The city of Liverpool, England, is a popular location for the filming and setting of films and television shows, both fictional and real. The following article provides a list of films and television shows which have been shot in Liverpool. The list includes a wide array of films and TV shows, ranging from those that were almost entirely shot and set in the city (e.g. The 51st State, Brookside) to those where only a small number of scenes were set or shot in Liverpool (e.g. Across the Universe).
Media is an important component of Liverpool's economy and in 2019 brought over £17.6m into the local area, with 324 productions racking up 1,750 production days.[1] After London, it is the most filmed city in the United Kingdom.[2] The Liverpool Film Office, founded in 1989, was the first of its kind in the United Kingdom and along with North West Vision and Media and the UK Film Council acts to promote the city to film and television producers. In addition to attracting outside producers, Liverpool is also home to Lime Pictures, the UK's largest independent television production company.[3]
Liverpool's rich architectural base means it is frequently used as a double for major cities across the globe, including Chicago, London, Moscow, New York, Paris and Rome.[4] [5] It is also able to utilise a large number of historic sites within the city that are openly available for filming, including the now decommissioned courtrooms of St. George's Hall,[6] or the nineteenth century warehouses around Stanley Dock.
Title | Year | Notes | Ref | |
---|---|---|---|---|
The 51st State | 2001 | Drug-related comedy. Filming took place at the India Buildings in Water Street and on Liverpool Docks as well as several other locations in and around Liverpool. | [7] [8] | |
'71 | 2014 | Thriller set in Northern Ireland in 1971 with Liverpool doubling for Belfast. | [9] | |
A Day in Liverpool | 1929 | A city symphony film covering life in Liverpool in the 1920s. | [10] | |
Across the Universe | 2007 | A love story crafted around several Beatles songs. | [11] | |
Alfie | 2004 | Jude Law starred in the remake of the Michael Caine original, with Liverpool doubling for New York City | [12] | |
The Almond and the Seahorse | 2021 | Film adaptation of Kaite O’Reilly's stage play, starring Rebel Wilson, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Trine Dyrholm and Meera Syal. Filming took place around the World Museum and Central Library as well as in Wirral. | [13] | |
Al's Lads | 2002 | Known as Capone's Boys for its US release, Liverpool doubles for Chicago | [14] | |
The Arrest of Goudie | 1901 | Possibly the world's first filmed crime reconstruction, by Mitchell and Kenyon | [15] | |
Awaydays | 2009 | Crime drama about football hooliganism, starring Stephen Graham | ||
An Awfully Big Adventure | 1995 | Drama about a Liverpool theatre company in 1947; although establishing shots were filmed in Liverpool, most of the location shooting was in Dublin | ||
Backbeat | 1994 | Drama about the early days of the days of the Beatles, particularly their Hamburg days | ||
The Batman | 2020 | St George's Hall and the Liver Building was used for filming. | [16] | |
Blood on the Dole | 1994 | Alan Bleasdale drama for Channel 4 that filmed in multiple locations across the city and the Wirral. | [17] | |
Blond Fist | 1991 | Drama film about a female boxer from Liverpool. | ||
Bolan's Shoes | 2023 | Drama about the lives of several children growing up in an orphanage in Liverpool and how glam rock band T. Rex influenced their lives. | [18] | |
Business as Usual | 1987 | Drama set and filmed in Liverpool starring John Thaw and Glenda Jackson. | [19] | |
2011 | Stanley Dock doubles as docks in Brooklyn, New York | [20] | ||
Chariots of Fire | 1981 | Liverpool Town Hall was used, while the Bebington Oval in Wirral doubled as the Olympic Stadium and beach scenes were shot at New Brighton. | ||
Charlie Noades R.I.P. | 2009 | Family comedy. | [21] | |
Coast to Coast | 1987 | Comedy thriller starring Lenny Henry that was set and filmed in Liverpool. | ||
Creed | 2015 | Spin off from the Rocky series of films. Goodison Park was used as a filming location. | [22] | |
Dalíland | 2021 | Biopic of Salvador Dalí starring Ben Kingsley, with Liverpool doubling for New York. | [23] | |
Dark Summer | 1994 | Urban love story set in Liverpool. | ||
Dead Man's Cards | 2006 | Thriller about two bouncers and gun culture | [24] | |
Digital Reaper | 2004 | Thriller, set in and filmed New York and Liverpool. Also known as Dot.Kill | [25] | |
Distant Voices, Still Lives | 1988 | 1940s and 1950s Terence Davies period drama set in Liverpool. | ||
Downtime | 1997 | Thriller starring Paul McGann and Susan Lynch | ||
The Dressmaker | 1988 | Adaptation of the Beryl Bainbridge novel, starring Joan Plowright, Billie Whitelaw and Pete Postlethwaite | ||
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them | 2016 | Liverpool doubled as 1920s New York City with St Georges Hall and the Cunard Building being used extensively. | [26] | |
Fast & Furious 6 | 2013 | Although the featured chase is set in a tunnel in London, the chase actually was filmed in the Queensway Tunnel. | [27] | |
Ferry 'Cross the Mersey | 1965 | Film musical featuring Gerry & The Pacemakers | ||
Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool | 2017 | One of the Mersey Ferries were used as well as locations in the city centre and Toxteth. Liverpool also doubles as New York City. | [28] | |
Florence Foster Jenkins | 2016 | Liverpool doubled as 1940s New York with Water Street, the Cunard Building and Liver Building featuring. | ||
Fountains of Youth | 2024 | Heist film for Apple+ starring John Krasinski and Natalie Portman. Filming took place around Exchange Flags and St George's Hall. | [29] | |
The Fruit Machine | 1988 | British thriller set and filmed in Liverpool. | ||
Genius | 2016 | Biopic of Maxwell Perkins, US book editor who discovered authors Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald and Thomas Wolfe. | [30] | |
Going Off Big Time | 2000 | Gangster & crime film that was set and filmed in and around Liverpool. | ||
Gumshoe | 1971 | Dark comedy about a would-be private eye, played by Albert Finney | [31] | |
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows | 2010 | The interior of the Queensway Tunnel was used for part of a chase sequence. | [32] | |
Hear My Song | 1991 | Drama based on the life of tenor Josef Locke. Partially set and filmed in Liverpool. | ||
Holy Cross | 2003 | RTE / BBC co-production dramatising the Holy Cross dispute. The film was recorded in Liverpool as its subject was deemed too sensitive to film in Belfast. | [33] | |
The Hunt for Red October | 1989 | Liverpool Town Hall was used for exterior shots along with William Brown Street to double for a snow-filled Moscow. | ||
I Thank a Fool | 1962 | Crime thriller starring Susan Hayward and Peter Finch. | ||
In the Name of the Father | 1993 | Biopic about the Guildford Four, partly filmed in St. George's Hall | ||
Jack Ryan | 2012 | Queensway tunnel side entrance doubles as New York's Wall Street underpass. Other locations include Liverpool Docks and Duke Street. | ||
Kicks | 2010 | BBC Films production of a story of two teenage girls who bond over their crush on a footballer. | ||
Let Him Have It | 1991 | Dramatisation of the Craig & Bentley case, shot in Liverpool and New Brighton but set in Croydon | [34] | |
Letter to Brezhnev | 1985 | Romantic comedy film set and shot in Liverpool. | ||
Liam | 2000 | Stephen Frears' adaptation of Joseph Mckeown's novel Back Crack Boy | [35] | |
The Long Day Closes | 1992 | Drama written and directed by Terence Davies | ||
Longford | 2006 | Television dramatisation of Lord Longford's attempts to achieve parole for Myra Hindley | ||
The Magnet | 1950 | Ealing Comedy filmed in New Brighton and Liverpool | ||
Midas Man | 2021 | Film detailing the life of Beatles manager Brian Epstein, with filming taking place at multiple locations across the city. | [36] | |
Millions | 2004 | Danny Boyle-directed comedy-drama | ||
Morning in the Streets | 1959 | BBC film about life in a northern city. | [37] | |
Munich: Edge of War | 2021 | Netflix adaptation of the Robert Harris novel. | ||
My Kingdom | 2001 | Crime film starring Richard Harris, Lynn Redgrave and Jimi Mistry. | [38] | |
Occupy! | 1976 | Story of a worker occupation at a Kirkby factory, starring Bill Nighy, Peter Postlethwaite and Julie Walters | [39] | |
Official Secrets | 2018 | The interior of St George's Hall was used. | [40] | |
Of Time and the City | 2008 | Documentary film directed by Terrence Davies depicting life in Liverpool in the 1950 and 1960s. | ||
The Parole Officer | 2001 | Comedy film that used a bank on Castle Street as the location of a heist. | ||
Penny Paradise | 1938 | Comedy film set on the tug boats of the River Mersey. | ||
Priest | 1994 | Jimmy McGovan drama about a priest's conflict of belief | ||
The Reckoning | 1969 | Crime drama set and filmed in and around Liverpool | ||
Revengers Tragedy | 2002 | Film adaptation of the 1606 play The Revenger's Tragedy | ||
Rich Deceiver | 1995 | TV movie about a couple who win on the pools. | ||
Shooters | 2001 | Channel 4 drama documentary film. | ||
Violent Playground | 1958 | "Struggle between a Liverpool Juvenile Liaison officer and a young and dangerous pyromaniac" | ||
Virgin of Liverpool | 2002 | Family comedy set and filmed in Liverpool | [41] | |
The Crew | 2008 | Crime drama partially set and filmed in Liverpool. | ||
No Surrender | 1985 | Black comedy about a group of Catholic Nationalists and Protestant Unionists forced to spend New Year's Eve together in Liverpool | ||
Nowhere Boy | 2009 | Biopic of the early life of John Lennon | ||
Route Irish | 2010 | Ken Loach drama examining British soldiers returning from service in Iraq | [42] | |
Salvage | 2009 | Horror film set in Liverpool. Partially filmed on the former set of Brookside. | [43] | |
Sherlock Holmes | 2009 | Guy Ritchie directed tale of Sherlock Holmes | ||
Shirley Valentine | 1989 | Film adaptation of the Willy Russell play. | ||
Tolkien | 2017 | Biographical film about the life of J. R. R. Tolkien. | [44] | |
Three and Out | 2008 | Black comedy starring Mackenzie Crook, Colm Meaney, Gemma Arterton and Imelda Staunton | ||
Three Businessmen | 1998 | Alex Cox comedy about business men trying to find a meal in Liverpool. | ||
Under the Mud | 2009 | Comedy following a day in the life of a family from Garston | [45] | |
Under the Skin | 1997 | Drama film set in Liverpool over a period of two months. | [46] | |
Waterfront | 1949 | Drama set in depression-era Liverpool | ||
Yentl | 1983 | Romantic musical drama directed, co-written, co-produced and starring Barbra Streisand. The closing scenes were filmed on the Manxman passenger ferry on the River Mersey. | [47] | |
Yesterday | 2018 | Danny Boyle musical comedy. Filming took place on Penny Lane and other areas around the city including the Birkenhead Tunnel. | [48] |
Title | Year | Notes | Ref | |
---|---|---|---|---|
A Gentleman in Moscow | 2023 | Paramount+ and Showtime series starring Ewan McGregor based on the Amor Towles novel. | [49] | |
Andy and The Band | 2023 | Children's BBC show | [50] | |
Anthony | 2020 | BBC One dramatisation of the life of murdered teenager Anthony Walker, which used County Sessions House for court scenes. | ||
Antiques Roadshow | 1979–present | St. George's Hall has been used as a location on several occasions. | ||
Archie | 2023 | ITVX biographical story of the life of Cary Grant. | [51] | |
Beaumont | 2023 | Disney Plus drama about a group of people growing up in 70s, 80s & 90s Belfast. Walton was used as West Belfast during the filming of the drama. | [52] | |
Between the Lines | 1992 | The episode "Lest Ye Be Judged" was set in and around Liverpool and New Brighton. | [53] | |
Boys from the Blackstuff | 1982 | Five episodes running from 10 October to 7 November 1982 | [54] | |
Bread | 1986–1991 | Filmed in and around the Dingle area of the city | [55] [56] | |
Broadchurch | 2017 | ITV drama, scenes for series 3 were filmed at the Liverpool docks. | [57] | |
Broken | 2016 | BBC Jimmy McGovern drama starring Sean Bean and Anna Friel. | [58] | |
Brookside | 1982–2003 | Channel 4 soap opera set in a fictional Liverpool street. | [59] | |
Bulletproof | 2017 | Sky drama, filmed in County Sessions House as well as several streets around Liverpool and the Birkenhead tunnel. | ||
The Bullion Boys | 1993 | Television drama based on the true story of how Britain's gold reserves were moved to Liverpool during the Second World War | ||
Casualty | 2011 | Used Liverpool Lime Street station and various locations in Anfield for an episode in Series 26 of the long-running series, which is usually filmed in Cardiff. | ||
The City & the City | 2017 | Used Liverpool Town Hall, Old Hall Street, Cotton Exchange, County Sessions House and Martins Bank Building. | [60] [61] | |
COBRA | 2020–2023 | Sky TV political thriller starring Robert Carlyle and Victoria Hamilton. | [62] | |
Coleen Rooney: The Real Wagatha Story | 2023 | Disney+ dramatisation of the Rooney - Vardy libel case, which used County Sessions House for the court scenes. | [63] | |
The Crown | 2018 | Netflix historical drama based on the life of Queen Elizabeth II. Liverpool doubled for 1960s Washington DC with the Cunard Building, Royal Liver Building and North John Street being used. | [64] | |
Close to the Enemy | 2016 | Martins Bank Building, the Adelphi, Croxteth Hall and the docks were all used for post-WW2 Britain. | [65] | |
Curfew | 2018 | Water Street, Rumford Street and Formby Beach were used in for the filming of the Sky One / NOW TV drama. | [66] [67] | |
The Curse | 2021 | 1980's crime comedy, filmed for Channel 4. | ||
Das Boot | 2019 | TV series based on the Lothar-Gunther Buchheim novel. The Cunard Building and Water Street were turned into 1940s New York and the sandhills in Sefton were used for the US state of Maine. | [68] | |
David Copperfield | 1999 | BBC & WGBH adaption of the Charles Dickens story. | ||
Dead Hot | 2024 | Amazon Prime / ITV Studios comedy thriller. | [69] | |
Desperate Scousewives | 2011 | Structured reality television series following the next generation of Liverpudlians determined to show the UK just what they're all about. | [70] | |
Dockers | 1999 | Channel Four drama about the Liverpool dockers' 1995 to 1998 strike | [71] | |
Doctor Who | 2021 | BBC science fiction drama. Filming took place at the Albert Dock, Liverpool Museum and the Metropolitan Cathederal. | [72] | |
The English Game | 2019 | A six-part Netflix drama created by Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes, charting the origins and development of football. | [73] | |
Eurovision 2023 | 2023 | With 2022 winners Ukraine unable to host due to the Russian invasion, Liverpool hosted the competition in the Liverpool Arena, additionally using the Walker Art Gallery for the "Turquoise Carpet" opening event. | ||
A Family at War | 1970–1972 | ITV WW2 drama | [74] | |
The Family Pile | 2022 | ITV comedy series that filmed across Liverpool and in Wirral. | [75] | |
The Feed | 2019 | Liverpool doubled as London for exterior filming for the Amazon Prime drama, with shooting taking place around the Pier Head. | [76] | |
Flog It! | 2002 | St. George's Hall has been a location on several occasions. | ||
The Forsyte Saga | 2001 | Remake of the classic period drama, with several locations in and around the city being used for Victorian Britain. | ||
Foyles War | 2015 | The final series made extensive use of the city, with Liverpool doubling as London, Poland, Southampton and France. | [77] | |
Funny Woman | 2021 | Sky TV adaptation of the Nick Hornby novel, starring Gemma Arterton | [78] | |
The Gathering | 2023 | Channel 4 drama from the producers of Line of Duty | [79] | |
G.B.H. | 1990 | Channel 4 production of an Alan Bleasdale drama | ||
Gentleman Jack | 2018 | BBC drama about the life of industrialist and land owner Anne Lister. Filming took place in Toxteth and Liverpool Town Hall. | [80] | |
Good Cop | 2012 | BBC police procedural drama set and filmed in Liverpool | [81] | |
Grange Hill | 1978–2008 | Originally filmed in London, production moved to Mersey TV's studios in Childwall in 2003 | [82] | |
G'wed | 2023 | ITVX comedy about a group of teenagers growing up in Liverpool | [83] | |
Help | 2021 | BBC Covid drama starring Jodie Comer and Stephen Graham. | ||
Hollyoaks | 1995–present | Channel 4 young adult soap opera set in Chester but filmed in Liverpool. | [84] | |
A House Through Time | 2017 | A four-part documentary which tells the story of the residents of a house in Falkner Street since it was built in 1842. | [85] | |
Houdini & Doyle | 2016 | Liverpool Town Hall and Water Street were used to re-create early 1900s London. | [86] | |
House of Anubis | 2011–2012 | Nickelodeon children's TV drama | [87] | |
House of Guinness | 2024 | Netflix about the family and legacy of Benjamin Guinness. Filming took place on William Brown Street and at St. Georges Hall. | [88] | |
2000 | NBC British-American made-for-TV film about John Lennon's teenage years. | [89] | ||
Inside No. 9 | 2023 | BBC comedy show, used Moorfields railway station as a location | [90] | |
The IPCRESS File | 2021 | ITV dramatisation of Len Deighton's novel. Filming took place around St George's Hall, Lime Street station, Castle Street, Exchange Street West and the Philharmonic Pub on Hope Street. | ||
The Irregulars | 2019 | A Netflix production about the Baker Street Irregulars, a group of children helping Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes with his investigations. Filming took place in the city centre using St George's Plateau, the palm house in Sefton Park and Falkner Street in the Georgian Quarter. | [91] [92] | |
It's A Sin | 2020 | Channel 4 drama, Liverpool doubled for New York and London in the 1980s. | [93] | |
Justice | 2011 | BBC daytime drama, set and filmed in Liverpool | [94] | |
Lilies | 2007 | Consisted of eight episodes running from January to March 2007 | [95] | |
The Liver Birds | 1969–1979 | Revived again in 1996 and only lasted one series | [96] | |
Liverpool 1 | 1998–1999 | BBC police drama set and filmed in Liverpool | [97] | |
Missing You | 2024 | Netflix adaptation of a Harlan Coben novel, used Sefton Park as a location as well as Wirral. | [98] | |
Nice Guy Eddie | 2002 | BBC detective drama starring Ricky Tomlinson | [99] | |
The Onedin Line | 1971–1980 | BBC drama depicting the story of a 1880s shipping line in Liverpool. | [100] | |
One Summer | 1983 | Five episodes running from 7 August to 4 September 1983 | [101] | |
Outlander | 2022 | Historial drama series. The Georgian Quarter was used to double up as 1770s Philadelphia | [102] | |
Peaky Blinders | 2013 | BBC crime drama, used several locations across the city. | ||
The Responder | 2021 & 2023 | BAFTA nominated BBC crime drama starring Martin Freeman. Both series were set and filmed in the city. | [103] | |
Ridley Road | 2021 | BBC drama about an opposition group to fascism in the 1960s. | ||
Safe | 2017 | Netflix crime drama. Set in a fictional Cheshire gated community, filming took place at the Walker Art Gallery and a Merseyrail underground station. | [104] | |
Safe House | 2017 | The second series made use of Liverpool for several filming locations. | [105] | |
Scully | 1984 | Channel 4 adaptation of an Alan Bleasdale play. | ||
Sexy Beast | 2022 | Paramount+-produced sequel to the 2000 film of the same name. Liverpool waterfront and the Anfield area were used as filming locations for 80's London. | [106] | |
Stay Close | 2021 | Netflix adaptation of the Harlan Corben novel. | ||
The Stranger | 2019 | Netflix thriller that used Liverpool as the location for the filming of several scenes. | ||
This is Liverpool | 2014 | Reality TV series | [107] | |
Time | 2021–2023 | Both series of this BBC Jimmy McGovern prison drama were filmed in Liverpool and the wider city region | [108] | |
Timewasters | 2017 | Set in 1920's London, Martins Bank Building was used along with Croxteth Hall, the Athenaeum and streets in Toxteth. | [109] | |
Tin Star | 2019 | Sky Atlantic drama starring Tim Roth. The third series is set and filmed in Liverpool. Filming took place off North John Street in the city centre. | [110] | |
The Tower | 2022 | The second series of the ITV police series was filmed around Liverpool, using locations such as Martins Bank, the Hilton Hotel and Vauxhall Road. | [111] | |
The War of the Worlds | 2018 | BBC production of the H. G. Wells alien invasion story. Filming took place in Eldon Grove in Vauxhall, St Georges Hall and the Palm House in Sefton Park. | [112] [113] | |
Toxic Town | 2023 | Netflix drama starring Jodie Whittaker, Rory Kinnear and Robert Carlyle about the Corby toxic waste scandal. | [114] | |
Victoria | 2018 | ITV drama about the life of Queen Victoria. Filming took place in the city's Georgian Quarter, using locations in and around Falkner Square Gardens, Huskisson Street and Bedford Street. | [115] | |
Watching | 1987–1993 | ITV comedy the filmed and set across Liverpool and Wirral. | ||
Waterfront Beat | 1990–91 | BBC police drama series set in docks area produced by Phil Redmond | ||
What Now? | 1986 | Phil Redmond directed drama shown in 6 episodes on Channel 4 regarding teenage aspirations | ||
Without Guilt | 2023 | TV adaptation of the Charlotte Link detective novel. | [116] | |
The Witness for the Prosecution | 2016 | BBC dramatisation of an Agatha Christie short story. Filming took place in one of the courtrooms at County Sessions House. | ||
World On Fire | 2019 | BBC WW2 drama starring Sean Bean and Helen Hunt. Filming took place in Ainsdale woods, involving a set being built for an army camp. | [117] | |
Worried About The Boy | 2010 | BBC biopic of Boy George | [118] | |
Utopia | 2013–2014 | Channel 4 thriller/drama TV series, filmed in multiple locations across the city | [119] | |
Young Dracula | 2011–14 | British children's horror drama comedy television series which aired on the BBC channel CBBC. Filming took place at Margaret Bevan School, Croxteth Hall and Stanley Docks. | [120] | |
Z-Cars | 1962–1978 | Filmed on the outskirts of Liverpool in Kirkby | [121] |