Newfoundlanders have charmed their way into the hearts of Hollywood A-Listers, one screech-in ceremony at a time.
Driving the news: Below, a new Netflix miniseries set in Newfoundland, hits the streaming platform next month — the latest Hollywood production to set up shop in The Rock. Residents in St. John’s, who played host to the cast and crew for months, were already treated to a special screening last week.
Below’s shoot helped Newfoundland’s film and television industry to a banner year, with total spending across productions hitting $150 million in 2025.
Catch-up: Newfoundland has recently served as the rugged backdrop for hit shows like Severance and Reacher as well as a handful of big-budget movies, including Peter Pan & Wendy, and Aquaman.
As in Toronto and Vancouver, The Rock’s film boom has been driven largely by a weaker Canadian dollar and a generous tax credit that refunds a big chunk of what productions spend in the province.
Why it matters: Big film and television productions come with a lot of spending cash that has a real economic impact, especially in smaller communities. Directors will not only hire local film crews, they’ll often tap nearby businesses — from restaurants to carpenters — to help make movie magic come to life.
While there are about 800 people working directly in Newfoundland's film industry, productions last year supported over 2,500 full-time jobs, according to the province.
Zoom out: Being featured on the silver screen can also be a major tourism draw. Almost 80% of travellers are likely or very likely to take a trip to a destination that’s featured in a movie or TV show they like. The host locations of the first two White Lotus seasons, Hawaii and Sicily, saw a 300% increase in travel demand thanks to the show.—LA
