Film crews during IT Chapter 1 in Port Hope

Skip to Content

Port Hope Tourism Logo Port Hope Tourism Logo Print

Contact Us
  • Things to Do
    View our Hiking, Walking and Biking page
    Hiking, Walking and Biking
    • Arts, Culture and Entertainment
    • Event Calendar
    • Family Fun
    • Farm Experiences
    • Fish Migration
    • Ganaraska Forest Centre
    • Golfing
    • Health and Wellness
    • Hiking, Walking and Biking
    • Parks and Recreation
    • Self-Guided Tours
    • Shopping
    • Treetop Trekking and Ziplining
    • Trip Ideas
    • Waterfront, Beaches and River
  • Events & Festivals
    • Art Sale and Auction
    • Arts Festival
    • Canada Day
    • Candlelight Festival
    • Capitol Christmas
    • Cultivate Festival
    • Events Calendar
    • Fish Migration
    • Float Your Fanny Down the Ganny River Race
    • Ganny Weekend
    • Heroes Highway Ride
    • Port Hope Fair
    • Port Hope Garden Tour
    • Port Hope House Tour
    • Santa Claus Parade
    • Vintage Film Festival
  • Eat & Drink
    • Breweries
    • Dining
    • Farms and Local Food
    • Picnics
  • Plan Your Stay
    • Accommodations
    • Contact Us
    • Covid-19
    • Digital Tourism Information
    • Getting Around
    • Getting Here
    • Maps
    • Parking
    • Self-Guided Tours
    • Trip Ideas
    • Washrooms
Search Button

Starring Port Hope

Local Adventure Guide

Need a breath of fresh air? Port Hope is a cute, lakeside town with picturesque views, fourth-generation farms and a great perspective on making the moments count. 

View Online Guide 

Cover of the adventure guide
HomeThings to DoArts, Culture and EntertainmentStarring Port Hope
  • Open new window to share this page via Facebook Facebook
  • Open new window to share this page via Twitter Twitter
  • Open new window to share this page via LinkedIn LinkedIn
  • Email this page Email

Port Hope's small town beauty and architecture have made us a popular location for TV and film shoots.

Port Hope is great on camera

We're the quintessential small town with pretty streets, beautiful period architecture and the kind of warmth and charm that keep you coming back. Port Hope has become a destination for filmmakers and TV producers looking for historical flavour and ambiance. The period detective series, Murdoch Mysteries, films here often. Even the acclaimed Schitt's Creek flashes a cameo of the town.

IT horror movies and other famous screen appearances

Downtown Port Hope was transformed into fictional Derry, Maine for the chilling adaptations of Stephen King's IT for IT Chapter One (2017) and IT Chapter Two (2019). The filming was a huge contributor to the local economy with production dollar spending and visitors coming to see the set locations. You can take a selfie tour of IT local film spots.

The filming also sparked a Port Horror festival of movies that included a short film contest and vampire makeovers. Other notable films include Tommy Boy (1994), the buddy comedy road trip with Chris Farley and David Spade, and To Die For (1994), the crime mockumentary with Nicole Kidman.

Pennywise the clown and Georgie in Port Hope

You can take a selfie tour of IT local film spots. 

Famous films and TV featuring Port Hope 

The Hardy Boys

Season 1
(Filmed in October 2019)
Season 2
(Filmed August 2021)
Adaptation of the classic book series The Hardy Boys. 
When the Hardy boys, Frank and Joe and their father, Fenton arrive in Bridgeport they set out to uncover the truth behind the recent tragedy that has changed their lives, and in doing so, uncover something much more sinister.


Stephen King's IT

(Filmed in 2016)
The movie is based on Stephen King’s timeless novel “It” set in the summer of 1989, and follows seven young friends as they battle an evil presence lurking beneath their small town, which hunts children by using their greatest fears against them.
Filming took place in various locations in the downtown and around Port Hope between Monday, July 11 and Friday, July 15, 2016. Downtown Port Hope had been set dressed to represent ‘Derry, Maine’ in 1989. 

Stephen King's IT Chapter Two

(Filmed in July - September 2018)
The highly anticipated sequel to Stephen King's IT, based on the infamous horror novel of the same title. The Losers Clubs returns to Derry, Maine 27 years later to defeat Pennywise the Dancing Clown, just as they had promised. Starring James McAvoy, Jessica Chastain, Bill Skarsgård, Bill Hader, Isaiah Mustafa, James Ransone, Jay Ryan and a special appearance by the King of Horror himself. Released September 6, 2019.


The Marsh King's Daughter

(Filmed in June 2021)
A woman who was abducted when she was young along with her mother is forced to confront her past after her infamous father escapes from prison.


Murdoch Mysteries

Season 10, Episode 18: Hell to Pay
(Filmed in June 2018) Season 12, Episode 5: The Spy Who Loved Murdoch 
(Filmed in May 2019) 
(Filmed in August 2019) Season 13, Episode 12: TBA & Season 13, Episode 13: TBA 


Star Falls

(Filmed in July 2017)
A Nickelodeon series entitled Star Falls was filmed in Port Hope during July 2017. Star Falls follows teen Sophia who persuades a Hollywood star Craig Brooks, and his family to live in her house while he shoots a movie in town, hoping he'll fall in love with her mom.


Love Found in Whitbrooke

(Filmed in November 2020)
A project manager is offered the opportunity of a lifetime in London. But when she returns to her hometown and meets the perfect guy, her passion and talent for painting is rekindled, giving her a new outlook on life and love.


Falling Water

(Filmed in September 2017)
A sci-fi drama series that will be releasing its second season on US networks. Follows three individuals that have never met, but are connected by different parts of the same dream. 


Our House

(Filmed in June 2016)
A supernatural thriller based on the film Ghost From The Machine. 


Schitt's Creek

The Capitol Theatre marquee had a cameo in the beloved Canadian sitcom that stars SCTV alumni Eugene Levy and Catherine O'Hara. 


Tommy Boy

The comedy road film with Chris Farley and David Spade shot on Walton and Queen street. 


To Die For

The crime mockumentary with Nicole Kidman filmed on Ward and King streets. 


Orphan

The horror flick shot on Dorset Street.

Things to Do
    • Arts, Culture and Entertainment
      Toggle Section Arts, Culture and Entertainment Menu
      • Art Galleries and Studios
      • History and Heritage
      • Local Art Festivals
      • Museums and Stories
      • Starring Port Hope
      • Theatres
    • Event Calendar
    • Family Fun
    • Farm Experiences
    • Fish Migration
    • Ganaraska Forest Centre
    • Golfing
    • Health and Wellness
    • Hiking, Walking and Biking
      Toggle Section Hiking, Walking and Biking Menu
      • Cycling and Biking
      • Ganaraska Forest Centre
      • Trails
    • Parks and Recreation
    • Self-Guided Tours
      Toggle Section Self-Guided Tours Menu
      • Barn Quilt Tour
      • Fresh Food Guide Tour
      • Heritage Walking and Driving Tours
      • IT Walking Tour
    • Shopping
    • Treetop Trekking and Ziplining
    • Trip Ideas
    • Waterfront, Beaches and River
      Toggle Section Waterfront, Beaches and River Menu
      • Fish Cleaning Station and Boat Launch
      • Ganaraska River
      • Water Activities
      • West Beach and East Beach

Contact Us

Subscribe to this page

Extraordinary is closer than you think

Historic Port Hope is Ontario's favourite small town.

Port Hope Tourism Footer Logo

  • Connect

    • Contact Us
    • Website Feedback
  • Links

    • Accessibility
    • Media Kit
    • Privacy
    • Sitemap
    • Trip Ideas
  • Resources

    Increase Contrast
  • An initiative by

    Municipality of Port Hope Footer Logo

Ontario's favourite small town

Copyright 2023 Municipality of Port Hope

Designed by eSolutionsGroup

Browser Compatibility Notification

It appears you are trying to access this site using an outdated browser. As a result, parts of the site may not function properly for you. We recommend updating your browser to its most recent version at your earliest convenience.