With its beautiful city skyline and majestic waterways, it’s no surprise that Chicago has inspired and become the setting for dozens of popular movies, TV shows, music videos, and more. A bustling urban adventure showcasing a wide range of architecture and historic locations, the Windy City is a treasure trove for movie buffs and casual fans alike.
Here are just a few of the famous sites from the big screen you can see while cruising down the Chicago River.
Hunter
One of the most famous movie scenes on the Chicago River would have to be the memorable car chase from the 1980 film Hunter, starring Steve McQueen. Racing up the winding Marina City parking garage, an epic chase scene ends with a car speeding over the edge of the tall apartment building complex, crashing and splashing stories below into the Chicago River.
My Best Friend’s Wedding
A memorable scene from the cult classic My Best Friend’s Wedding takes place on the Chicago River itself. Our main characters (played by Julia Roberts and Dermot Mulroney) share a suspenseful, romantic moment while sailing down the city’s picturesque river and under its bridges. The scene was filmed aboard a Chicago’s First Lady boat, staged as one of it’s fan-favorite and famous architecture cruises along the Chicago River.
The Batman Trilogy
For the acclaimed Batman Trilogy, Chicago had the honor of becoming Gotham, home to the masked cape-crusader himself. Those with eagle eyes can spot multiple spots around the Chicago River that were featured in both Batman Begins and The Dark Knight films, including the bridges crossing the river on North Dearborn, Franklin Street, West Van Buren.
Transformers: Dark Side of the Moon
Various bridge locations, including North Wabash Avenue, North State Street, and Du Sable Bridge on Michigan Avenue, were also used for Transformers: Dark Side of the Moon, which is set in Chicago.
Rampage
In a memorable scene in Rampage, a giant crocodile rises directly out of the river along the River Walk and causes havoc along the streets of Upper Wacker Drive. In the words of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s character, “That sucks!”
Put Yourself in the Movies!
See these famous Chicago River sites and more with an unforgettable docent-led tour aboard Chicago’s First Lady. Reserve your ticket today and get ready to set sail on the #1 Boat Tour in the U.S.
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