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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. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation In this scene from National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989) Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) accidentally gets locked in his attic while his family leaves the house to shop. While freezing inside (and hilariously donning whatever clothes he can find for warmth), Clark finds a box of old 8mm movies. He picks one and plays it against an attic wall. The reel Clark pulls out is labeled Xmas ’59 —an allusion to John Hughes' short story “Christmas ’59” that is the basis for this movie. 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 a Chicago restaurant booth frequented by classic movie stars, and analyze food in "When Harry Met Sally" Hollywood Bites: From Golden Age Glamour to Rom-Com Delights Discover a Chicago restaurant booth frequented by classic movie stars, and analyze food in "When Harry Met Sally" All Talks About Indulge in tales about a white booth once nestled inside a glamorous Chicago hotel restaurant, where classic Hollywood movie stars converged. Then, turn to the romantic comedy When Harry Met Sally , as you uncover how food offers insight into its characters' lives, even in fleeting Chicago scenes. Through HD video footage, the University of Chicago and Chicago's Union Station will serve as backdrops for your culinary movie journey. 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. Rent-a-Cop Rent-a-Cop is a 1987 action-comedy starring Burt Reynolds and Liza Minnelli. Reynolds plays a Chicago police detective turned security guard. He crosses paths with Minnelli’s character, who is being pursued by both the police and criminals due to her involvement with a jewel heist. Together, the duo try to stay one step ahead of both the law and the bad guys. This medium-long shot of Reynolds’ character lighting a cigarette is filmed outside the Hyatt Regency Chicago . (Thanks for helping identify the hotel, Tours with Mike !) Rent-a-Cop filmed 3 weeks in Chicago and the rest of the time in Cinecittà Studios in Rome . By the mid-1980s, Burt Reynolds’ once-thriving career was practically at a standstill. One of Hollywood’s biggest stars, he was now receiving offers for mediocre movies like this one and Stroker Ace , both of which fared poorly at the box office. In fact, later in life, Reynolds recalls these two movies as “the kind they show in prisons and airplanes, because nobody can leave” (Variety 2011). Yikes. As of this writing, if you dare, you can watch Rent-a-Cop free on Tubi . 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. Source Code Source Code is a 2011 sci-fi thriller starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Michelle Monaghan, Vera Farmiga, and Jeffrey Wright. Gyllenhaal plays a soldier tasked with identifying a terrorist in a simulated reality. In this slightly low-angle long shot, Gyllenhaal’s character stands with his friend/love interest (Monaghan), before the Bean (aka. Cloud Gate ) in Chicago’s Millennium Park . You can watch the full 90-second scene below. According to Gyllenhaal, the cast and crew spent only one day filming Source Code in Chicago. That said, the actor expresses much fondness for the city: "It would have been nice to have the whole movie there; it's such an amazing city and we had a great time the day that we were there. A lot of what you see in the movie is really Chicago that was digitally inserted [in post-production, like Metra trains ]. With a movie like this, with budgets being what they are, there were constraints.” (Chicago Tribune , 1 Apr 2011) Despite the short production schedule, this scene at the Bean is significant to Source Code ’s narrative. The director, Duncan Jones, says, the sculpture “is the perfect representation of what the movie is. We need to begin and end the movie there." And so, they did. Jones talks more about filming at the Bean in this interview . 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

On this 90-minute guided walking tour inside the Art Institute of Chicago, get up close with art featured in the movie "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" The Art of Ferris Bueller On this 90-minute guided walking tour inside the Art Institute of Chicago, get up close with art featured in the movie "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" Read Reviews Book Public Tour Book Private Tour About 1.5 hrs 1 mi. 8 guests $39.99 On this 90-minute guided walking tour inside the Art Institute of Chicago, get up close with art featured in the movie "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" Calling art enthusiasts and Ferris Bueller fans! Get ready to step into the iconic world of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off on our popular 90-minute walking tour, aptly named The Art of Ferris Bueller . Led by a passionate Ph.D. guide , this immersive experience will take you through multiple galleries of the Art Institute of Chicago, where a memorable portion of the 1980s teen comedy unfolds. As you enter the Modern Wing, the adventure begins. Marvel at the same masterpieces that Ferris, Sloane, and Cameron admired during their legendary day off. Your guide, armed with a wealth of knowledge and a flair for storytelling, will regale you with little-known anecdotes and behind-the-scenes facts that will deepen your appreciation for both the art and the movie. As with all of our Chicago Movie Tours' guided tours, your experience here will be enhanced with clips, photos, soundbites, and screenshots. On The Art of Ferris Bueller , you'll traverse three floors of the museum, covering a distance of about 1 mile. Along the way, you'll discover 16 carefully selected pieces of art, each with its own unique connection to the characters, director, and storyline of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off . Ever wondered why Cameron fixated on that Seurat painting? Prepare to have your curiosity satisfied! Ideal for Gen-X—and all ages, of course!—this immersive experience promises to reignite your love for Ferris Bueller's Day Off while deepening your appreciation for the treasures housed within the Art Institute of Chicago. So, grab your tickets for The Art of Ferris Bueller , gather your friends, and get ready for a journey through art, cinema, and nostalgia that you won't soon forget! NOTE: Admission to the Art Institute of Chicago is not included in the public walking tour. Learn more. Movies/TV Highlighted Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986) If you're interested in exploring more than one film with us, check out our full list of guided walking tours. Public Tour Dates Saturday Aug 30, 2025 4:30 PM Buy Tickets Sunday Sep 7, 2025 4:30 PM Buy Tickets Saturday Sep 13, 2025 4:30 PM Buy Tickets Show More Dates Private Tours Book this tour as a private or group tour! The private tour price listed below is a flat fee for up to 8 guests. If you have more than 8 in your party, please contact us to see if we can accommodate you. NOTE: The Art Institute of Chicago closes Tuesdays and Wednesdays, so we cannot run this tour on those days. Book Private $399 Tour Specifics Start/End Points The tour starts in the Modern Wing of the Art Institute of Chicago, Griffin Court, by the staircase/chairs. Please arrive about 10 min. before the tour begins. NOTE: This is NOT the Michigan Ave. entrance with the lions. Museum Admission Admission to the Art Institute of Chicago is NOT included in our public walking tour (learn more ). For ticket prices, please refer to the museum's ticketing chart . Waivers Guests must initial a digital general waiver of liability with Chicago Movie Tours when they book. Guardians must sign waivers for children under the age of 18. Low Attendance To ensure we can provide a fun, engaging, and economically feasible public tour, we typically need a minimum of 4 guests. Head over to Tour Terms and Conditions for more on this policy, including reasons behind it and your refund options if, in the rare instance, a tour is cancelled due to low attendance. Parking/Transportation By Car : The Millennium Garages are located underground, below the parks adjacent to the museum. Public Transit : The Brown, Green, Orange, Pink, and Purple 'L' train lines all stop above ground at Adams/Wabash, one block west of the museum. The Red and Blue lines stop underground at Monroe, just a few blocks away. Accessibility Elevators are located throughout the museum for access to all levels. What to Bring Checkrooms are free for all visitors. Bags and backpacks larger than 13 x 17 x 4 inches are not allowed in the galleries and must be checked. If you plan to check bags, please arrive early as there may be a line. Water bottles are allowed, but they must be stowed in a bag when guests are in spaces that house art. Restrooms Restrooms are located throughout the museum on each level. Children Guests ages 10 and up can attend. Photography/Video Non-flash photography is permitted in all permanent galleries. Tripods, selfie sticks, and video are not permitted. Cancellations and Refunds You may cancel or amend your reservation 48 hours or more before the tour departs. Read more Tour Terms and Conditions . What's Included Immersive experience exploring Ferris Bueller's Day Off inside the Art Institute of Chicago Solid overview of the world-famous museum (three floors, covering about 1 mile) Tour guide commentary from a passionate Ph.D. in film Small groups to enhance engagement and foster a more personalized experience Visual and audio media to enhance your museum experience Little-known anecdotes, stories, and theories about the 1986 teen comedy Plenty of Instagram opportunities Mini (Ferris-themed) goodie bag! Reviews Fanni Art of Ferris Bueller average rating is 5 out of 5 Kelli is a very knowledgeable, engaging, and fun guide. This tour is really well organized, paced, and generally enjoyable, it is such a great way to explore the film more through its art, all the while discovering the Chicago Art Institute!! 100% recommend. August 10, 2025 Caroline Art of Ferris Bueller average rating is 5 out of 5 Fantastic tour! An absolutely incredible tour surprisingly very much related to Chicago and takes art viewing to a new level. Highly recommended! July 26, 2025 James Art of Ferris Bueller average rating is 5 out of 5 To all Ferris Bueller fans, this is a MUST-SEE tour in Chicago. Kelli, extremely knowledgeable, IPAD held in hand, explaining why John Hughes chose the paintings, location, etc. I'm returning to Chicago this year - taking the tour again! June 10, 2025 Load More Reviews

Upcoming Talks See where Kelli will be speaking next—online and in person. Sep 16, 2025, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM CDT From Ferris to the Frontlines: Chicago's Art Institute and Grant Park in the Movies / Bridgeview Public Library, 7840 W 79th St, Bridgeview, IL 60455, USA Learn more Sep 16, 2025, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM CDT Bridgeview Public Library, 7840 W 79th St, Bridgeview, IL 60455, USA From Ferris Bueller to political drama, see the Art Institute of Chicago and Grant Park through the lens of film Nov 18, 2025, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM CST Chicago and The Wizard of Oz / Bridgeview Public Library, 7840 W 79th St, Bridgeview, IL 60455, USA Learn more Nov 18, 2025, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM CST Bridgeview Public Library, 7840 W 79th St, Bridgeview, IL 60455, USA Discover Chicago's connections to 'The Wizard of Oz' Dec 09, 2025, 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM CST Behind the Scenes: National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation / Green Hills Public Library, 10331 Interlochen Dr, Palos Hills, IL 60465, USA Register Dec 09, 2025, 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM CST Green Hills Public Library, 10331 Interlochen Dr, Palos Hills, IL 60465, USA Yule love it! Unwrap the holiday magic and dive into the world of the Griswold family Mar 05, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM CST Women and Early Cinema in Chicago: Untold Stories Behind the Silent Screen / Naperville Public Library, 3015 Cedar Glade Dr, Naperville, IL 60564, USA Register Mar 05, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM CST Naperville Public Library, 3015 Cedar Glade Dr, Naperville, IL 60564, USA Explore hidden stories of women who shaped early Chicago cinema, with HD footage of key locations where they lived and worked Registration links to dates in the far future may not yet be available. Check back, or subscribe to be notified . Host This Crowd Favorite! Chicago's World's Fairs and the Movies Discover how Chicago helped advance film and create movie stars Learn More View All Talks

Upcoming Talks See where Kelli will be speaking next—online and in person. Sep 16, 2025, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM CDT From Ferris to the Frontlines: Chicago's Art Institute and Grant Park in the Movies / Bridgeview Public Library, 7840 W 79th St, Bridgeview, IL 60455, USA Learn more Sep 16, 2025, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM CDT Bridgeview Public Library, 7840 W 79th St, Bridgeview, IL 60455, USA From Ferris Bueller to political drama, see the Art Institute of Chicago and Grant Park through the lens of film Nov 18, 2025, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM CST Chicago and The Wizard of Oz / Bridgeview Public Library, 7840 W 79th St, Bridgeview, IL 60455, USA Learn more Nov 18, 2025, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM CST Bridgeview Public Library, 7840 W 79th St, Bridgeview, IL 60455, USA Discover Chicago's connections to 'The Wizard of Oz' Dec 09, 2025, 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM CST Behind the Scenes: National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation / Green Hills Public Library, 10331 Interlochen Dr, Palos Hills, IL 60465, USA Register Dec 09, 2025, 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM CST Green Hills Public Library, 10331 Interlochen Dr, Palos Hills, IL 60465, USA Yule love it! Unwrap the holiday magic and dive into the world of the Griswold family Mar 05, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM CST Women and Early Cinema in Chicago: Untold Stories Behind the Silent Screen / Naperville Public Library, 3015 Cedar Glade Dr, Naperville, IL 60564, USA Register Mar 05, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM CST Naperville Public Library, 3015 Cedar Glade Dr, Naperville, IL 60564, USA Explore hidden stories of women who shaped early Chicago cinema, with HD footage of key locations where they lived and worked Registration links to dates in the far future may not yet be available. Check back, or subscribe to be notified . Host This Crowd Favorite! America's Most Famous Diner, Chicago Style Visit a Chicago mural that spoofs one of American art's most well-known paintings by inserting celebrity likenesses Learn More View All Talks

Learn about Chicago-area locations from the pandemic horror movie 'Contagion' Contagion and Chicago Learn about Chicago-area locations from the pandemic horror movie 'Contagion' All Talks About Go on location with us, and discover why Chicago serves as the perfect setting for the pandemic horror movie Contagion (2011). Experience four Chicago-area locations used in Contagion via exclusive HD video footage, and see 3D views of other film destinations courtesy of Google Maps. Hear backstories on Contagion 's Chicago-based production, and learn eerie ways the COVID-19 pandemic mirrors the making of the film. Finally, get an overview of Contagion 's narrative and status as a horror movie, and discover how various forms of coldness—i.e., freezing temps, viral infections, ruthless behavior—suits Contagion 's storyline and director. 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. Home Alone 2 Today's #OneShotWed comes from Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992), a movie filmed mostly in Chicago while set predominately in Manhattan. In this shot, the film's bandit holds an ad for a massive toy store called Duncan's Toy Chest—clearly one of the first places a kid might venture into while lost in New York. Fun fact: Chicago's Rookery Building serves as the exterior of Duncan's Toy Chest. Check it out in the clip below. 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. Contagion Contagion is a 2011 thriller that follows the rapid spread of a deadly virus and the efforts of scientists, government officials, and the public to contain and understand the outbreak. Much of the movie was shot here in and around Chicago. Gwyneth Paltrow's character, seen below, dies early in Contagion due to the lethal spread of the virus. In today's #OneShotWed, her character's son watches said demise from the family kitchen. The house in which this scene was shot is located in the Chicago suburb of Glencoe. The family who owned the home stayed in a downtown Chicago hotel for 3 weeks (on the studio's bill, I assume) while set designers modified the furniture and wall paint to fit the story. All was reset after production of course. 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. My Best Friend's Wedding My Best Friend's Wedding is a romantic comedy that centers on Julianne (Julia Roberts), a food critic who realizes she's in love with her longtime best friend, Michael (Dermot Mulroney). Inconveniently, Julianne figures this out only a few days before Michael’s wedding to Kimmy (Cameron Diaz). Determined to win Michael’s love, Julianne tries to sabotage the wedding. The 1997 movie—which filmed on location all around Chicago —explores themes of love, friendship, and the complexities of unrequited feelings. This long shot of Julianne and Kimmy takes place inside the china department in the old Marshall Field & Co. department store on State St. (the store is now owned by Macy’s). Here, Julianne tries to convince Kimmy to get her wealthy father to offer Michael a job. This, she knows, will upset Michael and lead him, presumably, to break off the wedding. Julianne's scheme fails. A box office success in 1997, My Best Friend’s Wedding is notable for at least two reasons: First, the movie subverts rom-com tropes . Unlike most romantic comedies, in which the protagonist ends up with the person she loves, My Best Friend's Wedding defies expectations by not having Julianne "win" Michael in the end. Instead, Michael goes through with his marriage to Kimmy, leaving Julianne to come to terms with her feelings and behavior. For a mainstream Hollywood rom-com, the conclusion is rather bittersweet. Second, Julia Roberts plays a villain (of sorts). Considered “America’s sweetheart” at the time, Roberts does not play the typical lovable rom-com heroine in My Best Friend’s Wedding . She spends much of the film manipulating people to break up her best friend's wedding—unconventional actions not only for a protagonist in this genre, but also for Julia Roberts’ established 1990s star image. 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

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