Going all the way back to the early 1970s, the Sunshine Coast has quietly had a meaningful role in film and television production in BC. It’s easy to forget just how much screen history lives in this coastal region until you start looking for it. Some productions proudly showcased Gibsons as itself, while others transformed our streets, beaches, and buildings into somewhere entirely different. Either way, the camera has been rolling here for decades.
CBC’s The Beachcombers
If there’s a single icon of Canadian television, it’d be The Beachcombers. The show ran from 1972 to 1990 on the CBC and, in many ways, it helped put Gibsons on the map. It wasn’t just filmed in Gibsons: it was about Gibsons. It created jobs locally for years and continues to draw visitors even decades after the final episode aired.
What’s especially meaningful about The Beachcombers is how sincere it was. Looking back, it was surprisingly progressive for its time, portraying partnership and inclusion long before those themes were common on television. Today, Molly’s Reach (now the Black Bean Café) remains one of the most photographed spots on the Sunshine Coast, and probably in BC. On any given day, you’ll see visitors smiling and posing for photos outside the legendary restaurant. The show’s legacy still resonates with people of all ages.
Murder in a Small Town
Fast forward to today and Gibsons has taken on a very different role in the television series Murder in a Small Town. While the show is set in a fictional version of the Sunshine Coast that exists in Washington State, it’s all filmed right here on the Sunshine Coast. Libraries, streets, familiar buildings, and even Molly’s Reach make regular appearances.
Locals have fun watching episodes and trying to identify which real-world locations have been transformed into police stations, jails, or crime scenes. It’s a modern contrast to the wholesome tone of The Beachcombers, but just as engaging in its own way. The series has already filmed two seasons and is preparing to return to shoot a third.
Hallmark Movies
For several years, Gibsons became a regular backdrop for Hallmark movies. These productions often portrayed the town as a charming small community somewhere on the U.S. East Coast or in Washington State. Gibsons never played itself but its cozy streets and seaside atmosphere were on full display. Locals even appeared as background extras, which adds another layer of fun when watching these films later.
The Amazing Race Canada
Reality television has also made its way through the region. The Amazing Race Canada passed through Sechelt, Roberts Creek, and Gibsons in 2024, briefly putting the Sunshine Coast on screens across the nation and showed off the beauty of the area from a fast-paced, competitive perspective.
Needful Things
Not every production painted Gibsons as a quaint seaside getaway. The 1993 adaptation of Stephen King’s Needful Things turned parts of town into a darker setting, even building a temporary church at Five Corners for a dramatic finale. While the tone was spooky, the film has become a fascinating time capsule. Watching it now reveals old buildings, former gas stations, and streetscapes that no longer exist. The movie offers a glimpse into what Gibsons looked like decades ago.
Lesser know projects
Those are the biggest or most well know movies and TV shows that were filmed here but there have been other projects that shot a single scene or an episode somewhere along the Sunshine Coast.
The Last Mimzy
The Last Mimzy used Roberts Creek Beach and the pier for several scenes, transforming the coastline into a fictional island getaway off the coast of Washington state. Roberts Creek pier is easily identifiable if you know what to watch for and while the cottage looks Sunshine Coast-y, we don’t know if it was shot here or someplace else.
Charlie St. Cloud
Starring Zac Efron, Kim Basinger, and Amanda Crew, Charlie St. Cloud filmed in Hopkins Landing and parts of Lower Gibsons to create its fictional Pacific Northwest town. Molly’s Reach makes another appearance, but with another name.
Death Do Us Part
Halfmoon Bay also appears in the 2014 horror film Death Do Us Part, though many viewers might not immediately recognize the locations unless they’re familiar with the area.
Langdale Mansion
One particularly interesting filming location is the mansion in Langdale. Its striking exterior has appeared briefly in The 100 and played a much larger role in an episode of Psych, where it convincingly doubled as a high-end psychiatric institute. It’s one of those places locals love pointing out when it pops up on screen.
Visiting famous locations
Even when productions don’t explicitly credit Gibsons or the Sunshine Coast, there’s something special about recognizing a familiar shoreline, restaurant, or building in a movie or series. It creates a connection between the screen and the real-world place you’re standing in.
Whether you’re a longtime fan of The Beachcombers, curious about modern productions like Murder in a Small Town, or simply enjoy spotting filming locations while exploring, the Sunshine Coast offers a unique blend of small-town charm and quiet cinematic history. The next time you’re walking the harbour, grabbing coffee at Molly’s Reach, or wandering through nearby communities, you might just be standing in a place that once played a role in someone’s favorite story.
Call Val
If you’ve been drawn to Gibsons by what you’ve seen on TV and you’re not already working with a REALTOR®, I’d love to show you the parts of the Sunshine Coast that don’t always get a close up!
Call or text Val: 604-399-8935
Email Val: info@vallabrecque.ca
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