Toronto is renowned for its many unique landmarks, including the CN Tower, the Royal Ontario Museum, Casa Loma, and, of course, the University of Toronto. In films like The Incredible Hulk and RoboCop, Toronto residents can spot some of the city’s most iconic landmarks on screen. These sites will undoubtedly continue to feature in new blockbuster productions. However, the city often takes a backseat in the film industry, frequently portraying other well-known, primarily American cities. Read more on toronto-trend.
Toronto as Hollywood Stand-ins
Toronto has served as the backdrop for countless global cinematic phenomena while disguising itself as other prominent cities. Guillermo del Toro’s The Shape of Water, winner of the Academy Award for Best Picture in 2017, was shot in Toronto, using locations like UTSC, Massey Hall, and the Lakeview Restaurant as backdrops for scenes set in 1962 Baltimore, Maryland. Similarly, the 1997 Oscar-winning film Good Will Hunting depicted Harvard University using Toronto’s UTSG and Central Technical School on Bathurst Street. Louis Leterrier’s The Incredible Hulk (2008) primarily filmed in Toronto, using U of T’s Convocation Hall, Royal College, and Knox College to simulate various New York City locations.
This ability to seamlessly transform has earned Toronto the nickname “Hollywood North,” though it remains underrepresented as “itself” in major productions. Film enthusiasts and residents often wonder if Toronto will someday take center stage as its own city.
Why Filming in Toronto Is More Affordable
Over the past two decades, Toronto’s film and television industry has become one of the city’s leading economic drivers. In March 2022, Toronto Mayor John Tory announced that the city had invested $2.5 billion in film, television, and digital media production the previous year. In 2021 alone, Toronto hosted 1,468 individual productions and 7,800 production shoot days, with the industry projected to grow even further.
One of the key reasons companies choose Toronto is the cost savings. Beyond the favourable exchange rate between the U.S. and Canadian dollars, Canada’s film industry offers substantial tax incentives for film, television, and digital media production. For example, Toronto provides entertainment tax exemptions and incentives for hiring local talent. Federal tax credits can save filmmakers up to 45% on qualified labour costs and up to 35% on overall production expenses.
Moreover, the cost of living in Canadian cities is generally lower than in their U.S. counterparts, making film locations more affordable. Toronto also boasts a highly skilled and diverse workforce available at lower rates than in the U.S., making production costs significantly more manageable. Creatively, Toronto offers four distinct seasons, providing filmmakers with the flexibility to depict various times of the year for their projects.
The city’s diverse and scenic locations further add to its appeal. For example, Pacific Rim utilized Scarborough Bluffs and Port Lands for exterior shots. Toronto’s varied neighbourhoods are recognizable to locals but ambiguous enough to represent other cities on screen.
Exhibit and Research: Toronto’s Future in Film
Toronto’s role as a stand-in for other locations was examined at the Imposter Cities exhibit during the 2021 Venice Architecture Biennale. Commissioned by the Canada Council for the Arts, the exhibit explored how Canadian cities often double for others and how this connects to architecture and national identity. The goal was to encourage reflection on how architecture is perceived in the digital age, how identities are shaped, and how global perceptions are based on constructed realities. As reported by The New York Times, the exhibit creators noted that Canada’s friendly reputation and relative unfamiliarity to international audiences have made it an ideal “imposter” on the global film stage.
In 2019, Architect Magazine critic Witold Rybczynski remarked on Canada’s relatively unassuming architecture, highlighting its modernist tendencies and avoidance of radical experiments. The New York Times added that this “timid” reputation led filmmakers to exploit cities like Vancouver and Toronto as “stand-ins.” However, Toronto has recently begun to develop its own cinematic identity. For instance, Pixar’s Turning Red prominently features Toronto as itself, showcasing iconic landmarks like the CN Tower and the cityscape while telling the story of a Chinese-Canadian girl’s journey of self-discovery.
As the film industry evolves to include more racial and gender representation, Toronto is poised to become a focal point for Hollywood projects. With its talented workforce and demographic diversity, Toronto exemplifies inclusion and representation, qualities that could make it a leading player in the global film industry.
Toronto’s Current Role in Film
Toronto is now a top destination for high-budget filmmakers, thanks to its talented workforce and diverse landscapes. Numerous productions are filmed in the city simultaneously, demonstrating its growing popularity in the industry. The city’s technical expertise in film production has also advanced significantly, with innovations in digital animation, pre-visualization, and computer-generated effects. Globally, Toronto ranks among the top five cities with the resources and knowledge to support film production, allowing directors to hire local technicians instead of bringing entire crews.
Today, Toronto trails only New York, Washington, and Chicago in film and television production, cementing its place as a major hub in the entertainment industry.
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