Where was Ready Player One filmed?
2018
City Locations
London (UK), Birmingham (UK), Watford (UK), Blackwater (UK), Camberley (UK), Leavesden (UK)
Location Types
Film Studio, School, Factory
Location Styles
Futuristic, Modern Building, Modern Car
About Ready Player One
The exciting sci-fi journey Ready Player One takes place in 2045 and was directed by Steven Spielberg. The film is an adaptation of Ernest Cline's renowned 2011 novel with the identical title. It takes us to a dismal future where people escape their harsh real-world problems by immersing themselves in the vast virtual reality area known as the Oasis. The main character is a tough young man named Wade Watts, played by Tye Sheridan. He comes from a poor area of Columbus, Ohio. Most of his time is spent in the Oasis, where he lives through his avatar, Parzival. The plot follows the death of the Oasis' inventor, James Halliday (Mark Rylance), who leaves behind a digital Easter Egg. The Oasis and Halliday's money will belong to the first person who finds this hidden golden prize. Wade/Parzival, armed with an encyclopedic knowledge of Halliday and pop culture, embarks on this expedition, battling corporate opponents and forging alliances. The video is a fast-paced trip through beautiful virtual worlds infused with 80s nostalgia. It's a tribute to games and geek culture and a comment on technology use. Ready Player One has garnered positive reviews from critics and audiences. It holds a 72% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 6.8/10 average score from 444 reviews, praised for its nostalgic thrill ride and Spielberg's filmmaking strengths. Metacritic gives it a score of 64/100, CinemaScore audience grade is "A—," and PostTrak shows an 82% positive rating with 65% viewers likely to recommend it.
Ready Player One Locations
Ready Player One, Steven Spielberg's sci-fi journey, does a great job of combining the real and virtual worlds. The story takes place in Columbus, Ohio, but most of the real-life scenes were shot in England, mostly in London and Birmingham. Many important scenes took place in and around London's busy streets. For example, the fight scene outside Okagami was filmed outside the entrance to 29 Ropemaker Street, a popular neighborhood in the heart of the city. Ropemaker Street, Finsbury Street, Moor Lane, and Moorfields in Islington, close to the City, were used to film other scenes with a big cast and crew. At the same time, Birmingham, with its unique buildings and historical charm, was a great place to show the dystopian world outside the Oasis. One of the most important places where the movie was filmed was the Jewellery Quarter in Birmingham. Visiting these locations could be a worthwhile adventure for film fans, offering a chance to walk in the footsteps of their favorite characters while exploring vibrant urban landscapes filled with historical landmarks and modern attractions. It's a unique way to immerse oneself in the magic of Ready Player One while experiencing the rich culture and history of these English cities.
Fun Fact
A fun fact about Ready Player One is that Spielberg insisted on doing a live-action shoot rather than a fully animated one, despite most of the film taking place in the virtual world. This decision led to a unique blend of animation and live-action, adding to the movie's distinct visual style.
Columbus 2045 scene in Ready Player One
Livery Street, Birmingham, UK
Ready Player One takes viewers to Columbus, Ohio, in 2045. In this future picture, Columbus is the world's fastest-developing metropolis. However, in a world where reality has turned bleak, individuals have sought refuge in a virtual environment known as the Oasis. Livery Street is an old street in Birmingham, UK, with important buildings and sites. It's known for its wide range of buildings, from the Brutalist-style Livery Street Mural to the remodeled offices at 10 Livery Street. In the late 1800s, the street became a part of Birmingham's urban fabric. It now has a mix of business and residential buildings. Today, it's a busy part of the city's central business area that mixes old and new, showing how historically rich Birmingham is. The best way to Livery Street in Birmingham, UK, is to take the train to Birmingham New Street Station, the city's main rail hub. When you get out of the station, take a short walk north toward Corporation Street and then head east toward Colmore Row. Stay on this road until you reach Snow Hill Station. From there, it's only a short distance to Livery Street, right in the middle of Birmingham's busy business area.
The Stacks scene in Ready Player One
Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden, Warner Dr, Leavesden, Watford, UK
Wade Watts (Tye Sheridan) lives in "the Stacks," a tall trailer park on the edge of town. This one-of-a-kind way to live is exactly what it sounds like trailers stacked on each other to make unstable buildings. The Stacks are very different from the high-tech glory of the Oasis. They show how unequal this future society will be regarding wealth and class. The Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden complex in Hertfordshire, England, is known worldwide for its movies and media. Several well-known movies, like the Harry Potter series, have been filmed there. The studio lets people see famous sets, outfits, and props behind the scenes. With its cutting-edge facilities and long past in the movie business, it's a must-see for movie fans and people working there. The easiest way to get to Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden is to take public transportation from downtown London. From London Euston, take the train to Watford Junction. From there, take the shuttle bus straight to the studios. The bus is designed for tourists, making getting to the studio easy and quick. With this trip, you can feel like you're in the movie in less than an hour from the city.
Sorrento's office scene in Ready Player One
Holland Park School, Airlie Gardens, Campden Hill Rd, London, UK
Nolan Sorrento (Ben Mendelsohn) oversees teams of dedicated geeks as they delve into the intricacies of 70s and 80s pop culture. Sorrento, the CEO of Innovative Online Industries (IOI), intends to find James Halliday's (Mark Rylance) Easter Egg hidden in the OASIS. His teams, known as "Sixers," are shown meticulously scouring through every shred of Halliday’s past: his favorite films, music, games, and other pop culture references. This scene showcases IOI's vast reach and resources, reflecting the corporation's determination to monopolize the OASIS. Holland Park School, located in Holland Park, London, is a coeducational secondary school and sixth form that opened in 1958. Once celebrated as a leading academy, it has faced criticism and was downgraded from "outstanding" to "failing." Despite challenges, it remains a significant educational institution in the area. To reach Holland Park School in London, start at London Paddington Station. Take the Circle or District Line towards Kensington (Olympia) and alight at High Street Kensington Station. From there, Holland Park School is a brief walk.
Wade studies the interaction between Halliday and Morrow scene in Ready Player One
Solaris House, Minley Rd, Blackwater, Camberley, UK
Wade Watts (Tye Sheridan) investigates the recorded contact between James Halliday (Mark Rylance) and Ogden Morrow (Simon Pegg), former business partners and OASIS inventors. Wade dives into the subtleties of their discourse, looking for hints about Halliday's secret Easter egg. The correspondence illustrates the two's professional connection and dynamics, providing insight into Halliday's reclusive and quirky personality. The large Solaris House is on Minley Road in Blackwater, Camberley, and is thought to be worth £512,779; it is in a good area. It has also been in a few movies, so it has been in the spotlight its fair share of times. To get to Solaris House in Blackwater, you should start in Camberley. Follow the A30 north to join the A331. Then, take the first turn toward M3/Yateley. This will lead you to Minley Road. After a few miles, Solaris House will be on your right. It is a well-known house on Minley Road that is easy to get to from the main road.
The Rebellion team on the roof scene in Ready Player One
Tea Works, Birmingham, 15 New Canal St, Birmingham, UK
The Rebellion gang gathers at their safehouse, notably on the rooftop garden. They stand together, gazing over a synthetic cityscape called 'Columbus.' The metropolis combines dystopian realism with digital imagination, piled trailers and soaring artificial towers. In stark contrast, the garden offers a green respite amid the chaos. As they survey the city, they discuss and plan their next moves, motivated by a similar goal: finding Halliday's (Mark Rylance) Easter Egg. Tea Works is a groundbreaking new culture center in Birmingham's Eastside neighborhood. This creative project brings back the old Typhoo Tea Factory building to life, turning it into a lively hub for culture and art. The open-air Tea Works, near a historic building in Birmingham, is a great place for concerts and other events. Take a train to Birmingham New Street Station to get to Tea Works on the east side of Birmingham, which has been redeveloped. The Tea Works, which is in the old Typhoo Tea Factory, is a great example of how to be innovative. It offers a lively space for cultural interaction and creativity, showing how far the city has come.
Conclusion
Ready Player One is a cinematic trip across various real and virtual environments. The movie was shot in many different places, from the rough streets of Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter to the endless digital spaces of the OASIS. It mixes real events with made-up ones to tell an interesting story. The movie was shot in the Jewellery Quarter, especially on Mary Ann Street and Livery Street. The ending takes place in Columbus, Ohio. The industrial part of the neighborhood makes the grim future seem more real. The OASIS, on the other hand, is a digital work of art, from the familiar Overlook Hotel to the zero-gravity dance club. These places show Spielberg's vision and the skills of the visual effects team. Finally, Ready Player One is a beautiful movie that blurs the lines between the real world and the endless possibilities of virtual reality, creating a memorable movie journey.