Chicago is a highly recognizable city with a distinct personality on screen. These Chicago-set films feature everything from the famous downtown skyline and sprawling Lake Michigan to the “L”. Many of these movies don’t just happen to be set in Chicago; the city is a notable part of the story. Some of these movies visit the city’s biggest landmarks, while others show off the everyday neighborhoods. Here are eight movies that give audiences a glimpse of the Windy City.
1. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986)
This beloved ’80s classic might just be the ultimate Chicago movie, with Ferris and his friends spending their day playing tourist around the city. They visit the Art Institute of Chicago, go to a Cubs game at Wrigley Field, and take in the view from the observation deck of the Sears Tower, now known as Willis Tower. The famous parade scenes, in which Ferris commandeers a float and performs, were filmed around Dearborn Street in downtown Chicago. The movie manages to pack several famous Chicago attractions into the chaotic, fun, super ‘80s story.
2. While You Were Sleeping (1995)
While You Were Sleeping makes winter in Chicago feel dreamy and cozy. Sandra Bullock’s character Lucy works for the CTA at the Randolph/Wabash “L” station, a downtown station that has since been demolished. Plenty of scenes take place around downtown and along the Chicago River. We get to see the beautiful historic building known as Lake Point Tower. The high-rise near Navy Pier has some of the city’s best lakefront views. Snow-covered streets, elevated trains, old buildings, and cozy homes give the movie a warm Chicago feel.
3. The Blues Brothers (1980)
The Blues Brothers turns the city and its nearby suburbs into one giant playground for Jake and Elwood Blues. One of the best-known scenes was filmed on Lower Wacker Drive. The climactic chase shows the brothers downtown as they race to the Richard J. Daley Center. The movie also features Maxwell Street, where Aretha Franklin performs inside the fictional Soul Food Cafe. Neighborhoods on the city’s South Side also enter the picture, and even nearby suburbs get involved, including the famous car chase through the now-defunct Dixie Square Mall in Harvey.
4. The Fugitive (1993)
Chicago is the backdrop for the majority of this Harrison Ford action movie. The film makes good use of both famous landmarks and everyday streets. Dr. Richard Kimble takes audiences through City Hall, the Chicago Hilton and Towers on Michigan Avenue, and the Cook County Hospital complex. We even get to see the actual Chicago St. Patrick’s Day parade taking place downtown. Here, Kimble disappears into the crowds while being chased by U.S. Marshal Samuel Gerard. Chicago’s bridges, elevated train tracks, alleys, and distinct architecture give this thriller a gritty feel that fits the story well.
5. My Best Friend’s Wedding (1997)
Chicago looks particularly beautiful in My Best Friend’s Wedding, which takes advantage of the city’s waterfront, architecture, and upscale downtown locations. One of the most important scenes has Julia Roberts and Dermot Mulroney on an architectural tour boat. As they travel the Chicago River, they are surrounded by skyscrapers on both sides of the river. The movie also features the Drake Hotel on Michigan Avenue, while the wedding celebrations include the Fourth Presbyterian Church and the Union League Club of Chicago. Between the lakefront, historic buildings, and fancy hotels, the movie leans into a wealthy, polished, and romantic version of the city.
6. The Dark Knight (2008)
The Dark Knight’s Gotham City is fictional, but a whole lot of it looks suspiciously like Chicago. The exterior of the bank in the movie’s opening robbery was filmed at the Old Chicago Main Post Office. Later, Lower Wacker Drive is the setting for part of the movie’s big chase involving Batman, the Joker, and Harvey Dent. Other recognizable locations are LaSalle Street, the Chicago Board of Trade Building, and Navy Pier. Chicago’s canyon-like streets, tunnels, and towering skyscrapers helped create a Gotham that feels quite real.
7. Adventures in Babysitting (1987)
It starts as a regular night in the suburbs but quickly turns into a chaotic trip through downtown Chicago in Adventures in Babysitting. Chris and the kids hop from one location to the next. One of the movie’s well-remembered moments takes place high above downtown on the distinctive sloped roof of the building now known as the Crain Communications Building. The movie also takes advantage of the Michigan Avenue area and other recognizable downtown streets as their night gets more and more out of control. The Chicago setting is so important to the story, it would have been difficult to shoot this anywhere else without losing its charm.
8. High Fidelity (2000)
Instead of focusing on Chicago’s main tourist attractions, High Fidelity shows off the regular neighborhoods where people live, shop, drink, and hang out. Rob’s record store, Championship Vinyl, was created in a storefront on North Milwaukee Avenue in Wicker Park. This area was particularly associated with Chicago’s alternative music and nightlife scenes during this time. Other scenes take viewers into neighborhoods including Lincoln Park and Ukrainian Village, in addition to local bars, restaurants, apartments, and streets. This movie shows a more intimate version of Chicago that captures the city’s late-’90s and early-2000s culture.