# Greatest Chicago-based movies of all time **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 7, 2008, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-chicago-based-movies-of-all-time/436685 "2008-02-07T16:35:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Frostillicus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Frostillicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frostillicus)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2008, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-chicago-based-movies-of-all-time/436685/41 "2008-02-08T03:47:44Z")
1. Ferris Bueller 2. About Last Night 3. Adventures in Babysitting ---
**Author:** ![anamnesis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb8c5e/32.png) [@anamnesis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anamnesis)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2008, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-chicago-based-movies-of-all-time/436685/42 "2008-02-08T04:01:23Z")
So uh, is anyone capable of naming a film that hasn’t already been mentioned at least 20 times? Home Alone Glengarry Glen Ross Road To Perdition My Big Fat Greek Wedding What Women Want When Harry Met Sally Child’s Play Ordinary People (I also personally think that this summer’s “The Dark Knight” will be a fantastic new cornerstone in Chicago’s cinematic portfolio. The location shooting of the first film was a treat, and based on what’s been seen in the footage for the sequel thus far, it looks like the streets of LaSalle, Wacker, and Monroe feature prominently, and beautifully, in several scenes.) And those are just off the top of my head. Nobody has mentioned any of them, yet The Fugitive, The Blues Brothers, and Ferris Bueller have probably been mentioned over two dozen times. :rolleyes: I gather most of you folks aren’t from Chicago … ---
**Author:** ![eenerms](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/cdc98d/32.png) [@eenerms](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eenerms)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2008, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-chicago-based-movies-of-all-time/436685/43 "2008-02-08T04:08:51Z")
\*\*\*Planes, Trains and Automobiles \*\* \* ends in Chicago. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2008, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-chicago-based-movies-of-all-time/436685/44 "2008-02-08T04:19:59Z")
_Henry, Portrait of a Serial Killer Eight Men Out Men Don’t Leave Call Northside 777 Mad Dog and Glory Candyman The Blues Brothers The Fugitive Hudsucker Proxy Lucas The Color of Money Things Change My Bodyguard Silver Streak Hero JoJo Dancer About Last Night Wayne’s World_ Then there’s the less-good movies with great Chicago locations: \*Backdraft Ordinary People Home Alone Flatliners My Best Friend’s Wedding VI Warshawski Prelude to a Kiss Straight Talk Hoffa Chain Reaction Love Jones Blink \* Sorry, all I can think of for now. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2008, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-chicago-based-movies-of-all-time/436685/45 "2008-02-08T04:23:14Z")
[QUOTE=Happy Lendervedder] Here’s mine: 1. The Blues Brothers 2. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off 3. The Untouchables [/QUOTE] I read the title and I immediately thought of these three in this order. So “Me Too”. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2008, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-chicago-based-movies-of-all-time/436685/46 "2008-02-08T04:33:59Z")
Has anyone mentioned [Primal Fear](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0117381/), which introduced us to **Edward Norton**? ---
**Author:** ![Lisa-go-Blind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Lisa-go-Blind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lisa-go-Blind)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2008, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-chicago-based-movies-of-all-time/436685/47 "2008-02-08T04:49:23Z")
[QUOTE=anamnesis] So uh, is anyone capable of naming a film that hasn’t already been mentioned at least 20 times? [/QUOTE] That’s because the OP asked us to give our top 3 list, not just name movies set in Chicago. My list: 1. High Fidelity (the first movie that popped into my mind when I saw the thread title) 2. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off 3. National Lampoon’s Vacation (if it counts) Two other movies not yet mentioned: _The Lake House_ and _Mean Girls_. ---
**Author:** ![Millit\_the\_Frail](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/51bf81/32.png) [@Millit\_the\_Frail](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Millit_the_Frail)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2008, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-chicago-based-movies-of-all-time/436685/48 "2008-02-08T04:57:09Z")
I live within a stone’s throw of [Essanay](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Essanay_Studios), so I’d be remiss for not mentioning that some silent films should probably make the list. Unfortunately, I have no idea what those would be. Maybe someone more educated than me could nominate something. My personal favorites (though not necessarily the best movies): **Chicago** (Which was VERY well done for a movie musical. Moulin Rouge wishes it were this good.) **Ferris Bueller’s Day Off** (The question is: What _aren’t_ we going to do?) **Adventures in Babysitting** (It has a special place in my heart. I have a complete fetish for “one special night that changed my life” movies. Although I have to say, the most attractive girl at the University of Chicago is NOT in high school.) ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2008, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-chicago-based-movies-of-all-time/436685/49 "2008-02-08T22:16:30Z")
[QUOTE=Happy Lendervedder] Actually, that would be **Wicker Park**. [/QUOTE] I never saw it, but if an obsessed stalker is the hero, I’ll give you second place. _NOTHING_ will dethrone _The Fury_. I loved _Primal Fear_. I’d read the book, so nothing surprised me [a Bad Thing for a thriller], and I still loved the movie. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Scrivener](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@The\_Scrivener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Scrivener)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2008, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-chicago-based-movies-of-all-time/436685/50 "2008-02-09T00:48:54Z")
You guys left out a big one. [Some Like It Hot](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Some_Like_It_Hot) opens in Chicago… but nobody’s perfect. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2008, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-chicago-based-movies-of-all-time/436685/51 "2008-02-09T05:43:58Z")
My favorite movie that takes place in Chicago is the TV-movie-pilot for _Due South_, the story of a Royal Canadian Mounted Policeman traveling to Chicago on the trail of the hitman who murdered his father, and a Chicago PD detective who gets assigned the case. Combines a fairly serious story, solid acting, and just the right touch of fish-out-of-water comedy. ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2008, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-chicago-based-movies-of-all-time/436685/52 "2008-02-09T06:36:45Z")
Two of my three haven’t already been named: _The Sting While You Were Sleeping The Package_ ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2008, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-chicago-based-movies-of-all-time/436685/53 "2008-02-09T21:23:01Z")
Anime time! Gunsmith Cats / Riding Bean. The geography in them is better than most actual movies. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Scrivener](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@The\_Scrivener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Scrivener)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2008, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-chicago-based-movies-of-all-time/436685/54 "2008-02-09T22:32:09Z")
**The Public Enemy** is also set in Chicago. ---
**Author:** ![Southern\_Yankee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/southern_yankee/32/2800_2.png) [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2008, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-chicago-based-movies-of-all-time/436685/55 "2008-02-10T00:58:18Z")
It’s been mentioned, and there are a lot of other good choices, but the winner is without a doubt: _The Untouchables_ “That’s the Chicago way…” ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2008, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-chicago-based-movies-of-all-time/436685/56 "2008-02-10T01:10:25Z")
Just thought of another good Chicago comedy, not in my top 3, but worth mentioning: [Barbershop](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0303714/) ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2008, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-chicago-based-movies-of-all-time/436685/57 "2008-02-10T03:11:29Z")
[QUOTE=Raguleader] My favorite movie that takes place in Chicago is the TV-movie-pilot for _Due South_, the story of a Royal Canadian Mounted Policeman traveling to Chicago on the trail of the hitman who murdered his father, and a Chicago PD detective who gets assigned the case. Combines a fairly serious story, solid acting, and just the right touch of fish-out-of-water comedy. [/QUOTE] _pines for **Due South** _ Man I loved that show. Another short-lived but wonderful Chicago TV show was **Cupid**. _pines for Cupid too_ (ooh, edit because I just found a clip of [Cupid](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skH6xYVfhPc) on YouTube!) _off to look for more Cupid clips_ ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2008, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-chicago-based-movies-of-all-time/436685/58 "2008-02-10T03:17:35Z")
[QUOTE=Equipoise] _off to look for more Cupid clips_ [/QUOTE] Well, I found the [first 10 minutes](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpWmLlNsjQU) of the Cupid pilot! ---
**Author:** ![raindog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@raindog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raindog)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2008, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-chicago-based-movies-of-all-time/436685/59 "2008-02-10T03:22:22Z")
[QUOTE=lissener] _Henry, Portrait of a Serial Killer Eight Men Out Men Don’t Leave Call Northside 777 Mad Dog and Glory Candyman The Blues Brothers The Fugitive Hudsucker Proxy Lucas The Color of Money Things Change My Bodyguard Silver Streak Hero JoJo Dancer About Last Night Wayne’s World_ Then there’s the less-good movies with great Chicago locations: \*Backdraft **Ordinary People** Home Alone Flatliners My Best Friend’s Wedding VI Warshawski Prelude to a Kiss Straight Talk Hoffa Chain Reaction Love Jones Blink \* Sorry, all I can think of for now. [/QUOTE] - Less good?\* **Ordinary People** was _fantastic_ movie, and iirc, won best picture. ---
**Author:** ![raindog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@raindog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raindog)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2008, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-chicago-based-movies-of-all-time/436685/60 "2008-02-10T03:23:33Z")
[QUOTE=Johnny Angel] Forgive my provincialism, but I’ve got to put in a vote for [Code of Silence](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088936/), since a good chunk of it was filmed in my neighborhood. [Thief](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083190/) also had some Uptown scenes, including one in which the Green Mill blew up. When I saw that in the ad as a kid I ran out to see and was puzzled to find the joint still standing. You also got a glimpse of Uptown in [Next of Kin](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097967/), though it quickly cuts away to hill country. [My Bodyguard](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0081207/) had a number of familiar locations, and if I recall right it was filmed at Lakeview High School. [Bad Boys](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0085210/) featured streets in my neighborhood. [/QUOTE] I was a bartender at the Green Mill then. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-chicago-based-movies-of-all-time/436685.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-chicago-based-movies-of-all-time/436685.md?page=4)