FILMS

Films At Daley Center

Our facilities have seen helicopter landings, armored tanks, police chases, bus crashes, gun-wielding criminals and elderly characters hogging the pay phones. However, every movie that has been filmed in our facilities has the cast and crew of The Blues Brothers to thank for opening the door for them.

Robert K. Weiss, Producer: “The Blues Brothers was really the first big picture to shoot in Chicago since [Mayor Richard J.] Daley had passed away…we met with Mayor Jane Byrne. We had met with her to say how happy we were to be shooting in Chicago and so forth, and so she asked was there anything she could do for us.”

John Landis, Director: “Mayor Byrne was very instrumental. And there were other people in high places…it was amazing the cooperation we got from the whole city.”

Here at the Daley Center, we embrace filmmakers who help generate jobs for our community and stimulate our local economy…welcome to Chicago!

Major Films Shot at Daley Plaza

The Daley Center’s official film history lists numerous productions that have filmed scenes on the plaza or in the building. These include:

1980s

  • The Blues Brothers (1980) – One of the most famous Daley Plaza scenes involves the climactic chase to the Cook County Assessor’s office.
  • Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986) – Includes scenes filmed in and around the Daley Center area.

1990s

  • The Fugitive (1993) – Filmed at Daley Plaza; notable for its downtown chase sequences. [imdb.com]
  • Mercury Rising (1998) – Bruce Willis thriller featuring Daley Center scenes.

2000s

  • Stranger Than Fiction (2006) – Will Ferrell’s character navigates parts of downtown Chicago, including Daley Plaza.
  • The Lake House (2006) – Official location listings confirm filming at Daley Plaza. [imdb.com]
  • The Dark Knight (2008) – Christopher Nolan used downtown Chicago extensively, including Daley Plaza, for Gotham City scenes.
  • The Promotion (2008) – Features scenes shot at the Daley Center.
  • Baby on Board (2009) – Filmed in part at the Daley Center.
  • Transformers 3: Dark of the Moon (2010) – Included Daley Plaza in its large‑scale Chicago action sequences.

2010s

  • Man of Steel (2013) – Chicago sites, including Daley Plaza, doubled as Metropolis.

Other Notable Productions

IMDb records additional verified titles filmed at the plaza, including:

  • Forbidden Lie$ (2007) – Documentary/drama with scenes shot at Daley Plaza.
    [imdb.com]

Television Productions

Daley Plaza has also been featured in several television shows, including:

  • Chicago P.D. (2017)
  • Shameless (2017)
  • Batwoman (2020)

All documented by the Daley Center itself.