Chicago Movies & TV Shows on Netflix: What to Watch
Updated September 2026. Originally published September 29, 2022.
Chicago has been the setting for major comedies, crime dramas, documentaries and television series—and it has also doubled for other cities on screen. This guide focuses on movies and TV shows that are set in Chicago, substantially filmed in Chicago, or strongly connected to the Chicago area, with current Netflix availability separated from titles that have appeared on the service in the past.
Availability note: Streaming catalogs change frequently and can vary by country. The status below was checked against Netflix’s U.S. catalog and official Netflix release information in September 2026. A title can be added or removed without much notice.
Chicago Movies & TV Shows Streaming on Netflix Now
| Title | Type | Chicago connection | Netflix status |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Blues Brothers | Movie | Set and extensively filmed in Chicago | Streaming in the U.S. as of September 2026 |
| Sense8 | TV series | Chicago is one of several major international locations | Available on Netflix |
| The Trial of the Chicago 7 | Movie | Chicago history and courtroom drama | Available on Netflix |
The Blues Brothers
Chicago connection: Set in Chicago and extensively filmed around the city and suburbs.
Jake Blues, played by John Belushi, reunites with his brother Elwood, played by Dan Aykroyd, to put their R&B band back together and raise money for the orphanage where they grew up. The movie’s Chicago identity is central to its appeal, with city streets, expressways, landmarks and suburban locations woven into the action.
Musical appearances include James Brown and Ray Charles, while Carrie Fisher plays Jake’s furious former fiancée. Netflix officially added The Blues Brothers to its U.S. catalog on September 1, 2026.
Sense8
Chicago connection: Filmed partly in Chicago; the city is one of several major locations in a deliberately global series.
Created by Lilly Wachowski, Lana Wachowski and J. Michael Straczynski, Sense8 follows eight people around the world who discover that they can experience one another’s thoughts, emotions and physical sensations. Chicago is an important part of the show’s geography, but it should not be described as a Chicago-only production.
Netflix currently lists two seasons of the series, followed by the feature-length finale that concluded the story after the original cancellation.
The Trial of the Chicago 7
Chicago connection: Based on events surrounding the 1968 Democratic National Convention and the subsequent federal trial.
Aaron Sorkin’s historical courtroom drama follows the defendants charged after demonstrations and clashes surrounding the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. The film stars Sacha Baron Cohen, Eddie Redmayne, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Jeremy Strong and others.
The movie is a dramatization rather than a documentary reconstruction, but it remains one of Netflix’s most direct feature-film connections to Chicago political history.
Related viewing: Medium Cool
Haskell Wexler’s Medium Cool is not part of this current Netflix list, but it makes an especially useful companion to The Trial of the Chicago 7. Wexler filmed amid the actual unrest surrounding the 1968 convention, blending fiction with documentary-like footage of real events.
Chicago Movies Previously on Netflix
The following titles have appeared on Netflix in the past, but current U.S. availability was not confirmed during this September 2026 update. Rather than guessing that they “may return soon,” this section preserves their Chicago relevance while keeping the availability claim accurate.
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
Chicago connection: Chicago and North Shore setting, with major Chicago filming.
Ferris, Cameron and Sloane spend their day off moving through some of the city’s most recognizable locations, including the Art Institute of Chicago and Wrigley Field. The film is one of the clearest examples of Chicago itself functioning as part of the story rather than merely a backdrop.
Hoop Dreams
Chicago connection: Chicago documentary.
Steve James’ documentary follows William Gates and Arthur Agee as they pursue basketball ambitions while navigating school, family and economic pressures in Chicago. Roger Ebert became one of the film’s most prominent champions, but its significance comes primarily from the depth of its portrait of the two young men and the institutions around them.
Mean Girls
Chicago connection: Fictional suburban Illinois setting rather than a Chicago filming showcase.
The movie is set in fictional suburban Illinois, making it part of the broader Chicagoland cultural orbit. Principal photography, however, took place largely in the Toronto area, so it belongs here because of setting rather than because viewers will see extensive authentic Chicago locations.
H.H. Holmes: America’s First Serial Killer
Chicago connection: Chicago history and the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition era.
The documentary examines H.H. Holmes, whose crimes and Chicago activities became closely associated with the city’s late-19th-century history. The label “America’s first serial killer” is commonly used in popular accounts, but it should be understood as a conventional characterization rather than an uncontested historical fact.
Chicago TV Shows to Look For on Netflix
Sense8 is the strongest current example because it is a Netflix original with meaningful Chicago filming and story connections. Other Chicago-set television series move between streaming services over time, so this page does not treat every notable Chicago show as a permanent Netflix title.
When a series such as Chicago Fire appears on Netflix in a given market or cycle, it should be added here only after current U.S. availability is confirmed.
What Counts as a Chicago Movie or Show?
There are three different kinds of Chicago connections worth distinguishing:
- Set in Chicago: The story takes place in Chicago or the surrounding area, even if production happened elsewhere.
- Filmed in Chicago: The production used Chicago locations, even if the city was standing in for another place.
- Set and filmed in Chicago: The strongest local connection, where the city is both the story setting and a major production location.
That distinction is why a film such as Mean Girls belongs here for its suburban Illinois setting, while The Blues Brothers belongs here for both story and extensive Chicago filming.
More Great Chicago Movies Beyond Netflix
Netflix is only one part of Chicago’s film history. Other major Chicago-connected titles include The Dark Knight, which used Chicago extensively as Gotham; The Fugitive, which makes the city central to its chase story; Chicago, whose story is rooted in the city even though that does not mean the film was principally shot there; About Last Night…, adapted from David Mamet’s Sexual Perversity in Chicago; and Medium Cool.
For a much broader guide, see Best Movies Set in Chicago: Films That Capture the City.
How We Check Netflix Availability
Availability is checked against Netflix’s U.S. catalog and official Netflix release information when possible. A title page existing on Netflix in another country does not automatically mean the same title is available in the United States. Because licensing changes, every availability claim on this page should be read with the explicit “last checked” date in mind.
Last checked: September 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Chicago movies are on Netflix?
As of September 2026, verified U.S. Netflix titles with meaningful Chicago connections include The Blues Brothers and The Trial of the Chicago 7. Netflix availability changes frequently, so check the service directly for the latest status.
Is The Blues Brothers on Netflix?
Yes. Netflix added The Blues Brothers to its U.S. catalog on September 1, 2026.
What Netflix shows were filmed in Chicago?
Sense8 is a notable example. Chicago is one of several major cities used throughout the global Netflix series.
Is The Trial of the Chicago 7 on Netflix?
Yes. Netflix currently lists the film in its catalog. It dramatizes the federal trial that followed demonstrations surrounding the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
What movies were filmed in downtown Chicago?
Many major productions have used downtown Chicago, including The Blues Brothers, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, The Fugitive, The Dark Knight and others. For a broader list, see our Chicago movies guide.
More Chicago Film Coverage
Explore our Best Movies Set in Chicago guide and our overview of the Chicago Film Critics Association.