The city of Liverpool is not only the home of SAE Liverpool but has also been used as the backdrop for a wide variety of different films and television series.
It’s the stunning architecture in the city centre and location next to the River Mersey that have made it so attractive to film location scouts.
In our blog, we will explore some of the blockbusters shot on the streets of Merseyside – and if you want to learn more about our courses including Film Production, then contact our team now…
The Batman
The city of Liverpool became Gotham City for the latest instalment in DC’s superhero franchise.
The Batman, released in 2022, saw Hollywood stars Robert Pattison and Zoe Kravitz film various scenes in the city as part of director Matt Reeves’ take on the iconic comic book character.
The director confirmed that three-quarters of filming would take place in Liverpool.
In October 2020, filming subsequently took place at St George’s Hall, Anfield Cemetery and the Royal Liver Building with the latter Gotham’s police department.
The impressive building features in one of the most iconic shots of Batman flying from the top to flee from police officers.
Tolkien
Tolkien is the biopic of the acclaimed author behind The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings. Starring Nicholas Hoult and Lily Collins, the 2019 film focuses on the author’s early years as he finds friendship, love and artistic inspiration.
Much of the filming took place at some iconic locations across Liverpool including William Brown Street – home to The Walker Art Gallery, the World Museum, Liverpool Central Library and St George’s Hall, the Liverpool Town Hall, Dale Street and Stanley Dock.
Port Sunlight on the Wirral on the other side of the Mersey was also included among the film’s different shooting locations.
Yesterday
From Help to Backbeat, there have been numerous films made about Liverpool’s favourite sons, The Beatles, including Danny Boyle’s Yesterday from 2019.
The film’s intriguing premise is based on depicting a world where the Beatles never existed and the only person that can remember is Jack, the main protagonist. As part of the story and to help bring the songs back to life, he visits Liverpool and many of the city’s most iconic spots.
Among them are Penny Lane, Liverpool Lime Street Station and Strawberry Field.
Fountain of Youth
Guy Ritchie is the director behind 2025 movie, Fountain of Youth, a heist action adventure film featuring Natalie Portman and John Krasinski among its cast.
The film focuses on the story of two estranged siblings and their bid to find the Fountain of Youth – and while much of the narrative is based in London, the film was shot in Merseyside.
When the main character Luke Purdue reunites with his sister and steals a painting from The National Gallery, the scene is actually shot in Liverpool’s Walker Art Gallery.
Another scene involving a car chase was filmed on Dale Street although the story also depicts this as taking place in London.
Fast and Furious 6
Fast and Furious 6 was the 2013 instalment of the all-conquering action franchise starring Vin Diesel, a series that has been packing out cinemas around the world for more than 20 years.
The sixth film was shot in a number of locations around the world including Los Angeles and London. However, Liverpool was also where the production team gathered to shoot some of the action for their stunts.
Dale Street, the area around Liverpool’s Town Hall and the Queensway Tunnel linking Liverpool with Birkenhead were all utilised for some of the more daring high-speed antics.
Captain America: The First Avenger
Stanley Dock in the Port of Liverpool provides some of the city’s most impressive architecture and was chosen by the team behind Captain America: The First Avenger as the location for a key action sequence.
In the scene, protagonist Steve Rogers chases a hydra agent amid the docks.
According to reports, it took the crew more than a month to dress this location with period props and sets with this part of the film supposedly set in 1940s New York.
It’s the industrial look and feel which makes this part of the city so appealing with Peaky Blinders and Sherlock Holmes featuring Robert Downey Jr also shot here.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 is one of numerous film adaptations of the popular book series featuring Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson.
This is the 2010 cinematic release with the opening sequence depicting a scene where Harry and Hagrid are pursued by Death Eaters while riding the latter’s enchanted motorbike. This was shot in the Birkenhead Tunnel, a breathtaking opening to the film which sees the pair narrowly avoiding the oncoming traffic.
A crew of around 500 was involved in the filming which took place over four nights while the tunnel was closed.
Kevin Bell, Film and Events Locations Coordinator, from the Liverpool Film Office, told Liverpool Museums: “The planning took months, the shoot itself took four days (and nights) and the scene is really only minutes long. But what a scene it is!”
Alfie
The 2004 remake of Alfie is based on the 1966 version with Michael Caine and features Jude Law as the main star.
Two main scenes of the film were actually shot in Liverpool, which was transformed to look like New York. Paramount Pictures supervising Location Manager for Alfie, Bill D’Arby was reported as saying: “Liverpool is definitely one the best UK places for turning into New York. It’s so much better than London where the architecture is not as great and where you couldn’t film in that way for six days in a row.”
Outside of Liverpool’s city centre, the film also utilises the nearby Formby beach as a location when Alfie drives out of Manhattan to catch up with some of his older friends.
STUDY FILM Production at SAE
If you want to work in film production, get to grips with the latest video editing software and hone your skills in a uniquely collaborative environment, then our Film Production degree could be for you.
With high-end digital cinema cameras and production suites, our facilities and expert tutors are well placed to give your career the best possible start in this fast-paced and dynamic industry.
