Toronto filming locations have been the silent backdrop of countless Hollywood films and TV shows — Toronto stands in for New York, Chicago, Boston, and “Anytown, USA” so often that locals have a running joke about spotting their own neighbourhoods in films set somewhere else. From Suits (which filmed at Bay-Adelaide Centre but was set in Manhattan) to The Handmaid’s Tale (Toronto became Cambridge, MA) to Schitt’s Creek (filmed across Toronto and Goodwood) to Good Will Hunting and Hairspray and dozens more — Toronto’s filming history runs deep. This guide walks through the 25 most-recognizable Toronto filming locations, the major film studios and infrastructure that have made Toronto the third-largest film production hub in North America (after LA and NYC), and the self-guided walking tours that let film fans visit the actual on-screen locations.
Why Toronto filming locations exist
Toronto is North America’s third-largest film production city after Los Angeles and New York, generating approximately $2.5 billion in annual production revenue and supporting 30,000+ jobs. The reasons:
Tax credits — Ontario’s film and television tax credits make production 18-30% cheaper than in California or New York.
“Anytown” architecture — Toronto’s mix of skyscrapers, brownstones, suburbs, and industrial areas can credibly stand in for almost any North American city.
Crew depth — 60+ years of film production has built a professional crew base of cinematographers, set designers, costume departments, and post-production facilities rivaling Los Angeles.
Infrastructure — Pinewood Toronto Studios, Cinespace Studios, MasterTuner Pro, Number Ten Toronto Studios, and the new BlueGiant Studios provide world-class soundstage capacity.
Toronto filming locations: TV shows
1. Suits (USA Network)
Suits filmed at the Bay Adelaide Centre (333 Bay St) — the gleaming glass tower stood in for the show’s “Pearson Hardman” Manhattan offices. Other Suits locations include the financial district streets, Union Station, and the Royal York Hotel.
2. The Handmaid’s Tale (Hulu)
The Handmaid’s Tale’s “Cambridge, MA” is largely Toronto. The Cambridge Public Library scenes filmed at the U of T Robarts Library; Gilead’s “wall” was a digital composite built around the actual University of Toronto campus.
3. Schitt’s Creek (CBC)
Schitt’s Creek’s titular town was actually filmed in Goodwood, Ontario (45 minutes northeast of Toronto). The Rosebud Motel was a constructed exterior; the cafe scenes filmed at the Bobby’s Cafe in Goodwood.
4. The Boys (Amazon Prime)
The Boys films extensively across the Toronto area — Vought International HQ at the TD Centre downtown; outdoor scenes at multiple Toronto-area parks and industrial sites.
5. Star Trek: Discovery (Paramount+)
Star Trek: Discovery films at Pinewood Toronto Studios with its custom soundstages.
6. Murdoch Mysteries (CBC)
The long-running Victorian-era detective series films at the Distillery District (which doubles as 1900s Toronto), Casa Loma, and various Toronto heritage homes.
7. The Umbrella Academy (Netflix)
The “Hargreeves mansion” exterior is Casa Loma, with various Toronto streets and locations standing in for various plot locations.
8. Reign (CW)
The historical drama about Mary Queen of Scots filmed extensively at Casa Loma and the University of Toronto.
9. Designated Survivor (ABC/Netflix)
The political drama films at Toronto City Hall (which doubles as the West Wing) and various downtown government buildings.
10. Mr. D (CBC)
The Canadian comedy films extensively in Toronto’s east end and at North York’s school facilities.
Toronto filming locations: major films
11. Good Will Hunting (1997)
Many of Boston’s “South Boston” street scenes filmed in Toronto’s Cabbagetown and along the Distillery District streetscapes.
12. Hairspray (2007)
The musical’s “Baltimore” scenes filmed throughout Toronto, particularly along Queen Street West and at the Royal Alexandra Theatre.
13. Chicago (2002)
The musical’s “Chicago” scenes filmed at the Elgin and Winter Garden Theatre, the Royal York Hotel, and the Palais Royale.
14. American Pie (1999) and sequels
The films’ “East Great Falls” scenes filmed in Toronto suburbs (Etobicoke and Mississauga).
15. The Incredible Hulk (2008)
The film’s chase scenes filmed extensively along Yonge Street and through the financial district.
16. Cosmopolis (2012)
David Cronenberg’s adaptation of Don DeLillo’s novel filmed entirely in Toronto, with the city playing an abstract version of Manhattan.
17. Hairspray (2007)
The big-budget John Travolta version filmed at Casa Loma (the “von Tussel” mansion) and along Queen West.
18. Pixels (2015)
Adam Sandler’s video-game arcade film featured Yonge-Dundas Square as a primary location.
19. Mean Girls (2004)
Tina Fey’s beloved high school comedy filmed at Etobicoke Collegiate Institute.
20. The Boondock Saints sequels
Toronto’s grittier industrial neighbourhoods — Liberty Village, the Junction, and parts of Roncesvalles — featured prominently.
Toronto filming locations by neighbourhood
The Distillery District
The Distillery District’s 1832-era industrial buildings have appeared in dozens of films and TV shows. Murdoch Mysteries (regularly), Cinderella Man (the Bowery), Chicago (the speakeasy scenes), American Psycho (the financial district scenes), and many more.
Casa Loma
Casa Loma’s Gothic Revival exterior has played mansions, castles, and grand homes in films like X-Men, The Tuxedo, Cocktail, Strange Brew, The Pacifier, and Reign. The castle has its own film-history exhibit during summer months.
The Financial District
Toronto’s downtown financial district (Bay/Wellington/King) has stood in for Wall Street in countless productions. Bay Adelaide Centre, the TD Centre, the Royal Bank Plaza, and the Brookfield Place Galleria all show up frequently.
Toronto City Hall
The 1965 Viljo Revell modernist masterpiece (100 Queen W) has appeared in The X-Men, Resident Evil: Apocalypse, Cinderella Man, and is a regular for sci-fi and dystopian productions.
Union Station
Union Station’s Beaux-Arts Great Hall has appeared in Suits, X-Men, The Incredible Hulk, and Total Recall (2012).
Major film studios in Toronto
Pinewood Toronto Studios
Pinewood Toronto Studios (Port Lands) is the largest film studio complex in Canada — 250,000 sq ft of soundstage space, used by Star Trek: Discovery, IT (2017), and many other major productions.
Cinespace Studios
Cinespace’s three GTA locations total 1.4 million sq ft of soundstage space — Suits, The Handmaid’s Tale, and many more shoot here.
BlueGiant Studios (new)
BlueGiant Studios opened in 2022 on the Toronto waterfront — adding 350,000 sq ft of new soundstage capacity.
Number Ten Toronto Studios
Smaller boutique studio in Liberty Village, used for commercials and indie films.
Toronto filming locations walking tours
Self-guided film tours
Free apps like “Movie Maps Toronto” and “Toronto Film Locations” provide self-guided walking tours of Toronto filming locations. Multiple thematic walks (rom-com Toronto, sci-fi Toronto, prestige drama Toronto).
Hollywood North Tour Toronto
$50 per person, 3-hour walking tour visits 15+ filming locations across downtown Toronto. Operates seasonally, May-October.
TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival)
Toronto’s annual TIFF is one of the world’s most-important film festivals — a perfect time to engage with Toronto’s film industry. Late August/early September.
Practical tips for visiting Toronto filming locations
Most accessible locations
The Distillery District, Casa Loma, Toronto City Hall, Union Station, and the Royal York Hotel are all easily accessible to tourists and welcome visitors.
Active production
If you spot active filming on a Toronto street, respect closed-off areas and follow PA instructions. Toronto film productions employ thousands and a misdirected tourist can stop a $5,000-per-minute scene.
Seeing yourself in a film
Toronto productions occasionally use real Torontonians as background extras. Several casting agencies (Casting Workbook, Carolyn Sproule Casting) accept new applicants. Probably not realistic for most tourists but worth knowing.
Visiting Pinewood
Pinewood Toronto Studios is generally not open to public visits. Industry professionals and visiting cast members can arrange tours.
More Toronto culture and screen history
Film history is one thread of Toronto’s cultural scene — the full guide covers the museums and galleries too. Pair Toronto filming locations with the rest of cultural Toronto: TIFF, Distillery District, Casa Loma, Yorkville, Toronto’s best things to do, Toronto theatre shows, and Toronto music scene.
Toronto filming locations turn the city into a real-life movie map — pick a favourite show, look up its filming spots, and you’ll suddenly recognize Toronto in dozens of films you’ve already seen.
