16^th century Hardwick Hall, built by Bess of Hardwick, was used for exterior scenes in this penultimate instalment of the wizarding Harry Potter franchise. It stands in as Malfoy Manor, the ancestral home of one of the major antagonists in the series. The grand Elizabethan building is augmented with CGI though - with the addition of spires giving it a suitably creepy and gothic feel. Located in Derbyshire near the Peak District, you can see the house in the film in a number of exciting action scenes including when Snape flies over to visit the Death Eater HQ, as the base of operations for Lord Voldemort’s Second Wizarding War and when Draco refuses to recognise Harry after Hermione casts a Stinging Jinx spell. (As someone who has never seen 7 of the 8 films this is gobbledygook to me, but children will love it as you can also take them on a visit to this National Trust property too). 

Spider-Man 2: Another World (2018) Directed by Joey Lever

This fan film has racked up over 9 million (!) views on YouTube and includes CGI to create cityscapes and multiverse iterations of Spider-Man and his villainous foes. Yet it was filmed entirely in my hometown of Leicester! Leaping off the events of the first film (Spider Man: Lost Cause, 2014), the film deals with warping time, Venom and the shady dealings of Oscorp. With many city locations prevalent throughout, locals will recognise Leicester’s Cultural Quarter, Firebug bar (where we ran our own Midlands Movies events), The City Rooms, and the rooftops of many of the city’s high-rise buildings for appropriate web-slinging action. Heck, I even think my old flat is one scene! The film’s success is owed to its heart-felt love for the Marvel icon and impressive special effects, giving it a big-screen sheen despite its low-budget. You can watch the full fan film at this link, read our own review here and its online reputation has even been covered in the New York Times (link behind paywall here).

Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning - Part One (2023) Directed by Christopher McQuarrie

Long delayed owing to Covid, the seventh entry in the spy action series sees Tom Cruise and the IMF team face off against a powerful rogue AI to prevent it from falling into the wrong hands. Filming began way back in February 2020, but the pandemic postponements eventually finished and the production headed across the globe to Rome, Venice and beyond. But the movie’s opening act at Abu Dhabi Airport was in fact shot at Birmingham Grand Central Rail Station. Arabic airport signs and a fake Dior store were set up and extensive coverage was given in the Media to Cruise and co-star Hayley Atwell’s arrival in the region. Later during shooting, Darlton Quarry in Stoney Middleton, Derbyshire was used when the production team built a 330m railway bridge specifically for a train crash sequence where a locomotive met a fiery end in this Peak District limestone quarry. Despite the attention that Cruise, the Hollywood cast and the entire production brought to the region, just don’t mention that the £100k BMW Cruise was travelling in was unfortunately stolen from Church Street in Birmingham. Yikes!

The Da Vinci Code (2006) Directed by Ron Howard

The movie version of Dan Brown’s controversial book has a European flavour with its focus on the artworks and historical myths surrounding Leonardo’s Da Vinci’s masterpieces and was filmed at a number of locations including Paris and London. However, the production with its lead Tom Hanks headed to Midlands’ Burghley House in Stamford, Lincolnshire for a number of crucial scenes. The film features the house's 'Hell staircase' (which I funnily saw just last weekend) and stands in for Castel Gandolfo, the Pope's summer residence. Burghley also acted as both the garage at Chateau Villette, where professor Leigh Teabing (Ian McKellen) lives, as well as the retreat of Jacques Saunière (Jean-Pierre Marielle) in flashback scenes. Funnily enough it doesn’t end there, as the exterior of Teabing’s residence, with a bit of CGI added, is in fact famous Midlands filming location Belvoir Castle. Finally, as filming is prohibited, Lincoln Cathedral stood in for Westminster Abbey in the film’s dramatic conclusion.

Thunderball (1965) Directed by Terence Young

A sprawling global spy adventure set in Northamptonshire? Well, not quite. In the fourth film of the James Bond franchise, Sean Connery’s MI6 agent is once again up against the SPECTRE organization and heads off to the Bahamas to recover two nuclear warheads and prevent SPECTRE's dastardly plans for world domination. Despite most of the film being set either underwater or in gorgeous tropical locations, a sequence where an assassin’s car explodes uses the famous Silverstone Racetrack in Northamptonshire. Bond’s iconic Aston Martin DB5 features in this chase scene and was filmed on location with stunt driver Bob Simmons. One particular story tells how the crew didn’t notice Simmons exit the car before it blows up – causing some extreme panic on set before they discovered him unharmed.

Young Sherlock Holmes (1985) Directed by Barry Levinson

Famous for being the first full-length movie to feature a completely CGI character, the pioneering use of technology was just a small part in this rip-roaring adventure featuring the famous 19^th century detective. Based on the characters created by author Arthur Conan Doyle, it sees a young Sherlock Holmes and sidekick John Watson valiantly solving a mystery at their boarding school. Perennial movie-location Belvoir Castle in Rutland has been utilised once again, this time its crenelated towers can be seen during a sequence involving a rudimentary flying machine. It also appears as a secondary location as the home of cursed archaeologist Chester Cragwitch (played by Freddie Jones, who may be best known as the showman Bytes in 1980’s The Elephant Man – the award-winning film about Leicester’s very own Joseph Merrick).

Michael Sales