Cunk on Cinema is a 2026 British comedy mockumentary series from the BBC, and it is streaming on Netflix outside the UK and Ireland. It is created by Charlie Brooker and Diane Morgan, who stars as Philomena Cunk. Al Campbell directs it, and Pacesetter Productions makes it for BBC iPlayer and BBC Two.
Brooker leads the writing team, and the guests include Benedict Cumberbatch, Michael Bay, Daniel Pemberton and Mark Kermode. Going by the trailer, the series was filmed in London and Los Angeles.
Philomena Cunk, a clueless presenter, sets out to explain the history of cinema. She goes from the invention of the camera and the French New Wave of the 1960s to CGI and what AI means for film. She grills film-world experts along the way.
It is billed as Cunk’s “most glamorous series to date”. It starts on BBC iPlayer and BBC Two on Thursday, November 12, 2026, and on Netflix on November 15, according to Televisual and Empire.
Table of Contents
When and Where Was Cunk on Cinema Filmed?
| Series Name | Cunk on Cinema |
|---|---|
| Genres | Comedy, Mockumentary |
| Filming Locations | London and Los Angeles (reported from the trailer) |
| Filming Dates | Production began April 2026 (reported) |
| Location Management by | Derek Tramont |
| Release Date | November 12, 2026 (BBC); November 15, 2026 (Netflix) |
Televisual and Chortle reported on April 10, 2026, that production had started that week. We could not find a wrap date or an official filming schedule, so please treat the dates as reported. We could not confirm who handled the cinematography, and we will add it as soon as it is credited.
The BBC and Netflix have not published a list of filming locations. The places below come from scenes in the trailer, and we will update this guide as soon as the production confirms them.
Sources also disagree on the format. The BBC describes three half-hour episodes, while a Netflix listing says six 15-minute episodes.
📍BFI Southbank, London
The trailer shows Philomena Cunk standing with her arms out in an empty cinema, with rows of red seats, a gold curtain and a ceiling of small round lights. We identify the venue as BFI Southbank, but the BBC has not confirmed it. Please treat it as reported from the trailer.
BFI Southbank is the British Film Institute’s cinema on the South Bank in London. Wikipedia says it was known as the National Film Theatre until 2007. It also hosts the BFI Flare film festival. Our London page lists more films and series shot in the city, and another British comedy shot there is Twenty Twenty Six.
Visiting: BFI Southbank is a public cinema, so please check its screenings and opening hours before you go. The trailer scene was shot in an empty auditorium, so we are not sure which screen was used.
📍Hollywood Sign, Los Angeles, California
In the trailer, Philomena Cunk stands in front of the Hollywood Sign on the hillside, with her arms spread wide, under a cloudy sky. This is reported from the trailer, and we could not confirm which viewpoint the crew used.
Visiting: The sign sits high in the Hollywood Hills and is not open to walk up to. Please check which viewpoints are open before you plan a trip. Our Hollywood page lists more films shot in the area, including Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.
📍Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood Walk of Fame, Los Angeles
In another trailer scene, Cunk walks along Hollywood Boulevard past the stars of the Hollywood Walk of Fame, with palm trees and tall buildings behind her. This shot is in the Netflix version of the trailer. It is reported from the trailer, and we could not confirm which block of the boulevard was used.
Visiting: The Walk of Fame is on public pavement, so you can walk it. It can get busy, so please keep an eye on traffic and your belongings.
📍Other Areas of Los Angeles
We could not confirm any other exact place. The contributors include Michael Bay, who was born in Los Angeles, but we could not confirm where any interview was filmed. We will update this guide as soon as the production names more places.
Apart from the locations mentioned above, an aerial view of Sunset Boulevard and the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood, California, looking toward the Hollywood Hills featured in the Cunk on Cinema series.
Cunk on Cinema Behind the Scenes
To make your search for Cunk on Cinema filming even more interesting, here is some background. Charlie Brooker said it was the “perfect time” to look back on cinema, and he joked about OpenAI’s video tool Sora in the same line. The contributors also include Steven E. de Souza, Seamus McGarvey, Mark Cousins and Helen O’Hara, according to Flickering Myth.
Fun fact: the previous Cunk special, Cunk on Life, won a Primetime Emmy Award, according to Televisual.
We will add more cast and crew Instagram posts and set photos here as soon as they are shared.
Is There Any Trailer Available for Cunk on Cinema?
Yes. The BBC released the official trailer around October 29–30, 2026, and Netflix released its own version. Variety says it was the first trailer. It shows Cunk in a cinema, at the Hollywood Sign and on Hollywood Boulevard. It also shows the guests looking confused by her questions.
In the UK and Ireland, it starts on BBC iPlayer and BBC Two on Thursday, November 12, 2026. Outside the UK and Ireland, it streams on Netflix from November 15, 2026. One report says Netflix and the BBC both start on the same day, so please check your local listing.
FAQs
Q1: Where was Cunk on Cinema filmed?
A1: The trailer shows London and Los Angeles. The BBC and Netflix have not published a full list of locations.
Q2: When was Cunk on Cinema filmed?
A2: Production began in April 2026. We could not confirm a wrap date.
Q3: Was Cunk on Cinema filmed at BFI Southbank?
A3: The trailer shows a cinema that we identify as BFI Southbank. The BBC has not confirmed it.
Q4: Who stars in Cunk on Cinema?
A4: Diane Morgan plays Philomena Cunk. Guests include Michael Bay, Benedict Cumberbatch, Daniel Pemberton and Mark Kermode.
Q5: Who created Cunk on Cinema?
A5: Charlie Brooker and Diane Morgan created it, and Al Campbell directed it.
Q6: Where can I watch Cunk on Cinema?
A6: It is on BBC iPlayer and BBC Two in the UK and Ireland, and on Netflix elsewhere.
Cunk on Cinema is a British comedy that, going by the trailer, was filmed in London and Los Angeles.
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