The film "Watchmen" was filmed in Vancouver, Canada.

Filming Locations:

White House

In the Movie

Scene where Dr. Manhattan meets Kennedy in a flashback during the opening credits. Shot in front of a green screen, so all you see is grass on a field.

In Reality

Bank

In the Movie

Scene where Flashback to a bank robbery shown during the opening credits.

In Reality

The scene was shot at An Art Deco skyscraper built in 1930, which at the time of opening was the tallest building in the British Empire. The building is a Vancouver heritage site.

Mansion on TV

In the Movie

Scene where At the beginning of the film, the Comedian watches a show on TV.

In Reality

The scene was shot at A Beaux Arts mansion built in 1925 for sugar baron B.T. Rogers. In 1974, several apartments were added to the mansion. The mansion is a Vancouver heritage building.

New York Streets

In the Movie

Scene where This backlot was built to replace New York.

In Reality

The scene was shot at Originally built for the filming of "Watchmen" in 2008, this backlot has since been used by numerous film crews when a controlled street is needed.

Military Base

In the Movie

Scene where The base where Dr. Manhattan reappears after the accident.

In Reality

The scene was shot at This building opened in 1934 as a treatment center for World War I veterans. It included a main building and a separate dining block for veterans. The main building was expanded in 1945 and reopened in 1949 as the Crease Clinic of Psychological Medicine, a center for short-term psychological treatment. The building is now used almost exclusively for film shoots.

Protest "Flower Power"

In the Movie

Scene where Flashback of a young woman inserting a flower into a gun barrel, from the opening credits.

In Reality

The scene was shot at The East Lawn building, opened in 1930, which housed the chronic women's ward, is the largest building in Riverview. The building was designed to accommodate 675 patients, but by the 1950s it housed over 1,400 people. The building closed in 2005 and has since been used for film shoots.

Andy Warhol's Party

In the Movie

Scene where Flashback to a Christmas party at Andy Warhol's Factory in 1975 from the opening credits.

In Reality

Mason's House

In the Movie

Scene where The home of retired superhero Hollis Mason, visited by Dan Dreiberg.

In Reality

Times Square (Digital Reconstruction)

In the Movie

Scene where Digital Times Square appears twice — first during the devastating attack on New York, and earlier in a scene recreating the famous V-J Day moment when a jubilant sailor grabbed a passing nurse for a celebratory kiss after the end of World War II, echoing one of the most famous photographs of the 20th century.

In Reality

The scene was shot at the famous intersection of Broadway and Seventh Avenue in Midtown Manhattan, one of the world's most recognizable intersections. Known for its huge illuminated billboards and dense pedestrian traffic, it serves as a cultural landmark and major commercial hub. In the film, it was recreated digitally, not filmed on location.

Vancouver Film Studios

In the Movie

Scene where Most of the main scenes were filmed here, extensively using blue screen technology to add digital backgrounds of New York and other locations in post-production, creating an alternate dystopian version of America in 1985 without the need for on-location shooting in New York.

In Reality

The scene was shot at a major film studio in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It is one of the largest studio complexes in the region, where many Hollywood blockbusters have been filmed. The studio offers extensive sound stages and production support services, making it a popular choice for large-scale projects requiring controlled environments and blue screen work.