Alberta: Lights-camera-action?

Everyone knows how famous Hollywood, Bollywood, and other film industries around the world are for making movies that leave an impact on viewers. Eye-catching scenery paired with the phenomenal acting of the cast yield a captivating movie that people enjoy. New York City, California, and countries in Europe are popular spots for moviemakers. But did you know that Alberta isn’t too far behind on this list? Hollywood has filmed several movies in this province because of its versatility in terms of nature, the weather (for snow shots), and the environment.

Here are a few movies you didn’t know about (or maybe you did) that were filmed in Alberta:

– Interstellar: This sci-fi movie, starring Matthew McConaughey and Anne Hathaway, is the second time director Christopher Nolan has shot in Alberta. Locations filmed include Okotoks, Fort Macleod, Longview, and Canmore.
– Superman (plus Superman II and Superman III): Christopher Reeve starred as the Man of Steel, and Clark Kent’s childhood hometown, Smallville, was recreated in rural Alberta. Filming eventually moved to Calgary for scenes in Superman III (1983), and the recognizable façade of the St. Louis Hotel in East Village can be seen.
– The Revenant: The second movie Leonardo DiCaprio filmed in Alberta and the one that finally got him an Oscar. The film was shot in Kananaskis Country using entirely natural light, and First Nations communities around Alberta were part of the movie, lending their cultural perspectives and talents to filming.
– Ghostbusters (2020): the movie was primarily filmed in and around the Calgary, Alberta area.

These are all amazing movies that I didn’t know were made in Alberta until I did some research. I personally love watching a good movie, so I was delighted to learn that my city and province were popular spots for filmmaking. Are there any others you know of that I missed? Let me know in the comments! Until then, lights, camera, action!

Sources: 1, 2, 3