Notable movie and TV show locations in Ontario

The Umbrella Academy

In this popular Netflix series, seven children with mysterious origins are adopted by billionaire Sir Reginald Hargreeves who transforms them into a superhero team dubbed “The Umbrella Academy.” Many of The Umbrella Academy’s filming locations were shot in Toronto and Hamilton.

Where was The Umbrella Academy filmed?

• The iconic bank robbery scene in season one was filmed at the majestic LIUNA Station, a lavish banquet hall that frequently hosts weddings and other events. 
  Location: 360 James Street North, Hamilton
• Gage Park is Hamilton’s largest community park. It’s a quiet nature spot where Luther went out jogging before his abduction by the Sparrow Academy.
  Location: 1000 Main Street East, Hamilton
• The family-style diner Breezy Corners where Five and Viktor have coffee is located close to Gage Park. It serves delicious breakfast foods, burgers, soup and salad.
  Location: 1145 Main Street East, Hamilton
• Located in downtown Hamilton, the Royal Connaught is an upscale condominium that was once a historic hotel that hosted prime ministers and Hollywood celebrities. If you’ve watched the Umbrella Academy, you’ll recognize it as the infamous Obsidian Hotel.
  Location: 118 King Street East, Hamilton
• The exterior of Toronto’s ceramic museum, the Gardiner Museum appeared as the Sparrow Academy House.
  Location: 111 Queen's Park, Toronto 
• Viktor and Allison enjoy some drinks together at the Lakeview Restaurant. Known for its historic, cozy atmosphere, it served as a filming location for many other movies.
  Location: 1132 Dundas Street West, Toronto

Suicide Squad

The “Suicide Squad” are a group of supervillains recruited by a secret government agency to fight against dangerous threats. Consisting of fan-favourite DC Comics characters like Harley Quinn, Deadshot and Killer Croc, the squad is summoned to stop the antagonist Enchantress from destroying the world. If you pay close attention, you’ll spot numerous Toronto and other Greater Toronto Area landmarks in the background.

Where was Suicide Squad filmed?

• Harley Quinn took a break to steal some clothes at the CF Toronto Eaton Centre. In the heart of downtown Toronto, this is North America’s busiest shopping mall, with hundreds of shops and restaurants.
  Location: 220 Yonge Street, Toronto
• After the Batmobile chases the Joker and Harley Quinn into the harbour, Batman revives Harley Quinn near the Harbourfront Centre—a cultural event centre that showcases various art, dance and theatre exhibitions throughout the year.
  Location: 235 Queens Quay West, Toronto
• Located in downtown Toronto, Ki Modern Japanese + Bar features modern Japanese dishes like sushi, rice bowls and tempura. The exterior of this restaurant is where the Suicide Squad take time for some drinks after learning they were set up.
  Location: 181 Bay Street, Toronto
• The final showdown between the Suicide Squad and Enchantress, was filmed at Union Station, Canada’s busiest transit station.
  Location: 65 Front Street West, Toronto

Suits

The legal drama “Suits” follows Mike Ross, an expelled university student with a photographic memory, after he’s hired as an associate lawyer despite not having a licence to practise law. Among its talented cast is the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, who lived in Toronto whenever she was filming for the show. Though the series takes place in New York City, the majority of the scenes in Suits were filmed in Toronto.

Where was Suits filmed?

• The Specter Litt Wheeler Williams law firm was filmed in the Bay-Adelaide Centre, a large corporate complex in Toronto’s Financial District. The top offices are restricted to workers, but you can visit the retail shops and eateries in the centre’s underground floor that connects to the PATH system.
  Location: 333 Bay Street, Toronto
• Enjoy a luxurious stay at the Fairmont Royal York, just across the street from Union Station. The hotel’s spacious lobby is where the board meeting with the McKernon Motors was held.
  Location: 100 Front Street West, Toronto
• Alternatively, spend the night at the trendy Ritz-Carlton, one of Toronto’s top luxury hotels, where Harvey and Jones met with Daniel Vega and his attorney.
  Location: 181 Wellington Street West, Toronto
• Enjoy a meal like your favourite Suits characters at Luma Restaurant. Located on the second floor of the TIFF Bell Lightbox, this classy restaurant serves up creative twists on Canadian dishes, made with fresh fish and seasonal vegetables.
  Location: 350 King Street West (2nd Floor), Toronto
• Looking to satisfy your sweet tooth? Crepe it Up is another place where many Suits characters have dined, and you can feast on sugary crêpes with coffee at this casual dessert spot.
  Location: 91 Front Street East, Toronto

The Handmaid’s Tale

Based on the novel by Margaret Atwood, “The Handmaid’s Tale” is a dystopian TV show about a totalitarian society where fertile women, known as Handmaids, are forced to bear children for infertile families. The main protagonist, June Osborne, is captured while trying to escape with her husband and daughter, and she becomes a Handmaid. The show was filmed at multiple locations across Ontario, particularly in Toronto, Cambridge and Hamilton.

Where was The Handmaid’s Tale filmed?

• While watching the show, you may have spotted the recognizable Toronto City Hall in the background. It’s featured in several key scenes, including the executions in season three.
  Location: 100 Queen Street West, Toronto
• Another recurring location is the Central Presbyterian Church in the heart of Cambridge. Its majestic appearance and nearby arch bridge provide a stunning backdrop for both TV filming and personal selfies.
  Location: 7 Queens Square, Cambridge
• Take a stroll around the picturesque Mill Race Park, the same way Offred and Ofglen do whenever they walk by the Wall.
  Location: 36 Water Street North, Cambridge
• The opening flashback scene of season one, episode five was shot at Ripley’s Aquarium. It’s a popular family attraction that houses thousands of aquatic animals such as fish, octopus, stingrays and sharks.
  Location: 288 Bremner Boulevard, Toronto
• The scene where June is disguised as a Martha takes place at St. Lawrence Market, an enormous market that is packed with specialty vendors and antique dealers inside a historic building.
  Location: 92–95 Front Street East, Toronto
• Visit the Eyes’ headquarters at the Beanfield Centre in Toronto’s Exhibition Place, a large conference centre that blends its historical architecture with state-of-the-art modern technology.
  Location: 105 Princes' Boulevard, Toronto
• The boat smuggling scene was filmed at the Fishway, at the mouth of Hamilton’s Desjardins Canal. This scenic wetland habitat keeps invasive carp out of the marsh while helping migrating fish bypass obstacles to reach Lake Ontario.
  Location: Harbour Drive, Hamilton

Schitt’s Creek

After the wealthy Rose family are plunged into bankruptcy, they’re forced to move to their only remaining asset: a small town called “Schitt’s Creek” that had been purchased as a joke. This hilarious comedy became a worldwide hit after taking home nine Emmy wins in 2020. Visit some of the locations where this TV show was filmed in communities across Ontario.

Where was Schitt’s Creek filmed?

• The Rose family moved into the Rosebud Motel, which is a real-life location. It’s located in Mono, a small town about 15 minutes outside of Orangeville. It was previously an operating motel called the Hockley Motel but was listed for sale a few years ago.
  Location: 308399 Hockley Road, Orangeville
• Alexis worked at Ted’s veterinary clinic, which was filmed in the actual veterinary clinic Thicketwood Veterinary Hospital. They’ll treat your pets with just as much care as Ted.
  Location: 6342 Main Street, Whitchurch-Stouffville
• Relive the episode where Moira drunkenly filmed a winery commercial at the Applewood Farm Winery in Stouffville. Go strawberry or apple picking and purchase a bottle of fruit wine.
  Location: 12416 McCowan Road, Whitchurch-Stouffville
• The spectacular Rattlesnake Point Conservation Area is where David and Patrick got engaged. It’s a beautiful nature park where you can witness breathtaking sunsets and hike through scenic trails lined with cedar trees that are over 800 years old. 
  Location: 7200 Appleby Line, Milton

IT Chapter One and IT Chapter Two

The popular horror novel “IT” by Stephen King was adapted into two films, “IT Chapter One” and “IT Chapter Two.” The story follows the Losers’ Club, composed of seven misfit friends, as they confront a terrifying clown IT. IT terrorizes the Losers’ town of Derry, Maine, but the movie’s scenes were filmed in Port Hope and other places around Ontario.

Where were the IT movies filmed?

• Port Hope, a small community located about a two-hour drive east of Toronto, was transformed into the town of Derry for the IT movies. Tour through some of the movie’s most iconic spots like the Memorial Park and the bridge on Walton Street with the help of the IT Walking Tour.
  Location: Port Hope
• The Losers attend Derry High School, which was filmed at the peaceful Mount Mary Retreat Centre in Ancaster, located on the western edge of Lake Ontario.
  Location: 437 Wilson Street East, Ancaster
• The sparkling waters where the Losers jump in to enjoy a swim was filmed at Elora Quarry. This unique limestone quarry is encircled by 12-metre-tall cliffs and offers scenic hiking, a large beach area for swimming and shaded areas for a secluded picnic.
  Location: 319 Wellington Road 18, Elora
• Rouge National Urban Park serves as “The Barrens” in the film. The largest urban park in North America, it’s home to diverse wildlife, forests and marshland. Learn more about the park’s cultural history by joining a guided nature walk, led by knowledgeable Parks Canada leaders. 
  Location: 25 Zoo Road, Toronto
• The bridge where an “H” is cut into Ben’s skin is the West Montrose Covered Bridge, the only remaining covered bridge in Ontario. It’s known as the “Kissing Bridge”, as 19th-century travellers would sneak a kiss while riding through this sheltered bridge.
  Location: 1 Covered Bridge Drive, West Montrose

The Shape of Water

Directed by Guillermo del Toro, the award-winning movie “The Shape of Water” follows the life of Elisa, a mute janitor working for a secret government laboratory during the height of the Cold War. After the laboratory captures a human-like amphibian and decides to kill him, Elisa helps the creature escape. The film is set in Baltimore, but you may recognize some iconic spots in Toronto and Hamilton.

Where was The Shape of Water filmed?

• Marvel at the grand Edwardian design of the Elgin and Winter Garden Theatre Centre, the last surviving set of double-decker theatres in the world and a timeless spot to watch musicals, movies and concerts. In the movie, Elisa’s apartment (which was constructed in a film studio) was located above this theatre.
  Location: 189 Yonge Street, Toronto
• Visit the iconic Hamilton City Hall on the city’s Main Street, which served as the office for the “Klein and Saunders” agency, where Giles’ design work is turned down.
  Location: 71 Main Street West, Hamilton
• The brutalist concrete structure of the “OCCAM Aerospace Research Center” where Elisa works is the Andrews Building on the University of Toronto Scarborough campus.
  Location: Humanities Wing, 1265 Military Trail, Scarborough
• Stylish and modern, The Carlu is a popular event space for weddings and corporate events. It’s where the spy Hoffstetler met with his superior, who ordered him to kill the creature.
  Location: 444 Yonge Street #7, Toronto
• Elisa and her allies released the creature back into the water at the Keating Channel, a narrow dock on Lake Shore Boulevard East that connects Toronto’s Don River to Lake Ontario.
  Location: Lake Shore Boulevard East, Toronto

Learn more about Toronto’s growing film industry with the Hollywood North Experience Tour, where you’ll take an immersive 2.5-hour tour through the filming locations of some top movies and TV shows. An experienced tour guide will bring you to the places where memorable scenes were shot, show you how the scenes are filmed and introduce you to local actors.