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Celebrate Illinois' Oscar winners, scandalous moments, and "Oscar bait" as you countdown to this year's Academy Awards Countdown to the Oscars: Illinois Winners, Scandalous Moments, and Oscar Bait Celebrate Illinois' Oscar winners, scandalous moments, and "Oscar bait" as you countdown to this year's Academy Awards All Talks About This program aims to prepare you for Hollywood's biggest night—the Oscars! In our hour-long talk, we'll shine the spotlight on Illinois' rich history of Academy Award success, celebrating winners from Chicago and beyond. We'll also dish on some of the most unforgettable and scandalous moments in Oscar history that had everyone talking. Plus, you'll learn all about the term Oscar bait —what it is, why it (sometimes) works, and how it shapes the race for the gold. Grab your popcorn, settle in, and join us for an entertaining and insightful countdown to the Oscars! Request Talk

Review Oscar's history as it relates to Hollywood and Chicago The Oscars and Chicago Review Oscar's history as it relates to Hollywood and Chicago All Talks About Join us for The Oscars and Chicago as we consider Hollywood's most prestigious awards and their unexpected connections to the Windy City. We'll start this hour-long talk with a backstory of the Oscars, including why and how they were created. Then, we'll look at Chicago’s links to this Los Angeles-based event, focusing specifically on the statuette and a few industry game-changers from Chicago. Finally, we'll wrap up the program with a (virtual) tour of Chicago’s Grant Park, where a recent Best Picture nominee spent considerable time filming. Dust off your black dress or tuxedo! The Oscars and Chicago is about to begin. Request Talk

Every Wednesday, join us in guessing the Chicago-based movie or television show from one screenshot. Visit our archive to play the ones you missed! One-Shot Wednesday On Wednesdays, guess the Chicago-based movie or television show from one screenshot. The Blues Brothers (1980) Today’s screenshot comes from a musical number in The Blues Brothers (1980). The gospel song “Let Us Go Back to the Old Landmark" or “The Old Landmark” is performed here by James Brown , and the Rev. James Cleveland Choir. The number was filmed at Pilgrim Baptist Church , 3235 E. 91st in Chicago. Shown periodically in this lively musical number (and above) is Chicago’s own “Queen of Funk,” Chaka Khan . Humorously, despite singing in a movie that celebrates the blues, Khan has said she dislikes the musical genre: “I try to stay away from love songs. I get sick of them. Especially bluesy ones, crying songs, whining about some lost lover—I hate shit like that, and I’ve always felt that way. I’ve never liked the blues.” Welcome to One-Shot Wednesday! Think you’re a Chicago screen buff? On Wednesdays, we post one still from a movie or TV show filmed or set in the Windy City. Your mission? Guess the title! You've already seen this week’s image above. If you're feeling nostalgic, explore the full archive of past challenges to keep the fun rolling. Psst: you're on screenshot: 84 Access Archive

Every Wednesday, join us in guessing the Chicago-based movie or television show from one screenshot. Visit our archive to play the ones you missed! One-Shot Wednesday On Wednesdays, guess the Chicago-based movie or television show from one screenshot. City That Never Sleeps Today's #OneShotWed comes from City That Never Sleeps , a film noir set and filmed (mostly) in Chicago. This shot comes at the start of the film. After holding our gaze to the Wrigley Building for several seconds, the narrator—representing Chicago itself—begins to introduce its citizens. First up is the "mechanical man" below, working in a window. "Once he was an actor; now he's down to this," we learn. Watch the film's opening here , courtesy of Turner Classic Movies. Welcome to One-Shot Wednesday! Think you’re a Chicago screen buff? On Wednesdays, we post one still from a movie or TV show filmed or set in the Windy City. Your mission? Guess the title! You've already seen this week’s image above. If you're feeling nostalgic, explore the full archive of past challenges to keep the fun rolling. Psst: you're on screenshot: 84 Access Archive

Discover how "The Breakfast Club" defined a generation through its architecture, music, and ties to Chicago The Breakfast Club: Chicago, Music, and a Generation Defined Discover how "The Breakfast Club" defined a generation through its architecture, music, and ties to Chicago All Talks About Take a fresh look at one of the most iconic teen films of the 1980s: The Breakfast Club (1985). In the first part of this talk, you'll take a virtual stroll around the former suburban Chicago high school where the movie was filmed. Though we can’t step inside, photos and stories of the building’s exterior reveal how its architecture reflects the pressures and confinement experienced by five very different teenagers stuck in Saturday detention. The second half of this hour-long talk shifts to music, focusing on Simple Minds’ anthem "Don’t You (Forget About Me)." Here, we’ll uncover behind-the-scenes stories, explore the song’s ties to MTV, and discuss how it became a lasting metaphor for victory and self-discovery. Blending film history, music, and Chicago landmarks, this program invites film lovers, community groups, and anyone nostalgic for the 1980s to discover how The Breakfast Club continues to define a generation of moviegoers. Request Talk

Questions about your order from the Chicago Movie Tours store? You'll find them here. Store Orders Get answers about topics, bookings, tech requirements, and more. Store Orders How are your products made? We work with a print-on-demand drop shipper. They have locations worldwide, so depending on where you are, your orders are printed and shipped from the facility that can do it most efficiently! When will I get my order? Usually, it takes 3–7 days to fulfill an order, after which it’s shipped out. The shipping time depends on your location, but can be estimated at 3–4 business days. How do I track my order? You’ll receive a tracking link via email when your order ships out. If you have any questions about your tracking or shipment, drop us a line at info@chicagomovietours.com . I received a wrong/damaged product, what should I do? We’re so sorry if the product you ordered arrived damaged. To help us resolve this for you quickly, please email us at info@chicagomovietours.com within a week's time with photos of the damaged product, your order number, and any other details you may have about your order. We’ll get back to you with a resolution as soon as possible! My order should be here by now, but I still don't have it. What should I do? Before getting in touch with us, please help us out by doing the following: Check your shipping confirmation email for any mistakes in the delivery address Ask your local post office if it has your package Stop by your neighbors in case the courier left the package with them If the shipping address was correct, and the package wasn't left at the post office or with your neighbors, get in touch with us at info@chicagomovietours.com with your order number. If you did find a mistake in your delivery address, we can send you a replacement order, but shipping will be at your own cost. Return to Store

Every Wednesday, join us in guessing the Chicago-based movie or television show from one screenshot. Visit our archive to play the ones you missed! One-Shot Wednesday On Wednesdays, guess the Chicago-based movie or television show from one screenshot. Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987) Directed, written, and produced by John Hughes, Planes, Trains and Automobiles is a road movie with one goal: to get its two characters home to Chicago for Thanksgiving. Steve Martin and John Candy play the incompatible pair. Martin’s Neal Page is an uptight Chicago ad executive, and Candy’s Del Griffith is a garrulous shower curtain ring salesman. The long shot above of a guy smirking behind a NYC taxi cab takes place near the beginning of Planes, Trains and Automobiles . While frantically searching for a cab, Neal encounters “Taxi Racer,” played by Kevin Bacon. The two men sprint through a crowded Manhattan street, seeing who can reach an available cab first. Neal nearly wins, but he trips over Del’s trunk and lands face-first onto the street. “Taxi Racer” claims the cab; before getting in, he offers a sarcastic salute to the fallen Neal. Here, Hughes films from a low angle because it is a point-of-view shot from Neal’s (lowly) perspective. What’s more, this shot—along with the whole scene —foreshadows the frustrating and often submissive position in which Neal will consistently find himself as he crosses paths with Del on their journey home to Chicago for Thanksgiving. If you’re wondering why Kevin Bacon plays such a small role in Planes, Trains and Automobiles (indeed, he’s only onscreen for 1 minute), he explains here . Welcome to One-Shot Wednesday! Think you’re a Chicago screen buff? On Wednesdays, we post one still from a movie or TV show filmed or set in the Windy City. Your mission? Guess the title! You've already seen this week’s image above. If you're feeling nostalgic, explore the full archive of past challenges to keep the fun rolling. Psst: you're on screenshot: 84 Access Archive

Become an expert on Festivus and its place in pop culture, Chicago's included Festivus 101: A Celebration for the Rest of Us Become an expert on Festivus and its place in pop culture, Chicago's included All Talks About Join us for an adventure into the world of Festivus, the quirky holiday created by brilliant minds behind the TV series Seinfeld . Celebrated annually on December 23rd, Festivus is the ultimate celebration "for the rest of us." This unique holiday emerged as a humorous antidote to the commercialism and traditions of Christmas, and its symbol is a simple, yet symbolic, silver pole devoid of any decorations. In this hour-long program, you'll delve into the history of Festivus and discover how this unconventional holiday was born. You'll also learn about Festivus's enduring presence in popular culture and why the holiday continues to captivate audiences in and outside Chicago. ABOUT YOUR HOST Before starting Chicago Movie Tours, Kelli Marshall spent more than a decade as a professor of film and media studies. She has taught classes on Seinfeld , published articles on the series , and has even Skyped with a cast member from the show! Request Talk

Explore Chicago as Gotham, uncover location filming secrets, and learn how camera angles in "The Dark Knight" reveal chaos and power Batman in Chicago: Filming Locations and the Art of Anarchy Explore Chicago as Gotham, uncover location filming secrets, and learn how camera angles in "The Dark Knight" reveal chaos and power All Talks About Book for Oct. 2026 and after— download 2026 calendar . Discover how Chicago became Gotham in The Dark Knight (2008). Using original HD footage of the Chicago Board of Trade Building and Millennium Station , we’ll explore two iconic filming locations and share behind-the-scenes stories that highlight the creativity and challenges that brought Christopher Nolan’s Gotham to life. But Gotham isn’t just a city—it’s a stage for chaos. In the second half of this program, we’ll explore Heath Ledger’s Joker and his mantra, “introduce a little anarchy,” linking it to both the film’s story and visual style. Using downtown Chicago as our backdrop, you’ll learn to spot low-angle shots, understand their cinematic impact, and see how they heighten themes of power and disorder. By the end of this hour-long talk (and video tour) with Kelli , you’ll not only know where The Dark Knight was filmed, but you'll also gain tools to read the film’s imagery in a new way. Request Talk

This talk is not currently available for booking. Loop Landmarks on Film This talk is not currently available for booking. All Talks About This talk is not currently available for booking. Consider instead From Ferris to the Frontlines: Chicago's Art Institute and Grant Park in the Movies , which also covers Grant Park and other major Chicago landmarks. Ride the train (via HD video) into Chicago’s Union Station where you disembark and then move through the building’s concourses and Great Hall, all while learning about their relationship to Hollywood. Then, walk through Chicago’s Grant Park while considering Aaron Sorkin's movie The Trial of the Chicago 7 and public art. Request Talk

Explore Contagion’s Chicago locations, film history, and eerie parallels to real-world pandemics The Making of Contagion: Chicago as Pandemic Stage Explore Contagion’s Chicago locations, film history, and eerie parallels to real-world pandemics All Talks About Step into the chilling world of Contagion (2011) and discover why Chicago proved the perfect backdrop for this pandemic thriller. In this immersive talk, you'll explore four Chicago-area filming locations through exclusive HD video footage, and experience 3D views of additional sites via Google Maps. Along the way, you’ll hear behind-the-scenes stories about the movie’s Chicago-based production and learn striking ways the real-world COVID-19 pandemic mirrored the making of this haunting film. The hour-long talk also examines Contagion as a narrative and horror movie, highlighting how director Steven Soderbergh uses the city’s landscapes, freezing temperatures, and viral imagery to amplify tension and dread. From ruthless behavior to viral infection, you’ll see how various forms of “coldness” perfectly serve the story and cinematic style. Request Talk

Every Wednesday, join us in guessing the Chicago-based movie or television show from one screenshot. Visit our archive to play the ones you missed! One-Shot Wednesday On Wednesdays, guess the Chicago-based movie or television show from one screenshot. Cooley High Cooley High (1975) is a coming-of-age comedy-drama set in 1960s Chicago. It follows high school friends Preach (Glynn Turman) and Cochise (Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs) as they navigate life, dreams, and hardships in Chicago’s Cabrini-Green housing projects . The above screenshot marks a pivotal moment in Cooley High , shifting the film’s tone from lighthearted to deeply emotional. In this long shot, Cochise, a promising athlete, is tragically killed under the ‘L’ tracks by neighborhood hoodlums. Preach finds his friend’s lifeless body and screams for help, but the screeching train tires above drown out his cries. A touching funeral scene follows. Cochise’s funeral is filmed at Burr Oak Cemetery in Alsip, IL, the final resting place for thousands of South Chicago residents and their families. Over the heartbreaking scene, which you can watch below, the song “It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday ” plays. If you are of a certain age and recognize the song outside of Cooley High , it’s likely because you remember the a cappella version recorded by Boyz II Men in 1991 . Welcome to One-Shot Wednesday! Think you’re a Chicago screen buff? On Wednesdays, we post one still from a movie or TV show filmed or set in the Windy City. Your mission? Guess the title! You've already seen this week’s image above. If you're feeling nostalgic, explore the full archive of past challenges to keep the fun rolling. Psst: you're on screenshot: 84 Access Archive