Forget the tired stereotype of Canada being just a scenic backdrop for Hollywood, because with a record-breaking 1,247 feature films and TV productions shot in 2022—a 15% surge from the year before—the Canadian film industry is loudly scripting its own blockbuster story.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, Canada produced 1,247 feature films and television productions, marking a 15% increase from 2021
- English-language television production in Canada reached 1,856 hours in 2022, up 12% year-over-year
- French-language production hours totaled 2,034 in 2022, representing 52% of all Canadian TV production
- Total certified production labor expenditures: $4.8 billion CAD in 2021-22
- Foreign location production spending in Canada: $2.9 billion CAD in 2022
- Total screen sector GDP contribution: $6.5 billion CAD in 2022
- Total screen sector employment income: $3.9 billion CAD in 2022
- Film and video production jobs: 145,000 full-time equivalents in 2022
- Post-production workforce: 28,500 employees in 2022
- Total Canadian films domestic box office: $112.4 million in 2022
- Top Canadian film "Brother" grossed $3.2 million domestically in 2022
- Average ticket price in Canada: $12.45 CAD in 2022
- Telefilm Canada invested $130 million in feature films in 2021-22
- Federal CPTC tax credits issued: $700 million CAD in 2021-22
- CMF contributions to TV: $380 million in 2022
Canada's film industry grew strongly in 2022 across production, employment, and economic impact.
Box Office and Audience
1Total Canadian films domestic box office: $112.4 million in 2022
Verified2Top Canadian film "Brother" grossed $3.2 million domestically in 2022
Verified3Average ticket price in Canada: $12.45 CAD in 2022
Verified4Total theatre admissions: 78.5 million in 2022
Directional5Quebec French-language films box office: $45.6 million in 2022
Single source6English-Canadian films admissions: 2.1 million tickets in 2022
Verified7Streaming viewership for Canadian content: 1.2 billion hours in 2022
Verified8Cinema attendance recovery: 65% of pre-pandemic levels in 2022
Verified9Festival audience for TIFF: 500,000 attendees in 2022
Directional10Top grossing Canadian doc "The Tragically Hip": $1.1 million in 2022
Single source11Market share of Canadian films: 8.2% domestic box office in 2022
Verified12VOD rentals of Canadian titles: 4.5 million in 2022
Verified13Audience demographics 18-34 for Canadian films: 52% in 2022
Verified14Repeat viewings for top Canadian films: 23% of total tickets in 2022
Directional15International box office for Canadian films: $89 million CAD in 2022
Single source16Netflix Canadian content hours watched: 450 million in 2022
Verified17Prime Video Canadian originals views: 210 million hours in 2022
Verified18Crave SVOD subscribers watching Canadian: 65% monthly in 2022
Verified19Radio-Canada audience share for drama: 22% in prime time 2022
Directional20CBC Gem top Canadian show streams: 15 million in 2022
Single source21Theatre occupancy rate: 42% average in 2022
Verified22IMAX Canadian film screenings: 1,200 shows in 2022
Verified23Drive-in theatre attendance: 1.8 million for Canadian films 2022
Verified24Surveyed audience preference for Canadian content: 68% positive in 2022
Directional25Kids programming TV ratings: 15% share for Canadian shows 2022
Single sourceBox Office and Audience Interpretation
While Canadian cinema's domestic box office might seem like a modest indie drama compared to the Hollywood blockbuster next door, its story is one of a dedicated, younger audience binge-watching at home, passionately attending festivals, and proving Quebec is its own thriving production studio, all while quietly earning respectable international royalties.
Economic Impact
1Total certified production labor expenditures: $4.8 billion CAD in 2021-22
Verified2Foreign location production spending in Canada: $2.9 billion CAD in 2022
Verified3Total screen sector GDP contribution: $6.5 billion CAD in 2022
Verified4Tax credit leverage ratio: $6.50 private investment per $1.00 in federal tax credits in 2021-22
Directional5Ontario's screen industry generated $3.2 billion in production volume in 2022
Single source6Quebec film and TV industry economic impact: $2.1 billion GDP in 2022
Verified7BC film industry spending: $1.8 billion in 2022
Verified8Total box office revenue from Canadian films: $145 million CAD in 2022
Verified9Merchandising and ancillary revenues from Canadian productions: $450 million in 2022
Directional10Hotel spending by film crews: $320 million CAD in 2022
Single source11Rental car expenditures by productions: $89 million in 2022
Verified12Restaurant and catering spend: $210 million from film industry in 2022
Verified13Real estate multiplier effect: $1.2 billion indirect spend in 2022
Verified14Export value of Canadian screen content: $1.9 billion in 2022
Directional15Digital media sector revenues: $1.4 billion CAD in 2022
Single source16VFX and animation services exports: $1.1 billion in 2022
Verified17Total provincial tax credit claims: $780 million CAD in 2021-22
Verified18Foreign spend multiplier: every $1 foreign spend generates $2.60 in Canadian economy
Verified19Screen industry taxes paid to governments: $1.3 billion in 2022
Directional20Tourism boost from film locations: $450 million annual economic impact
Single source21Retail sales from on-set purchases: $156 million in 2022
Verified22Transportation services billings: $210 million CAD in 2022
Verified23Construction for sets and stages: $98 million spend in 2022
Verified24Insurance premiums from productions: $45 million in 2022
Directional25Legal and accounting fees: $67 million industry spend in 2022
Single source26Advertising and marketing expenditures: $123 million CAD in 2022
Verified27Equipment rentals generated $289 million in revenues in 2022
VerifiedEconomic Impact Interpretation
Canada’s film industry is a remarkably efficient economic alchemy, turning modest public tax credits into a sprawling, multi-billion-dollar ecosystem where everything from craft services to visual effects exports quietly fuels hotels, restaurants, and government coffers, proving that Hollywood's North American backlot is actually a serious business engine cleverly disguised as a soundstage.
Employment
1Total screen sector employment income: $3.9 billion CAD in 2022
Verified2Film and video production jobs: 145,000 full-time equivalents in 2022
Verified3Post-production workforce: 28,500 employees in 2022
Verified4VFX artists employed: 12,400 in Canada in 2022
Directional5Actor and performer jobs: 34,200 gigs in 2022
Single source6Director positions filled: 1,234 in 2022 productions
Verified7Writer credits: 2,156 across Canadian scripted content in 2022
Verified8Producer roles: 3,450 in 2022
Verified9Cinematographer jobs: 890 per year average in 2022
Directional10Editor positions: 2,100 full-time in 2022
Single source11Sound technicians: 1,780 employed in 2022
Verified12Grip and gaffer crew: 5,600 jobs created in 2022
Verified13Make-up and wardrobe staff: 2,340 positions in 2022
Verified14Location managers: 456 hires in 2022
Directional15Women in key creative roles: 38% in 2022
Single source16Indigenous workers: 4.2% of total workforce in 2022
Verified17Visible minorities in crew: 29% representation in 2022
Verified18Unionized workforce percentage: 72% in film production in 2022
Verified19Average annual salary for producers: $112,000 CAD in 2022
Directional20Entry-level PA wage: $28/hour average in 2022
Single source21VFX artist average salary: $95,000 CAD in 2022
Verified22Director average fee per project: $145,000 in 2022
Verified23Animator hourly rate: $42 CAD average in 2022
Verified24Stunt coordinator jobs: 234 in 2022
Directional25Drone operators certified: 1,200 in film use in 2022
Single source26Freelance crew turnover: 68% annual in 2022
Verified27Training program graduates: 2,450 from film schools in 2022
VerifiedEmployment Interpretation
Canada's screen sector may employ more people than a small town, pay them better than most industries, and still manage to be run by a shockingly small, overworked, and disproportionately non-diverse group of caffeine-powered creatives who are one tax credit away from having to become realtors.
Funding and Government Support
1Telefilm Canada invested $130 million in feature films in 2021-22
Verified2Federal CPTC tax credits issued: $700 million CAD in 2021-22
Verified3CMF contributions to TV: $380 million in 2022
Verified4Ontario CPTC claims: $290 million in 2022
Directional5BC film tax credit: $198 million disbursed in 2022
Single source6Quebec tax credit rate: 37.5% on qualified labor in 2022
Verified7Telefilm talent funds: $22 million to emerging filmmakers 2021-22
Verified8Canada Media Fund total: $365 million allocated in 2022
Verified9Provincial incentives total: $1.1 billion across Canada in 2022
Directional10CRTC local content contributions: $145 million broadcaster levy 2022
Single source11Export development funding: $12 million from Telefilm in 2021-22
Verified12Indigenous production fund: $8.5 million disbursed in 2022
Verified13Diversity equity inclusion grants: $4.2 million in 2022
Verified14Co-production treaty support: 45 projects funded $35 million 2022
Directional15Digital media incentive: $45 million federal in 2022
Single source16TIFF industry funding: $6 million government in 2022
Verified17Documentary assistance program: $18 million Telefilm 2021-22
Verified18Animation incentive claims: $67 million in 2022
Verified19Alberta film tax credit: $23 million in 2022
Directional20Manitoba credits: $12.4 million issued 2022
Single source21Saskatchewan 45% labor credit utilized $9.8 million 2022
VerifiedFunding and Government Support Interpretation
In Canada, the government essentially serves as the film industry's most generous and patient co-producer, quietly investing over a billion public dollars a year to ensure we have more to watch than just polite apologies and breathtaking scenery.
Production Statistics
1In 2022, Canada produced 1,247 feature films and television productions, marking a 15% increase from 2021
Verified2English-language television production in Canada reached 1,856 hours in 2022, up 12% year-over-year
Verified3French-language production hours totaled 2,034 in 2022, representing 52% of all Canadian TV production
Verified4Animated content production in Canada hit 298 hours in 2022, a 22% rise from prior year
Directional5Feature film production budgets averaged $5.2 million CAD per project in 2022
Single source6Number of scripted series produced in Canada grew to 142 in 2022
Verified7Documentary production hours reached 456 in 2022, up 8%
Verified8Digital media platforms hosted 1,234 Canadian content titles in 2022
Verified9Quebec province accounted for 68% of French-language production volume in 2022
Directional10Ontario led English-language production with 1,124 hours in 2022
Single source11British Columbia produced 312 hours of high-budget SVOD content in 2022
Verified1276 Canadian feature films premiered at domestic festivals in 2022
Verified13Post-production services were utilized in 89% of foreign location shoots in Canada in 2022
Verified14Virtual production techniques were employed in 45 projects across Canada in 2022
Directional15Indigenous-led productions numbered 34 in 2022, a 28% increase
Single source16Diverse cast representation reached 42% in Canadian scripted series in 2022
Verified17112 Canadian films were certified for tax credits in fiscal 2021-22
Verified18Average shooting days per feature film in Canada: 28 days in 2022
Verified1967% of Canadian productions used green production practices in 2022
Directional20Children's and youth programming hours: 189 in 2022, up 15%
Single source21Lifestyle and reality TV hours totaled 1,023 in 2022
Verified22245 digital interactive projects received funding support in 2021-22
Verified23Feature documentaries produced: 56 in 2022
Verified24High-budget foreign TV series shot in Canada: 89 in 2022
Directional252D animation projects: 23 hours, 3D: 156 hours in 2022
Single source26Prairie provinces (AB, SK, MB) produced 156 hours combined in 2022
Verified27Atlantic Canada output: 89 hours of TV in 2022
Verified2834% of productions were co-productions with international partners in 2022
Verified29Streaming platforms commissioned 67 Canadian original series in 2022
DirectionalProduction Statistics Interpretation
The Canadian film industry is booming like a polite yet determined beaver, setting record after record with more productions, diverse stories, and sophisticated techniques than ever, proving it's a global force no longer content to just play supporting roles.
Sources & References
- Reference 1CMPAcmpa.caVisit source
- Reference 2TELEFILMtelefilm.caVisit source
- Reference 3CANADAcanada.caVisit source
- Reference 4ONTARIOCREATESontariocreates.caVisit source
- Reference 5SAPIQsapiq.orgVisit source
- Reference 6GOVwww2.gov.bc.caVisit source
- Reference 7MPTACmptac.orgVisit source
- Reference 8STATCANstatcan.gc.caVisit source
- Reference 9ACTRAactra.caVisit source
- Reference 10TIFFtiff.netVisit source
- Reference 11CMF-FMCcmf-fmc.caVisit source
- Reference 12CRTCcrtc.gc.caVisit source
- Reference 13ALBERTAalberta.caVisit source
- Reference 14GOVgov.mb.caVisit source
- Reference 15SASKATCHEWANsaskatchewan.caVisit source