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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. The Vow Today's #OneShotWed comes from the romantic drama The Vow (2012) and takes place under the Bean (aka. Cloud Gate) in Millennium Park. In his review, Roger Ebert laments the couple, played by Channing Tatum and Rachel McAdams, is rarely seen alongside any Chicago landmarks since the movie is primarily filmed in Toronto. Still, we should keep our eyes peeled for "one nice shot of the newlyweds running from the Art Institute across a footbridge into Millennium Park and ending up under the Bean." Watch the scene 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

On this leisurely walking tour led by a PhD in film, explore the 1893 Chicago World's Fair and the Midway's 130-year history with movies From Fairground to Film Set: Chicago's Midway, Movies, and the 1893 World's Fair On this leisurely walking tour led by a PhD in film, explore the 1893 Chicago World's Fair and the Midway's 130-year history with movies Read Reviews Book Public Tour Book Private Tour About 90 min 0.5 mi. 8 guests $39.99 On this leisurely walking tour led by a PhD in film, explore the 1893 Chicago World's Fair and the Midway's 130-year history with movies Journey back in time From Fairground to Film Set as you discover Chicago's movie history in an entirely new way! Step into the heart of the 1893 Chicago World's Fair as you explore the Midway Plaisance and its fascinating history. As you walk the Midway, you'll retrace the footsteps of millions who experienced a groundbreaking fusion of entertainment, culture, and technological advancement over a century ago! Your itinerary on this 90-minute guided walking tour includes 5 must-see stops on the Midway and the University of Chicago's campus, each brimming with historic—and cinematic—significance. Along the tree-lined route (0.5 mi.), your tour guide , a knowledgeable PhD, will relay little-known stories about the first cinema screenings, the first female action star, and a murderous cinematographer—yes, you read that right! As with all of our guided movie tours, your experience on From Fairground to Film Set: Chicago's Midway, Movies, and the 1893 World's Fair will be enhanced with a variety of media: film clips, photos, screenshots, and vintage movie fan magazines. Also, exclusive to this tour, you'll experience firsthand how a 19th-century moving picture device enthralled early audiences. So, whether you're a seasoned cinephile or simply seeking an unforgettable stroll through Chicago's cinematic past, don't miss your chance to join us for From Fairground to Film Set: Chicago's Midway, Movies, and the 1893 World's Fair ! Note : This limited Chicago movie tour is available on Sunday mornings to give you the most accurate and unobstructed view of the Midway's monumental sculpture Fountain of Time . Movies/TV Highlighted Loki (2021– ) Nope (2022) South Side (2019-2022) Flatliners (1990) The Package (1989) Sunset Boulevard (1950) Chicago the Beautiful (1948) Meet Me in St. Louis (1944) Sue (1915) The Hazards of Helen (1914-1917) The Horse in Motion (1880) Public Tour Dates Sunday May 17, 2026 3:30 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 so we can accommodate you. NOTE: This movie tour works best on weekend mornings to give you the most accurate and unobstructed view of the Midway's monumental sculpture Fountain of Time . Book Private $399 Tour Specifics Start/End Points The tour starts at 6016 S. Ingleside Ave, Chicago, IL. Please arrive about 10 min. before the tour begins. The tour ends at 6000 S. Cottage Grove Ave. 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 If available, free parking spots run along the Midway, Best Drive, and Payne Drive. For public transit: the Green Line runs from Chicago's Loop to S. Cottage Grove. Our starting point is about a 10-minute walk from the Cottage Grove 'L' station. Accessibility All 5 locations we visit have sidewalks, crosswalks, and ramps. The road we cross to visit Fountain of Time does not have a crosswalk designated for pedestrians. What to Bring Please wear weather-appropriate clothing. This tour runs in mild rain or shine. NOTE: Sheltering options are limited on this all-outdoor tour, so if the weather is too bad, we will reschedule. Restrooms A Jewel-Osco grocery store with a public restroom is near the end of our tour route. A restroom may also be available in Logan Center for the Arts, next to Midway Studios. Children Guests ages 10 and up can attend. Photography/Video No video or audio recording of the tour, but take as many pictures as you'd like! 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 5 must-see stops on the Midway and the University of Chicago campus Expert commentary from a PhD in film Small groups to enhance engagement and foster a more personalized experience Clips and vintage photos that enhance the Midway's film history Demonstration of 19th-century moving picture device Plenty of Instagram opportunities Free parking Mini (movie-themed) goodie bag! 💙 Reviews Don From Fairground to Film Set average rating is 5 out of 5 A very interesting tour of the Midway area and early Chicago film history - especially the unforgettable Lorado Taft. September 21, 2025 Lara Parker From Fairground to Film Set average rating is 5 out of 5 Kelli was so knowledgeable of the area and so friendly to be with and to ask her questions. This is a good tour of an area that's not well known. Will definitely take more in the future! June 3, 2025 Irene From Fairground to Film Set average rating is 5 out of 5 Kelli managed to tie 3 unique Chicago themes together in a very well researched and presented 75-minute tour. You may have never been on this select part of the U of C campus, but now you'll find yourself drawn to the outsized and outstanding Lorado Taft offerings. Kelli managed to include as many visual aids as one could handle while walking. I also appreciated the size and energy of our group. September 30, 2024 Load More Reviews

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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. The Lake House (2006) The Lake House (2006) is a romantic fantasy drama starring Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock. The plot centers on an architect (Reeves) and a physician (Bullock) who exchange letters across a two-year time gap while living in the same unique lake house at different times. In the above screenshot, Bullock’s character collapses by the mailbox, overcome with grief that one of her letters didn't reach Reeves' character in time. Moments later, her sadness turns to joy when he appears. The two kiss and then walk toward the lake house together, as shown in the film’s final shot . Chicago locations, mostly in the Loop , are evident in the movie: the Fine Arts Building, Auditorium Theater, Millers Pub, and Daley Plaza, for example. Cast and crew also ventured out to Chicago's western suburbs for several scenes. Featured are Riverside, Aurora, and most memorably, Willow Springs, where the lake house sits—or once sat. The glass house featured in The Lake House was constructed on dry land at Maple Lake in Willow Springs, IL , and then flooded to appear as if it was on the water. After production, the house was removed and replaced with a fishing dock. This decision was a major disappointment to several prospective buyers who reportedly showered the movie’s producers with inquiries about purchasing the house. The Lake House marks the second Chicago-based movie for both Bullock and Reeves. About a decade earlier, she starred in While You Were Sleeping (1995), he in Chain Reaction (1996). 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 (1981) This explosion falls at the end of the 1981 neo-noir Thief , directed by Michael Mann and starring James Caan, Jim Belushi, and Tuesday Weld. Here, Caan's character, Frank, has just blown up Chicago's Green Mill Lounge . Established in 1907 as Pop Morse's Roadhouse, the Green Mill has attracted many celebrities over the years: Gloria Swanson, Al Jolson, Louis Armstrong, and Billie Holiday, to name a few. Gangster Al Capone also had his own booth at the joint, which is still there. In addition to its firey demise here in Thief, the Green Mill has also been featured in Ocean’s 12, High Fidelity, The Lake House, V.I. Warshawski , and Next of Kin . Finally, did you notice the faux-pas in Thief 's Green Mill scene? If you look closely at the car door when Caan opens it, you'll see the movie lights used to illuminate the scene. Check out a screenshot . 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. 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. Flatliners Flatliners (1990) stars Kiefer Sutherland, Julia Roberts, William Baldwin, Oliver Platt, and Kevin Bacon. The movie follows five medical students conducting clandestine near-death experiments and was filmed at Loyola University Chicago between October 1989 and January 1990. The character in this close-up shot is Winnie Hicks (Kesha Reed ), a girl Kevin Bacon’s character, David, bullied in grade school. While flatlining, he is confronted by the 8-year-old girl on an ‘L’ train . She taunts him the way he taunted her, with ample amounts of vulgarity and hate. Watch the full scene below. Later in the movie, David visits Winnie , now an adult and played by Kimberly Scott . He apologizes for the way he tormented her, and she accepts his apology. Despite her small role, Scott received sigificant praise from film critics. One even says her “well-played, genuinely poignant scene with Bacon” balances Flatliners’ repetition and excess (The Monitor , 10 Aug 1990). 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. What Women Want This is the first shot of What Women Want (2000), a romantic comedy starring Mel Gibson and Helen Hunt. Along with others in this sequence, this week's shot tells us immediately that this story about men, women, and advertising takes place in the bustling city of Chicago. Also noteworthy: What Women Want remains the second-highest grossing romantic comedy to date . 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 (1.1) This is the opening shot of the FX television series The Bear . Atop Chicago’s Clark Street Bridge , chef Carmen “Carmy” Berzatto (Jeremy Allen White) comes face-to-face with a caged brown bear. Once released from its confines, the bear attacks, and Carmy wakes up in a restaurant kitchen. The 70-second sequence is a dream, a memorable and attention-grabbing dream. The Bear ’s co-showrunner and writer, Joanna Calo, says this sequence was crafted to grab the viewers’ attention so they’d put their phones away. The writers wanted to “trick people into watching more,” she jokes. More seriously, she continues: “But it is a way to let people know you’re going to want to sit down for this and pay attention.” Based on the popular and critical acclaim for The Bear , the intent behind this dream sequence worked: people are definitely paying attention. Watch a portion of this scene 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. 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. The Color of Money The Color of Money is a 1986 film directed by Martin Scorsese. It serves as a sequel to the 1961 movie The Hustler . Starring Paul Newman, Tom Cruise, and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, The Color of Money follows "Fast Eddie" Felson (Newman) and his protege, Vincent (Cruise), as they hustle their way to a nine-ball tournament . In this low-angle shot, Vince is in the middle of a game of pool, showboating in front of a crowd. His name is stamped across his t-shirt, illustrating Cruise’s “big and bold” performance, as one reviewer puts it in 1986: “Cruise knows how to make his props work for him — the silly 1950s pompadour, the shirt from the toy store he works at with “VINCE” in big block letters, the playful way he wields the pool cue. He’s not afraid to color Vince, to show you how he’s vain and impulsive and even a little stupid.” — Paul Attanasio, 21 October 1986 Several of Cruise’s pool scenes, like this one, were filmed inside Fitzgerald’s, a historic bar in Berwyn, IL, about 10 miles outside Chicago. Watch the scene below, and then check out Fitzgerald’s The Color of Money memorabilia in this Facebook post . 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. Medium Cool Medium Cool is a unique Chicago movie to say the least. Directed by Chicagoan Haskell Wexler , Medium Cool is notable for blending fictional storytelling and documentary techniques that, astonishingly, climax right in the middle of the riots during Chicago's 1968 Democratic National Convention . As Roger Ebert once put it , “There are fictional characters in real situations...there are real characters in fictional situations.” Principal shooting for Medium Cool began in Chicago on July 29, 1968. When the upheaval started in late August, the cast and crew jumped into the chaos. They tried to blend in with the crowd as much as possible so others would not notice they were filming a movie. In the center of this screenshot, the woman in yellow is actress Verna Bloom. Her fictional character, Eileen, heads to the site of the DNC looking for assistance. Instead, she finds herself in Grant Park and off Michigan Avenue amidst (very real) riots. Note: the men in the background of this screenshot are not actors, but actual law enforcement. There, the character/actress—along with Wexler’s camera and, therefore, you, the viewer—witnesses genuine acts of police brutality. In fact, Wexler says he was tear-gassed by National Guardsmen during the shoot. You can watch most of the protest scenes in the (rather poor quality) montage 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