Top 5 Horror Movies Filmed in Chicago (and Where to Find Them)
Horror Movies Filmed in Chicago That Every Fan Should See
Chicago isn’t just the Windy City—it’s a horror hotbed. From killer dolls on Pine Grove Avenue to serial killers prowling Lower Wacker, our city’s architecture, museums, and back‑alleys have fueled some unforgettable scares. Here’s the definitive ranking of the top five horror films actually filmed in Chicago, complete with Google Maps links, Reddit vibes, and that sweet, sweet city pride.
Top 5 Horror Films Shot on Location in Chicago
| Rank | Film | Year | Noteworthy Chicago Locations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Child’s Play | 1988 |
• Andy’s apartment – 2800 N Pine Grove Ave • Wabash & Van Buren – map • Former Carson Pirie Scott (State St) |
| 2 | Candyman | 1992/2021 |
• Cabrini-Green Homes – map • Museum of Contemporary Art – 220 E Chicago Ave |
| 3 | Flatliners | 1990 |
• Museum of Science & Industry – map • Loyola University Chicago – map |
| 4 | The Relic | 1997 |
• Field Museum of Natural History – 1400 S Lake Shore Dr • Museum Campus & Lakefront |
| 5 | Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer | 1986 |
• Lower Wacker Drive – map • Apartment exterior – 1801 W North Ave |
1. Child’s Play (1988)
The film that made Chucky a household name. Mostly shot around downtown Chicago, Chucky’s murderous opening chase off Wabash & Van Buren gave Chicagoans a scare—especially those who grew up near those intersections.
🦇 "The mom in Child’s Play worked at Carson Pirie Scott on State Street. Now it’s Target but still has the gothic vibes."
2. Candyman (1992 & 2021)
A Chicago horror icon. Both versions filmed in and around Cabrini‑Green—one of our most infamous neighborhoods—and the 2021 version even premiered at the MCA. Urban legend meets urban architecture.
3. Flatliners (1990)
Medical students toying with near‑death experiences? Sounds like Loyola undergrads. Shot in Chicago’s grandest institutions, Flatliners turned the Museum of Science & Industry and Loyola’s campus into eerie playgrounds of life and death.
4. The Relic (1997)
Let’s be honest: *The Relic* is the worst movie on this list. But the Field Museum? That’s holy ground. Field trips. First dates. Dinosaur bones. Sue the T‑rex. If you can’t get there, watching this film is a shaky stand‑in—but it’s a love letter to one of Chicago’s most iconic institutions.
5. Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986)
Stark, grainy, and unsettling. Shot across Chicago with zero glamor and total creep factor. Lower Wacker Drive has never looked more menacing.
Explore Chicago’s Horror Film Legacy
From Cabrini-Green to the Field Museum, these films turn our city into a horror fan’s playground. Which Chicago‑filmed horror movie gave you chills? Sound off in the comments and share this with your fellow movie buffs.
