Oxford has been host to many a film crew in its time, and at any one time at least one ITV channel will be showing a murder mystery filmed in Oxford. But forget the TV for a minute, this guide is all about the feature films shot in Oxfordshire, from Hollywood to Bollywood. So sit back and take a scroll through this list of films shot in the city and the rest of the county. Let us know if we've missed out one of your favourites, by emailing [email protected].
Oxford City
Shot and Set in Oxford:
- Arabesque (1966) - Story of international intrigue involving an Oxford hieroglyphics expert. Locations include: St John's.
- Accident (1967) - An Austrian Oxford University student gets involved with two professors. The things we get up to in Oxford... Locations include: St Johns, Magdalen College, River Cherwell, High Street.
- Oxford Blues (1984) - A remake of A Yank in Oxford (not filmed here), this depicts a young Rob Lowe as an American in Oxford, pictured here driving where no-one else can.
Locations include: The Bear, Iffley Running Track, Boat houses, colleges galore, streets, streets surrounding the Radcliffe Camera.
- Howard's End (1992) - Romantic adaptation of E. M. Forster's classic. Locations include: Magdalen College.
- Shadowlands (1993) - Film about the life of C.S Lewis, it's set all over Oxford. Locations include: Magdalen College Chapel, Magdalen College Dining Hall, Duke Humfrey's Library, Sheldonian Theatre, Randolph Hotel, Magdalen Bridge. (The railway station used was Loughborough station, pretending to be Oxford).
- True Blue (1996) - The story of the Oxford Boat Race Mutiny set in Oxford, filmed here. Locations include: All over Oxford.
- The Saint (1997) - The climax of this espionage thriller takes place in Oxford. Locations include: Queens College, The Trout Inn, Sheldonian Theatre, Clarendon Building.
- Wilde (1997) - Story of Oscar Wilde. Locations include: Magdalen College.
- Tomorrow Never Dies (1997) - A Brosnan Bond film in which Bond visits Oxford Professor Inga Bergstrom. Locations include: New College.
- The Red Violin (1998) - Follows a cursed red violin through the ages, including Oxford in the late 1890s. Locations include: All across Oxford.
- Iris (2001) - This Iris Murdoch biopic is set in Oxford. Locations include: All across Oxford.
- Blue Blood (2006) - Documentary about boxing in Oxford. Locations include: All across Oxford.
- The History Boys (2006) - Alan Bennett's classic play about students trying to get into Oxbridge. Locations include: the university. The poster features Tom Tower at Christchurch.
- The Golden Compass (2007) - Underwhelming adaptation of Phillip Pullman's modern classic begins in a semi-fictional Oxford. Locations include: Radcliffe Square, Christ Church, Exeter, Queen's. Witness a heavily CGI'd Oxford.
- The Oxford Murders (2008) - A murder mystery set in Oxford. Locations include: Broad Street, The White Horse, and the university.
- Brideshead Revisited (2008) - Adaptation of Evelyn Waugh's classic wartime novel. Locations include: Radcliffe Camera, Magdalen College, Christchurch, Merton, Lincoln.
- Lady Godiva (2008) - A universally negatively reviewed version of the Lady Godiva story set in Oxford. Locations include: All over the city.
- An Education (2009) - Coming-of-age story, where the lead is intent on coming to Oxford. The 'Oxford' pub is actually Crocker's Folly in London. Locations include: The Sheldonian.
- X-men: First Class (2011) - An X-men prequel showing Xavier's time at Oxford. Charles drinks at a fake pub by the Bridge of Sighs. Locations include: The Sheldonian, Bridge of Sighs.
- Desi Boyz (2011) - Indian romantic comedy, featuring a scene in Oxford. Locations include: Oxford University.
- Belle (2013) - Period biopic of Dido Belle starring Gugu Mbatha-Raw (who is from Witney, Oxfordshire). Locations include: Catte Street and the Bodleian (Clarendon quadrangle).
- The Riot Club (2014) - Adaptation of the hit play Posh, this film depicts the activities of the Bullingdon - sorry - the Riot Club. Not all students are like this, we promise. Locations include: Magpie Lane, Duke Humfreys Library, Broad Street, Catte Street, Radcliffe Square, High Street.
- The Quiet Ones (2014) - A thriller about an Oxford professor trying to prove ghosts aren't real. Locations include: Merton, the Bodleian.
- Testament of Youth (2014) - Vera Brittain leaves Oxford to become a wartime nurse. Locations include: Oxford.
- Transformers: The Last Knight (2017) - Latest instalment of Michael Bay's cash cow. Locations include: Radcliffe Square.
- The Mummy (2017) - The mummy terrorises Oxford (before moving on to London). Locations include: Radcliffe Square, New College Lane getting Spooky.
- On Chesil Beach (2018) - Saoirse Ronan stars in this adaptation of Ian McEwan's novel, with scenes set in Oxford. Locations Include: All over Oxford, The Bridge of Sighs.
Just shot in Oxford:
- Heaven's Gate (1980) - The box-office bomb which ruined Michael Cimino's career after the success of The Deer Hunter. Locations include: the Sheldonian (doubling for Harvard University)
- Another Country (1984) - Historical romantic drama set in Eton, featuring Rupert Everett's big break, and the start of the Everett-Firth partnership. When Eton declined the rights to film there, where better to go than to Oxford. Locations include: The Old Schools Quadrangle, Bodleian, Brasenose, Brasenose Lane, Broad Street.
- Young Sherlock Holmes (1985) - Witness the origin of Britain's greatest detective. Locations include: Brasenose College (part of the fictional Brompton School).
- A Fish Called Wanda (1988) - Python-esque heist comedy. Locations include: Oxford Town Hall (as Old Bailey interior), HM Prison Oxford (now Oxford Castle Quarter, as London Prison), Osney Lane (as London side street).
- Howard's End (1992) - Howard's End appears again. Locations include: Oxford Town Hall (as Ethical Hall).
- The Madness of King George (1994) - Film about King George's fits of insanity. Locations include: the Divinity School (as the House of Commons).
- Wilde (1997) - Oscar Wilde's adventures continue. Locations include: HM Prison Oxford (as Reading Gaol)
- Mohabbatein (2000) - Indian musical about a prestigious university. Locations include: Queen's College (as Gurukul School).
- 102 Dalmatians (2000) - Glen Close stars in sequel to the live-action remake of the 1961 classic. Locations include: HM Oxford Prison (as the prison Cruella De Vil walks out of).
- Quills (2000) - Period drama about Marquis de Sade's time in an asylum. Locations include: Oxford (as 19th century France).
- Mean Machine (2001) - Football film set in prison starring Vinnie Jones. Locations include: HM Oxford Prison.
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (2001) - Harry discovers he's a wizard, sparking a seemingly never-ending stream of films, books, and tacky merchandise available in gift shops near you. Locations include: Duke Humfrey's Library (as the library), the Divinity School (as the hospital wing).
- Spy Game (2001) - Robert Redford and Brad Pitt star in this spy film. Locations include: HM Oxford Prison (as a Chinese Prison).
- Lucky Break (2001) - James Nesbitt and Lennie James break out of prison. Locations include: HM Oxford Prison.
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002) - Harry's quest continues with snakes and diaries this time. Locations include: Duke Humfrey's Library (as the library), and Christchurch Staircase (Tom Riddle Flashback).
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005) - Harry gets entered into the Triwizard tournament; like the Olympics but scarier, and the doping is magical. Locations include: New College (as the courtyard where Malfoy is transformed into a ferret), the Divinity School (as the room in which they practice dancing for the Yule Ball).
- Bhagam Bhag (2006) - Indian comedy-mystery set in London. Locations include: Oxford (as London).
- Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince (2009) - *Spolier* Harry reads Snape's diary and he's not best pleased. Locations include: Duke Humfrey's Library (as the library), as well as the Divinity School (the infirmary).
- Doctor Strange (2016) - Benedict Cumberbatch is a new addition to the ever-growing arsenal of Marvel heroes. Locations include: Exeter College Chapel (watch as it gets freaky as a church).
- Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (2018) - sequel to the 2008 ABBA-based hit begins in Oxford before jetting off to sunnier climes. Locations include: New College.
- The Favourite (2018) - Olivia Colman won an Oscar for her portrayal of Queen Anne in period political piece about the behind-the-scenes drama of the royal's court. Locations include: Balliol College, Divinity School.
Wider Oxfordshire
Shot and set in Oxfordshire:
- The Blood on Satan's Claw (1971) - Horror about an 18th-century village being possessed. Locations include: Bix Bottom, near Henley.
- Young Winston (1972) - Prequel to the 1984 paranormal classic depicting the troubled upbringing of Winston Zeddemore, the fourth Ghostbuster. I kid, it is of course about Churchill, and features Blenheim Palace as the future PM's birthplace. Locations include: Blenheim Palace.
- What a Girl Wants (2003) - Amanda Byrnes stars in American teen comedy based on a 1955 play by William Douglas-Home. Sounds like a recipe for success. Locations include: Henley-on-Thames.
- Robinson in Ruins (2010) - documentary by Patrick Keller. Locations include: Rural Oxfordshire.
Just Shot in Oxfordshire:
- Saraband for Dead Lovers (1948) - Historical romance set in 17th century Hanover. Locations include: Blenheim Palace.
- Twelve O'Clock High (1949) - American war film about the pilots bombing Nazi-occupied France. Locations include: RAF Barford St John, near Banbury.
- The Titfield Thunderbolt (1953) - Comedy about a village trying to keep their railway line afloat. Locations include: Woodstock.
- A Man for All Seasons (1966) - Robert Bolt's Thomas More biopic. Locations include: Studley Priory in Horton-Cum-Studley (as Sir Thomas More's house in Chelsea).
- Half a Sixpence (1967) - Musical set in Edwardian Kent about draper's assistant Arthur Kipps (not the one from The Woman in Black) and his love affair with a chambermaid. Locations include: Blenheim Palace.
- The Legend of Hell House (1973) - Researchers spend a week in a haunted English manor. Locations include: Blenheim Palace. (as Mr. Deutsch's mansion).
- A Clockwork Orange (1971) - Kubrick's controversial classic. Locations include: Milton Grundy's Japanese Garden, Shipton-Under-Wychwood (as a house exterior).
- Barry Lyndon (1975) - Kubrick's candlelit epic. Locations include: Blenheim Palace.
- The Scarlet Pimpernel (1982) - Anthony Andrews stars as Sir Percy Blakeney/the Scarlet Pimpernel, in one of the original instances of secret identity. Also featuring Jane Seymour (not the one who married Henry VIII). Locations include: Blenheim Palace, Broughton Castle, Milton Manor.
- Octopussy (1983) - Perhaps the Bond flick with the least PC name. Locations include: RAF Upper Heyford (as a US base in Germany).
- Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes (1984) - Oscar winning Tarzan film with an unnecessarily convoluted name. Locations include: Blenheim Palace (as part of the Greystoke family seat).
- Duet for One (1986) - A violinist is struck with Multiple Sclerosis, based on the life of Jacqueline du Pré. Locations include: Stonor House.
- The Fourth Protocol (1987) - Cold war spy film with Michael Caine. Locations include: RAF Upper Heyford (as RAF Baywaters).
- The Living Daylights (1987) - Another Bond film is added to the list. Locations include: Stonor House near Henley (as 'Bladen' safe house).
- Danny the Champion of the World (1989) - Adaptation of Roald Dahl's book starring Jeremy Irons and his son. Locations include: Stonor Park.
- Three Men and a Little Lady (1990) - Ill-advised sequel to Three Men and a Baby set in the UK. Locations include: Broughton Castle, Banbury.
- King Ralph (1991) - John Goodman ascends to the throne after wiping out the royal family. Because that's how the line of succession works. Locations include: Blenheim Palace (as part of Buckingham Palace).
- Howard's End (1992) - The film crew really got around on this one. Locations include: Peppard Cottage in Rotherfield Peppard, near Henley-on-Thames (as "Howard's End" in "Hilton").
- The Madness of King George (1994) - King George III is still acting a little oddly. Locations include: Thame Park in Thame (as "Kew Gardens") Broughton Castle, Banbury (as Queen Charlotte's Apartments).
- Hamlet (1996) - Kenneth Branagh directs and stars (obviously) in the only uncut version of Hamlet. Locations include: Blenheim Palace (as Elsinore).
- Saving Private Ryan (1998) - Spielberg's classic war film starring Tom Hanks. Locations include: Thame Park Chapel and grounds (as the French countryside).
- The Avengers (1998) - Adaptation of the classic TV series. Locations include: Blenheim Palace (as 'Hallucinogen Hall').
- Shakespeare in Love (1998) - Oscar sweeping romantic period drama about Shakespeare's imaginary love affair with Gwyneth Paltrow's British accent. Locations include: Broughton Castle, Banbury (as Viola's house).
- Entrapment (1999) - Sean Connery tries to steal stuff. Catherine Zeta-Jones tries to stop him. Locations include: Blenheim Palace.
- Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham... (2001) - Indian family drama film. Locations include: Blenheim Palace.
- Possession (2002) - Film about literary scholars. Locations include: Stonor House.
- The Four Feathers (2002) - Heath Ledger is accused of cowardice in 19th century Sudan. Locations include: Blenheim Palace.
- The Libertine (2004) - Johnny Depp is John Wilmot, a naughty man in the court of Charles II. Locations include: Blenheim Palace.
- Children of Men (2006) - Alfonso Cuaron's dystopian thriller focussed on immigration. Locations include: RAF Upper Heyford (as an apartment block).
- Stardust (2007) - Matthew Vaugn's Neil Gaiman fantasy adaptation. Locations include: Bicester Airfield (as a large patch of grass).
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007) - A waiter writes down what a fiery bird wants to eat. Geddit? Locations include: The grounds of Blenheim Palace (where a young Snape is bullied by a tree in a flashback. Next to a tree, that is, a tree didn't bully him).
- The Young Victoria (2009) - Emily Blunt is the Queen. Locations include: Blenheim Palace (as King Leopold of Belgium's Palace), the long library also appears (which is why it has a statue of Queen Anne).
- Gulliver's Travels (2010) - Jack Black is larger than life. Locations include: Blenheim Palace (as Lilliput Palace).
- Jane Eyre (2011) - Mia Wasikowska and Michael Fassbender star. Locations include: Broughton Castle, Banbury (as 'Lowood School').
- Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011) - Sequel to Guy Ritchie's funky adaptation. Locations include: St Mary the Virgin, Pyrton (as the church in which Watson gets married).
- Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011) - Espionage film based on the John le Carré novel. That's not even his real name - no-one can be trusted. Locations include: Carmel College near Wallingford (as a casino).
- The Iron Lady (2011) - Meryl Streep knows no bounds as she snags another Oscar for her portrayal of Maggie Thatcher. Locations include: Carmel College.
- Les Miserables (2012) - Hugh Jackman and Russell Crowe star in a film adaptation of a musical adaptation of a Victor Hugo novel loosely based on true events. How deep does this thing go? Locations include: St Mary the Virgin in the village of Ewelme (as a collapsing church in 'France').
- Philomena (2013) - Judi Dench looks for her lost son. Locations include: Shirburn Castle, Shirburn.
- World War Z (2013) - Brad Pitt vs Zombies. Locations include: RAF Upper Heyford (as a supermarket).
- Fast and Furious 6 (2013) - Vin Diesel and The Rock compete in a 'who's more bald and muscular?' contest. Locations include: RAF Upper Heyford (as an impossibly long runway).
- The Imitiation Game (2014) - The Alan Turing biopic tells the story of the man behind the code. Locations include: Joyce Grove in Nettlebed near Henley (as Bletchley Park).
- Muppets Most Wanted (2014) - All your favourite Muppets go on the run. Locations include: RAF Upper Heyford.
- A Little Chaos (2014) - Alan Rickman's period drama set in France, but shot in England. Locations include: Blenheim Palace.
- Fury (2014) - Brad Pitt in a gritty war film focussing on the tank nicknamed Fury and its crew. Locations include: Shirburn and Pyrton (as WWII Germany).
- The Woman in Black: Angel of Death (2015) - The unsuccessful sequel to the 2012 adaptation of Susan Hill's hit novel. Locations include: RAF Upper Heyford.
- Cinderella (2015) - Kenneth Branagh directs Lily James as this fairy tale legend. Locations include: Blenheim's bridge (as a bridge).
- Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation (2015) - Tom Cruise keeps taking the whole 'mission impossible' thing as a challenge. Locations include: Blenheim Palace.
- Far from the Madding Crowd (2015) - Romantic adaptation of Thomas Hardy's classic. Locations include: Oxfordshire.
- Spectre (2015) - Bond's latest escapade proves that however many times Daniel Craig says he won't do any more, he will. See him return for Bond 25 in cinemas soon. Locations include: Blenheim Palace (as the 'Palazzo Cadenza').
- Mindhorn (2016) - Independent comedy about a washed up actor forced into solving a crime. Locations include: Carmel College synagogue.
- The Girl With All The Gifts (2016) - Post-apocalyptic zombie film set in the UK. Locations include: RAF Upper Heyford.
- My Cousin Rachel (2017) - Rachel Weisz stars as Rachel, a suspicious cousin in this mystery-romance Daphne du Maurier adaptation. Locations include: Oxfordshire.
- Wonder Woman (2017) - The modern cinematic debut of Wonder Woman, which left viewers wondering why they hadn't made it earlier. Locations include: RAF Upper Heyford.
- Transformers: The Last Knight (2017) - Michael Bay shooting at Winston Churchill's birthplace caused a stir at the time. Locations include: Blenheim Palace (as a Nazi palace).