Movies that feature Toronto and GTA Landmarks

Did you know that these famous flicks were actually filmed in our own backyard? Check out our list and see!

Mean Girls

Toronto and Etobicoke were pretty ‘fetch’ locations for various scenes in Tina Fey’s cult comedy Mean Girls. You may recognize University of Toronto’s Convocation Hall as the set for the movie’s ‘mathletes’ competition or Etobicoke’s Sherway Gardens shopping mall where the ‘Plastics’ hang after school. The exterior for Regina George’s iconic mansion is also located in Toronto’s historic Bridle Path neighbourhood.

Hairspray (2007)

Toronto stood in for 1960’s Baltimore in this movie musical. Some memorable locations include the intersection at Dundas West and Roncesvalles where the dance number ‘Welcome to the Sixties’ takes place and the retro Lord Lansdowne Public School on Robert Street which was used for the exterior of Tracy Turnblad’s high school. The storefront of the dress shop, ‘Mr. Pinky’s Hefty Hideaway’, in the film was actually shot at a Starbucks on Dundas Street West.

Suicide Squad

Torontonians may recognize Yonge Dundas Square, Bay Station, Union Station, Front Street West, the intersection at Bay and Wellington and the Eaton Centre in this action flick.  

The Vow

This is the second Rachel McAdams flick on our list! This tear jerker starring the London, Ontario-born actress and Channing Tatum utilized Newmarket, Ontario’s Southlake Regional Health Centre’s archway bridge in the movie’s hospital scenes.

The Shape of Water

Director Guillermo del Toro utilized many locations in the GTA to create this Oscar winning film. Spots in Hamilton were used for scenes like the exterior of Ocavia Spencer’s apartment and city hall and the theatre that the lead character, Elisa, lives above is played by Toronto’s Elgin Theatre. The 24 hour Dundas St. West diner, The Lakeview, was also given a lime green makeover and featured in the film.       

My Big Fat Greek Wedding

This classic comedy had Toronto stand in for Chicago. The exterior for the church that the wedding takes place in is Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox church and the interior is St. Nicholas Ukrainian church in Toronto. Jarvis Collegiate Institute is used for the school Ian Miller teaches at and a building on the Danforth is used for the Mount Olympus Travel Agency. Toula’s family’s epic Parthenon-esque home is actually located on Glenwood Crescent in East York, Ontario. 

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World

This cult classic is crawling with landmarks that Torontonians will recognize including Annex spots like the Pizza Pizza at Bathurst St. and Bloor Street West, Honest Ed’s and Lee’s Palace. Scenes were also filmed at Second Cup, Casa Loma, the Baldwin Steps, Polson Pier and in Cabbagetown.