CHICAGO — Holed up at home thanks to the 19 inches of snowfall that hit Chicago this weekend?
We can help.
Here's our list of the top movies based in the Chicago area and now streaming on Netflix for you to enjoy this winter:
"Ferris Bueller's Day Off" (1986)
John Hughes wrote, produced and directed this story about high school slacker Ferris Bueller's epic day of hooky in downtown Chicago. The movie stars Matthew Broderick as Ferris Bueller, Mia Sara as Bueller's girlfriend, Sloane Peterson, and Alan Ruck as Bueller's best bud, Cameron Frye.
"Wayne's World" (1992)
Travel to Aurora to catch "Wayne's World," a public-access television show hosted by metalheads Wayne Campbell and Garth Algar. The movie based on the "Saturday Night Live" sketch follows Wayne and Garth after the rights to their popular show is bought by a shady TV producer and as Wayne tries to woo the beautiful, Cassandra (Tia Carrera). Mike Myers stars as Wayne and Dana Carvey plays Garth. Stay for Mikita's Donuts.
"Only The Lonely" (1991)
John Candy plays a lovelorn Chicago cop whose overbearing Irish mother tries her hardest to disrupt his new relationship in this Chris Columbus comedy. Candy's Danny Muldoon is a die-hard White Sox fan who lives at Clark and Roscoe in Wrigleyville. Jim Belushi plays his sidekick, Sal.
"While You Were Sleeping" (1995)
When Lucy saves Peter from an oncoming "L" train, she pretends to be his fiance in order to make his family feel better. Lucy (Sandra Bullock) continues the ruse while falling in love with Peter's brother, Jack (Bill Pullman).
"Ordinary People" (1980)
A suburban Chicago family copes with the loss of a son at sea in this drama that marked Robert Redford's directorial debut. Starring Donald Sutherland, Mary Tyler Moore, Judd Hirsch and Timothy Hutton. "Ordinary People" won four Academy Awards.
"Thief" (1981)
James Caan plays a jewel thief looking for a more respectable life when he gets caught up in a mob murder. This thriller is based on a novel by a real-life cat burglar John Seybold. Jim Belushi plays his sidekick, Barry.
"Barbershop" (2002)
"Barbershop" centers around life in a, well, barbershop on the South Side of Chicago, starring Cedric the Entertainer, Anthony Anderson, Eve and Ice Cube. Ice Cube plays Calvin Palmer Jr, who's fed up with the struggling shop he inherited from his father.
"Hoop Dreams" (1994)
This 1994 documentary directed by Steve James follows William Gates and Arthur Agee, two African-American kids recruited to play basketball at a predominantly white high school. James got more than he bargained for following the whirlwind lives of Gates, of the Cabrini-Green housing project, and Agee of West Garfield Park.
"My Bodyguard" (1980)
This comedy-drama follows Clifford Peache, the new kid at Lake View High School, as he becomes the target of bully Melvin Moody, played by Matt Dillon. Peache, played by Chris Makepeace, lives in a luxury hotel downtown with his eccentric grandmother and his father, who manages the hotel.
Not on Netflix? Not to worry. Try these staff picks, which you can find on Amazon, a movie-rental store or library:
"Batman Begins" (2005)
Chicago stands in as Gotham City in this 2005 Christopher Nolan film that explores the Caped Crusader's origin. Starring Christian Bale and Liam Neeson.
"Kissing a Fool" (1998)
Jason Lee and David Schwimmer star alongside Chicago in this whimsical comedy about two best friends and the woman they both love.
"Continental Divide" (1981)
John Belushi plays a Sun-Times columnist who goes off the grid to escape the mob.
"The Front Page" (1974)
Based off Ben Hecht's play of the same name, "The Front Page" is a classic comedy about a group of befuddled reporters covering the last hours of a Death Row convict. Hilarity ensues! Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau star.
"Blues Brothers" (1980)
It put Chicago on the map as a filming destination. Jake and Elwood Blues (John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd) must raise money to save the orphanage they grew up in, while escaping Johnny Law, Illinois Nazis and vengeful country (and western) singers. They're helped on the way by a score of music legends, including Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin and Cab Calloway.
"About Last Night" (1986)
Rob Lowe and Demi Moore try their hand at living together, while navigating adulthood. Classic shots of 16-inch softball games, the Original Mother's and 1980s Chicago. Jim Belushi plays Lowe's sidekick, Bernie.
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