Watching motion pictures about Scotland makes me need to journey there much more. Perhaps that’s as a result of I’ve all the time felt such a powerful connection to Scotland. Half of my household heritage is Scottish and I grew up listening to a Scottish accent by my grandparents. Since I like Scotland a lot, I’ve watched many Scottish motion pictures and Scottish TV reveals all through the years, too. How about you?
Once I first visited Scotland, I felt an instantaneous sense of belonging. Since then, I’ve managed to develop into a UK twin citizen (by descent), I’ve returned a number of instances since, and Justin and I even received married in Edinburgh, Scotland within the fall of 2023! It was our dream vacation spot wedding ceremony.
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Films About Scotland: The High 25
Once I’m not in Scotland, I’m getting my Scottish repair by motion pictures set in Scotland. Because it seems, there are such a lot of motion pictures about Scotland that I may simply make an element two or three to this listing.
A few of these nice movies are set in Edinburgh, Glasgow, or different stunning locations in Scotland just like the Isle of Skye. If you happen to haven’t had the possibility to go there but, you’ll be able to virtually really feel as if you’re there by watching these Scottish motion pictures. With out additional ado, listed below are the 25 finest motion pictures about Scotland that it is advisable see.
Sure, Courageous is an animated Pixar film, however it’s set in a fictitious medieval Scotland. Princess Merida will not be your typical princess, as she prefers archery and horseback using to customary royal duties.
She defies her mom, Queen Elinor, bringing chaos to the dominion and strives to set all the pieces proper. Pixar’s animators adored the pure sights of Scotland, and their journeys to Scotland undoubtedly led to the film’s dramatic and gorgeous landscapes.
Locations That Impressed the Film: The Highland Video games of the Braemar Gathering, Glen Affric, Calanais Standing Stones, Dunnottar Citadel
Okay, I do know what you’re considering. Braveheart is a beloved film for a lot of, however hated by many Scots. It’s full of historic inaccuracies and it’s principally a piece of full fiction. Nevertheless, it’s a world blockbuster movie that put Scotland on the map for a lot of.
After the film’s launch, a statue of Mel Gibson was erected outdoors of the Wallace Monument in Stirling, Scotland. My household is from Stirling, and I heard about it from my granny. In truth, even these days, each time the Wallace Monument comes up in dialog, my granny brings up this darn statue and the way a lot everybody despises it. Because it seems, the statue was always vandalized, and it was finally put into storage in 2008.
Anyway, adore it or hate it, Braveheart did deliver some parts of Scottish historical past to the forefront worldwide. It’s entertaining and motion packed, and I simply needed to embody it on this listing of flicks about Scotland. Braveheart is obtainable to stream on Netflix.
Locations That Impressed the Film: Wallace Monument, Stirling Bridge, Glen Nevis
Two People embark on a searching journey in Scotland and uncover a quaint village known as Brigadoon. Little do they know that it’s a magical village that solely seems for a day as soon as each 100 years. One of many lead characters, Tommy Albright, falls in love with a lady from the village named Fiona.
If any villagers go away, it should disappear from existence without end. If an outsider loves somebody within the village, they have to go away all the pieces from the surface world behind. Because it was too costly on the time to shoot the film in Scotland, they constructed elaborate studio units to duplicate the Scottish Highlands.
Locations That Impressed the Film: Scottish Highlands
Consolation and Pleasure is a comedy starring Invoice Paterson as a DJ who witnesses an odd assault on an ice cream truck. He’s drawn into an intense rivalry and turf warfare between two Italian households who’re ice cream truck distributors in Glasgow. Naturally, hilarious hijinks and misadventures comply with.
Locations That Impressed the Film: Glasgow
Edie, an 83 yr outdated girl, lately misplaced her husband, George. Her relationship along with her daughter can also be taking a flip for the more serious. As her daughter plans to maneuver her mom to a retirement house, Edie decides to embark on the journey of a lifetime.
Throughout her marriage, Edie’s father deliberate a mountain climbing journey to the Scottish Highlands that she didn’t find yourself taking. George made her keep house. Now, Edie packs up her tenting gear and intends to hike Mount Suilven on her personal. It’s out there to stream on Amazon Prime.
Locations That Impressed the Film: Suilven, village of Lochinver
“Wee” Geordie is a small Scottish boy who applies for a mail-order bodybuilding course. By intense coaching, he manages to realize each energy and top by age 21.
He decides to take up the game of hammer throwing and goes on to symbolize Britain within the 1956 Olympic Video games in Melbourne, Australia. There’s additionally a love story woven into the movie between Geordie and his longtime pal, Jean.
Locations That Impressed the Film: Loch Lomond and the Trossachs
Directed by Invoice Forsyth, Gregory’s Lady is a romantic comedy that takes place in a secondary faculty. Gregory is an ungainly teenager who performs on the varsity soccer staff that additionally occurs to be doing fairly poorly.
Whereas scouting new gamers, Dorothy tries out and occurs to be a incredible participant (although the coach is sexist about letting her be a part of). Gregory develops a crush on Dorothy and should compete with many different boys at college for her consideration.
Locations That Impressed the Film: North Lanarkshire
Highlander is an action-adventure fantasy starring Christopher Lambert and Sean Connery. It weaves the current day with a narrative line from sixteenth century Scotland. The Highlander (Connery) is an immortal warrior who lives on for a lot of centuries, settling in New York Metropolis within the current. He can solely be killed by decapitation.
His enemy who needs to kill him stands to develop into the final dwelling warrior, gaining energy over all the human race. The movie wasn’t common throughout its preliminary theatrical launch. However, it gained a cult following that led to sequels and tv spin-offs. Highlander is obtainable to stream on Amazon Prime.
Locations That Impressed the Film: Eilean Donan Citadel, Glen Nevis, Glencoe, Loch Shiel, Torridon and Isle of Skye
Simply One other Saturday, starring Billy Connolly, initially aired on the BBC as a “Play for Immediately” (a sequence of TV dramas, that includes unique tv performs). It’s all in regards to the Orange walks organized by the Orange Order, a protestant fraternal order out of Northern Eire.
Within the movie, the primary character initially appears ahead to the annual Orange stroll in Glasgow, however begins to develop disillusioned because the day arrives. It’s out there to observe in its entirety on YouTube.
Locations That Impressed the Film: Glasgow
Native Hero takes place in a fictitious city known as Ferness on the west coast of Scotland (truly filmed in Pennan in Aberdeenshire). A rich American oil firm govt sends an worker to Scotland so as to purchase the city on behalf of the corporate.
As eager because the locals appear at first, issues don’t all the time go as deliberate. It’s an opportunity to witness outdated world Scottish allure and the gorgeous surroundings of a seaside village unexpectedly.
Locations That Impressed the Film: Pennan (Aberdeenshire coast), Morar, Arisaig
Why not watch the film, Loch Ness, earlier than looking for Nessie your self? This can be a household drama movie starring Ted Danson and Joely Richardson. Danson’s character, Dr. Dempsey, travels to Scotland with the purpose of disproving the existence of the Loch Ness Monster.
Enjoyable reality: screenwriter John Fusco penned this screenplay at age 23 as a tribute to his Scottish grandmother, Isabel Moffat. Within the film, Fusco named a younger character, “Isabel”, who lives on the Moffat Arms Inn.
Locations That Impressed the Film: Loch Ness
When creating this listing of the perfect motion pictures about Scotland, I needed to embody the fascinating historic movie, Mary Queen of Scots. It’s a historic drama analyzing the lifetime of Mary Stuart and the conflicts between two rivals, Mary Queen of Scots and her cousin, Queen Elizabeth I.
It additionally establishes the tense clashes between Scotland and England. This movie is predicated on John Man’s biography, Queen of Scots: The True Lifetime of Mary Stuart. It’s out there for streaming on HBO.
Locations That Impressed the Film: Blackness Citadel, Glencoe, the Poldullie Bridge in Strathdon, Seacliff Seaside
Neds stands for “non educated delinquents”. The movie is a coming-of-age drama targeted on a teenage boy rising up in Seventies Glasgow. Even if the lead character, John McGill, is an excellent pupil, he’s surrounded by avenue gangs and an abusive household life.
It highlights the challenges dealing with youngsters raised in a tough atmosphere and its results on an emotionally destitute baby. Neds is among the motion pictures about Scotland that gives a glimpse into 70s youth tradition in Glasgow. It’s out there to stream on Amazon Prime.
Locations That Impressed the Film: Glasgow
Outlaw King (2018)
Outlaw King is a Netflix unique movie about Robert the Bruce, the Scottish King who led a insurrection in opposition to the English from 1304 to 1307. The English Empire declares Bruce an “outlaw” as a result of he led a military of Scottish warriors in a warfare in opposition to the English.
This historic motion drama follows Bruce by the Scottish countryside up till the epic Battle of Loudoun Hill. You’ll solely discover Outlaw King to stream on Netflix.
Locations That Impressed the Film: Craigmillar Citadel, Linlithgow Palace, Blackness Citadel, Dunfermline Abbey, Glencoe, Isle of Skye, Glasgow College
Stressed Natives is among the high journey comedy motion pictures about Scotland, that includes the story of two mates who commit non-violent robberies collectively. One wears the masks of a clown and the opposite dons the masks of a wolfman, they usually rob coach busloads of vacationers within the Highlands.
Throughout a time of excessive unemployment in Edinburgh, they develop into modern-day Robin Hoods by giving cash to the poor whereas dealing with pursuit by the police.
Locations That Impressed the Film: Edinburgh, Glasgow, Linlithgow, the Highlands
Launched in the identical yr as Braveheart, Rob Roy is a Scottish historic movie in regards to the 18th century Scottish chief of Clan MacGregor. Rob Roy, performed by Liam Neeson, turns into an outlaw after he’s falsely charged with theft by a nobleman.
Though not totally traditionally correct, it’s probably the greatest movies about Scotland set totally in Scotland. Many areas within the Scottish Highlands have been solely accessible by helicopter, and the solid and crew needed to battle rainstorms and swarms of midges whereas filming.
Locations That Impressed the Film: Glencoe, Glen Nevis, Glen Tarbert
Shallow Grave is a darkish comedy crime movie set in Edinburgh. As three mates select a brand new flatmate, they barely get to know him earlier than they discover him useless in his room. Moreover, they discover his massive suitcase full of money.
After concealing his loss of life and preserving the cash for themselves, the buddies have a sequence of dilemmas. Two criminals seek for the cash because the three mates begin to activate each other. Shallow Grave is obtainable to stream on Starz.
Locations That Impressed the Film: Edinburgh
Whereas there are a number of gorgeous locations in Skyfall, my favourite filming location needs to be Scotland (perhaps I’m biased!). In fact, Skyfall is the twenty third film within the James Bond franchise.
That includes Daniel Craig as 007, James Bond returns to his roots within the Scottish Highlands on the Bond household property. The plot facilities round Bond investigating an assault on MI6 and his try to hunt and destroy the menace.
Locations That Impressed the Film: Glencoe and Glen Etive
Stone of Future is one other one of many high historic motion pictures about Scotland, the place the movie is predicated on actual occasions from the Fifties. It follows the story of Ian Hamilton, a Scottish nationalist, who efficiently steals again the Stone of Scone from Westminster Abbey.
The Stone of Scone was stolen from Scotland by King Edward I in 1296. This journey/comedy particulars the story of 4 Glaswegian youth who outwit the Brits to take again this image of Scottish satisfaction. It’s out there to stream on Amazon Prime.
Locations That Impressed the Film: Glenfinnan Viaduct, Paisley, Glasgow
Sunshine on Leith is a romantic musical film, tailored from a stage musical, that includes songs by The Proclaimers. The solid of the film performs the songs themselves. There’s additionally a brief cameo look by The Proclaimers themselves.
The movie tells the story of two troopers who return to Edinburgh after being at warfare in Afghanistan. They’ve to determine methods to return to each day common life and routines in Scotland outdoors of the military. The movie follows their struggles with relationships, their households, and employment.
Locations That Impressed the Film: Edinburgh
Candy Sixteen tells the story of a struggling teenage boy from Glasgow. After his mom’s launch from jail, he’s decided to start out contemporary along with her.
He strives to rescue himself and his mom from troubled relationships along with her boyfriend and father (the boy’s grandfather). The boy tries to lift funds to allow them to have their very own house. His misadventures and cash making schemes result in extra hassle than he initially meant.
Locations That Impressed the Film: Glasgow
Trainspotting is sort of probably one of the iconic motion pictures about Scotland and Edinburgh. It’s a drama/comedy that explores the drug tradition of Edinburgh, one man’s makes an attempt to kick his heroin habit, and his relationships together with his mates.
Whereas some understand the movie as glamorizing drug use, it additionally paints the image of city poverty, decay, and the destruction of lives.
Locations That Impressed the Film: Edinburgh
Below the Pores and skin, starring Scarlett Johansson, is a science fiction film set in Scotland. Johansson is an alien possessing the type of a lady. She seduces her male victims right into a void the place they’re obliterated. Nevertheless, over time, Johansson’s character begins to determine with people and begins to find her true self.
Locations That Impressed the Film: Glasgow
Whisky Galore is a comedy movie primarily based on the actual life occasions, set on a fictitious Scottish island. By wartime rationing, the residents of the island have run out of whisky.
Nevertheless, a close-by shipwreck accommodates 50,000 instances of whisky. The islanders try to ransack the shipwreck with out the data of the native customs officers.
Locations That Impressed the Film: Outer Hebrides
The Wicker Man is a horror movie, and I recommend that you just watch the unique model and never the newer, Nicholas Cage film! It takes place in a small, Scottish village.
A police sergeant goes to the village in the hunt for a lacking lady. The villagers deny the existence of the lady. On the identical time, the officer (a non secular Christian man) is troubled by the pagan traditions of the residents.
Locations That Impressed the Film: Gatehouse of Fleet, Newton Stewart, Kirkcudbright, Creetown
Extra Films From Across the World
to view extra motion pictures that includes nations and cultures from all over the world? Please check out the next film guides:
Extra Weblog Posts About Scotland
Trying to plan your journey to Scotland? Try these articles that I’ve written about my travels there!
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Lauren is the full-time journey blogger and content material creator behind Justin Plus Lauren. She began Justin Plus Lauren in 2013 and has travelled to 50+ nations all over the world. Lauren is an skilled on vegan journey as one of many very first vegan journey bloggers. She additionally focuses on out of doors journey journey, eco and sustainable journey, and creating wonderful journey itineraries for cities and small cities.
