The DuSable Bridge has two levels: Michigan Avenue on top and a pedestrian walkway underneath. It's on the lower level that Eliot Ness (Kevin Costner) reflects on a tough day and meets agent Jim Malone (Sean Connery) for the first time in The Untouchables.
North Michigan Avenue // The Break-Up
In June 2005, North Michigan Avenue in Chicago was transformed into a film set for The Break-Up. A double-decker bus marked “Three Brothers Bus Tours” was parked across from the Wrigley Building, where Vince Vaughn played an energetic tour guide. "Are you ready to see Chicago?" Vaughn shouted to a bus full of extras, his enthusiasm captivating onlookers.
Michigan Avenue bridge // ER
The Michigan Avenue Bridge in Chicago served as a location for ER, the iconic medical drama that aired from 1994 to 2009. In the second episode of the first season, one scene features Dr. Mark Green (Anthony Edwards) and Dr. Doug Ross (George Clooney) deep in conversation on the bridge, showcasing the heart of downtown Chicago.
State & Lake Station // My Best Friend's Wedding
Chicago plays host to My Best Friend's Wedding, and crowds gather to watch how the cast and crew film all over Chicago. One of the locations is State & Lake Station, an 'L' station with two side platforms.
Chicago Theatre // Save the Last Dance
The Chicago Theatre makes a brief appearance in Save the Last Dance. In this scene, Derek (Sean Patrick Thomas) takes Sara (Julia Stiles) to the ballet, with the theater’s iconic exterior as the backdrop. The film follows Sara, an aspiring dancer, and Derek as they navigate love and cultural differences while preparing Sara for her Juilliard audition.
Millennium Park - The Cloud Gate // Source Code
In Source Code, the Cloud Gate—fondly known as "The Bean"—holds a key symbolic role. This iconic sculpture appears in Captain Colter Stevens' (Jake Gyllenhaal) fragmented visions as he relives eight crucial minutes to prevent a bombing.
Chicago Cultural Center // The Untouchables
The Chicago Cultural Center plays a pivotal role in The Untouchables, showcasing its stunning Grand Army of the Republic Rotunda. This historic location, with its Renaissance-style stained-glass dome and Knoxville Pink Marble walls, serves as the setting where Al Capone (Robert De Niro) proclaims his innocence to the press in a recreated opera house lobby. Director Brian De Palma’s dramatic low-angle shots highlight the breathtaking architecture, enhancing the tension and period authenticity.
City Hall Chicago // The Blues Brothers
Much of The Blues Brothers was shot on location in and around Chicago between July and October 1979. Made with the cooperation of Mayor Jane M. Byrne, it is credited for putting Chicago on the map as a venue for filmmaking. The Chicago City Hall was used for the scene when Jake (John Belushi) and Elwood (Dan Aykroyd) crash their car against the building and see how it falls apart.
City Hall Chicago // The Fugitive
In The Fugitive, Dr. Richard Kimble (Harrison Ford), wrongly accused of his wife's murder, is on the run while pursued by U.S. Marshal Samuel Gerard (Tommy Lee Jones). One scene, where Kimble enters a jail, was filmed at Chicago City Hall.
N Dearborn Street // Ferris Bueller's Day Off
Ferris Bueller (Matthew Broderick) surprises his friends Cameron (Alan Ruck) and Sloane (Mia Sara) in Ferris Bueller's Day Off with a lively, impromptu performance during a parade. The iconic ‘Danke Schoen’ lip-sync was somewhat planned, but the energetic ‘Twist and Shout’ routine was mostly improvised.
S La Salle Street // The Dark Knight
This street, with its vista leading down to the Chicago Board of Trade Building, wasn’t only used for the movie poster of The Dark Knight but also for filming the confrontation between Batman (Christian Bale) and the Joker (Heath Ledger).
South La Salle Street // The Untouchables
In The Untouchables, Chicago's LaSalle Street plays a crucial role in capturing the Prohibition era. The film's first major liquor raid unfolds here, with Eliot Ness (Kevin Costner) and his team exiting the historic Rookery Building and crossing to the City National Bank and Trust at 208 S. LaSalle. In the background, the Chicago Board of Trade building, with its iconic clock, adds authenticity to the period setting.
The Rookery Building // Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
In Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, the exterior of the fictional Duncan's Toy Chest—a lavish toy store Kevin visits—is this Rookery Building. While the story is set in New York, this historic Chicago landmark was transformed into the exterior of the toy store where Kevin (Macaulay Culkin) encounters Harry (Joe Pesci) and Marv (Daniel Stern), his old enemies from the first movie.
Chicago Union Station // The Untouchables
A grand staircase leading to Union Station's Great Hall is located along Canal Street, on the south side of Union Station's historic head house. This iconic spot — designed by Graham, Anderson, Probst & White, the firm that designed Union Station — is where Eliot Ness (Kevin Costner) and George Stone (Andy Garcia) face off with Mob accountant Walter Payne (Jack Kehoe) in The Untouchables. In this famous scene, they not only catch Payne but also rescue a baby in a stroller rolling down the stairs.
