“I think cinema, movies, and magic have always been closely associated.”
Lights, Camera, Alleys: Chicago in the Movies!
Did you know that Chicago was the birthplace of The Wizard of Oz? Or that Chicago was “Hollywood” before Hollywood was Hollywood? Even Charlie Chaplin made movies here way back when. We were making “motion pictures” by the 1890s, and continue to be a prime filming location for so many of our most beloved American movies. This 2-hour walking tour visits the filming locations of some of the most popular movies ever filmed here, from the Blues Brothers paying their taxes, to Ferris Bueller’s famous parade performance, to the slow-mo bouncing baby carriage making its way down a staircase amidst a gangster shootout in The Untouchables. It all happened here.
Inside Chicago Walking Tours has created a tour that visits the filming locations of a dozen famous movies, including a few stunning interior spaces that are worth visiting simply for their beauty. With stills from the scenes to illustrate each stop, plus access to a collection of movie clips ahead of your tour so that you can refresh your memory of these classic scenes, our expert guide — herself a major movie nerd — will lead you on this delightful trip down movie memory lane.
Do you have a favorite? The Fugitive? Batman: The Dark Knight? Transformers? Join us on this summertime tour and have fun nerding out about movies with your guide and other tour guests! Cinephiles unite!
[Photo credit in our banner image goes to the amazing Raf Winterpacht!]
TOUR LOGISTICS & FAQ
HOW MUCH DO TICKETS COST (USD)?
30 (General Admission, age 11-64); 25 (children 5-10 & seniors 65+); free for kids 4 and under.
How long is it?
This tour lasts about 2 hours, covering about 1.5 miles on foot.
Do we go inside buildings?
Absolutely! That's kind of our thing.
How many people in the group?
We will be capping this tour route at 15 guests.
When is this tour offered?
This tour is currently offered on Fridays at 2pm.
WILL WE SEE VIDEO CLIPS ON THE TOUR?
We have a few videos, but we mostly use stills from the movies to illustrate each location, and we provide guests with full access to our Movie Clips page ahead of the tour in order to allow them to refresh their memories about these scenes!
Where does this tour start & end?
We start at the Chicago Cultural Center, and we end near Union Station.
What about rain?
Tours run rain or shine, though may be cancelled/refunded due to extreme weather. Always dress for the weather!
Can I book this as a private tour?
Of course! Just contact Hillary at 312-799-0164 to set that up!