Second City’s All-Time Favorite Chicago Movies

Emanuel? Emanuel? Emanuel?

Mayor Rahm declared that today’s Blackhawks celebration would give everyone in the city a chance to “feel like ‘Ferris Bueller’s Day Off’.” In honor of the unofficial official holiday, we asked our Second City family to share their all-time favorite Chicago flicks.

About Last Night

Based off a Mamet Play, screenplay by Second City’s own Tim Kazurinski, and featuring Jim Belushi in his finest role. “Where did she develop her personality…a car crash?” –Ronnie Feldman, Product Director, RealBiz Shorts

Backdraft

Hot, sweaty heroes. I watched it twelve times in the theater the summer it was released. –Lisa Linke, Lead Facilitator, Second City Communications

The Blues Brothers

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Greatest film soundtrack, period. –Chrissy Borne, Account Coordinator, BizCo

I can quote the whole damn thing. –Dujuan Pritchett, Head Stage Manager, Training Center

Who could argue with the wisdom of Jake and Elwood? “It’s 106 miles to Chicago, we got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it’s dark… and we’re wearing sunglasses.” –Scott Zoll, Account Director, BizCo

The Breakfast Club

“That man… is a brownie hound” –Andrea Miller, Group Events & Catering Manager

Child’s Play 2 

The reason for a lot of childhood nightmares as I realized none of the movies had children actually playing in them. –Chris Redd, TourCo/SCN Contributor

Cool Runnings

When the bobsled is carried over the finish line, the sobbing commences. –Heather Whinna, Manager

The Dark Knight

It’s the movie Chicago deserves, but not the one it needs right now. –James Dugan, Box Office

Chicago’s never looked more cinematic. It’s the perfect stand-in for Gotham.  –Steve Kakos, VP, Second City Communications

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off

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Captures a perfect day in Chicago in an hour and a half. –Tyler Alexander, VP of Digital Media

The Fugitive 

“The guy did a Peter Pan right off of this dam, right here.” –Nancy Fast, SCTC Student Services Coordinator

“My, my, my, my, my… what a mess.”  –Joseph Ruffner, Associate Producer, Touring & Theatricals

Glengarry Glen Ross

A movie where the only morally upstanding characters are offscreen and unseen. –John Hartman, National Touring Company Member

Because coffee is for closers, and it’s Mamet. –Jeremy Smith, Associate Producer

High Fidelity

Because I was that mix-tape guy. –Kelly Leonard, EVP, The Second City

It made me fall in love with not only Chicago, but also John Cusack’s inner monologue voiceovers. –Emily Walker, National Touring Company Member

There’s a Frisbie/Big Star poster hanging in John Cusack’s apartment.  –Jocelyn Geboy, Box Office

Home Alone 

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“Buzz! Your girlfriend! WOOF!” –Jessica Antes, Second City Training Center, Youth & Teen Programs Assistant

Kevin vs. the “Wet Bandits” –Patrick Loughman, Freelance Video Producer

My fourth grade husband, Macaulay Culkin, would be miffed if I chose anything else. –Casey Pilkenton, Account Coordinator for Second City Communications

Home Alone 2

“Suck brick, kid!” –Meghan Newman, Reception

Hoop Dreams

Great basketball story in the greatest basketball city. Also, I’m a pretentious ass. –Rob Gornik, Box Office

A League of Their Own

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It gave us the greatest Cubs player of all-time, Jimmy Dugan, and the one and only Marla Hooch…what a hitter! –Eddie Mujica, National Touring Company Member

Midnight Run

“I can say hello in a lot of different languages. Not yours, but a lot of them.”  While it spends only a brief time in Chicago, as DeNiro/Jack Walsh learns, it’s the work you do here that will benefit/haunt you forever. –Joseph Ruffner, Associate Producer, Touring & Theatricals

My Best Friend’s Wedding 

Because I can’t figure out how Julia Roberts drives from Winnetka to the Loop in such a short amount of time! In rush hour. –Jeff Gandy, Youth Program Manager

It taught college-me that it’s ok not to get the guy, because there will always be a fabulous gay man to catch you when you fall. –Emily Walker, National Touring Company Member

A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon

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River Phoenix performs beat poetry, scores with no less than 3 girls, and crashes a 57 Buick racing the L. –Billy Bungeroth, Resident Director/SCN Creative Director

North by Northwest

Because Hitchcock is a genius, and Grant is one helluva sexy man. –Kerry Sheehan, President, Training Center

Pet Sematary

Because my dog just died. –Griffin Wenzler, Box Office

Return to Me

Italians and Irish mixing, Twin Anchors, Pro-Organ Donation and David Duchovny. –Katie Rich, Mainstage Actor

Sixteen Candles

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“Dong, where is my automobile? Auuutomobiiiile? –Adrienne Kerwin, Executive Assistant, Second City Communications

Some Like It Hot 

Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis stumble upon the Valentine’s Day Massacre. Hilarity ensues. –Kristina Felske, SNC Contributor/BoatCo Alumni

The Sting

Newman AND Redford. Pant. Pant. –Rachael Mason, Head of Advanced Improvisation

The Time Traveler’s Wife

Only movie I’ve loved that involved time travel. –Claire Swanson, Box Office

Uncle Buck

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“Take this quarter, go downtown, and have a rat gnaw that thing off your face.” The scene was filmed in my elementary school. –Liz Kozak, SCN Editor-in-Chief

John Candy’s unbreakable china. –Pete Parsons, Groups Concierge

The Untouchables  

Baseball bat to the head. —Ed Furman, SCN Contributor

Wayne’s World

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Zang! (“Excellent” in Cantonese) –Tiffany Smith, Manager of Group Sales

While You Were Sleeping

Not a big fan of the movie, but I could watch the paperboy falling off his bike and the kid wiping out while ice skating all day long. –Nikki Pierce, SCN Contributor

Do you agree with our list? What would you add? Let us know what your favorite #ChicagoMovies are!