If you’re a Vancouverite who feels a bit uneasy with the familiarity of Seattle as depicted in movies, if you think a Wyoming city looks a little like Calgary on the big screen, and if you have questions about the appearance of Pittsburgh vis-a-vis Toronto while streaming a series, you might be a victim of the production doppelganger-ism inherent in the Canadian film industry. Residents of Toronto, Vancouver, and even Winnipeg have become accustomed to the inconvenience of traffic detours and delays caused by film crews controlling the continuity around urban film sets. Why, you may think while stuck in another bumper-to-bumper, can’t they shoot New York City in New York City?The answer may come down, as it often does, to the cost of doing business. With many cities and provinces luring major productions with tax breaks and film grants, Hollywood often turns its eyes north of the border for friendly shooting conditions, both on the streets and on its wallets.

Urban genetics

Cities define themselves with two landscapes—urban and natural— and Toronto has much in common with many metropolitan cities around the world. Choose a camera angle that includes a Starbucks and you might be in New York City, Los Angeles (if it’s not snowing), or even Berlin. When distinctive geography is a concern, Canada has you covered. Mountains to the east? Try Vancouver. Calgary is your pick if the mountains are to the west. Eras are covered too. Quebec City and parts of Montreal have the detail and history to stand in for many European cities, while parts of Winnipeg can evoke early 20th century Chicago. Add a couple establishing shots with your target city, and voila, you’re able to convincingly cast your location much as you would any actor. Practicality rules over veracity.

The most popular Canadian film destinations

In December 2020, financial services provider NetCredit analyzed 120 years of films listed in IMDb (Internet Movie Database) with location information included. In order, the top 10 filming locations in Canada are: 

1. Niagara Falls, Ontario
2. Banff National Park, Alberta
3. University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia
4. Riverview Hospital, Coquitlam, British Columbia 
5. University of Toronto, Ontario
6. Parkwood Estate, Oshawa, Ontario
7. Lower Bay Station, Toronto, Ontario
8. Jasper National Park, Alberta
9. Vancouver International Airport, Richmond, British Columbia
10. Rockwood Conservation Area, Rockwood, Ontario

Films shot in western Canada

The mountains and metropolitan cities of western Canada make it a prime location for films needing outdoor space or downtown views. Numerous films have been shot in western Canada, more often than not being passed off as American terrain. 

• • Deadpool and Deadpool 2: Vancouver native and actor Ryan Reynolds returned home for these superhero movies, part of the Marvel Comics canon, showing off the Georgia Viaduct as well as many downtown locations.
  • Interstellar: Alberta and the city of Calgary shared duties with Iceland and Los Angeles as settings for this 2014 sci-fi flick, with Westin Bonaventure Hotel & Suites used as the interior of the space research centre seen in the movie. 
  • Brokeback Mountain: The 2005 drama was filmed in southern Alberta, capitalizing on the Canadian Rockies landscape to mimic the scenery of Wyoming where the film took place. The mountain featured isn’t exactly one you could go visit today, but rather a combination of multiple images to create what the film needed. 

Image via Flickr, Ian Irving

Films shot in central Canada

Yes, Toronto is a popular filming location thanks to its big-city vibes, but other cities in central Canada have been used for blockbuster hits as well! 

• Suicide Squad: You can recognize Yonge and Dundas Square, Union Station and the lower Bay TTC station in this 2016 supervillian film.
• IT and IT: Chapter Two: Pennywise the Dancing Clown first stepped out in Port Hope, Ontario, home of the Ganaraska River, as well as scenes shot in Toronto.
• House at the End of the Street: The horror-thriller was shot between Metcalfe and Carp in eastern Ontario, starring Oscar-winner Jennifer Lawrence.  
• Get Smart: The remake of the classic television show, starring Steve Carell and Anne Hathaway, was shot partially in Montreal, Quebec, with Olympic Stadium and McGill University being disguised as Russia for the film. 
• Fever Pitch: Drew Barrymore and Jimmy Fallon star in this baseball-themed romantic comedy, which was shot in Niagara Falls! 
• Bride of Chucky: Not for the faint of heart, the fourth instalment in the Child’s Play franchise was shot partially in Niagara Falls as well. 

Fun fact: CREA’s “Welcome Home” commercial was filmed in Toronto, but it was worked on from across the globe! Due to travel restrictions, our director played their part from Helsinki, Finland while our CREA staff contributed from Ottawa.

Films shot in eastern Canada

The undeniable charm of the maritimes has drawn in many feature films, although admittedly most productions shot in the area are television shows, not movies. That being said, there are still some notable names, all of which use the stunning sights of the ocean to their advantage. 

• Titanic: Life (somewhat) imitated art with the filming of Titanic. Tragically, many of the victims of the real-life Titanic were buried in Halifax, Nova Scotia. When filming the blockbuster, director James Cameron and his team shot many of the ocean scenes on board the CCGS Louis S. St-Laurent, a heavy arctic icebreaker. 
• Aquaman: The east coast, more specifically Newfoundland, was one of a few filming locations for Jason Momoa’s Aquaman. While it’s not clear which scenes were shot in Newfoundland, surely eagle-eyed Newfoundlanders would be able to tell you when they see the movie! 
• The Lighthouse: Also in Nova Scotia, Robert Pattinson and Willam Defoe shot their 2019 film The Lighthouse in Cape Forchu, a small fishing community outside of Yarmouth.

Image via Flickr, Gage Skidmore

What the actors say

The prominence of the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) means celebrity traffic in the off-work hours is somewhat higher here than in other shooting locations across the country, leading to 416-centric sound bites. In Toronto for the 2014 romantic comedy The F Word, actor Daniel Radcliffe spoke of the city’s film crews: “I always think if you can judge a city by their film crews, which I normally do, then Toronto’s an amazing place. The crew we had was so fun and welcoming.”Image via Flickr, Gage SkidmoreRobert Downey Jr. was late for a TIFF press conference due to the infamous Toronto traffic, joking he’d set up a zip-line system for frustrated commuters. He also said he had “no complaints” about the city.Image via Flickr, Gage SkidmoreFor Jason Momoa, filming in Newfoundland is a treat. The Game of Thrones actor has shot a few projects in the province, and he’s been open about how much he loves it. “It’s one of my favourite places on earth,” the actor said to the media in 2018. “I wanted there to be snow! It’s February and I can’t believe there is no snow on the ground. I had to go to western Newfoundland to find snow.”Image via Flickr, Gage SkidmoreRyan Reynolds was back in Vancouver in early 2021 to film The Adam Project, as well as to introduce his BIPOC project, The Group Effort Initiative. About the city, he offered up “a lingering, uncomfortably indulgent hug” on Instagram. Perhaps that hug describes the welcome many film projects receive when landing in their adopted Canadian locations. Filming in Canada by American companies dates back to the late 1920s, but it shows little sign of passing as a trend. You can count on continued double takes when you spot a familiar sight in your next viewing of a Hollywood epic.