The ballpark provided the backdrop for an early scene wherein Globe editors and reporters realize the possible extent of what they're about to uncover. Real-life Spotlight reporter Mike Renzendes can be seen a few rows behind the actors, including Mark Ruffalo, who plays Rezendes.

The cafe is used as a backdrop for a scene of a meeting between Rachel McAdams, who plays reporter Sacha Pfeiffer, and a victim-survivor. The actual South End Buttery did not open until 2005, while the depicted meeting took place in 2001.

The South End park served as a backdrop for another scene between Pfeiffer/McAdams and the victim-survivor.

The Pru, the Hancock, and the Boston skyline in general figure prominently in at least two shots. Such shots appear to have been carefully orchestrated, too, so they look very 2002 (e.g., before the current building boom).

The exterior of the high school is shown after a particularly portentous scene inside. (That scene was filmed in Toronto.)

The newsroom scenes in Spotlight were shot in a cleverly recreated set in Toronto. We say "cleverly" because, according to Slate, the filmmakers were careful to make sure that even the computer software was circa 2002 (for instance, WordPerfect 3.0 instead of the latest Microsoft Office). There were exterior shots of the Globe's actual Dorchester HQ, however.

The Old State House, and the area where Congress and State streets meet in general, figure in at least two shots, including one of Renzendes/Ruffalo jumping out of a cab.

We counted at least two street sweeps of Charlestown, including one down Eighth Street toward the mouth of the Charles.

There is a passing shot of Pfeiffer/McAdams poring over some documents while awaiting the Red Line.

Spotlight takes place in the olden days, when journalists commenced serious investigations not with a Google search but with a trip to an information repository--say, the Boston Public Library, the exterior of which features prominently as the Globe reporters start digging.