On Screen

Felicity Jones shoots a scene for ‘On The Basis of Sex’ in front of the courthouse on rue Notre-Dame E.

Film and TV directors love Old Montreal because it can easily double for many cities around the world, particularly European ones.

Dozens of productions have come to Old Montreal over the years.

Who knows, you may even stumble upon a film set while visiting Old Montreal!

Here’s a look at a handful of the films and TV shows that have shot scenes in Old Montreal. Go ahead and snap photos of yourself standing where George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Kevin Spacey and Neil Patrick Harris have stood!

The Recruit (2022)

The first season of this Netflix series starring Noah Centineo included several scenes that were filmed in Old Montreal, including outside the Quebec Court of Appeal on rue Notre-Dame East and in the lobby of the Royal Bank Building on rue Saint-Jacques.

recruit3 — Noah Centineo stands on rue Notre-Dame E in front of the Quebec Court of Appeal.

recruit1 — Noah Centineo and Laura Haddock inside the lobby of the Royal Bank Building on rue Saint-Jacques.

recruit2 — Noah Centineo and Laura Haddock on rue Sainte-Helene outside the Hotel Gault.

Moonfall (2022)

This is one of several movies Roland Emmerich has made in Montreal. In it, the lobby of the Royal Bank Building, built in 1928 at the corner of rue Saint-Jacques and rue Saint-Pierre, doubles as the lobby of a courthouse.

moonfall

Patrick Wilson in a scene from Moonfall filmed at 360 rue Saint-Jacques.

The United States Vs. Billie Holiday (2021)

This film about the legendary jazz singer, starring Andra Day, was shot in Montreal and includes several scenes filmed on the streets of Old Montreal. The front of the Quebec Court of Appeal on rue Notre-Dame E doubled as Philadelphia’s courthouse and the area around rue Saint-Nicolas and rue Le Moyne doubled as New York City’s Greenwich Village.

BH1 — Rue Le Moyne at rue Saint-Nicolas was transformed for this vintage NYC scene.

BH2 — The Quebec Court of Appeal on rue Notre-Dame was used as Philadelphia’s courthouse.

BH3 — New York City’s iconic Cafe Society was recreated on rue Saint-Nicolas at rue Le Moyne.

My Salinger Year (2020)

Most of this film, starring Margaret Qualley and Sigourney Weaver, was shot in and around the Aldred Building at the corner of Place d’Armes and rue Notre-Dame O.

sal4 — Sigourney Weaver and Colm Feore are on the ground floor of the Aldred Building.

sal2 — Margaret Qualley in a scene set in New York City. She is actually walking through Place d’Armes Square, with the Bank of Montreal building in the background.

*The Sum of All Fears**(2002)*

When you see Morgan Freeman and Ben Affleck walking down the street after a meeting at the White House, they are actually walking on the path in front of the Lucien-Saulnier building just west of Montreal City Hall on rue Notre-Dame E.

Morgan Freeman and Ben Affleck in a scene from ‘The Sum of All Fears’ that was shot on rue Notre-Dame E.

Near the end of the movie, Bonsecours Market and rue de la Commune are prominently on display.

Bonsecours Market on rue de la Commune in a scene from ‘The Sum of All Fears.’

Blood & Treasure (2019)

The series Blood & Treasure (Season one aired on CBS and season two on Paramount+) included many scenes that were filmed in and around Old Montreal. The neighbourhood doubled as Monaco, New York City and Moscow.

Sofia Pernas appears on rue Bonsecours approaching rue Saint-Paul, which doubled as streets in Monaco.

Matt Barr and Sofia Pernas in a scene filmed on rue Sainte-Hélène at rue Notre-Dame O. Old Montreal stood in for New York City.

bt7 — Matt Barr, Sofia Pernas and Zach McGowan in a scene filmed on rue de Brésoles (note the eastern side of the Notre-Dame Basilica at the end of the street). The street doubled as Moscow.

Midway (2019)

Roland Emmerich’s movie starring Woody Harrelson, Luke Evans and Nick Jonas turned the Quebec Court of Appeal on rue Notre-Dame E into Japan during World War II. Scenes were also filmed in front of Montreal city hall just down the street.

A behind-the-scenes look at filming of ‘Midway’ outside the Quebec Court of Appeal on rue Notre-Dame E.

A scene from ‘Midway’ showing the Quebec Court of Appeal on rue Notre-Dame E. (left). The background is mostly CGI.

A scene from ‘Midway’ showing the front steps of the Quebec Court of Appeal on rue Notre-Dame E.

Woody Harrelson walks up the steps of Montreal City Hall on rue Notre-Dame E in a scene from ‘Midway.’ The background is, of course, CGI.

Blades of Glory (2007)

Will Ferrell and Canadian actor Will Arnett were (sort of) in several scenes that were actually set in Montreal and shot in the Old Port. Skating doubles and stuntmen did the physical work and the faces of Ferrell and Arnett were digitally added. The movie also used CGI to relocate the Olympic Stadium to the Old Port area!

Will Ferrell appears to emerge from the ice in the Old Port with Bonsecours Market in the background.

Will Arnett (left) and Will Ferrell cross the street in front of the Montreal Science Centre in the Old Port. The buildings on rue de la Commune are in the background.

The Olympic Stadium was digitally relocated to the Old Port for this scene, which shows the bridge over the entrance to the Lachine Canal.

Long Shot (2019)

Seth Rogen and Charlize Theron shot many interior and a few exterior scenes for this political romantic comedy in Old Montreal. You will recognize the inside of Crew Café as well as rue Saint-Paul E.

Charlize Theron stands in front of a crowd inside the entrance to Crew Café in the Royal Bank Tower at 360 rue Saint-Jacques.

Seth Rogen and Charlize Theron walk along rue Saint-Paul E between rue Saint-Vincent and rue de Vaudreuil.

Death Wish (2018)

Bruce Willis starred in this reboot, which included several scenes that were filmed in Old Montreal. At the end of the film he is seen standing on a New York City street – but it was actually rue Sainte-Hélène south of rue Notre-Dame O.

Bruce Willis in a scene from ‘Death Wish’ on rue Sainte-Hélène.

On The Basis of Sex (2018)

The Ruth Bader Ginsburg biopic, starring Felicity Jones, Armie Hammer and Justin Theroux was mostly shot in Montreal, including many scenes in Old Montreal. One of the primary locations was rue Notre-Dame E, east of rue Saint-Laurent, where there are several courthouses.

Armie Hammer, Justin Theroux and Felicity Jones on the steps of the Quebec Court of Appeal on rue Notre-Dame E, in a scene from ‘On The Basis of Sex.’

Felicity Jones runs along the path in front of the courthouse on rue Notre-Dame E. Behind her is the western exterior of Montreal city hall.

Quantico (2015)

The first season of the popular ABC drama series Quantico, which was mostly filmed in Montreal, often shot scenes in Old Montreal.

Whether it was a quiet scene inside Les 400 Coups on rue Notre-Dame or a frigid exterior scene at the tip of Quai King Edward in the Old Port, the neighbourhood shined in Quantico.

Take a peek inside the historic Royal Bank Building at 360 rue Saint-Jacques – the main hall doubled as the FBI’s New York City emergency command post in season one of Quantico. It’s now Crew Collective & Café.

A scene from Season 1 of ‘Quantico’ inside the former RBC building. The space is now home to Crew Café.

Brick Mansions (2014)

Montreal doubled as a dystopian Detroit in this action flick, which was one of Paul Walker’s last films. Many scenes, including an exciting car chase, were filmed in the Old Port area, but a few scenes were shot in Old Montreal. When Walker’s character leads a group of armed men into police headquarters, they’re actually rushing through the lobby of the former Royal Bank building, now home to Crew Café.

Paul Walker in the lobby of the former Royal Bank building on rue Saint-Jacques, in a scene from ‘Brick Mansions.’

The Death and Life of John L. Donovan (2017)

Kit Harington, best known as Jon Snow on Game of Thrones, was spotted in the summer of 2016 taking breaks while working on Canadian director Xavier Dolan’s new film. Production took place at several spots in Old Montreal.

Actor Kit Harington, standing outside an office building on Place D’Armes at rue Saint-Jacques while on a break from filming ‘The Death and Life of John L. Donovan’ inside.

Brad’s Status

In the film Brad’s Status, Ben Stiller is stonewalled as he tries to get a table at a stone-walled restaurant. He eventually dines with co-star Michael Sheen. The scenes were shot on the upper level of the Vieux-Port Steakhouse on rue Saint-Paul E.

The Art of More

The Crackle series The Art of More, set in the world of auction houses, starred Dennis Quaid, Kate Bosworth and Cary Elwes. The show regularly filmed scenes in Old Montreal, including at the galleries on rue Saint-Paul Ouest.

elwes_omg — Cary Elwes shoots a scene for ‘The Art of More’ on rue Saint-Paul O.

The Glass Castle (2017)

Rue Saint-Jacques at rue Saint-Pierre was transformed into NYC’s Tribeca in the 1980s for scenes in the movie The Glass Castle, starring Naomi Watts, Brie Larson and Woody Harrelson.

13680608_10157286111780046_855800205797270913_n — Production of a scene for ‘The Glass Castle’ at the corner of rue Saint-Pierre and rue Saint-Jacques, in front of the St. James Hotel.

Nine Lives (2016)

When Kevin Spacey pulls his sports car up to Mr. Purrkins pet shop, he’s actually outside a building at the foot of the alley that runs between rue Saint-Paul O and rue De Le Capitale, just east of rue Saint-Francois-Xavier.

Kevin Spacey, in a scene from ‘Nine Lives,’ at the foot of the alley that runs between rue Saint-Paul O and rue de la Capitale.

And the venue where Jennifer Garner and Kevin Spacey attend a fundraising gala? It’s actually the Theatre Saint-James on rue Saint-Jacques, east of rue Saint-Pierre.

A scene from ‘Nine Lives’ outside Theatre Saint-James on rue Saint-Jacques.

The Walk (2015)

Joseph Gordon-Levitt appeared in Old Montreal in Summer 2014 to film exterior scenes set in Paris. Most of the action took place in Place Royale, at the old Montreal Customs House on rue Saint-Paul O.

X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014)

Montreal City Hall, located on rue Notre-Dame E. in Old Montreal, appears in this blockbuster, which was filmed in Summer 2013. Several scenes, with actors including Michael Fassbender and Nicholas Hoult, were shot in the fountain in Vauquelin Square, located next to City Hall at the top of Place Jacques-Cartier.

xmen1 — Montreal City Hall on rue Notre-Dame E appears in a scene from ‘X-Men: Days of Future Past.’

Noel (2004)

Penelope Cruz, Susan Sarandon, Paul Walker and Robin Williams are just some of the stars in this holiday-themed drama that was partly shot in Old Montreal (doubling as New York City).

Susan Sarandon walks east on rue Notre-Dame O in front of the Theatre Saint-James in this scene from ‘Noel.’

The Smurfs 2 (2013)

Old Montreal doubled as Paris once again in this family comedy starring Neil Patrick Harris, Jayma Mays and Brendan Gleeson. At the end of the movie, all three are standing – with some Smurfs, of course – at the corner of rue Saint-Paul E. and rue De La Marché-Bonsecours, with Bonsecours Market in the background.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)

Brad Pitt was in Old Montreal in Spring 2007 to film exterior scenes set in Paris. He sips coffee while seated in front of 111 rue De La Commune O and rides a scooter through the streets of the neighbourhood.

Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (2002)

George Clooney was in Old Montreal in Winter 2002 to direct (and star in) scenes that were set in Berlin and Helsinki. Star Sam Rockwell appears on several different streets in Old Montreal, including rue Saint-Sulpice at rue Le Royer.

Sam Rockwell stands in front of a painting of rue Saint-Dizier.

Sam Rockwell and Rutget Hauer sit in a car on rue Marie-Morin at rue Le Royer. That building in the background is on rue Saint-Paul O.

Sam Rockwell and another actor stand on rue Saint-Pierre at Place d’Youville.

George Clooney stands in front of the former St. James Pub on rue Saint-Jacques at rue Dollard. It is now Sesame restaurant.

The Score (2001)

Both Robert DeNiro and Edward Norton walked the streets of Old Montreal for this crime caper, which also starred Marlon Brando. A number of scenes were filmed on rue Saint-Paul E and the historic Canada Customs building at 105 rue McGill is prominently featured.

Stonewall (2016)

Roland Emmerich made this New York City drama, based (very) loosely on actual events, entirely in Montreal. Stars Jeremy Irvine and Jonny Beauchamp appeared in two scenes that were shot in Old Montreal. In one, they walk up rue Saint-Alexis from rue du Saint-Sacrement.

Jeremy Irvine and Jonny Beauchamp walk up rue Saint-Alexis from rue du Saint-Sacrement in this scene from ‘Stonewall.’

In a night scene, they run out onto rue Saint-Jacques in front of Theatre St-James to hail a cab.

Jeremy Irvine and Jonny Beauchamp run onto rue Saint-Jacques in a scene from ‘Stonewall.’

Love Locks (2017)

This Hallmark Channel movie starring real-life couple Jerry O’Connell and Rebecca Romijn, was primarily shot in Old Montreal. O’Connell’s character worked at a Paris hotel, which was in fact Maison du Calvet on rue Bonsecours at rue Saint-Paul E.

Rebecca Romijn and Jerry O’Connell in a scene from ‘Love Locks’ shot on rue Bonsecours at rue Saint-Paul E.

SIMPLE PLAN

Fans of pop-rock band Simple Plan can pose for a photo at the very same spot where the Montreal band stood for their publicity photo, on tiny rue Saint-Dizier between rue Saint-Paul O and rue de la Commune O.