Chicago may not be Los Angeles when it comes to filming movies, but we’ve had our fair share of major blockbusters shot in this city. If you love TV and movies, keep scrolling to explore these top cinematic experiences you must try in Chicago! From checking out where world-class movies have been filmed in the city to venturing to an old-school theater to watch the latest rom-com or thriller, there’s so much for film and TV lovers to discover all over the city.
1. Suit up and fight off evil in this life-like Jumanji experience
Want to check out one of the most unique VR experiences around town?
Venture to Wonderverse, the 45,000-square-foot entertainment venue, suit up in your 18-pound haptic vest, put on your Oculus headset, and prepare for a life-like experience in the jungles of Jumanji! Grab your crew, and transform into Dwayne Johnson’s Dr. Smolder Bravestone, Jack Black’s Professor Sheldon Oberon, Kevin Hart’s Franklin “Mouse” Finbar, and Karen Gillan’s Ruby Roundhouse. During your 30-minute journey through Jumanji, you’ll search for the stolen jewel, stopping the spread of evil, just like the characters in the movie.
2. Discover Chicago’s best filming locations
As we said, Chicago may not be Hollywood, but so many world-famous movies have been filmed in our fair city, it often becomes the main character. A famous example of Chicago taking the spotlight in movies includes 2008’s The Dark Knight when it turns into Gotham City. The filming locations are the IBM Building as the Wayne Enterprises boardroom, the chase scene between Joker and Batman on Lower Wacker Drive, and, of course, the famed aerial shot from the Willis Tower when Batman admires Gotham City.
Other top movies filmed all over the city are Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and Home Alone, mostly filmed just north of downtown in Winnetka, but we can’t leave out the most famous scene at O’Hare International Airport when the McCallister family is running to catch their flight to Paris.
📍Multiple locations throughout Chicago
3. Go see a film at one of these unique movie theaters
If you want to see the latest film at a unique movie theater, you must check out our guide to the best movie theaters and vintage cinemas across the city. These theaters offer top-class cinematic experiences in the most beautiful historic venues. A few of our favorites are the historic Music Box Theatre for independent, foreign, and classic films or the Gene Siskel Film Center, an iconic destination for film festivals or the place to watch indie movies.
📍Locations across the city
🍿Discover all 10 of our favorite places to watch a film!
4. Have brunch with the Hotel Transylvania gang
Wonderverse Chicago, located at Oak Brook Center, has cooked up a spooktacular brunch you’ll want to attend this October! The fabulous Hotel Transylvania Character Brunch will happen for two weekends only, either October 19 and 20 or October 26 and 27, at Wonderverse’s Restaurant! You don’t want to miss this epic feast with Dracula, Mavis, and the rest of the gang. For breakfast, indulge on anything your heart desires from sausage fingers and screambled eggs to an epic waffle and meat stations. The characters will be roaming around, ready to snap photos with the fam. Grab tickets now!
5. See a moving play at Steppenwolf’s stunning space
It’s no secret that Steppenwolf Theatre Company is one of our most iconic places in Chicago for live theater. The historic company was founded in 1974 by Terry Kinney, Jeff Perry, and Gary Sinise and has captivated audiences for decades. In 2021, Steppenwolf’s Lincoln Park location underwent a $73 million campus expansion project, building a 400-seat theater, an education center, a two-story atrium lobby, a wine bar, and a sidewalk lounge. So, we suggest checking out their beautiful new theater by seeing a stellar production this winter!
Of course, if you want to rub shoulders with your favorite celebrities who shine on the big screen, check out Steppenwolf’s annual gala in May. This celebration is notorious for attracting big names, and at past events, we’ve spotted actors like John C. Reilly, Michael Shannon, Chris Rock, and Kelsey Grammar. Actor Gary Cole made an appearance at last year’s fête, so be sure to add it to your social calendar for 2025!
🎭 See the latest plays at Steppenwolf.org.
📍Location: 1650 N. Halsted Street, Chicago, IL 60614
6. Enjoy a Candlelight concert with iconic film songs
The beloved concert series known simply as “Candlelight” invites you to relive the greatest musical works by top musicians in an incredibly unique atmosphere with hundreds of romantic flickering candles. If you love movies, you must venture to one of the many Candlelight concerts featuring music from iconic films. Magical tributes to legendary film composers will be lighting up some of Chicago’s most iconic venues. Hear the spellbinding scores this season as Candlelight continues to dazzle audiences up and down the city.
🕯️See the full list of concerts here
📍Locations throughout the city and suburbs
7. Visit the thrilling Uncharted Escape Room
If you were as obsessed with Sony’s 2022 film Uncharted starring Mark Wahlberg and Tom Holland, you’ll want to try out these Uncharted Escape Rooms. The movie takes you on an epic quest to find the lost treasure that disappeared during the Magellan expedition in the 1500s. Follow the path of young treasure hunter Nathan Drake and Victor “Sully” Sullivan, this mentor from the film, and solve ancient puzzles before the pirates close in on you.
8. Check out this Drunk Shakespeare show
“The Drunk Shakespeare Society” meets up to do a tipsy rendition of a Shakespearean play, and we are absolutely here for it. After one of the actors takes around five shots of whiskey, the character gives a hilarious performance that will undoubtedly entertain the crowd. Meanwhile, the other four actors, who remain sober, attempt to keep the show running as smoothly as possible. Take it from us; it’s one show you won’t want to miss.
📍 Location: The Lounge at The Lion, 182 N. Wabash Avenue, Chicago
🥃Grab tickets to Drunk Shakespeare here!
9. Rent out Cinespace Studios for the ultimate film-loving fête
How fun would a party at Cinespace Chicago Film Studios be? According to Choose Chicago, you can rent out this popular film hub that opened in 2010 in the Lawndale neighborhood, just 15 minutes from downtown, for a spectacular event.
This studio has become the go-to place to film in Chicago, operating within 1.6 million sq. ft. of film space at the former Ryerson Steel Company. The 60-acre campus focuses on ‘development, management, and operation’ to support producing some of your favorite award-winning TV shows and movies in the industry. These shows include “Fargo,” “The Bear,” “Chicago Fire,” “Empire,” and movies like “Good Will Hunting,” “Divergent,” “Pompeii,” “Resident Evil,” “Taken,” and more!
📍Location: Main studios at 2621 W. 15th Place in North Lawndale
10. Want to get behind the camera? Take a class at Chicago Filmmakers
If you want to make a career out of your love of movies, consider current classes at Chicago Filmmakers, like Intro Into Film Production or Directing: Prep for Production, taught by professional filmmakers and university professors. They even have filmmaking camps for kids aged 9-17 to kick-start their interest early on. But the coolest part has to be the location. Chicago Filmmakers is located on the city’s far north side, in the Edgewater neighborhood, and housed in an ornate former firehouse built in 1928.
If you want to watch movies and connect with other passionate Chicago film lovers, they even host regular indie film screenings in their 75-seat theater. Also, check out their annual film festivals like Reeling: The Chicago LGBTQ+ International Film Festival and The Onion City Experimental Film Festival. It’s the perfect spot to come together if you want to get behind the camera or if you’re a film aficionado.
📍Location: 1326 W. Hollywood Avenue, Chicago, IL 60660
🎥Check out classes, and watch for upcoming film screenings at chicagofilmmakers.org