Let’s jump back into our DeLorean, and where we’re going, we don’t need roads - just a stable internet connection.
To borrow from one of the greatest scientists of our lifetime, Doc Brown.
Before Trainspotting put Scotland on the global cinema map in the mid-90s, the 1980s laid the essential groundwork. This was the decade of the quiet revolution, where humanist director Bill Forsyth charmed the world with gentle comedies like Local Hero, while a grittier school of filmmakers captured the reality of life on the streets of Glasgow.
From the misty, epic sweep of the Highlands to the working-class warmth of the Clydeside, these 15 films defined a generation and remain some of the most iconic movies ever shot in Scotland.
Did you catch any of them when they first came out, or could you be inspired to check one of them out over your colder Autumn months?
9. The Girl in the Picture (Glasgow)
A romantic comedy that follows two close friends who work at a photo processing lab in Glasgow. The plot weaves through the city as their platonic friendship struggles with unspoken feelings and potential romantic entanglements, offering a snapshot of young working life in the city during the mid-80s. | Antonine Films/National Film Finance Corporation (NFFC)/The Rank Organisation
10. Restless Natives (Edinburgh, Glencoe)
This upbeat cult comedy follows two unemployed young men from Edinburgh who decide to become modern-day highwaymen, wearing Wolfman and clown masks while robbing tourist buses in the Highlands. With a brilliant soundtrack by Big Country, it is a fun, energetic caper set against the gorgeous backdrop of Glencoe and the Edinburgh-to-Highlands tourist trail. | EMI Films/The Oxford Film Company/Thorn EMI Screen Entertainment
11. Highlander (Glencoe/Eilean Donan Castle/Isle of Skye)
"There can be only one!" This legendary fantasy/action film features Connor MacLeod, an immortal Scottish clansman who battles his way through the centuries. The flashbacks to his 16th-century life are dominated by the most breath-taking Scottish locations, including Glencoe and the instantly recognisable Eilean Donan Castle. | Thorn EMI Screen Entertainment/Davis-Panzer Productions/Highlander Productions Limited
12. Heavenly Pursuits (Glasgow)
A whimsical and heart-warming film starring Tom Conti as a dedicated teacher at a special school in Glasgow who finds himself caught up in an investigation when seemingly miraculous events begin to occur on the premises. It’s a gently satirical, faith-testing look at working life in the city. | Channel Four Films/Island/National Film Finance Corporation (NFFC)