11 Iconic Movies You Didn't Know Were Filmed In Toronto
Toronto is definitely a hot spot for filming in Canada. It seems that our city attracts the eye of American directors for its ability to disguise itself as other locations — as long as the CN Tower isn’t in the shot. That being said, we bet there are so many movies filmed in Toronto that you had no idea about.
From the new superhero movie Shazam! (2019), to Chicago (2003), there is something on this list for every movie lover.
Editor's Choice: Most Of Canada Could Be In For A Colder & Wetter Winter Because Of La Niña
Many of these films used well-known locations in the city for their sets.
Places like Osgoode Hall, Queen’s Park, Casa Loma, and the Danforth Music Hall all make appearances as filming locations.
Though filmed in Toronto, many of them are set in American cities, so bonus points if you can figure out which neighbourhoods served as the backdrops of these movies.
However, one of these films does actually takes place in Toronto, Canadian filmmaker Denis Villeneuve’s Enemy, which follows Jake Gyllenhal as a professor at the University of Toronto.
Without further ado, here are eleven films you probably didn’t know were filmed in Toronto.
Billy Madison (1995)
A comedy classic, Billy Madison, starring Adam Sandler, was filmed in a few Toronto locations. Perhaps the most recognizable? Casa Loma, which stood in as Billy's mansion, along with Parkwood Estate in Oshawa.
Filming also took place at Northern Secondary School in Toronto.
The Boondock Saints
Despite being known as a quintessential Boston flick, The Boondock Saints actually did some of its filming in the GTA.
McVeigh’s Irish Pub on 124 Church Street stood in as the brother's favourite Irish bar, McGinty's.
The also frequented the University of Toronto for filming, which was used as the location for the Boston Police Department.
Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen (2004)
Although Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen was set in between New York and New Jersey, almost the entire thing was filmed in Canada.
As for the GTA, some of the school scenes were shot at the Birchmount Collegiate School.
Chicago (2002)
Although the film is very literally named after Chicago, most of its filming was done right in the heart of Toronto.
Locations like the Danforth Music Hall, Casa Loma, and the Ontario Legislative Building at Queen's Park all appear in this Oscar-nominated movie.
The Cheetah Girls (2003)
We all remember the girl-power craze that was The Cheetah Girls. The movie took place in New York but was actually filmed in Toronto.
According to IMDb, at 43 minutes in, you can actually see a TTC streetcar roll by!
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)
While most of this movie was filmed in the UK where it took place, Toronto did manage to sneak itself into the production.
The Nestle Chocolate Factory of Toronto was used to film some of the chocolate factory scenes.
Enemy (2013)
This one actually takes place in Toronto and that's because it was created by Canadian filmmaker Denis Villeneuve.
The film follows Jake Gyllenhal as he plays the role of a university professor at the University of Toronto.
Shazam! (2019)
This superhero flick was filmed on location at both the Danforth Collegiate and Technical Institute and the University of Toronto.
Mimic (1997)
Fans of Guillermo Del Torro will remember this virus-inspired thriller.
This production set up shop at the Osgoode Music Hall, the Harris Filtration Plant, Knox College, and Wycliffe College.
American Psycho (2000)
Another iconic movie chose Toronto as its production destination.
Nonetheless, this famous flick was filmed all over the city, including locations like the Shark City Bar and Grill on Eglinton, Cabbagetown, Boston Club on Front Street East, and the Pheonix Concert Theatre.