In a massive country like Canada there’s no shortage of gorgeous scenery. Canada can look completely different depending on the region, and filmmakers can take their pick between the Rocky Mountains, rugged coastlines, turquoise lakes, and forests. Plenty of movies are filmed in Canada while pretending to be somewhere else, but these particular films allow Canada to become part of the story. If you want movies that really show off the country, these are some great choices.
1. The Sweet Hereafter
Atom Egoyan’s The Sweet Hereafter takes place in a small community in British Columbia, just after a horrific school bus accident. Although the story is heartbreaking, the heavy subject matter is balanced by the beautiful surroundings. Snow-covered mountains, winding roads, forests, and isolated homes leave viewers little doubt that it was truly shot in Canada. It was filmed in both British Columbia and Ontario, including around Merritt, B.C. The lovely scenery creates an obvious contrast with the grief the characters are experiencing. This one can be difficult to watch, but it captures the peaceful beauty of rural Canada quite well.
2. One Week
Few movies show Canada’s wide range of landscapes better than One Week. Joshua Jackson plays the main character, a man who receives a serious medical diagnosis. Right after the bad news, he buys a motorcycle and begins traveling west across Canada. He starts in Toronto and heads toward the Pacific, riding through small towns, open countryside, the Prairies, and the Canadian Rockies. Famous landmarks and distinctly Canadian roadside attractions make appearances throughout the journey. If the goal is to watch a film that shows as much of Canada as possible, this is probably the best choice.
3. The Grand Seduction
The Grand Seduction shows off the charm of a tiny fishing community in Newfoundland and Labrador. The story follows residents on a mission to convince a doctor to permanently move to their struggling town. If they succeed, they can qualify for a contract that would bring a factory to the community. The movie’s appeal mainly comes from the community itself, with colorful buildings, rocky shorelines, little fishing boats, and plenty of views of the cold Atlantic. The close-knit community feels cozy despite being rather isolated. It really zooms in on the coastal villages of eastern Canada.
4. Maudie
Maudie tells the story of Canadian folk artist Maud Lewis and her relationship with Everett Lewis. The movie is set in Nova Scotia, but the movie was actually filmed mostly in Newfoundland and Labrador, which provided the rural landscapes that inspired Maud’s artwork. This movie is full of small homes, country roads, fields, and coastal scenery. The landscapes in this area aren’t huge tourist attractions, which is part of what makes them so authentic and appealing.
5. Away From Her
Sarah Polley’s Away from Her uses the Canadian winter as a backdrop for its beautiful story. Julie Christie and Gordon Pinsent play a longtime married couple struggling to adapt when the wife, Fiona, begins experiencing memory loss. The majority of the movie takes place in Ontario, where snowy roads and quiet frozen landscapes contribute to the loneliness and isolation due to the couple’s changing relationship. Canada doesn’t feel like a setting that could simply be swapped for somewhere else. It seems intentional and inseparable from the movie itself.
6. The Shipping News
Set in Newfoundland, The Shipping News follows a man who moves with his daughter and his aunt to his family’s home after his life falls apart. The raw Atlantic coast is one of the movie’s best elements. Seaside cliffs, cold ocean water, weathered houses, and tiny communities appear throughout the story. The dramatic landscape feels harsh, but there is something incredibly beautiful about it at the same time. It’s a great way to get a glimpse of Newfoundland.
7. Anne of Green Gables
The 1985 adaptation of the beloved Anne of Green Gables was released as a made-for-TV film, but it did an excellent job of showing off Canada. Set on Prince Edward Island, the movie features rolling fields, forests, country roads, beaches, and the now-famous Green Gables farmhouse. The island’s distinctive scenery is a huge part of the cozy feeling people associate with the story. This movie really made audiences fall in love with Prince Edward Island. It practically acts as an advertisement for tourism.
8. Indian Horse
Indian Horse follows Saul Indian Horse, an Indigenous Canadian boy who has an extraordinary talent for hockey. This isn’t a lighthearted feel-good film, as the movie deals with extremely painful parts of Canadian history. However, its Ontario landscapes are stunning. We see dense forests, lakes, snow, and remote wilderness. It’s a powerful and emotional movie that shows both Canada’s natural beauty and a dark part of its past.