When you look at the list of movies filmed in Vancouver, it is definitely a case of quantity over quality. IMDb lists over 1800 productions that have spread their cables and posted their little neon arrows all over the Terminal City. But a lot of these are dreadful TV movies like "Mother, May I Sleep With Danger?" or straight-to-video clunkers involving basketball playing monkeys.

Suffice to say, you've got a lot of entertainment detritus to sift through to find truly good movies filmed here. And we've done just that and present the five best Movies Filmed in Vancouver, at least according to us (whatever that's worth.)

The Butterfly Effect
2004
Ashton Kutcher, Melora Walters

A lot of people were scared away from this movie by Kutcher's Punk'd persona. That's a shame, because he is surprisingly good in this equally surprising horror/thriller flick. It tells the story of a man struggling with repressed memories, until he figures out a way to relive them. This, of course, has bizarre, quantum side effects - namely altering reality as we know it.

Blessed with fantastic, expensive-looking visuals and a great plot that keeps you guessing until the end, too many people missed this when it first came out. But now, thanks to the miracle of home video, you can kinda go back in time and remedy this.

Vancouver Moment:
Everyone's favourite Gastown Irish dive, The Blarney Stone, is given a bit of spit and polish and makes its big screen debut.

Best in Show
2000
Christopher Guest, Eugene Levy

The same team that brought us This is Spinal Tap reunites in this side-splitting mockumentary on the highly competitive (and evidently highly bizarre) world of dog shows.

The film follows the trials and tribulations of an eclectic cross section of dog owners as they travel to an important show, including an obscenely neurotic Yuppie couple, a simple backcountry redneck and a tragic husband and wife team played to perfection by Levy and fellow SCTV alum Catherine O'Hara.

The same formula of smart writing and uproarious improv that worked in Spinal Tap works again here. Very well. As in your cheeks will hurt the next day from laughing.

Vancouver Moment:
The venerable ol' Coliseum (no stranger to canines from its duties as host venue for Superdogs) gets a lot of screen time as the setting for the final competition.

I, Robot
2004
Will Smith, Bridget Moynahan

One of the most high profile movies to be filmed in and around the Lower Mainland, and one of the most expensive, too (a GDP-sounding $120 million). Based on the writing of Isaac Asimov, I, Robot is set in 2035, when robots have become commonplace and perform many menial tasks for their human masters. But when one of the automatons is accused of murder, things get really interesting.

Stellar special effects and Will Smith's screen presence are enough to elevate what could have been a disappointing effort into a highly entertaining sci-fi adventure. Film school snobs might disagree, but who asked them anyways?

Vancouver Moment:
Look for an extended scene in the Cassiar Connector. Thanks to the magic of editing and special effects, it actually appears to be miles long, clean and almost pigeon free.

The Accused
1988
Jodie Foster, Kelly McGilllis

Vancouver's dark, moody winter weather was a good fit for this disturbing film based on a real-life case in Massachusetts. A young woman is raped in a bar and must then go through another horrific ordeal trying to bring the men responsible to justice.

Foster's performance garnered her an Oscar - for Best Actress in a Leading Role in 1989, and its easy to see why. It is an important movie that shines light on one of our justice system's greatest shortcomings.

Vancouver Moment:
The "courthouse" in which the trial is held is actually the Vancouver Art Gallery.

X-2
2003
Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart

Rarely are sequels better than the originals. But when the studio big wigs decided to beef up the budget move production to Vancouver (the first was filmed in Toronto), this sequel to X-Men (2000) is a far superior effort. (Maybe it's the lack of smog?)

This time around, an evil human has built a weapon that can harness Professor X's powers and use them to eradicate all mutants off the face of the planet. Seems a bit harsh, no? Well, the X-men seem to agree, as they band together to stop him.

X-2 perfectly balances memorable action scenes with character development. It isn't just one of the best action movies filmed in Vancouver, it's one of the best filmed anywhere. With $241 million in box office receipts, apparently a lot of other people agree.

Vancouver Moment:
The beautiful St. Andrew's-Wesley Church on Nelson St. is almost unrecognizable as Nightcrawler's decrepit lair.