Where It Is Set Versus Where It Was Filmed
The story is set in Raccoon City, a fictional American metropolis overrun by the T-virus. The production never filmed in the United States. Toronto and Hamilton in Ontario, Canada, carried nearly the entire film, with additional shooting in Berlin, Germany, and other locations around Ontario. Toronto's mix of modern civic architecture and generic downtown streets made it an effective stand-in for a mid-sized American city.
The Studio Side
Interior work was anchored at Cinespace Film Studios and Booth Avenue Studios, both in Toronto. Neither studio offers public filming tours, so visitors hoping to connect with the production's indoor scenes should focus on the exterior locations around the city instead.
Tours That Visit These Locations
There is no dedicated Resident Evil tour, but Toronto's general film and TV sightseeing options pass through the same downtown streets the production used, and one includes Toronto City Hall as a stop.
Half-Day Action Locations Tour
Action Film and Television Locations Half Day Tour in Toronto
A half-day tour focused on action film and television locations in Toronto, visiting the University of Toronto and the Distillery Historic District.
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Movie Tour With City Hall Stop
Toronto: TV & Movie Tour with University of Toronto Visit
A Toronto TV and movie tour that stops at Toronto City Hall, the real Raccoon City Hall, alongside the University of Toronto, from $161 per person.
Frequently Asked Questions
Was Raccoon City a real place?
No. Raccoon City is fictional and located in the American Midwest in the story. The film shot almost entirely in Toronto and Hamilton, Ontario, with Toronto doubling for Raccoon City.
When was Resident Evil: Apocalypse filmed?
Filming ran from August to November 2003, during the SARS outbreak in Toronto. The film was released in 2004.
Can you visit the filming locations?
Yes. Most locations are public spaces, including Toronto City Hall, the Bloor Viaduct, Exhibition Place, Webster's Falls and Hamilton Cemetery. The former Westwood Theatre is closed, and Northern Secondary School can only be viewed from outside.
Was any of the film shot in the United States?
No US shooting has been reported for the film. The production was based in Ontario, Canada, with additional filming in Berlin, Germany.
Is there a Resident Evil tour in Toronto?
Not a dedicated one. General film and TV tours of the city cover related territory, and one tour includes Toronto City Hall, which played Raccoon City Hall in the film.
Where is the cemetery from the film?
The Raven's Gate Cemetery scenes were filmed at Hamilton Cemetery in Hamilton, Ontario, about an hour west of downtown Toronto. It is a public cemetery and visitors are asked to be respectful.
Resident Evil: Apocalypse left a dense trail of real locations across Toronto and Hamilton, and nearly all of them are free to see. A downtown walk can cover City Hall, the Bloor Viaduct and Duncan Street in a single afternoon, while Hamilton pairs its cemetery with the scenic Webster's Falls.
