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Nov 16, 2018 · Lots of movies are set in Chicago, but which ones are the best, the ones that stand the test of time? We take a look at the best Chicago movies of all time to find out. From Ferris Bueller to...
- Brian Tallerico
- Contributor
- The Blues Brothers (1980) From its depiction of the bustling, late ’70s Maxwell Street flea market to a climactic chase sequence that winds through Lower Wacker Drive to Daley Plaza, The Blues Brothers is a loving homage to John Belushi’s hometown.
- High Fidelity (2000) John Cusack transferred the action of Nick Hornby's novel, about a man-child record store owner whose rock-snob music knowledge is no help in saving his failing relationship, from London to Chicago.
- Cooley High (1975) Often described as a "black American Graffiti," Cooley High looked back with nostalgia on the early ’60s at the real-life Old Town high school that was largely fed by the Cabrini-Green housing project.
- Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986) Ferris Bueller is up to no good in this ’80s John Hughes classic, in which the high school senior plays hooky and gets into all kinds of trouble with friends as they run around downtown Chicago, including stopping for a little tour of the Art Institute of Chicago, catching a Cubs game and riding center stage in a downtown parade.
- The Blues Brothers (1980) Directed by John Landis. Starring John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, Cab Calloway. Action, Adventure, Comedy (2h 13m) 7.9 on IMDb — 72% on RT.
- The Fugitive (1993) Directed by Andrew Davis. Starring Harrison Ford, Tommy Lee Jones, Sela Ward. Action, Crime, Drama (2h 10m) 7.8 on IMDb — 96% on RT. In a thriller about a citywide manhunt, the city itself needs to be one that adds pressure on the lead and leaves a lasting impression.
- High Fidelity (2000) Directed by Stephen Frears. Starring John Cusack, Iben Hjejle, Todd Louiso. Comedy, Drama, Music (1h 53m) 7.4 on IMDb — 91% on RT. Speaking of fourth wall-breaking rebels, High Fidelity might seem like a pretentious opinion piece about music on the surface.
- Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986) Directed by John Hughes. Starring Matthew Broderick, Alan Ruck, Mia Sara. Comedy (1h 43m) 7.8 on IMDb — 81% on RT. Without a doubt, Ferris Bueller's Day Off is chief among John Hughes's films set in Chicago.
- The Blues Brothers. John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, James Brown. 78 votes. A classic comedy-musical, The Blues Brothers masterfully captures the essence of Chicago's vibrant music scene and city atmosphere.
- The Fugitive. Harrison Ford, Tommy Lee Jones, Sela Ward. 57 votes. Harrison Ford stars in The Fugitive, a thrilling action film that skillfully transforms the streets of Chicago into a high-stakes cat-and-mouse game.
- Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. Matthew Broderick, Alan Ruck, Mia Sara. 81 votes. In Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Matthew Broderick embodies the rebellious spirit of Chicago as he plays hooky from school and leads his friends on a whirlwind adventure through the city.
- The Untouchables. Kevin Costner, Sean Connery, Robert De Niro. 50 votes. Set during the Prohibition Era, The Untouchables chronicles the battle between federal agent Eliot Ness and notorious mobster Al Capone.
- 'Adventures in Babysitting'
- 'The Blues Brothers'
- 'Candyman'
- 'The Dark Knight'
- 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off'
- 'The Fugitive'
- 'High Fidelity'
- 'Thief'
- 'The Untouchables'
- 'Widows'
Between a flaky boyfriend and an unwanted babysitting gig, Chris (Elisabeth Shue) can’t seem to catch a break. However, Chris’ day gets a lot worse when her best friend calls in a desperate favor. Left with no choice but to drive into town with three kids, she faces one hilarious setback after another. A flat on the Dan Ryan Expressway culminates i...
After he’s released from prison, Jake (John Belushi) teams with his brother Elwood (Dan Aykroyd) to save their childhood orphanage. While trying to organize a blues concert and raise $5,000, the brothers clash with police, neo-Nazis, and rival bands. RELATED: Musicals For People Who Hate Musicals The Blues Brothers is Chicago’s quintessential film ...
Several horror movies have been set in The Windy City, but none with as much purpose as Candyman. The town’s racial history and the Cabrini-Green residences are integral to the film’s folklore. Produced by Jordan Peele and directed by Nia DaCosta, this sequel to the 1992 classic is a fuller realization of the original’s ambitions. Its memorable ope...
A film that needs no introduction, The Dark Knight has garnered Christopher Nolan endless praise for his refashioning of Chicago into Gotham City. The second entry in his Batman trilogy has been compared to Michael Mann’s LA-set Heat in no small part due to its extensive use of locale. The truck chase was partly shot on Lower Wacker Drive, and the ...
Every kid who’s played hooky since 1986 has tried to recreate the adventure Ferris Bueller (Matthew Broderick) takes to the Second City with his girlfriend (Mia Sara) and best bud (Alan Ruck) in this classic teen comedy from John Hughes. The trio’s odyssey, with stops at the observatory on the 103rd floor of Willis Tower and the Art Institute, has ...
Sentenced to Illinois State Penitentiary for his wife’s murder, Dr. Richard Kimble (Harrison Ford) gets a final chance to prove his innocence after a prison trip goes awry. He is pursued throughout Chicago by tenacious U.S. Marshal Samuel Gerard (Tommy Lee Jones). Kimble’s subterranean quest for vindication inhabits the city’s every dimension. Abov...
The Blues Brothers may be the “official” movie about Chi-town's music scene, but all the cool kids know the real jam is this irreverent, freewheeling hangout comedy that plays like the Chicago-set brainchild of Woody Allen and Cameron Crowe. High Fidelity even has a bit of fellow Chicagoan classic Ferris Bueller’s Day Off in its DNA. Aside from sup...
Michael Mann has always possessed a talent for incorporating setting into his narratives. The most obvious example is 1995’s Heat, but his directorial debut Thief, in which screen legend James Caanplays a car salesman who moonlights as a diamond burglar, proved at the outset of Mann’s career that he is a master of urban storytelling. Of the filmmak...
Any list of essential Chicago stories is obligated to make some mention of Al Capone. It isn’t hard, either: Capone has been played by several dozen actors. Nevertheless, Robert De Niro’s portrayal of the legendary gangster in Brian De Palma’s The Untouchables remains the popular favorite. Set during the 1920s, the film follows the efforts of Ellio...
It's going to be a long time before a film or series reinvents a city the way this sprawling urban thriller does. Widows, directed by Steve McQueen and written by Gone Girl author Gillian Flynn,is a masterclass in using setting to enhance storytelling. Viola Davisleads a stellar cast in this crime drama about four women who find themselves trapped ...
Are there as many memorable films in Chicago as in New York or Los Angeles? Maybe not, but maybe. Let’s delve into the 25 best movies at least partially set in Chicago to figure that out.
Nov 27, 2016 · With that sawbuck folded into your palm every time you shake a cop’s hand spirit in mind, here are the 25 most Chicago movies to ever come bubbling up from the depths of Lake Michigan and get fished out of the smelt frosted chop.
