Three Box Office Blockbusters Filmed in Vancouver
Vancouver has recently become synonymous with Fifty Shades of Grey and Deadpool – but lest we forget, there are multiple blockbusters that have filmed in the city. And though you might think you’re looking at “San Francisco”, “Seattle” or even “outer space”, rest assured that many of the picture-perfect landscapes you see in big-budget films were captured in Vancouver. Let’s take a tour:
The 2014 reboot of this series starring everyone’s favourite reptilian monster is visually arresting, as much for its dramatic backdrops as the pulse-pounding storyline. Though some scenes were filmed in Hawaii and Las Vegas, most of the movie was shot in Vancouver and other parts of B.C. The movie was set in “San Francisco”, but those scenes are actually various locales in Vancouver – for example, West Vancouver’s Cypress Park stood in for the Bay Area. The BART Metro station seen in the film is actually Oceanic Plaza in the downtown core, within easy walking distance of attractions like FlyOver Canada and the Vancouver Lookout. The vast FEMA emergency shelter shown towards the end of the film is BC Place Stadium; you can view the interior for yourself by visiting the BC Sports Hall of Fame, taking in a BC Lions CFL football game, or catching one of the frequent concerts and shows held in the 60,000-seat venue. Finally, the Vancouver Convention Centre was transformed into Honolulu International Airport; though the city isn’t as tropical as Hawaii, take a stroll along the waterfront seawall just outside the convention centre and you’ll soon feel like you’re in paradise.
The cult series that spawned the Era of the Vampire is known for filming around B.C.; in fact, visitors make special pilgrimages to the region just to walk in the footsteps of Twilight. Though Bella lives in “Seattle”, the scenes were captured in downtown Vancouver, including heavily forested Stanley Park. When Bella drives back to Seattle in Breaking Dawn, she’s driving down the scenic Sea to Sky Highway. (Want to zip down the highway in style? Check out Scenic Rush’s exotic car driving experience for a once-in-a-lifetime thrill you’ll never forget.) You can also visit Stawamaus Chief Provincial Park, where Bella climbed up a rock face – you can attempt the climb yourself, or ascend the Sea to Sky Gondola to soak in awe-inspiring views without breaking a sweat. And to visit even more Twilight locations, take a film-inspired walking tour with Fans of Vancouver.
The space-age reboot starring Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto filmed in Vancouver and neighbouring Squamish, as well as Seoul, Dubai and the Northwest Territories. You’ll recognize the Lower Seymour Conservation Reserve, located in North Vancouver, as the forest site where Kirk’s escape pod crashes to the surface of a mysterious planet; scout out the scene, then head to must-visit North Shore attractions Grouse Mountain and Capilano Suspension Bridge Park. Pitt River Quarries, located in Pitt Meadows – a 45-minute drive from downtown Vancouver – was the scene of Krall’s camp where hostages from the Enterprise were kept. Pitt Meadows is home to several golf courses, as well as eco-tourism experiences like canoeing along the Pitt Addington Marsh Wildlife Area or hiking in Grant Narrows Regional Park.
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