Movies Filmed and Set In Heathrow Airport

From Casablanca to Die Hard 2, there have been plenty of films with airport based climaxes, and for good reason. Airports are a point of departure and return, the perfect place to end a film. Whether you’re staying at the nearby Park Grand London Heathrow or merely passing through on your way into the city centre, the largest of the London airports has more glitz and glamour than you would initially expect from its looming warehouse surroundings.

You don’t need to attend the red carpet premieres in Leicester Square to enjoy the world of cinema. Even on a fleeting visit to Heathrow, you’ll recognise some of the settings of a wide range of famous films and television programmes. From British classics to Hollywood blockbusters, Heathrow has played set to a dazzling range of films.

Edge of Tomorrow

This British written sci fi thriller pits Tom Cruise against an alien invasion, leading to hsi reliving of the same bloody battle on repeat, day after day. This battle was filmed in Heathrow airport and the surrounding warehouses. With the grey of the buildings and industrial runways acting as a great setting for a final showdown, the Edge of Tomorrow makes Heathrow Airport look truly apocalyptic!

Spooks: The Greater Good

Based on the well known British television series concerning the daily struggles and adrenaline fuelled antics of MI5 agents, Spooks: The Greater Good brought the television series to the big screen to mixed reviews but Heathrow-tastic set pieces. As Game of Thrones’ Kit Harington is pitted against terrorists and hunted by the British Government, he has a fateful scene in Heathrow airport opposite the series regular Peter Firth.

Gambit

This often forgotten Coen Brothers crime caper has a star studded cast including Colin Firth, Cameron Diaz and Alan Rickman. The film follows an unlikely trio of criminals and con men who hatch a plan to steal a rare Monet painting. With the three criminals arguing over their expenses at Heathrow airport, the rather funny scene was not enough for this Coen outing to fall along the wayside, in favour of their other more successful films.

Die Another Day

Pierce Brosnan’s Bond touched down in London after months of imprisonment at Heathrow Airport. This rather silly noughties outing brought the spy back to his home country to the sound of London Calling by The Clash, not exactly a subtle soundtrack choice. This film would be the last of the Pierce Brosnan Bond films, and brought him head to head with North Korean conspirators, a laser beam satellite and a car that can turn invisible. You can probably see why producers decided the franchise needed a reboot.

Our Kind of Traitor

This Ewan Mcgregor starring international thriller is a spy film based on a novel by John Le Carre, one of the leading thriller writers in the UK. With many of his books having been adapted for screen, including Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and The Night Manager, this is one of the only ones to show scenes in Heathrow Airport. This is curious as the writer was known for his globe trotting and jet setting storylines, scenes often taking place in transit or in airports.

So, if you’re staying at the Park Grand Heathrow, one of the only Heathrow airport hotels with parking, then be sure to check out these films and the nearby locations they’re filmed in.