A John Hughes Tour of Chicagoland

I am a complete 80’s movie buff and high school dramedies are my favorite genre. John Hughes was the king of accurately portraying 80’s teen angst. My love of 80’s movies began with my first viewing of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off when I was about 12 years old. Since then, I have seen the movie well over 100 times. Being a Chicago local, the movie was all the more special to me as I watched Ferris, Cameron, and Sloane visit so many iconic city landmarks. From there, I grew to love all Hughes movies, especially The Breakfast Club, Sixteen Candles, Weird Science, and Pretty in Pink.

John Hughes grew up in Chicago’s prominent North Shore suburbs and chose to base all his movies in the area. It’s hard to not love the Chicago suburbs when watching his movies. All his films have timeless appeal which even new generations can appreciate. According to this great book I read (You Couldn’t Ignore Me if you Tried), John even had a house in Chicago while he lived in L.A. His love of Chicago is apparent in all his films. It’s a trip down nostalgia lane for me having lived in Chicago for all of my childhood to come back to these films year after year.

In this article, you will find some of the top Hughes filming locations throughout Chicago’s North Shore. Note – most of these residences are private, so please respect the owners privacy and view from afar.

Sixteen Candles

Date of release: May 4, 1984

Filming location: 3018 Payne St, Evanston, IL 60201 (Samantha Baker’s house)

 “I can’t believe this. They f***** *forgot my birthday.” Samantha Baker

I watch Sixteen Candles pretty much every year on my birthday. While it is not quite as iconic as The Breakfast Club, it’s pretty darn close. Anthony Michael Hall is just perfect as “The Geek.” The whole storyline of the geeky girl getting with the popular guy in the end appeals to most people. Not likely in real life, but a charming fantasy for many adolescents nonetheless. You can see the Baker house in the upscale Chicago suburb of Winnetka. According to The Chicago Tribune, the 5000 sq feet, 5 bedroom sold for 1.62 million in June of 2022.

You can also check out the church (Glencoe Union) at 263 Park Ave, Glencoe, IL 60022. The scene where Samantha sees Jake waiting for her by the car and the Dad gives a thumbs up is one of my all time favorites.

Home Alone

Date of release: November 16, 1990

Filming location: 671 Lincoln Ave, Winnetka, IL 60093 (The Mcallister house exterior shots). Also Hubbards Wood Park (ice skating scene):939 Old Green Bay Rd, Winnetka, IL 60093, Trinity United Methodist church (Kevin meets old man Marley): 1024 Lake Ave, Wilmette, IL 60091

“This is my house. I have to defend it!” Kevin McCallister

By now, pretty. much everyone has seen the holiday classic about a family accidentally leaving their 8 year old boy home alone while they are vacationing to Paris. Watching the crazy antics of dopey Harry and Marv as Kevin defends his massive house is a yearly tradition for me. While Home Alone 2 is one of the few sequels just as good as the original, you really can’t beat the setting of the first film in that gorgeous house. Who didn’t dream of spending Christmas in the Georgian red brick beauty?! The Winnetka neighborhood the house films in is so gorgeous. While the interior has been updated, personally, I would have kept the house exactly the same! As of May 2024, the house is up for sale at a whopping price tag of 5.25 million!

Murphy’s and Old Man Marley’s house can also be viewed while you are in the neighborhood.

The Breakfast Club

Date of release: February 15th, 1985

Filming location: 9511 Harrison Street Des Plaines, IL 60016 (outside of high school)

“You see us as you want to see us . In the simplest terms, in the most convenient definitions. You see us as a brain, an athlete, a basket case, a princess, and a criminal.”

Is there any movie more Gen X than The Breakfast Club? Anyone who grew up in this generation will relate to this timeless cult classic about 5 students from completely different backgrounds who discover they have more in common than they originally thought. This movie is such a great analysis on high school cliques and how everyone is battling their own unique problems no matter how put together they may seem at first glance. It definitely wins the award for being the most quote worthy Hughes movie of all time. And who could forget that ending scene with Bender pumping his fist in the air as the iconic Simple Minds “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” blasts in the background. So iconic!

The movie filmed in a closed high school (the library was a set) – Main North in Des Plaines. While the building is now home to the Illinois State Police, you can snap a quick photo of the exterior which you will remember from the opening scene where the parents drop the kids off. Also, on an interesting side note, according to Movie Locations, the hallways used in filming were shot at John’s actual high school – Glenbrook North.

Uncle Buck

Date of release: August 16, 1989

Filming location: 2602 Lincoln St, Evanston, IL 60201 (The Russell family house)

 “I don’t think I want to know a six-year-old who isn’t a dreamer, or a sillyheart” Uncle Buck

I grew up watching this John Candy gem about a slobby, unemployed city man who has to watch his brother’s 3 kids during an emergency. The script is heartfelt and charming and made me a lifelong John Candy fan. Planes, Trains & Automobiles with both Candy & the always wonderful Steve Martin is probably the best Hughe’s film of them all. The Russell house where Buck watches the kids can be viewed in Evanston – it’s actually not far from the Sixteen Candles residence. The home last sold for $955,000 in 1998. For those unfamiliar with the film, it is one of Macaulay Culkin’s’ first big screen debuts. He is adorable as Miles Russell.

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off

Date of release: June 11, 1986

Filming location: 370 Beech Street Highland Park, IL (Cameron’s House), Also: The Art Institute of Chicago and Wrigley Field

“Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while you could miss it.” Ferris Bueller

There is no 80’s movie more classic with more memorable movie quotes than Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. If you are a Chicago resident, this is probably one of your favorites in your collection. Matthew Broderick was absolutely perfect as Ferris (As Cameron once said, “Ferris Bueller – you’re my hero” ), a slacker who plays hooky and take a “day off” to enjoy the sights around Chicago with his friends Cameron & Sloane. The city of Chicago is as much a character in the movie with numerous iconic landmarks like The Art Institute of Chicago and Wrigley Field making appearances.

Note – The house used for exterior shots is actually located in Long Beach (unfortunately, I lost my picture – this was before phones had cameras!), but you can see Cameron’s house as well as the iconic Save Ferris water tower. The Northbrook water tower was painted with “Save Ferris” specifically for the movie. Since then, it has been repainted, although you can still see the tower as well as a memorial plaque.

Planes, Trains, & Automobiles

Date of release: November 25, 1987

Filming Location: 230 Oxford Road Kenilworth, IL 60043 

“I Like Me. My Wife Likes Me. My Customers Like Me. ‘Cause I’m The Real Article. What You See Is What You Get.” Del Griffith

I have always been a huge Steve Martin fan ever since my first viewing of the wonderful Father of the Bride many years ago. I have made it a point to watch almost anything he is in. My all time favorite is Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, which I watch at least once a year on Thanksgiving. Steve Martin’s chemistry with the late John Candy is just fantastic and has made this movie a timeless classic. So many funny scenes where Neal gets stuck with Del again and again while trying to get home to his family in Chicago suburbs for Thanksgiving! If you are looking for a real beauty, the gorgeous red brick home was recently listed for 2.6 million in May of 2024!