On Location In Ontario, Canada

The go-to filming destination for some of Tinseltown’s biggest blockbusters, Ontario’s stunning landscapes and vibrant cities make the province one of the world’s most cinematic travel locations. With the release of Suicide Squad further propelling Ontario into the limelight and the Toronto International Film Festival just around the corner in September, Ontario is ready for its close-up!

Walk on set in Toronto: Masquerading as some of America’s most famous cities including New York, Boston and Chicago, Toronto is one of the movie industry’s most sought-after actors. The city plays a starring role in Warner Brother’s latest blockbuster and superhero film, Suicide Squad alongside the likes of Will Smith, Margot Robbie and Jared Leto as the team fight to execute dangerous black op missions to save the world.

Visitors to the city now have the opportunity to assemble their own squad and walk the same streets as Harley Quinn, the Joker and Deadshot. Fans of the film can wander along Yonge street too see the site of the plane crash (between Wellesley St and College St), Bay Street to see the site of the helicopter crash (south of Wellington St), and pause in front of 151 Front Street West to see where Deadshot rappels off the roof. The streets of Toronto have played centre-stage in a number of other action movies over the years including Batman and Robin, Kick-Ass, The Incredible Hulk, RoboCop and X-Men.

Those who wear pink on Wednesdays should treat themselves to a little retail therapy at Sherway Garden Mall in Etobicoke, just outside of Toronto – the filming location for the shopping mall scene in cult film, Mean Girls.

Other notable locations that made cameos include the University of Toronto and Etobicoke Collegiate Institute. For Matt Damon and Robin William fans, Good Will Hunting was also filmed in the city. Filming locations include the Crown Life Building on Bloor Street where Will rejects the job offer, the Ontario Speciality Co. on Church Street where Will demonstrates his magic trick to Skylar, and the Upfront Bar and Grill at 106 Front Street East in downtown was where Will humiliated his history student. Other notable films that have been filmed in Toronto include Hairspray, American Psycho and Billy Madison.

Lights, Camera, Falls! Ontario is of course also home to one of nature’s greatest wonders, Niagara Falls, which has been used as a filming location in many Hollywood movies including Bruce Almighty, Superman II, and Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End. Visitors should hop aboard a boat ride such as the Hornblower Niagara Cruise to get up close and personal to “fabulous Niagara Falls” and see the falls like Bruce Almighty, when Jim Carrey’s character begins one of his tirades after not making anchor.

The famous Falls were also used as the backdrop for one of the most impressive scenes in Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End as Captain Barbossa sailed the Black Pearl to the edge of the Earth to rescue Captain Jack Sparrow, dropping over the colossal falls, in the process. CIA-film, The Recruit, starring Colin Farrell, and action movie, Red, starring Bruce Willis, Helen Mirren and Morgan Freeman, were filmed in nearby Niagara-on-the-Lake.

Scene-ic Sudbury: A scenic paradise and gateway to Ontario’s pristine wilderness, Sudbury was the perfect shooting location for thriller, The Captive, starring Ryan Reynolds in 2014. Scenes were shot all over the city including at Richard Lake Motel as well as in near-by Levack, a four-hour drive away from Niagara Falls.

Rub shoulders with Hollywood royalty: Ontario has produced some of Hollywood’s biggest A-listers over the years including household favourites Rachel McAdams, Ryan Gosling, Jim Carrey and Mike Myers. Ontario is also a favourite holiday destination amongst Hollywood directors including Steven Spielberg, who has a sprawling property in Muskoka – one of Ontario’s best kept secrets and favourite hideaway for A-listers.

Attend the glitz and glamour of TIFF: Every September Hollywood descends on the streets of Toronto for the annual Toronto International Film Festival, taking place this year from 8th-18th September. TIFF showcases the best of film with a series of prestigious events with world premieres, galas and star-studded parties. It is one of the biggest and boldest public film festivals in the world, and last year the festival showed over 300 films from Hollywood blockbusters to raw and unscripted documentaries.

Find out more at www.ontariotravel.net