Canada’s cities, landscapes, and actors have been major players in huge box office hits, but when it comes to movies that are designated Canadian films, you might feel hard-pressed to name any. That’s where this list comes in. It highlights Canadian films of various genres that are widely recognized—and some even highly awarded—that you need to add to your watch list.
- Bon Cop, Bad Cop (2006)
This iconic film is one many Canadians know, and it’s well worth a watch, particularly if you’re an action-thriller-meets-comedy fan. The plot follows an Ontario cop and a Quebec cop unwillingly working together to solve a murder after the victim was found on the border between Ontario and Quebec. The movie grossed $12 million, which earned it a place as one of the highest-grossing Canadian movies and led to a sequel.
- Cold Deck (2015)
When it comes to high-stakes games, Cold Deck delivers. It centers around a poker player who hits rock bottom and persuades his friend to help him run a fixed game to win against wealthy players in an underground poker game. This fixed game is the reason for the movie’s name; for those who aren’t poker enthusiasts or regular players on sites like casinos.com, a cold deck is a term for a deck stacked in favor of a player or dealer.
- The Trotsky (2009)
Starring Jay Baruchel, this film follows a Montreal teen who believes he is the reincarnated Lev Trotsky, the Russian communist theorist and revolution leader. This belief guides him to lead a revolution among his classmates. While watching this, you might also recognize another Canadian icon, Emily Hampshire, who is most well-known for her role as Stevie in Schitt’s Creek.
- Take This Waltz (2011)
This movie has a powerhouse cast featuring Michelle Williams and Seth Rogan. The plot centers around a married couple (Williams and Rogen) falling into a love triangle when Williams’s character becomes enamored with their neighbor, leading her to question her marriage. Don’t let the fact that Seth Rogan is a main player in this movie fool you into thinking it’s a purely comedic affair; while having funny moments, Take This Waltz is a drama above all else.
- The F Word (2013)
Unlike many movies on this list, this movie saw a great deal of international recognition because of the lead, Daniel Radcliffe. This movie marked one of his first film roles after the Harry Potter series, so naturally, the move from Harry Potter to an indie film drew attention. The film follows Radcliffe’s character as he feels ready to give up on love, but then he meets Chantry (played by Zoe Kazan), who he thinks could be the one. The catch? She’s in a long-term relationship with her boyfriend.
- Last Night (1998)
Before her well-known and loved roles in Grey’s Anatomy and Killing Eve, Sandra Oh starred in Last Night. The movie centers around the end of the world, which for the characters will happen in just six hours. It follows several different characters and what they decide to do with their last six hours on Earth.
- Incendies (2010)
In this multi-awarded movie, including the Canadian Screen Award for Best Screenplay, a pair of twins are left with two letters by their dying mother. Her final request is for her twins to deliver the letters to a father and brother they’ve never met. They journey to the Middle East to deliver the letters and discover family secrets they had never imagined.
- Jesus of Montreal (1989)
This film follows a group of actors putting on the Passion Play in Montreal as their real lives start to reflect the life of Jesus and the events of the play. The movie won two awards at the Cannes Film Festival and 12 Genie Awards.
- Starbuck (2011)
Starring one of the actors from Bon Cop, Bad Cop, Patrick Huard, this film follows a 40-year-old finding out that his girlfriend is expecting and that he’s the biological father to 533 people. In his early twenties, he anonymously donated to a sperm bank to earn extra cash, and now, 142 of the children he fathered are suing him. It’s a rollercoaster comedy sure to keep you entertained.
- Dead Ringers (1988)
This dark thriller follows twin gynecologists who switch lives with each other without anyone around them realizing it. But things get complicated when both doctors fall for the same woman. This movie will have you on the edge of your seat.
- Goon (2011)
A hockey fan, Doug, goes from being an audience member to a teammate when he tackles another person in the audience for using a gay slur. While watching this movie, you might recognize a few faces, including Jay Baruchel and Eugene Levy. It’s a sports comedy following the tagline, “meet Doug, the nicest guy you’ll ever fight.”
- The Sweet Hereafter (1997)
The plot of this movie follows the aftermath of a devastating bus accident that caused the deaths of a dozen children. The accident happened in a small town, but a big city lawyer hopes to bring those affected together in a class-action lawsuit. The film was highly awarded, earning multiple Genie Awards, a Cannes Grand Prix, and several Toronto Film Critics Association Awards.
- Monsieur Lazhar (2011)
Monsieur Lazhar is the story of an Algerian man taking over a grade school class after their teacher passes away. He helps the children through their grief and loss and, in the process, faces his own grief. This film won the Canadian Screen Award for Best Screenplay and multiple Genie awards.
- Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner (2001)
This film depicts a modern take on an Inuit legend of an evil spirit that is disrupting the community. This movie is notable because it’s the first feature film in Inuktitut, the Inuit language. It won multiple Genie Awards.
Add a Canadian Film to Your Next Movie Night
Canada has brought a wide range of genres, stories, and actors to movie screens, and these 14 movies are some of the most notable to add to your list for your next movie night.