Welcome to the Weekly Movie Thread, your place on the Avocado to discuss films with your fellow commenters. Want to make a recommendation? Looking for recommendations? Want to share your opinions of movies, both new and classic?

Happy belated Canada Day! To celebrate, here’s today’s bonus prompt: what is the best Canadian person or location in movies?

Why, hello, Vancouver’s Gastown in The NeverEnding Story.

Canada itself is rarely the subject in most films. However, it’s likely you have seen Canada. Toronto often doubles as a set for New York. Westerns like Open Range have been filmed in the very picaresque Canadian Rockies. Last time I checked, Vancouver was the city with third largest film industry in North America behind Los Angeles and New York.

Why, hello, Hatley Castle in Victoria

Canadians helped define a lot of what we know as Western comedy. Many honed their skills at Toronto’s Second City comedy club. Rick Moranis, Dan Ackroyd, Martin Short, Nia Vardalos, John Candy, Catherine O’Hara, and Mike Myers brought a gentle humanity to the slapstick. Jim Carrey is basically a human cartoon. Even today, Ryan Reynolds is pretty much the face of the highest grossing comedy oriented films.

Why, hello, fellow Canadian!

And there are the actors who had no idea many had Canadian roots until recently. I had no idea Keanu Reeves grew up in Toronto until he voiced a red-and-white character with a maple leaf cape in Toy Story 4. For real, I thought he was from either Hawaii or SoCal.

Why, hello, Duke Caboom.

Canadian directors have also been leaving their unique stamp on cinema. David Cronenberg made his name synonymous with body horror. Denis Villeneuve brings contemplative and imaginative imagery into sci-fi. Ivan Reitman helmed some of the 80’s most notable comedies.

And finally, three of the highest grossing films in history were directed by a Canadian filmmaker. James Cameron, you Canadian madman you.