Allied soldiers from Belgium, the British Commonwealth and Empire, and France are surrounded by the German Army and evacuated during a fierce battle in World War II.
D 51, Sarzay, La Châtre, Indre, Centre-Val de Loire, France métropolitaine, 36230, France
JO Pass Trail, Tulare County, California, United States of America
Decatur County, Kansas, United States of America
Calais–Dunkerque Airport
Swanage railway station
Hoogeveen Airport
Lelystad Airport
Maillé-Brézé
Christopher Nolan’s WWII epic did something rare: it filmed the Dunkirk evacuation on the real beach at Dunkirk, with real ships, real Spitfires and real little boats, weaving land, sea and air into one relentless, near-wordless experience.
Where was Dunkirk filmed?
Dunkirk was filmed on the real beach at Dunkirk, France, at sea off the Netherlands, and at Weymouth in England.
Every Dunkirk location, explained
1
The beach – the real Dunkirk
The evacuation scenes were filmed on the actual beach at Dunkirk, around Malo-les-Bains, where the events happened.
2
The sea – the Netherlands
The naval and little-ships scenes were shot at sea off Urk in the Netherlands.
3
The English port – Weymouth
The home-port scenes used Weymouth in Dorset, England.
4
Real ships and planes
The production used genuine period vessels and airworthy Spitfires for authenticity.
Planning a visit
The real beach at Dunkirk, France – where the evacuation took place and the film was shot – is a genuine, moving historical site on the North Sea coast.
Dunkirk Fun Facts
1
Filmed on the real beach Nolan shot the evacuation on the actual Dunkirk beach where it happened.
2
Real Spitfires and ships The production used airworthy Spitfires and genuine period vessels, minimising CGI.
3
Three timelines The film interweaves land, sea and air across different spans of time.
4
Filmed on IMAX Nolan shot much of the film on large-format IMAX and 65mm.
5
Sparse dialogue The film tells its story with remarkably little dialogue.
Frequently Asked Questions
Was Dunkirk filmed on the real beach?
Yes – Nolan shot the evacuation on the actual Dunkirk beach in France.
Where were the sea scenes filmed?
At sea off Urk in the Netherlands.
Can you visit the locations?
Yes – the real Dunkirk beach is a moving, accessible historical site.
Did they use real planes?
Yes – the film used airworthy Spitfires and genuine period ships.
