Braveheart 25 years on: Scottish tourism bosses say impact of hit film still felt

Tourism bosses say the impact of Braveheart is still felt today - 25 years after the iconic film was released.

Mel Gibson, 64, brought the story of Scottish freedom fighter William Wallace to the big screen and was credited with helping to fuel a new wave of nationalism.

But experts believe the 'Braveheart effect' still resonates with visitors today as much as it did 25 years ago when the film was released.

Today marks the 25th anniversary of the European premiere of the award-winning historical drama at the University of Stirling.

Experts believe the 'Braveheart effect' still resonates with visitors today as much as it did 25 years ago when the film was released. Eddie McNeill and Malcolm McNeill from the Wallace Soiciety attend attend a ceremony at the Stirling Bridge Battle Site in 2015 (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

It was attended by Gibson, who produced and directed the film, which went on to be a worldwide box office sensation and scooped five Oscars in 1996.

To mark the anniversary an online event will explore the character of Sir William Wallace, and the film which brought his story to audiences worldwide.

The sell-out virtual presentation - titled Braveheart Live 2020 - comes after planned Wallace Monument events had to be cancelled due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Ken Thomson, marketing manager at Stirling District Tourism, said: "Braveheart is still having an impact to this day - and arguably the message of the film, regardless of the context and irrespective of how it is interpreted, which depicts Wallace as a leader who fought back against discrimination and injustice, is more relevant now than ever.

"It certainly resonates with visitors today every bit as much as it did when the film was released 25 years ago."

The blockbuster famously upset historians with its depiction of Wallace and his troops wearing kilts with their faces painted, and inaccurate references to bagpipes.

There was also the absence of a bridge in any of the scenes during the pivotal Battle of Stirling Bridge - and Gibson previously admitted he may have 'distorted history'.

David Martin-Jones, professor of film studies at the University of Glasgow, will be speaking at the online event.

He said while many books have been written about the influence of the movie on Scottish culture there was a "no less important" story to tell about its impact on tourism.

Mr Martin-Jones said: "This is a tale of the influential intertwining of Scotland's iconic heritage sites, their depiction on the large and small screen, and tourism."

The year after Braveheart's release visitors to Stirling's Wallace Monument shot up from 40,000 to one million, with an annual turnover of £1 million.

The combined tourist income from Braveheart and Liam Neeson's Rob Roy blockbuster, released six months earlier, was £15m in 1996 alone.

Mr Martin-Jones will look at how the "Braveheart effect" can be compared to the more recent impact of the Outlander books and TV series.

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