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 Weather Man The Weather Man is a 2005 American comedy-drama film directed by Gore Verbinski and starring Nicolas Cage. The film follows the story of David Spritz (Cage), a local television weatherman in Chicago who is going through a mid-life crisis. In the film, people throw food—like McDonald's pies!—at David to ridicule him and illustrate their dissatisfaction with his job as a weatherman. Perhaps the food-throwing also symbolizes the public's own discontent with life in general? 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

Explore a professional video library of Chicago film history and terminology. Watch expert-led lessons on cinematography, editing, and theory by Dr. Kelli Marshall. Master the art of filmmaking through the lens of Chicago cinema. Explore this curated collection of video lessons—originally produced for our Film 101 courses—designed to help you become a more active and informed movie-watcher. Expert-Led Film Studies These lessons are curated by Dr. Kelli Marshall , a film historian with over 15 years of university-level teaching experience, and introduce core concepts in film studies through Chicago-based movies. Each video breaks down key elements of film language—such as cinematography, editing, and visual storytelling—to help you become a more active, informed viewer. Film Language Library: Lesson Excerpts NOTE: These videos conclude by referencing an older “membership” page. For current offerings, browse available talks and educational programs . Play Video Play Video Play Video Play Video Play Video Play Video Play Video Play Video Continue Exploring Chicago through Film Want to go further? Discover Chicago film through tours, talks, and in-depth articles. Explore Chicago Movie Locations Visit iconic filming sites across Chicago on a guided walking tour led by a film historian. View Tours Book a Film History Talk Bring a film-focused talk to your group or event—featuring Chicago cinema and beyond. Explore Talks Read About Chicago Movies Dive deeper into Chicago’s film history, locations, and cultural impact through in-depth articles . Visit the Blog

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. Airplane! Airplane! is a 1980 film comedy that parodies popular 1970s disaster movies like Airport (1970), The Poseidon Adventure (1972), Earthquake (1974) and The Towering Inferno (1974). More specifically, Airplane! borrows its story, characters, and some lines of dialogue from an earlier disaster drama, Zero Hour! (1957). In today’s screenshot, a member of ground control accidentally sends a plane crashing through the airport terminal’s window. As the plane breaks through, people scatter right and left. One woman even throws her baby in the air before she runs (look for the pink blanket near the airplane's nose). For all the hijinks, watch the short clip below. While Airplane! was not shot in Chicago, the flight in the story is headed here (from Los Angeles). And Chicago is mentioned nearly 40 times in the screenplay. One of the silliest Chicago references in the film comes in this short insert . As a radio DJ says, “This is WZAZ in Chicago, where disco lives forever,” the airplane flies over WZAZ's tower, destroys its antenna, and kills the signal. Hardcore Airplane! (or Chicago movie) fans can even buy a WZAZ Chicago t-shirt . 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. The Fugitive Much of The Fugitive (Andrew Davis, 1993) is filmed in and around Chicago. But this scene, the dam jump, was shot in North Carolina at the Cheoah Dam. In this short video, Harrison Ford and the stunt coordinator (I assume?) recount how the scene was conceived and shot. 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. Thief Thief is a 1981 neo-noir directed by Michael Mann starring James Caan in the lead role. The movie follows the story of Frank, a skilled professional safecracker and jewel thief who operates in Chicago. As Frank takes on a high-risk job, he becomes entangled in a web of corruption and betrayal. Below, watch Caan explain how he prepared for Thief 's safecracking scenes—and the satisfaction he received from doing so. 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

Read Chicago Movie Tours' Tour Terms and Conditions, to which all guests and guest purchases are subject. Tour Terms and Conditions All guests and guest purchases are subject to the following Terms & Conditions. Please read these terms carefully before purchasing a tour ticket. They outline, among other things, our cancellation policy and certain limitations of liability. Cancel or Change Reservations Low Attendance Policy Weather Payment Discounts Pricing Group Bookings Video and Photography Notes and Other Materials Medical Accidents, Loss, or Damage to Property Guest Responsibility and Conduct Children Refunds Privacy Policy These Terms and Conditions govern the relationship between you ("the guest" and "you") and us, CHICAGO MOVIE TOURS & TALKS LLC ("we," "us," and our"). By purchasing your ticket or obtaining it via complimentary means, you are entering into this agreement with us. Last updated: JUNE 2025 1. Cancel or Change Reservations You may cancel or amend your reservation 48 hours or more before the tour departs. Cancellations received within 48 hours of tour departure—along with late arrivals and no-shows after a tour departs—are not eligible for refunds. For reschedule requests outside of the 48-hour period prior to a booked tour date, guests should email us with a preferred alternative date. Please note: we cannot guarantee an appropriate replacement tour date will always be available, but we will do our best to accommodate guests! Tickets are valid for the date and time for which the guest purchased them. Guests should carefully review all of their booking details, including contact email and/or phone number, to ensure no errors exist. 2. Low Attendance Policy To ensure we can provide a fun, engaging, and economically feasible tour, we require a minimum number of guests. We need at least 4 guests to run the majority of our public walking tours . Our movie tour at Old Joliet Prison , given its larger venue and the special arrangements needed to access the property, requires at least 20 guests. A low attendance policy helps us cover essential aspects such as travel time for our tour guide , parking costs downtown, property rental fees, and all the behind-the-scenes magic that goes into making your tour unforgettable. Plus, group participation makes a tour more fun! If we need to cancel a public walking tour due to low ticket sales, we'll notify you 24 hours in advance. You'll have the option to transfer your tickets to another tour date or receive a full refund—whichever works best for you. 3. Weather Policy Our walking tours, which promptly begin at the scheduled departure time and date, operate in rain, shine, or snow. If we must cancel a scheduled tour due to extreme or unsafe weather (e.g., heavy rain, ice, hail, tornadoes, winds, lightning), we will notify guests by email and/or text that the tour has been cancelled. Guests will receive a full refund, or they may transfer their tickets to another tour date. 4. Payment Credit card payment for online bookings through chicagomovietours.com is processed at the time of booking through Stripe , a safe and secure booking and payment processing system. PayPal is also available at checkout. All bookings are processed in U.S. Dollars (USD). Walk-up guests who wish to pay with cash or credit card may do so only if spots are available on the tour. NOTE: We will not have change for cash payments. For custom/private tours, a quote will be provided to customers based on their requests. A deposit may be required for larger tour groups. Prices do not include gratuities to the guide and are at your discretion. 5. Discounts and Coupons If guests have a coupon code or discount, they must apply it to their tour BEFORE purchasing a ticket. Unfortunately, we cannot apply retroactive discounts. No discount offered by Chicago Movie Tours can be combined with any other discount or special offer when booking, unless otherwise noted. All discounts and special offers are subject to availability and may be removed at any time at our discretion. 6. Pricing All rates for public group tours lie at the discretion of Chicago Movie Tours and are subject to change without notice. Once a guest has booked a tour with us, the guest will not be required to pay any difference in the event of a price increase, and we will not refund the balance of any price reduction. For group and private tours, we will provide a quote to the guest prior to booking. After the guest accepts a quote, a credit card may be required to hold the private tour. 7. Group Bookings For group bookings, the purchasing guest acts on behalf of all guests, including children, joining the tour. If the purchasing guest does not intend to participate, a representative who will be participating must be named and must inform us prior to starting the tour. If the purchasing guest is a company, group or partnership, an individual must be named as a responsible person. 8. Video and Photography Video and audio recording any of our tours and talks is prohibited. In some instances, we have spent years researching and compiling the material for our tours, and we have done so in order to offer guests a one-of-a-kind experience that features histories and anecdotes they will not hear anywhere else. Any form of copying or reproduction of our likeness or our tours will result in legal action. We may take photographic, video, or film records of any of our tours or talks, including guests, to use for promotional and/or commercial purposes. Guests should notify us if they do not want to be photographed. 9. Notes and Other Materials Any notes or other materials we supply to participants before, during, or after a tour or talk—whether in hard-copy, electronic format, or any other form—are the copyright of Chicago Movie Tours, without limitation, and are not to be reproduced in whole or in part, or distributed to any Third Party in any form whatsoever, without the express written permission of the copyright holder. 10. Medical Guests must be fit and well enough to take our walking tours. Guests with medical or health concerns should inform us of their condition in writing (i.e. via email) prior to the tour.The tour operator reserves the right to disqualify guests if they appear incapable and/or if their continued participation will in any way jeopardize either themselves or the rest of the tour group. Refunds are not given under such circumstances. Chicago Movie Tours is not responsible for the costs of any medical treatment guests may require during or after a tour. And we are not responsible for the quality of medical care, or lack thereof, guests may receive during or after a tour.If you have any reservations regarding your fitness for a tour, please contact us . 11. Accidents, Loss, or Damage to Property Customers are responsible for their personal property. We are not liable for any theft, loss, damage, delay, inconvenience, direct or consequential loss. We are also not responsible for any damage inflicted, accidentally or otherwise, on properties, artworks, or other items by the guest or the guest's children. 12. Guest Responsibility and Conduct Walking tours begin promptly at the scheduled departure time and date. Please be on time or early. We recommend arriving at least 10-20 minutes early in order to find the location, parking, and your tour guide. Guests should alert us immediately via phone or text at 312-685-1190 if they are lost. Guides are unable to make and receive calls once a tour has started. Guests should behave respectfully to others, including but not limited to tour operators, other guests, and members of the public, and to the property of others, including but not limited to shared facilities and public environment. We are happy to answer guests' questions but ask that they do not talk over the tour guide, consistently interrupt, heckle, or engage in other distracting behavior. We reserve the right to stop a tour if guests violate this agreement. No refund will be given, and the participants must pay the full compensation for any damages that might have been caused. 13. Children In general, our tours are not suited for children under 10 years old. Any attendees with disruptive children will be asked to leave. 14. Refunds Walking tour refunds are permitted for the following reasons: Low capacity Bad weather that does not permit the tour to run Guests inform us no later than 48 hours that they wish to cancel The tour is partially completed (guests will receive a 50% refund) 15. Privacy Policy Our Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website. Please read this privacy policy carefully . If you do not agree with the terms of this privacy policy, please do not access our site.

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. Ferris Bueller's Day Off From Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986), this is an extreme close-up of the reservation book for a (fake) restaurant called Chez Quis. In the scene, Ferris Bueller (Matthew Broderick) enters the fancy Chicago restaurant, sneaks a peek at the reservation book, picks the name Abe Froman , and then pretends to be Froman for the next hour or so. Spot Froman’s name at the top left corner of today’s screenshot. Almost 40 years after audiences were introduced to Chez Quis, the made-up restaurant—alongside other Chicago landmarks and items in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off —ushered in 2025 in the 136th Tournament of Roses Parade . Enjoy Illinois , the state’s official tourism website, showcased this Ferris Bueller’s Day Off-themed float at the 136th Tournament of Roses Parade on New Year’s Day 2025. The float featured the following: Chez Quis’s sign Wrigley Field marquee Calder’s Flamingo Sears Tower “Save Ferris” water tower Red sports car Floral homage to Georges Seurat’s 1886 Sunday on La Grande Jatte . Illinois native Brian Culbertson performed “Danke Schoen,” and the parade—themed “Best Day Ever!”—concluded with the Rose Bowl Game. Ferris Bueller proves yet again that life moves pretty fast—and it’s worth stopping to enjoy the ride! Watch a montage of the float being assembled 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

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. Continental Divide Continental Divide (1981) is lesser-known Chicago movie starring comedian John Belushi. The story follows a Chicago newspaper reporter (Belushi), who travels to the Rockies to interview an eagle researcher (Blair Brown). As they navigate their differences—and the challenges of the wilderness—a romance blossoms. In this scene, Belushi's character (in the background) has made it to the mountains, where he comes face-to-face with a cougar. Most of the mountain scenes, like this one, are filmed in Colorado. But Chicago is on display as well. For instance, Belushi's character works for the Chicago Sun-Times , so several scenes show the interior and exterior of the now-demolished Sun-Times building. Unlike when he acted in The Blues Brothers , "Belushi remained clean and sober" during filming of Continental Divide . "This was a new Belushi, clear-eyed and professional." Unfortunately, the movie didn't fare well. Fans wanted to see Belushi's manic onscreen performances, not a romantic one. 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. The Bear This screenshot comes from The Bear (FX), the episode "Forks" (2.7). It reinforces the series' theme that time is precious and hesitation has consequences. Clocks, calendars, and time dominate The Bear , which is shot entirely in Chicago. In the show's pilot, a wall clock is literally shown 4 times in 3 seconds. In this episode, "Forks," digital clocks, sitting on bedside tables and hanging on glazed tiled walls, constantly fill the frame. In season 2 in general, The Bear 's characters are always up against time, scrambling to open a new restaurant in 12 weeks. They must complete renovations, secure and train staff, and complete a menu. They must also get appropriate permits, which the tense 10-second countdown of the fire suppression test reminds us. In The Bear , every second does indeed count. 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. The Dark Knight (2008) Standing on a street corner in Chicago, an unidentified man carries a duffle bag over his right shoulder and a clown mask in his left hand. Within seconds, he’s whisked away in an unmarked car, and the game’s afoot. This is the opening of The Dark Knight (2008). In the summer of 2007, The Dark Knight filmed in and around multiple locations in downtown Chicago (or Gotham, if you will), for example: Old Chicago Post Office Navy Pier Chicago Theater Millennium Station Lower Wacker Dr Chicago Board of Trade Building The first 66 days of the shoot took place in Chicago, beginning with the bank-heist sequence, as represented in today’s screenshot. Then, production traveled to the UK for 53 days. Then, it moved back to Chicago. This is an odd schedule for a big-budget movie. So here’s The Dark Knight 's director, Christopher Nolan, explaining the (intentional) traveling: “When we made The Dark Knight we quite specifically moved around. We started in Chicago, went to London, went back to Chicago which is a massive production no-no; you’re never supposed to go back to the same place. But it meant we constantly challenged people to work in a new environment on a daily basis.” Watch the full opening below, which takes place at S. Franklin St. and W. Van Buren St . 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. Widows (2018) Today’s screenshot comes from the 2018 Chicago-based heist thriller, Widows , directed by Steve McQueen and based on a British TV series of the same name. Let’s analyze… This is a medium shot of a politician named Jack Mulligan, played by Colin Farrell. Mulligan has just arrived in Chicago’s North Lawndale neighborhood to meet with his political opponent (who is also a crime boss). The well-dressed Mulligan—with his shiny car, chauffeur in the background, and obvious unease over his surroundings—is somewhat out of his element here. Indeed, in the preceding scene, Mulligan is attending a fancy gala with other city bigwigs, all seated underneath the impressive Tiffany Dome at the Chicago Cultural Center. In the background of this shot, those familiar with Chicago’s historic movie houses will recognize the former Central Park Theater (c. 1917), pictured here in full . Located at 3535 W. Roosevelt Rd., the Central Park Theater is notable for several reasons: It is the first movie palace completed by Balaban and Katz and architectural firm Rapp and Rapp , a partnership that would spawn several landmark movie palaces like the Chicago, Oriental (now Nederlander), Riviera, and Uptown. It was among the first movie theaters in the nation to have air-conditioning. It offered a daycare in the basement. The Central Park Theater has served as a church since 1971. Behind the chauffeur, note the crosses etched into the walls. Start at 02:30 to watch the scene from Widows unfold. 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. Derailed Coming to you from Chicago's Millennium Park, this week's shot is from Derailed , a 2005 crime thriller film starring Clive Owen and Jennifer Aniston. You'll see LOTS of shots of Chicago and its suburbs in this one! But fair warning: Derailed has been consistently panned by credits since it premiered. (In short, the movie ain't great.) 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