While it may be called the Second City, Chicago is the king of holiday movies. There are some obvious reasons why so many iconic Christmas movies are filmed in Chicago. Downtown provides incredible backdrops and lights, and the suburbs offer huge homes and mansions.

Why do so many movies take place in Chicago?

Blockbusters, such as Blues Brothers, Sixteen Candles, and The Dark Knight, have rejuvenated the Chicago film scene. In the 21st century, Chicago further experienced a film revival due to a tax bill the state of Illinois passed to give filmmakers a 30% tax break on production costs.

Is the Santa Clause set in Chicago?

The film was shot at Raleigh Studios in Hollywood, California, and on location in the Greater Toronto Area, with Oakville serving as the city of Lakeside, Illinois.

Is Christmas Vacation set in Chicago?

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. While the opening scene of the movie is most definitely not set in Illinois, the Griswold family is said to live in the Chicago area. The 1989 film did not, however, take over an entire Chicago suburb for filming. Instead, the Griswold house was located on a Warner Bros.

What Hallmark Christmas movie is based in Chicago?

Nicknamed “Miss Christmas,” the official tree finder for Chicago's renowned Radcliffe Tree lighting is left desperate to find the perfect tree. A letter from a young boy promising his tree is perfect sends her to a small town where she learns the young boy's dad isn't willing to part with his tree.

Christmas Movies Filmed in Chicago

Why do most Christmas movies take place in Chicago?

While it may be called the Second City, Chicago is the king of holiday movies. There are some obvious reasons why so many iconic Christmas movies are filmed in Chicago. Downtown provides incredible backdrops and lights, and the suburbs offer huge homes and mansions.

Where are most Hallmark Christmas movies made?

It turns out, you can! The majority of Hallmark movies are filmed in Canada (didn't see that one coming) and typically set in larger cities near Vancouver. Some filming locations have even gone so far to cross the pond. For example, Christmas in Vienna really was filmed in Austria.

Was Christmas with the Kranks filmed in Chicago?

Christmas with the Kranks (2004) has a very low score on Rotten Tomatoes but nonetheless features stars Tim Allen and Jamie Lee Curtis. It is set in the suburb of Riverside, and was filmed on location in Illinois, California, and Canada.

Is A Christmas Story based in Chicago?

This movie is A Christmas Story, released in November 1983 and taking place in fictitious Hohman, Indiana. Hohman is a pseudonym for Hammond, the Indiana city just across the state line from Calumet City.

Where is the National Lampoon's Christmas house located?

While set in a snowy suburb of Chicago, Christmas Vacation was lensed primarily in sunny Los Angeles (along with a few exteriors shot in Colorado). The set of the Griswold family's traditional clapboard house is located on the backlot of the Warner Bros. Ranch facility in Burbank (RV not included).

Is Home Alone set in Chicago?

The 1990 flick follows Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin), a Chicago kid who's accidentally been left behind by his family who are en route to Paris, as he fights off the two burglars who break into their gorgeous home on Christmas Eve.

What Netflix show is based in Chicago?

This eclectic, star-studded anthology follows diverse Chicagoans fumbling through the modern maze of love, sex, technology and culture. Watch all you want.

What city is Christmas with the Kranks set in?

Christmas with the Kranks takes place mostly in the Kranks' neighborhood of Hemlock Street in Riverside, a suburb of Chicago, Illinois, over the course of four weeks from Thanksgiving to Christmas Eve.

What movies destroy Chicago?

Of course, Chicago was once destroyed literally. There was a fire. It was sort of a big deal back in 1871. Since then, we've seen Chicago destroyed (or at least manhandled) in Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, Man of Steel, Transformers: Dark of the Moon, Divergent, Insurgent, and Transformers: Age of Extinction.

What is the most famous movie filmed in Chicago?

What is the most filmed street in America?

Hollywood Boulevard is the Most Filmed Street in the US

So, across the years, the Boulevard has offered not just convenience for location scouts but a ripening charisma. And that's to say nothing of its secret alleys.

What Christmas town is close to Chicago?

Frankenmuth, MI

The self-guided driving light tour is sure to be a highlight as you make your way through town and see all the beautiful holiday displays. The town of Frankenmuth goes all out during the holiday season and you will want to check out the complete holiday guide so you don't miss out on any of the fun!

Why does Vanessa Hudgens do so many Christmas movies?

“The reason why I started doing these Christmas films is because holidays can be stressful, and I love the fact that we have films to find escapism,” Hudgens told Entertainment Weekly in November.

Why are so many Christmas movies set in New York?

New York City is a popular setting for Hallmark Movies. The lively and busy atmosphere allows characters to move around easily between coffee shops, interact with street vendors, and chase their professional aspirations.

Is A Christmas Story set in Chicago?

The film is set in Hohman, Indiana, a fictionalized version of Shepherd's hometown of Hammond, the only Hoosier city to border Chicago. The name is derived from Hohman Avenue, a major street in downtown Hammond. Local references in the film include Warren G.

Was The Santa Clause filmed in Chicago?

The Santa Clause Locations

A majority of the scenes for the film were shot in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, while some additional scenes were filmed at Raleigh Studios in Los Angeles, California.

Was the 12th date of Christmas filmed in Chicago?

“On the 12th Date of Christmas” was, of course, not filmed in Chicago. Shot in Canada over the summer, the movie showcases stock footage of Chicago landmarks.

Why does Hallmark do so many Christmas movies?

Money is no doubt the driving force for the creation of Hallmark movies, according to Zammarelli. Although the number of cable subscribers has gone from 90 million at its peak to approximately 50 million due to the emergence of streaming, the Hallmark Channel's viewership has risen in the last few years.

What time of year are Hallmark Christmas movies filmed?

They're usually filmed in the summer.

They're probably sweating like crazy. That's because they usually film Hallmark Christmas movies in the summer, and production crews use trucks full of ice and white drapes to make the sets look wintery.

How much money does Hallmark make from Christmas movies?

Forbes magazine estimates that the 80 million people who watch at least some of a Hallmark movie generate a third of the channel's annual ad revenue. That's $350 million. So, 42 movies at $2 million a pop vs $350 million… It's a good business model.