X-Men, released in 2000, is an American superhero film directed by Bryan Singer. The movie is based on the Marvel Comics superhero team of the same name, created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. The film features a star-studded cast, including Patrick Stewart, Hugh Jackman, Ian McKellen, Halle Berry, and many others. X-Men tells the story of a world where some people, known as mutants, have superhuman abilities. These mutants face discrimination and are divided into two groups: the peaceful X-Men, led by Professor Charles Xavier, and the more aggressive Brotherhood of Mutants, led by Magneto.
The film’s story revolves around the clash between these two groups and how they try to bring about acceptance of mutant-kind. The movie was a great success, receiving positive reviews from critics and grossing $296.3 million worldwide. Its success also paved the way for a series of films that followed.
Where was “X-Men” Filmed?
The majority of the filming for X-Men took place in Ontario, Canada, from September 22, 1999, to February 14, 2000. The film, set in New York, was mostly shot in Canada. Even the scenes set in Poland during 1944 were filmed in Ontario. The director, Bryan Singer, chose various locations in Canada to bring the story to life, creating a visually appealing and dynamic film.
The Old Gooderham & Worts Distillery in Toronto
One of the key locations in the film is the old Gooderham & Worts Distillery complex on Mill Street, near the Toronto waterfront. This location was used to film the grim concentration camp prologue where a young Erik Lehnsherr, who later becomes Magneto, discovers his extraordinary powers. The distillery, which was the largest in the world for a time, closed in 1957 and became an abandoned site. However, it was later used as a filming location for several movies, including X-Men. The distillery complex has since been restored and transformed into the Distillery District, a popular area in Toronto.
Metro Hall and Roy Thomson Hall in Toronto
The story begins in the “near future,” where Dr. Jean Grey speaks passionately at a senate assembly against Senator Kelly’s demand for a mutant register. This debate takes place in the circular Metro Hall Council Chambers in Metro Hall, a 27-story office tower in the heart of Toronto. The meeting between Charles Xavier and Magneto outside the chamber was filmed in the curved glass corridor of Roy Thomson Hall, a concert hall home to the Toronto Symphony Orchestra.
Twyn Rivers Drive and Greenwood Conservation Area
In the film, Wolverine, played by Hugh Jackman, reluctantly gives a lift to Rogue, played by Anna Paquin. The snowy stretch of road where his truck is attacked by Sabretooth was filmed on Twyn Rivers Drive in Rouge National Urban Park, near Scarborough, northeast of Toronto. Another key location, Magneto’s lair, was constructed in the Greenwood Conservation Area, also located northeast of Toronto.
Parkwood Estate & Casa Loma
Professor Xavier’s “School for Gifted Youngsters,” ostensibly set in “Westchester, Upstate New York,” was actually filmed at Parkwood Estate in Oshawa, Ontario. The estate has appeared in various more films, including Chicago and Billy Madison. The school’s interiors, however, were recorded at Casa Loma, a turn-of-the-century mock-medieval castle in Toronto. Casa Loma is a prominent filming location that has been used in various films.
Hamilton and Spencer Smith Park
The “Westchester Railway Station,” where Magneto uses his powers to levitate police cars, was filmed at the Canadian National Railway Station in Hamilton, Ontario. The station is now an events space known as LIUNA Station. The scenes set on “Liberty Island” were actually filmed at Spencer Smith Park in Burlington, Ontario. Interior shots of the “Statue of Liberty” were filmed in the old Bridgman Transformer Station in Toronto, located near Casa Loma.
Central Toronto Academy and Greystone Park & Mansion
The open-air meeting that takes place on “Ellis Island” was filmed on the campus of Central Toronto Academy. The final shot of Wolverine leaving Xavier’s school was filmed in the courtyard of Greystone Park & Mansion in Beverly Hills, California. This mansion and its grounds are famous filming locations and have been featured in several movies, including the Sam Raimi Spider-Man films.
X-Men’s filming locations span across various iconic spots in Canada and the United States, giving the film a rich and diverse backdrop. The choice of these locations added depth and authenticity to the movie, making it a visual treat for the audience. The film’s success not only boosted the popularity of superhero movies but also showcased the beauty of these filming locations.
Official Trailer
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) – X-Men
Q: Where was X-Men (2000) filmed?
A: X-Men was primarily filmed in Ontario, Canada. Key locations included the Gooderham & Worts Distillery in Toronto, Metro Hall in Toronto, Parkwood Estate in Oshawa, and various sites in and around the Greater Toronto Area.
Q: What location was used for the concentration camp scenes in X-Men?
A: The concentration camp scenes in X-Men were filmed at the old Gooderham & Worts Distillery complex on Mill Street, Toronto, Ontario. This historic site was used to depict the grim environment of the camp.
Q: When was X-Men (2000) filmed?
A: Filming for X-Men took place from September 22, 1999, to February 14, 2000.
Q: When was X-Men (2000) released?
A: X-Men premiered on July 12, 2000, at Ellis Island and was released in the United States on July 14, 2000.
Q: Where was the scene set at Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters filmed?
A: The exterior of Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters was filmed at Parkwood Estate in Oshawa, Ontario, while the interior scenes were filmed at Casa Loma in Toronto, Ontario.
