Movie tourism is a growing trend that combines the excitement of traveling with the interest in the movie-making industry. And what better place to experience it than in Canada, where some of the best Canadian film locations and iconic scenes in movie history, are also destinations?
By visiting the best Canadian film locations, where some of the most well-known movies were made, you can step into the shoes of your favorite movie characters and explore the locations of your favorite movie scenes.
Film tourism is a way to both discover new destinations and also immerse yourself in the atmosphere of cinema and your most beloved movies.
Visiting filming locations not only allows you to relive some of your favorite movie moments but also gives you a chance to see places in a different light. Imagine gazing out at the same stunning views that inspired the Oscar-winning The Revenant with Leonardo DiCaprio.
Visiting the best Canadian film locations is a truly unforgettable experience that will leave you with tons of memories, impressions, and of course Instagram photos.
In this post, we’ll take you on a journey through the best Canadian film locations where some of the most famous movie locations can be discovered, including some hidden gems that you might not have known about.
Whether you’re a film fan or just looking for some inspiration for your next vacation, these unusual locations with their own movie history are sure to impress. But before we get into these, let’s discuss why Hollywood still films in real locations.
Advantages of On-Location Filming
Interestingly, with all the modern possibilities given by the technologies of chroma key and the possibilities of creating truly stunning landscapes and backgrounds using computer graphics, most movies are still shot in real locations.
The magic of cinema is not just in the special effects but in the authenticity of the locations where the stories take place.
Sometimes, how the actors interact with the environment makes it cheaper and more adequate to shoot in a real location instead of building a complicated studio set and then drawing the location from scratch.
By filming on location, Hollywood productions can capture the true essence of a place and make it an integral part of the story. The authenticity of the location helps to immerse the viewer in the story and create a sense of connection with the characters.
Moreover, today movie fans are hard to impress and are quite picky; if they see a drawn forest instead of a real one in a movie like The Revenant they will find it ridiculous and pathetic rather than impressive.
If a location has its own unique features or history that makes sense in the movie, the viewers will instead be impressed by the way the movie creators found the way to use this location and show all its uniqueness.
This, in turn, creates a special connection with the movie itself and the whole crew that took care of making the movie as “real” as possible.
Of course, filming on location does come with its own set of challenges, including the logistics of transporting equipment and crew to remote locations and dealing with unpredictable weather conditions. But for filmmakers who are willing to put in the extra effort, the results can be truly breathtaking and this will add tons of value to the movie for its viewers.
Now that you have a deeper understanding of the advantages of filming on location, let’s explore the best Canadian film locations out there!
9 of the Best Canadian Film Locations for Movie Lovers
If you’d like to make your vacation like no other, make sure to check out the following places in Canada and see the locations where the next movies were shot. These are the best Canadian film locations to explore.
Vancouver, British Columbia
This city has become a popular filming location for many Hollywood productions, including the X-Men franchise, Deadpool, and Twilight. In X-Men: The Last Stand, the University of British Columbia was used to stand in for Alcatraz Island.
Vancouver is one of the best Canadian film locations for anyone looking for a blend of the big city with a side of outdoor adventure.
Toronto, Ontario
As the largest city in Canada, Toronto has also become a hub for film production and is one of the best Canadian film locations for anyone looking for a big-city experience. Many blockbuster movies have been filmed in Toronto, including Suicide Squad, The Shape of Water, and It.
The city has also served as a stand-in for New York City in several movies, including The Incredible Hulk and The Amazing Spider-Man. Some movies where casinos were present in the story were also shot in Toronto, so if you like offline or online casinos in Canada you may want to see these facilities, too.
Montreal, Quebec
Montreal has been a backdrop for many movies, including The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and The Day After Tomorrow. In the movie X-Men: Days of Future Past, the city was used to represent Paris in the 1970s.
Banff National Park, Alberta
This stunning national park has been featured in many Hollywood movies, including The Revenant and Brokeback Mountain.
Niagara Falls, Ontario
The iconic Niagara Falls has been featured in many Hollywood movies, including Superman II and Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End. One of the latest movies that used this location is A Man Called Otto.
Calgary, Alberta
This city has been used as a stand-in for many different locations in Hollywood movies, including Russia in The Bourne Legacy, and Afghanistan in K-19: The Widowmaker.
Whistler, British Columbia
This ski resort town has been featured in several movies, including Tomorrow Never Dies and Insomnia.
Prince Edward Island
This charming island has been featured in several movies, including Anne of Green Gables and The Shipping News.
Ottawa, Ontario
Canada’s capital city has been used as a filming location for many movies, including X-Men: Apocalypse and The Art of War.
Choosing Locations for a Movie: Why Canada?
Canada’s diverse and stunning landscapes make it a prime location for Hollywood movies of all genres. From lakes to forests, Canada has it all.
The country’s numerous national parks, wildlife reserves, and unique natural scenery provide a wide range of backgrounds of all kinds for all kinds of movies, from historic to fantastic.
Canada’s big and busy modern cities also offer many filming locations. Toronto, the country’s largest city, has been transformed into New York City, Chicago, and even Gotham City for various Hollywood productions.
Vancouver, meanwhile, has become a popular location for sci-fi and fantasy movies, mostly thanks to its futuristic architecture.
In other words, Canada is an all-in-one country that can offer an unimaginable array of different locations, both natural and man-made. Whether you’re looking for epic wilderness or bustling cities, Canada has what you need.
Final Thoughts
In fact, Canada is a country that has played a significant role in some of the most iconic Hollywood movies of all time.
Not only do these locations offer a glimpse into the making of some of the most iconic films in history, but they also provide a unique opportunity to explore Canada and experience its diverse culture and stunning landscapes.
If you think you have been everywhere and you are hard to impress, try making a list of movie locations in Canada and learn more both about each location and about the creation of the movie filmed there.
Visiting the best Canadian film locations where famous movies were shot is an experience like no other. You get to walk in the footsteps of your favorite movie characters and see the world through their eyes. It’s a chance to relive some of your favorite movie moments.
And with movie tourism only gaining popularity in recent years, it’s no surprise that more and more people are adding filming locations to their travel itineraries.
Even if you are not a passionate movie fan, this experience is unusual at least. And your social media posts with photos will for sure attract lots of attention.
