The Secret Hollywood Hotspot
Think Canada’s just maple syrup, Mounties, and moose? Think again. Turns out, the Great White North has been moonlighting as Hollywood’s favorite backlot. From gritty dramas to teen soaps, some of TV’s biggest hits were secretly filmed in Canada—disguised as everywhere from New York to outer space. Here are 35 shows you probably had no clue were shot north of the border. (Spoiler: You’ve definitely watched a few.)
The Handmaid’s Tale
While The Handmaid’s Tale’s Gilead is fictional, the eerie vibes are all too real—and very Canadian. Much of the series was shot in Toronto and Cambridge, Ontario, with some scenes filmed in Hamilton and Mississauga. Freedom never looked so snowy.
The Handmaid's Tale Series Trailer | Catch Up With | Rotten Tomatoes TV, Rotten Tomatoes TV
The Boys
Superheroes behaving badly? Yup, and they’re doing it all over Toronto. This darkly funny Amazon hit uses Canadian streets to pass for New York City, proving that Canada can handle both spandex and explosions.
The Boys (Amazon) Trailer HD - Superhero series, TV Promos
Orphan Black
Clone club unite—north of the border. Tatiana Maslany’s Emmy-winning performance(s) were filmed throughout Toronto, making the city a stand-in for an unspecified urban setting full of shady science and secret labs.
Orphan Black: Echoes | Official Trailer feat. Krysten Ritter | Premieres June 23 | AMC+, amc+
Schitt’s Creek
That quirky small-town charm? Totally Canadian. Shot in Ontario towns like Goodwood and Stouffville, this beloved comedy is as maple-flavored as it gets (and we wouldn’t have it any other way).
Schitt's Creek Season 1 Trailer, Schitt's Creek
Star Trek: Discovery
To boldly go… to Toronto. Many of the show’s intergalactic scenes were filmed in the city’s Pinewood Studios, proving that even the final frontier could use a little Canadian hospitality.
Star Trek: Discovery | Season 4 Official Trailer | Paramount+, Paramount Plus
Virgin River
That scenic, small-town California vibe? That’s British Columbia, baby. The Netflix drama is filmed in and around Vancouver, with nature so stunning you’d think it was CGI (it’s not).
Virgin River | Relive Every Moment from Seasons 1-5 | Netflix, Netflix
The Umbrella Academy
Superpowered siblings saving the world—between takes in Toronto. From gritty alleys to gorgeous old theaters, the city provides the perfect slightly-offbeat backdrop for this time-bending series.
The Umbrella Academy | Official Trailer | Netflix, Netflix
The 100
Earth is uninhabitable, so naturally, they landed in…Vancouver. This sci-fi survival series shot most of its epic wilderness scenes in British Columbia, and yes, the forests are as lush in real life.
The 100 Series Recap (HD), TV Promos
Once Upon A Time
Storybrooke, Maine? Try Steveston, British Columbia. This fairy-tale-fueled series waved its magic wand over the Vancouver area to create its enchanted setting.
Top 10 Once Upon A Time Moments, MsMojo
Supernatural
Fifteen seasons of demons, ghosts, and angst—all courtesy of Canada. Jared and Jensen haunted Vancouver and its surrounding areas for years, turning it into America’s most cursed road trip route.
Collection: Dean’s Last Year, or Season 3 | Supernatural, Supernatural
Suits
You thought that slick law firm was in Manhattan? Surprise—it’s Toronto again. From courtroom drama to elevator stare-downs, Canada plays corporate cool convincingly well.
First & Last Scene | Suits, Suits Official
A Series Of Unfortunate Events
This gloomy tale of orphaned children was brought to life on elaborate sets in Vancouver. Neil Patrick Harris and a parade of misfortunes all unfolded under Canada’s watchful (and probably polite) eye.
A Series of Unfortunate Events: Season 3 | Official Trailer [HD] | Netflix, Netflix
Lost In Space
Danger, Will Robinson! Also: rain. Filmed largely in Vancouver and other parts of B.C., this spacey reboot uses Canadian wilderness and studios to create its interplanetary adventures.
Lost in Space | Official Trailer | Netflix, Netflix
Prison Break
While the original prison was in Illinois, later seasons escaped to…Manitoba. Yes, Season 5 shot in Vancouver and parts of Winnipeg, showing Canada can double as gritty just as well as pretty.
Top 10 Best Prison Break Moments, WatchMojo.com
Riverdale
Welcome to the darkest version of high school since forever—filmed right in British Columbia. From the spooky forest to the retro Pop’s diner, Riverdale is peak moody Canadian vibes.
Riverdale 7x12 Promo After the Fall (HD) Season 7 Episode 12 Promo, TV Promos
Chilling Adventures of Sabrina
Greendale is creepy, cozy, and completely Canadian. This Netflix reboot was conjured in Vancouver and its eerie suburbs, proving that witches and West Coast weather are a perfect match.
Chilling Adventures of Sabrina | Official Trailer [HD] | Netflix, Still Watching Netflix
The Expanse
Deep space has never looked so local. Toronto was the base for this cult sci-fi series, proving that when it comes to interplanetary politics and space wars, Canada delivers.
The Expanse Season 6 - Official Trailer | Prime Video, Prime Video
Black Mirror (Arkangel)
This unsettling episode about parental surveillance? Filmed in Toronto and Hamilton. The story may feel American, but that chilling suburban eeriness is proudly Canadian.
Black Mirror - Arkangel | Official Trailer [HD] | Netflix, Still Watching Netflix
Lucifer
Before Lucifer moved to LA (on-screen), the pilot was filmed in Vancouver. That means the Devil’s very first TV steps happened in Canada—because even Hell needs a trial run.
Official Trailer | Season 1 | LUCIFER, Lucifer
Blown Away
Hot glass meets cool Canada. This reality series on glassblowing takes place in Hamilton, Ontario, where artists sweat it out in front of flaming furnaces to make stunning glass art.
Blown Away: Season 4 | Official Trailer | Netflix, Netflix
Hannibal
Hannibal Lecter’s refined horrors were served up in Toronto. From gourmet gore to psychological mind games, the show’s polished brutality had a distinctly northern chill.
Hannibal - Netflix Trailer, TVJunkie
The X-Files
The truth is out there—and also in Vancouver. The original seasons (and the revival!) were shot in British Columbia, lending the show its iconic misty, forest-heavy atmosphere.
The X-Files Trailer (HD), TV Promos
ReGenesis
Before pandemic panic was mainstream, this Canadian biotech thriller tackled viruses and bioethics—all filmed in Toronto. It’s drama plus science with the slightest touch of Canadian flare.
ReGenesis Trailer, Shaftesbury
Arrow
Starling City? More like Vancouver. This show kicked off the entire CW superhero universe, with moody streets, rooftop chases, and secret lairs scattered across B.C.
Arrow Season 1 (2012) - All Trailers and Promos, TV Promos
The Flash
Fastest man alive? He sprints through Vancouver. Like its sister show Arrow, The Flash calls British Columbia home for all those lightning-speed action scenes.
The Flash – Official Trailer, Warner Bros.
Shadowhunters
Demons, angels, and runes galore—all filmed in Toronto. This fantasy favorite turned the city into a gothic battleground of supernatural showdowns.
Shadowhunters Official Trailer | Season 3B: The Final Episodes | Freeform, Freeform
Reign
What do you get when you mix French royalty with Canadian landscapes? This lush historical drama filmed in Toronto and surrounding areas, turning Ontario castles and estates into 16th-century Europe.
Reign 4x12 Extended Promo The Shakedown (HD) Season 4 Episode 12 Extended Promo, TV Promos
Smallville
Before the cape, there was Clark Kent—and he was raised in Vancouver. The beloved Superman origin story filmed across BC, giving Kansas a distinctly coastal glow.
Clark Kent (S1) - All Powers from Smallville, All Powers Explained
Van Helsing
Apocalypse now, filmed in Vancouver. This post-vampire uprising series leans into the gritty, foggy vibes of BC to deliver undead mayhem with a northern twist.
Van Helsing (2004) | Official Trailer | Fear, Fear: The Home Of Horror
V-Wars
Vampires and viruses meet their match in Sudbury and Cambridge, Ontario. This short-lived series starring Ian Somerhalder brought horror to Canada’s quieter corners.
V Wars | Official Trailer | Netflix, Netflix
Titans
DC’s edgiest team gets gritty in Toronto. From brooding warehouses to neon cityscapes, Canada gives this superhero series its dark, urban edge.
Titans: The Final Episodes | Official Trailer | DC, DC
Murdoch Mysteries
Solving crimes in Victorian-era Toronto—in modern-day Toronto. This long-running Canadian series embraces its roots, giving fans a lovingly detailed look at the country’s past with a few steampunk twists.
Murdoch Mysteries: Season 18 | Trailer | CBC, CBC
Bates Motel
That creepy roadside motel? It’s actually in Aldergrove, British Columbia. This Psycho prequel reimagined Oregon but built its twisted world just outside Vancouver.
Bates Motel | Full-Length Trailer | Starts 12th September 9pm, UniversalTV
Altered Carbon
Welcome to the future—filmed in Vancouver. High-tech cities and sleek dystopias were brought to life with impressive sets and even more impressive CGI, all made possible by Canada’s film crews.
Altered Carbon | Season 1 Official Recap | Netflix, Netflix
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