10. The Break Up
The opening scene was in the mecca of Chicago: Wrigley Field. Vince Vaughn worked as a double decker tour bus guide–how many times have you seen these buses driving up Michigan Avenue? And we can’t forget about their apartment–located right in the West Loop (I’ve seen it–located across from Harpo Studios).
9. Rookie of the Year
One of Chicago’s great sports movies. I’ve been a huge fan of this movie, and would have loved to see the filming–lots of it in Wrigley Field.
8. Wayne’s World
Also, not filmed primarily in Chicago. But based in Auroura. Close enough, right? And many of the buildings in Wayne’s World are located in Chicago–there’s one located right up on Waveland and Pinegrove.
7. The Untouchables
Ahh, the gritty underworld of classic Chicago crime. Filmed quite a bit in the city limit, you can discern many classic Chicago landmarks in this movie.
6. Brian’s Song
So maybe alot of this movie wasn’t actually filmed in Chicago, but the premise lies within the Windy City. Da Bears.
5.The Weatherman
Another great movie you probably haven’t seen yet. Based in Chicago, Nicolas Cage plays a downtrodden weatherman in the Windy City. Nothing goes his way, but he’s become a big fan of archery after taking lessons in Joliet. Most of the movie is filmed either in the city or the suburbs, but he does end up in New York at the end.
4. Road to Perdition
I don’t think this movie gets alot of credit for being filmed in Chicago, but alot of it was filmed both in the city limits and in the suburbs. You might not have seen this one, but a great Tom Hanks flick–and he’s the bad guy too. Check it out.
3. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off exemplifies what most of us here in Chicago would want to do when we play hookie—check out a Cub’s game, the Art Institute, and the Sear’s Tower.
Now that I think about it—I probably won’t be in to work on Friday. . .
2. The Dark Knight and Batman Begins
We had to include both these movies in the #2 spot—only to leave room on the rest of the list. They could have been featured in their own rights, but then we would have had to leave Road to Perdition off the list. We wouldn’t want that, now would we?
The Lower Wacker scenes in both movies are just phenomenal. Pretty amazing that the City would allow this filming to take place—but the ends certainly justify the means. My favorite scene (the one where the Joker is hanging out of the police car) was filmed on South LaSalle—along with the rest of Batman and Joker’s big fight scene. You can see the map of other filming locations on the RedEye website.
Number 1: Blues Brothers
The Blues Brothers might be the ultimate Chicago based movie ever made. Not only does it focus on blues (Chicago’s music), but it’s also filmed all throughout the Chicagoland area. You can watch Travis Bell’s tour of the many landmarks featured in Blues Brothers by checking out his website.
What are some of your favorite movies filmed in Chicago? Let us know by commenting below.
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Damn good call on The Weatherman. I distinctly remember frequent shots of the lake during gloomy winter days with broken ice chunks floating between the beaches and break walls. That just struck me.
Another thing, I may be showing my age, but how can you forget about About Last Night? It had Jim Belushi before he sold out…Rob Lowe before he started filming himself in compromising positions…Demi Moore before she started working out. Plus it featured 16″ softball. I think it’s based on a play by a Chicagoan. Please amend this list when you get a chance and get rid of The Break Up. Thanks, I appreciate it.
I actually can honestly say that I was present for filming of ‘Rookie of the Year’ as a child. And while it makes for a great story, all I remember from it was that it was frigidly cold. Like most of my Chicago memories. P.S. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off should be 2nd on your list, with all due respect to Batman.
HOW COULD YA’LL FORGET THE MATRIX??!??!?
>>Subtle nods were included to Chicago, Illinois, the home city of the directors, through a subtly placed picture of the Chicago skyline, city maps, the destination of the subway train during the subway station fight between Neo and Agent Smith saying “Loop” and place names like the Adams Street Bridge, Wells and Lake, Franklin and Erie, State and Balbo, and Wabash and Lake.
YA’LL SO CRAZY FOR LEAVIN IT OUT!!! AINT HALF THESE MOVIES AS GOOD AS THE MATRIX! DAT NIGGA NEO IS THA ONE! BULLET TIME? REVOLUTIONARY!!! YALL NIGGAS IS WACK!
Gentlemen, let me just say that I’m a little hurt I wasn’t informed about this wonderful piece of Chicago lore! Nonetheless I found it and daddy likey! I will say that a list of the top 10 movies filmed in the Chicagoland area needs to include Breakfast Club. Just as Bender so eloquently put it “I’m workin’ on my scholarship!” Keep up the good work gents!
THE FUGITIVE!?!
How did you forgot to mention The Fugitive with Harrison Ford? Not only is most of this movie premised with the fact that Harrison Ford’s character is a doctor at Cook County Hospital, there are numerous scenes that are obviously filmed in the city limits of Chicago, and one scene especially, where the Chicago River is dyed green due to St. Patrick’s Day.