One of the most notable films shot in this region is the James Bond blockbuster Casino Royale (2006), starring Daniel Craig. Scenes from this iconic action spectacle were filmed in the historic center of Mladá Boleslav, specifically on Palackého and Husova Streets. On the other hand, sci-fi fans will appreciate that the Czech film Restore Point (Bod obnovy, 2023) used the industrial backdrop of the Krnov Viaduct, whose raw atmosphere fits perfectly into the film’s futuristic visuals.
Mladá Boleslav has also appeared in several iconic Czech films. The cult horror Ferat Vampire (Upír z Feratu, 1981) by director Juraj Herz found the perfect setting in the Škoda car factory. The film Hard Currency (Bony a klid, 1987), depicting the world of illegal currency trading in the 1980s, was shot right in the city center, just like the TV series Hospital at the End of the City: Twenty Years Later (Nemocnice na kraji města po dvaceti letech, 2003) and the family film Stroke the Cat's Ears (Pohlaď kočce uši, 2005).
Mladá Boleslav also served as one of the filming locations for the Oscar-winning film I Served the King of England (Obsluhoval jsem anglického krále, 2006) directed by Jiří Menzel. Shooting took place inside the former city prison, which, unfortunately, was demolished in the summer of 2022. The prison also appeared in other films, including the historical drama Lidice (2011), the biographical film Lída Baarová (2016), the action thriller Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol (2011) starring Tom Cruise, the prequel Hannibal Rising (2007), and the TV miniseries Hitler: The Rise of Evil (Hitler: Vzestup zla, 2003).
Filming of well-known titles also took place in the surrounding areas. The TV series The House in the Suburbs (Dům na předměstí, 1976), which focused on life in newly emerging suburban areas, was filmed in the village of Podlázky. The Bon Repos chateau complex in Kosmonosy became one of the main locations for the dark crime series Bukowsky’s Circus (Cirkus Bukowsky, 2013–2014). The historic center of Benátky nad Jizerou was featured in the film Oil Lamps (Petrolejové lampy, 1971) and the popular TV series Hot & Tasty (Ohnivý kuře, 2018–2019).
The Mladá Boleslav region has also served as a backdrop for sports dramas such as Golden Sting (Zlatý podraz, 2018), about Czechoslovak basketball, and the film National Handball (Národní házená, 2010), which was filmed in Bakov nad Jizerou. The sci-fi thriller Experiment Eva (1985) was also filmed in Bakov.
Cover photo: Jaroslav Kocourek
