12 Chicago Landmarks That Secretly Appeared in Your Favorite Movies & TV Shows

The Windy City is a Certified Star

With over 200 films under its belt, Chicago is definitely one of the most popular filming locations in the U.S.

From gritty crime dramas to heartwarming rom-coms, the city’s iconic skyline and vibrant streets have graced the silver screen for decades.

Whether it’s the swooping shots of the Willis Tower or the bustling Loop, Chicago’s role as a backdrop is as legendary as its deep-dish pizza.

The Art Institute of Chicago appears in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off

Home to over 300,000 works of art, the museum is housed in a Beaux-Arts building designed by Shepley, Rutan, and Coolidge. It was completed in 1893, and the lion statues outside are a proud symbol of Chicago’s cultural strength.

Ferris and his gang stroll through this legendary museum, soaking in some of the world’s best art. Seurat’s A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte steals the show, where the gang poses in front of sculptures and paintings like a bunch of art rebels.

Wrigley Field stars in multiple films and TV shows

Wrigley Field, Chicago’s classic baseball shrine, has appeared in movies like Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and The Blues Brothers, but it shows up in many others too.

Remember The Break-Up?

That’s Wrigley Field during a Cubs game. It’s also a backdrop for Rookie of the Year and Chicago Fire. The stadium is a second home to the show.

Wrigley’s been around since 1914, and it’s one of the oldest parks in baseball.

Ivy-covered outfield walls, that vintage scoreboard—being 106 years old, it’s one of the only two MLB stadiums to use a manual scoreboard.

Fun fact: it’s home to the famous “Cubs Win!” sign, which flashes after every home victory.

Union Station serves as a backdrop for dramatic scenes

If you’re into gritty, old-school Chicago, you’ve seen this place.

Movies like The Untouchables—remember that intense staircase shootout? And My Best Friend’s Wedding? That’s Union Station too.

Opened in 1925, this place is still serving up major movie magic, and it’s just a short ride from some of the city’s best spots. The station is 2.7 million square feet in size and features a grand hall with a ceiling that soars to 96 feet high.

But the real highlight is its Beaux-Arts style, with that vaulted ceiling, perfect for capturing the feel of 1930s Chicago in The Sting or the historical re-enactments in Public Enemies.

Its main concourse is used as a symbolic space for major, emotional moments in films.

The Chicago ‘L’ train system appears in numerous productions

That rickety, iconic elevated train you know as the ‘L’ has been in everything from The Blues Brothers to The Dark Knight.

Here’s the kicker for movie fans: Divergent features a version of the ‘L’ in a futuristic Chicago. A little noisy, a little chaotic, but it gets the job done and looks damn good on film.

With its history stretching back to 1892, it’s not just a train system.

The ‘L’ spans 224 miles and serves around 750,000 riders every day, making it one of the busiest rapid transit systems in the world.

Its signature elevated tracks provide that gritty, urban atmosphere.

Navy Pier serves as a recognizable lakefront location

Located on the lakefront, Navy Pier has been a part of Chicago since 1916.

It’s become an instantly recognizable part of Chicago’s lakefront and is often featured in films and TV shows as a symbol of the city.

The Ferris wheel is one of the most recognizable landmarks in Chicago. Standing 200 feet tall, it offers stunning views of Lake Michigan and the Chicago skyline.

In Never Been Kissed, the Ferris wheel scene gives it that “magical” feel. In The Break-Up, the Shakespeare Theater on the Pier sets the stage for a first date scene.

But it’s not all romance.

Divergent uses Navy Pier as a dystopian training ground. Even The Dark Knight gives us a moody shot of the Pier at night.

Millennium Park appears in modern Chicago-set productions

Millennium Park isn’t just a park; it’s a living movie set. It opened in 2004, and quickly became the face of modern Chicago.

If you’ve seen Transformers: Dark of the Moon, you’ll recognize the action scenes that turn the park into a battleground.

But the real star? Cloud Gate—AKA what you see in the movie “The Bean.”

Cloud Gate weighs 110 tons and is made from 168 stainless steel plates, welded together to create a mirror-like surface.

Seen in The Vow, this massive reflective sculpture is where romantic moments happen. It’s also one of the city’s most photographed spots.

It’s also featured in Jupiter Ascending, where the park gets a futuristic makeover.

The Chicago Theatre’s iconic marquee is a frequent establishing shot

When you see the Chicago Theatre’s marquee, you know it’s a staple of Chicago’s downtown skyline since 1921.

Every shot, every angle of the Chicago Theatre, pulls you in deeper. It’s been an iconic backdrop for countless events, from Broadway performances to film premieres.

The theater’s Beaux-Arts design features a grand entrance and a 30-foot-tall marquee that’s illuminated by over 10,000 bulbs.

In Transformers: Dark of the Moon, aliens invade with the marquee lighting up the background. Ever watched Public Enemies? Millennials will be familiar with the 1930s-style version of this iconic sign.

Lower Wacker Drive provides a gritty urban setting

Lower Wacker Drive gives underground vibes that became Gotham in Batman Begins. The chase scene from The Dark Knight?

That’s Lower Wacker, too.

The place was built to handle elevated train traffic and stretches over 2 miles beneath the city’s streets, one of the most unique urban features you’ll find in any city.

And it’s become a go-to for Chicago P.D. when they need to shoot a tense chase scene.

The Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower) symbolizes Chicago’s skyline

You can’t talk about Chicago without mentioning the Willis Tower (formerly the Sears Tower).

Standing tall at 1,353 feet, the Willis Tower was the tallest building in the world for 25 years. Remember when Ferris and the gang head to the Skydeck? That’s the Willis Tower.

The Skydeck, located on the 103rd floor, offers a breathtaking 360-degree view of the city from 1,353 feet up. In The Dark Knight, it served as Wayne Enterprises’ headquarters.

The Green Mill jazz club appears in period pieces

The Green Mill is a Chicago institution.

If you’ve seen The Thief, you’ll remember those secret character meetings and Mob City recreates 1940s Chicago like a time machine.

This jazz club has been associated with Chicago’s underworld history. They say Al Capone himself visited the place, and it still has that same old-school feel.

Opened in 1907, the Green Mill continues to host live music every night, and the club’s lush interior, with its long bar and red velvet booths, hasn’t changed much.

The University of Chicago campus represents academic settings

The University of Chicago is more than just a college campus.

The buildings look medieval, and it’s one of the city’s most historically significant areas, perfect for academic settings in films.

When Harry Met Sally used gothic architecture for some of its flashbacks, The Weather Man shot exterior scenes of the university’s grand buildings.

The Good Wife shot their courtroom exteriors here too.

The university’s campus spans 217 acres and is home to over 150 buildings, including the famous Rockefeller Memorial Chapel.

Buckingham Fountain serves as a romantic Chicago landmark

From romantic kisses to cinematic lakefront shots, Buckingham Fountain is iconic.

This fountain, built in 1927, is one of the largest in the world and a staple of Chicago’s Grant Park. It’s been featured in the opening credits of Married… with Children and as a meeting spot in The Break-Up.

The fountain, made up of over 1,500 jets, can shoot water 150 feet into the air. It’s one of the largest in the world and, every spring and summer hosts nightly light and music shows.