From Goldfinger to Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, South Buckinghamshire is steeped in a rich history of filmmaking, with directors lured by its rolling landscapes, impressive array of stately homes and proximity to London.

And the county is currently experiencing a ‘filming boom’ like never before, with today’s global entertainment giants Disney, Universal and Netflix all vying for a piece of the action.

Even the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak acknowledged Buckinghamshire’s filming boom, praising its ‘starring role’ in the UK film industry during a recent visit to the National Film and Television School in Beaconsfield.

But what continues to draw the movie elite to keep making their blockbusters and is the county’s time on the silver screen set to last?

The answer to the second question is a firm yes, says the Buckinghamshire Film Office, the movie promotion vehicle launched by the council in 2022.

READ MORE: Famous film and TV locations in Buckinghamshire

The office, which markets Buckinghamshire as a ‘film-friendly filming location’, told the Free Press it handled 203 enquires for 90 productions last year alone.

These ranged from feature films to student productions, shot in a variety of locations across the whole county.

On top of these impressive figures, the number of enquiries and filming opportunities continues to grow year-on-year, the office says.

UK film and high-end TV (HETV) production contributed £4.23 billion to the UK economy in 2023, according to the latest figures from the BFI’s Research and Statistics Unit.

In a year of Hollywood strikes, this was slightly down on the previous year, however, UK HETV production has continued to grow in recent years, with a record £7.06 billion spent in 2022.

But the reason directors are continually drawn to Buckinghamshire may have something to with its ‘picturesque landscapes and historic locations’, says Clive Harriss, the council’s cabinet member for culture and leisure.

He said these ‘provide an ideal backdrop for filmmakers’, which not only ‘elevates the cinematic experience but also generates significant economic benefits for local businesses’.

Buckinghamshire’s chocolate box villages and historic towns have helped it to become the most filmed county in the country, according to Visit England.

Some of the most famous films to come out of Buckinghamshire include Captain America: The First Avenger, Casino Royale, Four Weddings and a Funeral, Robin Hood Prince of Thieves and A Clockwork Orange.

Although the success of such films does not show up in specific data for filming in Buckinghamshire, figures for the wider region suggest that the county continues to form a major part of the UK film industry.

In 2021, 60 per cent of the film and video production workforce was based in London and the South East, compared with 30 per cent of the UK workforce as a whole, according to the British Film Institute’s Statistical Yearbook report for 2022.

In total, 69 per cent of the country’s film companies are concentrated in London and the South East, and 86 per cent of turnover was generated by companies located in these two regions, the report says.

One of these companies, Pinewood Group, which opened its world-famous studios in Iver in 1936, recently announced a strong set of quarterly results.

The company told the Free Press that the business had remained largely resilient to 2023’s industry strikes, which shut down Hollywood studios and also impacted the UK film industry before being resolved by the end of the year.

A spokesperson said: “With its iconic history in the film and TV industry and respected position, we are looking forward to continuing to develop the business and focus on the delivery of excellence and attract filmmakers to Buckinghamshire.”

In another sign of Buckinghamshire’s star quality, the county continues to attract the development of new film studios.

The new Wycombe Film Studios were approved by planners last year, with council leader Martin Tett hailing the site as a ‘catalyst for economic growth’.

Stage Fifty, the company behind the studios, expects them to be completed by 2025 and claims they will support 1,200 jobs and generate £305m for the local economy.

Meanwhile, just miles away, plans have also been laid to build Marlow Film Studios on the former Marlow quarry next to the A404.

The proposals, which will be decided on in the coming months, are opposed by groups like Save Marlow's Green Belt and supported by Skyfall director Sam Mendes.

Robert Laycock, the CEO of Marlow Film Studios, said: “It has been estimated that the UK misses out on 10 blockbusters a year due to lack of suitable studio space.”

He added: “As the beating heart of UK filmmaking, Buckinghamshire is feeling the shortfall acutely, and needs far more high-grade, advanced studio space to remain competitive as a global capital of film production.”

The film CEO claimed the new studios would help to meet this need, while providing a wide range of benefits for the community.

He added: “The future of filmmaking in Buckinghamshire stands to be a phenomenal success.

“Globally the demand for new blockbuster film and TV is growing strongly. This year alone global consumers will spend an extra $60bn more than last year on media and entertainment, taking the worldwide total to $1trillion.

“The world has got used over the last century to watching quality British-made films, TV and talent, much of it made right here in Buckinghamshire.”

What do you think about the filming boom? Email letters@bucksfreepress.co.uk.