Jun 15, 2022
Have you ever seen a movie or television show and instantly recognized the location where it was filmed? Chicago is a popular city for filmmakers, and that’s why so many iconic homes around the city have been featured on the big and small screen.
If you’re a fan of architecture or just love seeing Chicago on film, here are seven famous Chicago homes from movies and TV.
Home Alone
The McAllister house in the 1990 film Home Alone was filmed in a Chicago suburb. The beautiful 4 bedroom, 4 bath Georgian home is located in Winnetka and looks about the same as it did over 30 years ago when Kevin McAllister (Macaulay Culkin) was fending off burglars.
While the McAllister home is a private residence and not open to the public, you can drive by and take a look at it any time. Just be careful not to accidentally leave your kid there like Mr. and Mrs. McAllister did! The home is currently valued at a whopping $2,147,677.
Contagion
With the recent pandemic, 2011 film Contagion regained popularity as people were interested in seeing how a global pandemic might play out. Chicago was used as a stand-in for Minneapolis in the film, but any resident would recognize some of the local landmarks.
One of the most iconic Chicago homes in Contagion is that of character Beth (Gwyneth Paltrow). The 5 bedroom, 2 bathroom home is located in Glencoe and has an estimated value of over $1+ million.
Groundhog Day
The 1993 film Groundhog Day starring Bill Murray was not filmed in Punxsutawney, but entirely in Woodstock, about an hour northwest of Chicago. Bill Murray didn’t actually spend time inside the home, but you can see the exterior in several scenes.
The 8 bedroom, 8.5 bath stately Victorian has since had beautiful updates, and now operates as a bed and breakfast. You can book a room to stay at the Cherry Tree Inn B&B here, just don’t get stuck in a time loop like Phil Connors (Bill Murray) did!
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986) was set and filmed entirely in Chicago, serving as the director, John Hughes’ “love letter” to the city. The house where a beautiful red Ferrari crashes through the glass garage is a real Chicago home that still stands today. The modern glass house was designed by A. James Speyer and is located in Highland Park. In 2014, it sold for over $1.5 million. If only it came with a Ferrari, too!
Shameless
The Showtime series Shameless is set in Chicago and was filmed on location in the city. The Gallagher family home, which is shown extensively throughout the show, is located in the North Lawndale neighborhood on the West Side of Chicago.
While most of the exterior shots are of the actual home, the show is predominantly filmed in Burbank, CA at Warner Brothers Studios.
Empire
The incredible 17,597 square foot Lyon estate, which is shown throughout Fox’s series Empire, sits on an 8 acre lot of Barrington.
The elegant mansion was dubbed the “most beautiful home for sale in Illinois” by Architectural Digest. And with all the lavish features, like 6 bedrooms, 10 baths, views of 2 beautiful lakes, home theater, billiards room, and more, we can see why. Want to live here? This home will set you back over $9.5 million!
Windy City Rehab
HGTV’s Windy City Rehab features home renovators Alison Victoria Gramenos and Donovan Eckhardt. Each episode follows them as they rescue a Chicago home from ruin and turn it into a luxurious property. You’ll see several homes featured on the show from Chicago neighborhoods like Lincoln Park, Lakeview, Wicker Park, and more.
From historic mansions to modern abodes, Chicago is a hot spot for film and TV productions. But it’s not just houses that get their moment in the spotlight…
Shows like Ozark, Chicago PD, Love is Blind, Chicago Fire and many others are filmed in the city and suburbs showcasing the best of Chicago. Blockbusters like The Dark Knight, Divergent, and The Fugitive have also used Chicago’s streets and buildings as a backdrop.
Landmarks like the Willis Tower, Navy Pier, and Millennium Park have all been featured over the years. With a city as beautiful as Chicago, it’s no wonder why it’s such a popular filming location!
And if you’re looking for a Chicago home of your own, Overstreet Builders can help. We’re a local home builder with over 60 years of experience building custom homes in the Chicago suburbs. Contact our team to build on your lot or in one of our Signature Neighborhoods. Chicago is our home, and we can’t wait to help you make it yours too!