I have a story to tell you all: one day, I was minding my own business, strolling down the streets of London with a cute little matcha in hand, when all of a sudden I was arrested! They said I committed a murder (I did not), and what started as a lovely day turned into a veritable nightmare. I was plunged into a world of conspiracy theories and corruption, and the only solution was to fight my way out.
Oh wait… that’s not my story, that’s Jack Reacher’s story from the TV show Reacher! Hm… maybe there was something in my matcha that made me dream all this… But anyway, if you’re a fan of action packed adventures that really get your heart racing, then Reacher is the TV show for you! Led by Alan Ritchson, the buffest man alive, you’ll follow along as Jack and his cohorts uncover the dark side of the city and fight to right some wrongs.
Sounds exhausting to be honest, but if you still want to experience Reacher without all that danger, why not check out some of the Reacher filming locations around North America? Let’s discover them together, safely.
Season 1
While Reacher is set in the fictional town of Margrave, Georgia in the USA, filming didn’t actually take place in the States at all. Instead, the cast and crew took to the Great White North of Canada. Following in the footsteps of other productions like The Last of Us, and Priscilla, Canada has become an increasingly popular filming location because of the land’s versatility and the many cities which can pass for other, perhaps more hectic, locations.
The province of Ontario was used as the main hub for the Reacher filming locations, with Toronto featuring heavily, subbing in for New York City and Atlanta, as well as other charming locations. We’ll get into them now!
Image source:Contiki
1. Pickering
While different scenes are shot in different locations depending on the level of specificity they need, most of Margrave was built as a temporary village just outside of the town of Pickering in Ontario. So, for those quicke establishing shots or b-roll bits, you can drive around outside of Pickering to catch a glimpse of something familiar.
2. Kingston Penitentiary, Kingston
Starting the show off with a bang, when Jack Reacher arrives in Margrave, he is immediately arrested and brought to the local prison. This sterile building is actually Kingston Penitentiary in Kingston, and though you may be thinking this isn’t a Reacher filming location you want to visit, you can!
The prison is no longer in use today and it’s instead part of Canada’s Penitentiary Museum, where you can learn more about prison life and the judiciary system, as well as ask former guards about their experience. It’s definitely a unique attraction, but why not?
3. Dundas Street, Toronto
Speaking of Jack’s infamous arrest, the scene happens right in front of Lakeview Restaurant on Dundas Street smack in the middle of Toronto. This diner actually appears in a few scenes of the show, namely one set in Memphis… The showrunners clearly had a soft spot for this place, and who wouldn’t? That pie Jack tucked into looked delicious!
Lakeview Restaurant is a Toronto institution and a hidden gem when it comes to Canadian food tours – if you’re ever in the area you should 100% stop by and check it out. The rest of Dundas Street gives way to many other coffee shops and local stores, so you can make it a fun day trip while visiting this Reacher filming location.
4. Maple Leaf Motel, Scarborough
Yeah, this show is all about brute force and displays of muscle and violence, but everyone needs a little love in their life, even mercenaries like Jack. Fans of Reacher x Roscoe will be very familiar with this filming location as the will-they-won’t-they couple dance here to the dulcet tones of the “legendary Patsy Cline”.
You can easily spot Maple Leaf Motel as you’re driving through the Ontario town of Scarborough. It’s quite an affordable accommodation option as well, so why not book a room and create a little romance of your own?
5. Stratford Suburban Motel
Enough of the lovey-dovey stuff, back to the brutal deliverance of justice: when Jack takes it upon himself to deal with three runaway miscreants with his fists, this all takes place in the dimly lit parking lot of the Stratford Suburban Motel. Don’t worry though, if you’re stopping through here the motel is actually quite lovely and serene. You won’t run into any trouble (unless you’re intentionally seeking it out, I guess).
The real motel is actually surrounded by lush green gardens and it’s just 10 minutes away from the beautiful Queens Park where you can catch the local Shakespeare Festival or just have a chilled day.
6. Port Perry
Two scenes of significance happen in the little town of Port Perry. One is fueled by romance between Reacher and Roscoe outside the latter’s apartment, and the other is the result of Reacher defending Roscoe’s honour in a nearby diner. So, all in all, Port Perry seems to be quite the romantic Reacher filming location.
The exterior of Roscoe’s apartment is actually Perry Street and Queen Street, which both feature plenty of charming pubs and shops, and carve their way through Port Perry. You’ll find both chains and independents, so no matter what mood you’re in there’s something for you here.
The fight scene between Jack and KJ happens at the Piano Inn Cafe which is on Queen Street as well, so you’re getting two Reacher filming locations in one! Port Perry is a quaint Canadian town which gives off the perfect vibes for a fictional town like Margrave – props to your Prime Video, you chose your locations well!
Season 2
After the raving success of the first season, Reacher was swiftly renewed for a second, and this time we see Jack fight his way through New York City as well as Arkansas. There is also, of course, a return to Margrave, where all this misfortune began. A few of the previous filming locations were used again, but some new destinations were added to give the backdrop of Jack’s ruthless fights a fresh coat of paint.
Ontario
The cast and crew made a return to Toronto in Ontario as their base of filming – if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, hey? Though additional towns were added such as Hamilton and Brampton.
Image source:Contiki
1. Brampton
As part of the Greater-Toronto Area, Brampton is a popular city for those who are travelling through Canada and want a different city-scene. Exact locations around the city remain undisclosed, but avid fans of the show are welcome to roam between the skyscrapers in search for recognisable Reacher filming locations.
Filled with art galleries, museums, and conservation areas, Brampton is a unique destination in Canada and one many people may overlook in favour of Toronto – so why not be the first of your friend group to set foot here and uncover the hidden gems?
2. Hamilton
Alan Ritchson himself confirmed that filming took place in Hamilton which is a charming city in Canada. This port city is a little more lowkey that Toronto or Brampton, so perfect for those who want to chase stardom but are also looking for a little serenity. Hamilton is dotted with many conservation areas as well, and we highly recommend you book a visit in the Autumn as you’ll get the most brilliant display of reds, oranges, and golds. Is there anything better than fall foliage in Canada? No, we don’t think so.
There are many nature trails which you can take on for a leisurely hike, or you can visit the naval warship museum and warplane heritage museum if you’re a history buff. If we had to guess, we’d say the Reacher filming locations are around here somewhere, taking advantage of all this artillery…
Image source:Andre Portolesi / unsplash
3. Cayuga
Cayuga is a very small community in Ontario’s Haldimand County, and though it’s not as large or shiny as the previous city entries, Cayuga can hold its own! Various locations around the town were used as Reacher filming locations, such as the clothing store The Thrifty Dresser, as well as street views just outside Village Green – an idyllic local park.
Cayuga itself is most known for auto racing, so who knows, maybe this came into play as well?
Season 3
Season 3 of the action-packed show has been confirmed as fans just can’t seem to get enough of Jack’s escapades! Shooting still hasn’t started, and very little is known about the upcoming production, including details about chosen locations. We can only guess that Ontario will make a return!
