Anyone who lives in South London knows it makes the perfect setting for an epic film. If you’re planning a movie night soon and want to watch something a little closer to home, this is the list for you. We’ve done the research and found 18 films that were either filmed or set in South London, from blockbusters to indie films. Try even visiting these locations we mention afterwards!
This Happy Breed (1944)
Set in Clapham
Written by legendary playwright Noel Coward, This Happy Breed tells the tale of ordinary people making ends meet in between the world wars. It focuses on the Gibbons family as they move to Clapham and the intricate dynamic that makes this nuclear family tick. Locals will resonate with the family’s struggles of adjusting to life in London, especially during this tumultuous time in history. The title of the film was in fact taken from Shakespeare’s Richard III!
“I hate living here. I hate living in a house that’s exactly like hundreds of other houses. I hate coming home from work on the tube.”
kate gabrielle
Waterloo Road (1945)
Set in Waterloo
As the name suggests, this 1945 film is based in and around the titular Waterloo Road. Set during World War II, it follows an Army Private who hears rumours of his wife being unfaithful at home in Waterloo and he journeys back to find out the truth. This intense film will enthrall you as you follow one man’s mission to give an adulterer a good scolding! With this film being released 5 years into WW2, it provided the perfect dramatic escape for South London viewers. Watch this short film next movie night that packs a punch!
“Ah well, another day. Still ‘ere, aren’t we? That’s something.”
Oxfordian Kissuth
The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
Filmed in Croydon
Bet you didn’t know this modern classic was actually filmed in South London’s own Croydon! The Dark Knight Rises is part of Christopher Nolan’s epic trilogy of Batman films that puts a darker twist of the beloved comic book hero. In this film, eight years after the Joker’s defeat, Batman is faced with a new threat, the brutal Bane. You’ll see Croydon be transformed into the fictional city of Gotham and, more specifically, see Batman save Commissioner Gordon from Gotham Hospital and notice it is actually the former BT Delta Point office building on Wellesley Road near to West Croydon train station!
“A hero can be anyone. Even a man doing something as simple and reassuring as putting a coat around a young boy’s shoulders to let him know that the world hadn’t ended.”
charlieanders2
Croydon Clock Tower And Town Hall CR0 - Giclée Art Print
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The Italian Job (1969)
Filmed in Crystal Palace
This 60’s classic was actually filmed in Crystal Palace Park in South East London! The Crystal Palace race track was also used for the training scenes during the film too. The Italian Job follows a thrilling heist of stealing a gold shipment from the streets of Turin. This film is perfect for any car lover, with many classic models featured in the film, not forgetting the iconic red mini! The all star cast of this film includes the aforementioned Noel Coward and Michael Caine, who also starred in The Dark Knight trilogy!
“You were only supposed to blow the bloody doors off!”
Karen
Pool Of London (1951)
Set across South London
Pool Of London tells the story of a ship crew returning to a postwar South London, with the struggles that come with it and how they get mixed up in a robbery. The two characters, an American who’s not afraid to bend the rules and an Jamacian who just wants to get by without causing any trouble, are both tested on their morals throughout the film, making the picture a thoughtful character study. This film was actually the first British film to show a mixed-race romance too!
“You wonder why one man is born white and another isn’t. And how about God himself? What color is he? And the stars seem so close and the world so small in comparison to all the other worlds above you. It doesn’t seem to matter so much how we were born.”
70023venus2009
A Clockwork Orange (1971)
Set in Wandsworth
Perhaps one of the most disturbing, yet well-known films on our list, A Clockwork Orange is set in a futuristic Wandsworth, following sadistic gang leader Alex and the mayhem he causes. One of the pivotal moments in the film is when Alex is imprisoned for a conduct-aversion experiment, with the ending leaving us as viewers wondering whether this actually worked… You may know the director Stanley Kubrick for his other iconic and horrific films like The Shining.
“It’s funny how the colors of the real world only seem really real when you viddy them on the screen.”
Babylon (1980)
Set in Lewisham and Brixton
Baylon follows a struggling musician who fronts a reggae sound system. The film visits several locations in Brixton and Deptford, as the protagonist Blue and company find parts for their sound equipment and visit record stores in Brixton. Blue suffers many hardships that resonate with the time period, including racial tensions and poverty. We watch the slow and dark descent of the character throughout the film and see what lengths he is willing to go to feel a sense of justice.
“I don’t like monkeys who get too clever in my garage. In other words son, you’re fucking out. D’you understand?”
My Beautiful Laundrette (1985)
Set in Battersea
My Beautiful Laundrette comes from the genius mind of Hanif Kureshi, and in our list of South London novels you’ll find another work from him too. This film is set in various locations around South London, including Vauxhall’s Wilcox Road where the titular building is placed and Battersea train tracks. Just a few of the hard-hitting themes this film deals with are racism, class, suicide, immigration and more, with Kureshi and director Stephen Frears being the dream team in making a truly memorable film.
“Ain’t nothing I can say to make it up to you. There’s only things I can do to show you... That I am with you.”
Nrbelex
Dark Shadows (2012)
Filmed in Beckenham
Dark Shadows tells the hilarious story of an imprisoned vampire who is reunited with his descendents in this cult classic. This was filmed in Beckenham Place Park in Bromley, where the scenes were mainly filmed at night, with director Tim Burton spending a lot of time on the park’s golf course. Despite the film being set in Maine, locals can’t ignore the icons of Beckenham Mansion and the park featured!
“[seeing TV for the first time] What sorcery is this? [attacks the TV] Reveal yourself, tiny songstress!”
torbakhopper
Nil by Mouth (1997)
Set in Bermondsey
Directed by actor Gary Oldman, who also stars in The Dark Knight Rises, Nil by Mouth follows Raymond and his working class family living in Bermondsey and reveals the cracks in their lives. There are many difficult themes explored in this film, including domestic violence and drug abuse and how this brings chaos to the family’s life. Oldman in fact spent a year and a half on this project that he worked incredibly hard on and is definitely worth the watch.
“I’ll fight for you... I’ll fight forever... forever... I love you…”
Gage Skidmore
Attack The Block (2011)
Set in Brixton and Elephant and Castle
Attack The Block follows a teen gang in South London defending their home turf from an alien invasion! The writer and director Joe Cornish was actually born and bred in Brixton and achieved making a captivating and action-packed urban sci-fi. There are many shots of other South London locations, including Clapham and Stockwell. This film stars John Boyega in his breakout role and has since gone on to other fantastic blockbusters, including Star Wars: The Force Awakens!
“Hurry up guys, we gotta catch ‘em all! /Calm down Biggz, this ain’t Pokemon!”
Gage Skidmore
Crofton Park Rivoli Ballroom SE4 - Giclée Art Print
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Legend (2015)
Filmed in Brockley
This classic gangster film about the notorious Kray Twins was in fact filmed in Brockley! The scenes that take place in Esmeralda’s Barn nightclub is actually Brockley’s own Rivoli Ballroom and made a perfect filming location for this film filled with 1960s vibes. The film follows the true story of Reggie and Ronnie Kray and their rise in London’s criminal underworld, with plenty of heartracing action and unforgettable one-liners.
“London in the 1960s. Everyone had a story about the Krays. You could walk into any pub to hear a lie or two about them. But I was there and I’m not careless with the truth.”
Gage Skidmore
The Da Vinci Code (2006)
Filmed in Bromley
The Da Vinci Code is a thrilling mystery flick that follows symbologist Robert Langdon, played by the amazing Tom Hanks, and Sophie Neveu (Audrey Tautou), and their race against time as they try to crack a seemingly impossible code under the backdrop of Paris. However, when we see our two protagonists fly back to England to flee the French police, they land in what is in fact Biggin Hill Airport in Bromley!
“Nobody hates history. They hate their own histories.”
florencedisdero
Up The Junction (1968)
Set in Battersea
You’ll also see us mention the South London classic Up The Junction in our South London novels list, as Peter Collinson directed this 1968 movie adaptation of this punchy novel. It follows Polly, a rich girl from Chelsea who goes ‘slumming’ it in Battersea, learning how hard life really was for locals in the 1960s. With scandal and intrigue everywhere you turn, this film will have your eyes glued to the screen for the whole two hours!
Tosh Marshall
The Elephant Man (1980)
Set in Bermondsey
The Elephant Man follows a Victorian surgeon who recuses a disfigured man being exploited as a side-show freak. It is an intense character study and reveals the kind heart behind the monstrous face. The film features black and white shots of Butler’s Wharf in Bermondsey. Some recogniseable names that starred in this film include Anthony Hopkins and John Hurt.
“I am not an elephant! I am not an animal! I am a human being! I am a man!”
_titi
Children of Men (2006)
Filmed in Wimbledon
This mesmerising creation from Oscar-winning director Alfonso Cuarón in set in 2027, delving into a chaotic world where women have become infertile. Near the beginning of the film we see the discovery of the first child having been born in years. Many scenes in the film make use of the Greyhound Stadium in Wimbledon, specifically when the protagonist Theo goes to meet an anti-government terrorist group, before then catching a bus outside the stadium.
“As the sound of the playgrounds faded, the despair set in. Very odd, what happens in a world without children’s voices.”
Mario Antonio Pena Zapatería
Four in the Morning (1965)
Set in Putney
Filmed and set in Putney, Four In The Morning follows the dramatic result of two couples in a crisis and their mysterious connection to a drowned women found in a river. The characters in the film remain nameless and are known as ‘girl’ or ‘husband’, adding to the intrigue of the flick. This film famously stars a young Dame Judi Dench and is perfect for fans of her more recent work and are looking for something under the radar.
Ewan Munro
Black Joy (1977)
Set in Brixton
Black Joy follows a Guyanan immigrant and his turbulent life in the Brixton ghetto of the late 1970s. The film is directed by Anthony Simmons, who was also the mind behind the aforementioned Four In The Morning! We think this South London film is certainly underappreciated and should definitely be added to your list for your next indie movie night!
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