Glasgow has a long history of standing in for other cities on screen, thanks to its versatile architecture and cinematic streets.
Filmmakers often use the city to double for places like New York, Philadelphia, or European capitals, blending Victorian buildings with modern backdrops to create convincing illusions. This adaptability has made Glasgow a popular location for productions looking for visual variety without moving far.
One of the most famous examples is World War Z, where parts of Glasgow were transformed into Philadelphia during the chaotic outbreak scenes. George Square was filled with American signage, yellow taxis, and crowds of extras to sell the illusion. Similarly, The Batman used Glasgow streets and buildings to help create Gotham City, mixing them with locations in Liverpool to build a fictional metropolis.
Here are 13 brilliant movies filmed in Glasgow that are set somewhere else.
1. Trainspotting (1996)
Trainspotting features Ewan MacGregor and Robert Carlyle amongst others as we follow the life of Renton who is deeply immersed in the Edinburgh drug scene. Glasgow locations such as The Crosslands pub, Café D’Jaconelli and The Volcano nightclub feature in the film. | Prime Video
2. The Batman (2022)
“When a sadistic serial killer begins murdering key political figures in Gotham, Batman is forced to investigate the city’s hidden corruption and question his family’s involvement.” Glasgow was one of the key filming locations for the blockbuster as the city was transformed into parts of Gotham City. | IMDb
3. Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023)
"Archaeologist Indiana Jones races against time to retrieve a legendary artifact that can change the course of history." Filming took place on St Vincent Street, Cochrane Street and Parnie Street. | IMDb
4. 1917 (2019)
Parts of Glasgow were transported back a century to feature as the backdrop for Sam Mendes’ World War 1 epic 1917. Govan Graving Docks were featured during a nerve-shredding scene in which lead character Will crosses a river via a demolished bridge. | IMDb