West Bexington beach was recently taken over by film crews who were believed to be shooting a new Disney production.

With the filming attracting so much interest, we thought it was time to take a look back at some of the other movies which have been filmed in the area over the years.

One of Hammer Horror's most unique pictures The Damned was filmed in Weymouth and Portland Bill in the summer of 1961.

Oliver Reed, Shirley Anne Field and director Joseph Losey were in town to make the apocalyptic sci-fi classic.

The film's plot involves weird things happening to an American tourist, who discovers a network of caves and bunkers where nine 11-year-old children with odd powers are being kept by the military in a secret compound.

The original, and some would argue, the definitive version of Far From the Madding Crowd was the 1967 adaptation of the Thomas Hardy novel which was filmed.

It was largely filmed in this area, with huge crowd scenes shot on Weymouth’s beach and seafront and a circus was filmed at Preston. Maiden Castle in Dorchester was also used, Bloxworth House, near Wareham, was used as the fictional home of Bathsheba Everdene.

In 2013 the novel was dusted off once again for an adaptation of the book starring Carey Mulligan and Matthias Schoenaerts.

Mapperton House in Beaminster was used as one of the main locations and film crews also used Sherborne.

Academy-award-nominated the French Lieutenant's Woman was filmed in Lyme Regis.

One of the big screen’s most enduring images is of the cloak-clad heroine played by Meryl Streep standing on The Cobb, with the waves crashing around her.

The best-selling novel by John Fowles was published in 1969 and is set in Lyme Regis shortly after the Napoleonic Wars.

Acclaimed actress Emma Thompson arrived at Lulworth Cove in 2005 to film Nanny McPhee.

Around six tons of filming equipment was flown by helicopter to the Man O' War bay to make filming possible.

Apparently, Emma arranged a party for the production crew after the filming, with hamburgers and typical party food banned because she wanted the children to eat healthily.

In May 2008 Portland Port was used as a location for Richard Curtis film The Boat That Rocked.

Producers chartered the MV Timor Challenger to use as the Radio Rock pirate ship in the film.

Portland Harbour was used as a substitute for the North Sea, from which rogue DJs played by Rhys Ifans and Bill Nighy broadcast illegally.

Swinging sixties street scenes were filmed at Castletown and Lyme Regis and Kimmeridge were also used as locations.

Hollywood hunk Brad Pitt features heavily in Dorset film history.

He quickened pulses at Lulworth Cove in November 2012 when he filmed the final scene for World War Z at the famous landmark.

The following year he returned to the county to promote his Second World War film Fury at the Tank Museum, Bovington.

A Sherman tank from the museum was used in the filming of Fury.

Bond girl Gemma Arterton proved that there's no one more charming than a Dorset girl with her portrayal of Tamara Drewe, adapted from a Posy Simmonds illustrated novel.

The rollicking comedy, directed by Stephen Frears, was filmed in villages around Beaminster in 2009.

In 2015 Colin Firth was spotted on Portland filming scenes for The Mercy, a biopic of yachtsman Donald Crowhurst, who gave misleading reports which implied that he had sailed around the world when in fact he had remained in the Atlantic.

The filming of Ammonite saw Hollywood stars shooting scenes in west Dorset.

The movie, which was partly filmed in Lyme Regis, was inspired by the life of Anning - with Oscar-winner Kate Winslet taking on the role.

Winslet was seen in the seaside town in March 2019 filming scenes.

Timothée Chalamet takes on the role of eccentric chocolate factory owner Willy Wonka in Wonka, which was part-filmed in Dorset. 

The film sparked excitement and curiosity in Lyme Regis back in October 2021 when the famous Cobb became a hive of activity, with production crews and extras taking over the area to produce the shots required.

Chalamet was spotted arriving in full costume by eagle-eyed members of the public who were at the Cobb bright and early. 

More actors were spotted throughout the two days of filming, with Little Britain and Bake Off star Matt Lucas being sighted next to Peep Show and Vigil star, Paterson Joseph.

It appears Lyme Regis was used for a scene depicting Willy Wonka’s arrival in England.

Wonka is based on the beloved children’s book created by Roald Dahl and is set before the opening of Wonka’s chocolate factory.

The trailer reveals Hugh Grant features as a tiny CGI Oompa-Loompa, who has green hair and an orange face.