Nelson Algren, The Man With the Golden Arm ISBN 1-58322-008-9
Sherwood Anderson, Windy McPherson's Son
Blue Balliett, Chasing Vermeer and The Wright 3
Saul Bellow, The Adventures of Augie March ISBN 0-14-018941-6
Saul Bellow, Dangling Man
Saul Bellow, Humboldt's Gift
Saul Bellow, Ravelstein
Charles Blackstone, The Week You Weren't Here
Fredric Brown, The Fabulous Clipjoint
Jim Butcher, The Dresden Files series
Robert Wright Campbell, Jimmy Flannery mystery series
Willa Cather, The Song of the Lark
Peter Cheyney, Dark Hero
Sandra Cisneros, The House on Mango Street ISBN 0-679-43335-X
Doug Cummings, Deader by the Lake
Doug Cummings, Every Secret Crime
Theodore Dreiser, Sister Carrie ISBN 0-451-52760-7 on Modern Library's 100 Best Novels
Theodore Dreiser, The Titan
Stuart Dybek, The Coast of Chicago ISBN 0-312-42425-6
James T. Farrell, Studs Lonigan trilogy
Edna Ferber, So Big
Joshua Ferris, Then We Came to the End ISBN 978-0-316-01638-4
John M. Ford, The Last Hot Time ISBN 0-312-87578-9
Robert Goldsborough, A Death in Pilsen
Robert Goldsborough, President in Peril ISBN 978-1-59080-616-6
Robert Goldsborough, Shadow of the Bomb
Robert Goldsborough, Terror at the Fair ISBN 978-1-59080-672-2
Robert Goldsborough, Three Strikes You're Dead
John Grisham, The Litigators
Aleksandar Hemon, Nowhere Man ISBN 0-375-72702-7
Jerry Ahern, The Survivalist Series - The early books of the series feature Chicago frequently as the Soviets build their HQ in Chicago, with Varakov setting up his HQ in the Museum of Natural History.
Ward Just, An Unfinished Season
Harry Stephen Keeler, The Riddle of the Traveling Skull ISBN 1-932416-26-9
Paul Krueger, Last Call at the Nightshade Lounge ISBN 978-1594747595
Adam Langer, Crossing California
Adam Langer, The Washington Story
Nella Larsen, Passing ISBN 0-14-243727-1
Nella Larsen, Quicksand ISBN 0-14-118127-3
Jennette Lee, Mr. Achilles
John Malcolm, Mortal Ruin ISBN 0-684-18958-5
Graham Masterton, Headlines
Somerset Maugham, The Razor's Edge ISBN 1-4000-3420-5
Mord McGhee, Murder Red Ink
Joe Meno, Hairstyles of the Damned
Chloe Neill, Chicagoland Vampires
Audrey Niffenegger, The Time Traveler's Wife ISBN 0-15-602943-X
Frank Norris, The Pit: A Chicago Story
Bayo Ojikutu, 47th Street Black, ISBN 0-7394-3326-1
Achy Obejas, Memory Mambo
Sara Paretsky, thrillers featuring private eye V.I. Warshawski
Richard Peck, Fair Weather
Joseph G. Peterson, Beautiful Piece
Daniel Pinkwater, The Education of Robert Nifkin Snarkout Boys and The Avocado of Death, Snarkout Boys and the Baconburg Horror. Recognizably Chicago, even if never explicitly stated.
Leonard Pitts, Jr., Grant Park
Philip Roth, Letting Go
Veronica Roth, Divergent - #1 on the Children's Paperback list in 2012
Adam Selzer, Just Kill Me
Robert Shea and Robert Anton Wilson, Illuminatus!
Upton Sinclair, The Jungle ISBN 1-884365-30-2
Terrance L. Smith, The Thief Who Came to Dinner
Scott Spencer, Endless Love
Chris Ware, Building Stories (2012)
Chris Ware, Jimmy Corrigan, the Smartest Kid on Earth
Richard Wright, Native Son #20 on Modern Library's 100 Best Novels
"Deadly City," March, 1953 issue of If magazine under the pseudonym Ivar Jorgensen (later made into the motion picture Target Earth; the story was about an alien invasion and evacuation of Chicago)
Chicago Stories: 40 Dramatic Fictions by Michael Czyzniejewski, Jacob S Knabb and Rob Funderburk, 2012
The Coast of Chicago: Stories by Stuart Dybek, 2004
Chicago Style Novella by R. Felini 2013
Plays and musicals
American Buffalo
Be Like Water
Bleacher Bums
Chicago - musical, nominated for ten Tony Awards in 1976
Chicago - play
Clybourne Park
Do Black Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up?
The Front Page
Glengarry Glen Ross
In the Jungle of Cities
Ma Rainey's Black Bottom
Proof
A Raisin in the Sun - nominated for four Tony Awards in 1960
The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui
Sexual Perversity in Chicago
Show Boat
Superior Donuts
About Last Night (1986)
Above the Law (1988)
The Accountant (2016) - partly in Chicago (box office #1 film in the U.S.)
Adventures in Babysitting (1987)
The Adventures of Lucky Pierre (1961)
Against All Hope (1982)
Al Capone (1959) (mob film)
Ali (2001)
Allah Tantou (1989)
American Gun (2005)
American Reel (1999)
Angel Eyes (2001)
Anything's Possible (1999)
April Fools (2007)
August Rush (2007)
The Babe (1992)
Baby on Board (2009)
Baby's Day Out (1994)
Backdraft (1991) (box office #1 film in the U.S.)
Bad Boys (1983)
Barbershop (2002) (box office #1 film in the U.S.)
Barbershop 2: Back in Business (2004) (#1 film in U.S.)
Beginning of the End (1957) – set in downstate Illinois and Chicago
Betrayed (1988)
The Big Brawl (1980)
Big Shots (1987)
Blankman (1994)
Blind (1994)
Blink (1994)
The Blues Brothers (1980)
Blues Brothers 2000 (1998)
The Boss (2016) (#1 film in U.S.)
Brannigan (1975)
The Break-Up (2006) (#1 in the U.S.)
The Breakfast Club (1985)
Breed of Men (1919)
Bridesmaids (2011) (partly in Chicago)
Bridge (1988)
The Brute (1920)
Bugsy Malone (1976)
Butterfly on a Wheel (2007)
Call Northside 777 (1948)
Candyman (1992) - based on a book originally set in London
Capone (1975) (mob film)
Carrie (1952)
Casino (1995) - scenes labeled as "Back Home" are in Chicago (mob film)
Category 6: Day of Destruction (2004) - partly in Chicago
Chain Reaction (1996)
Chicago (1927)
Chicago (2002) (Academy Award for Best Picture)
Chicago Cab (1997)
Chicago Deadline (1949) (film noir)
Chicago Overcoat (2009) (mob film)
Child's Play (1988) (#1 in U.S.)
Child's Play 2 (1990) (#1 in U.S.)
Chi-Raq (2015)
City That Never Sleeps (1953)
Class (1983)
Code of Silence (1985)
Colombiana (2011)
The Company (2003)
Continental Divide (1981)
Cooley High (1975)
Curly Sue (1991)
Damien: Omen II (1978) (#1 film in the U.S.)
Danger Lights (1930) (partly in Chicago)
Death of a President (2006)
Dhoom 3 (2013) (Hindi film)
The Dilemma (2011)
Divergent (2014) (box office #1 film in the U.S.)
The Divergent Series: Insurgent (2015) (#1 in the U.S.)
Derailed (2005)
Dick Tracy (1990)
Dragonfly (2002)
The Dumb Girl of Portici (1916)
Eagle Eye (2008) (#1 film in U.S.)
Eight Men Out (1988)
The Express (2009)
Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986)
Flatliners (1990)
The Fugitive (1993) (#1 film in the U.S.)
The Fury (1978)
Girls Just Want to Have Fun (1985)
Go Fish (1994)
The Grudge 2 (2006)
The Grudge 3 (2009)
Guilty as Sin (1993)
Hardball (2001) (#1 film in U.S.)
Harry and Tonto (1974)
Heaven is a Playground (1991)
Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986) - partly in Chicago
Hero (1992)
High Fidelity (2000) - based on a book originally set in London
His New Job (1915)
Home Alone (1990) (#1 film in the U.S.)
Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992) (partly in Chicago) (#1 film in U.S.)
Home Alone 3 (1997)
The Homesteader (1919)
Hoodlum (1997)
Hope Floats (1998) - partly in Chicago
The Hunter (1980) - partly in Chicago
The Great Ziegfeld (1936)
I Love Trouble (1994)
I, Robot (2004) (#1 in U.S.)
I Want Someone to Eat Cheese With (2007)
In the Depth of Our Hearts (1920)
It's the Rage (1999)
Judgment Night (1993)
King of the Rodeo (1929)
Kissing A Fool (1998)
The Lake House (2006)
A League of Their Own (1992) (#1 in the U.S.)
Light It Up (1999)
Little Fockers (2010)
Looking for Mr. Goodbar (1977)
Love and Action in Chicago (1999)
Love Jones (1997)
Lucas (1986)
The Man with the Golden Arm (1955)
Mean Girls (2004) (#1 film in U.S.) - set in Evanston
Medium Cool (1969)
Meet the Parents (2000) (#1 in the U.S.) - partly set in Chicago
Mercury Rising (1998)
Message in a Bottle - partly set in Chicago
Michael (1996) - partly in Chicago (#1 film in U.S.)
Mickey One (1965)
Midnight Run (1988) - partly in Chicago (mob film)
Miracle on 34th Street (1994) - partly in Chicago
Mo' Money (1992)
Monkey Hustle (1976)
Music Box (1989)
My Best Friend's Wedding (1997)
My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002)
My Bodyguard (1980)
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989) (#1 film in U.S.)
National Lampoon's European Vacation (1985) - starts in Chicago
National Lampoon's Vacation (1983) - partly in Chicago (#1 film in U.S.)
Natural Born Killers (1994) - partly in Chicago
The Negotiator (1998)
Never Been Kissed (1999)
Next of Kin (1989) - set in Chicago and Kentucky (mob film)
A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon (1988)
Nothing in Common (1986) - partly in Chicago
Office Christmas Party (2016)
On the Line (2001)
Only the Lonely (1991)
Opportunity Knocks (1990)
Ordinary People (1980) (Academy Award for Best Picture)
The Package (1989)
Planes, Trains & Automobiles (1987)
Poltergeist III (1988)
Prelude to a Kiss (1992)
Primal Fear (1996)
The Princess Bride (Modern Scenes set in Evanston, Illinois)
Proof (2005)
The Public Enemy (1931) (mob film)
Public Enemies (neo-noir, mob film) (2009)
Raisin in the Sun (1961)
Random Encounter (1998)
Rapid Fire (1992)
Raw Deal (1986)
The Razor's Edge (1946 film) - based on Maughaum's novel of the same title
Red Heat (1988)
The Relic (1997) - based on a book originally set in New York City
Return to Me (2000)
Ri¢hie Ri¢h (1994) - scenes filmed in Chicago
Risky Business (1983) - set in the North Shore
Road to Perdition (2002) (#1 film in the U.S.) (mob film)
Robin and the 7 Hoods (1964)
Roll Bounce (2005)
Rookie of the Year (1993)
Running Scared (1986)
The St. Valentine's Day Massacre (1967) (mob film)
Save the Last Dance (2001) (#1 film in the U.S.)
Scarface (1932 film) (mob film)
Scooby-Doo! Stage Fright (2013)
Shall We Dance? (2004)
Sheba, Baby (1975) - partly in Chicago
She's Having a Baby (1988)
Silver Streak (1976) - partly in Chicago
Sleepless In Seattle (1993) - partly in Chicago
Slim (1937) - partly in Chicago
Some Like It Hot (1959) - partly in Chicago (mob film)
Somewhere in Time (1980) - partly in Chicago
Soul Food (1997)
A Sound of Thunder (2005)
Source Code (2011)
Spider-Man 2 (2004) (#1 film in U.S.) - partly in Chicago
The Sting (1973) - partly in Chicago; Academy Award for Best Picture (mob film)
Stir of Echoes (1999)
Stolen Summer (2001)
Straight Talk (1992)
Stranger than Fiction (2006)
Strawberry Fields (1997)
Streets of Fire (1984)
Surviving Christmas (2003)
That Royle Girl (1925)
Thief (1981)
Three To Tango (1999)
Tommy Boy (1995) (#1 film in U.S.) - partly in Chicago and Wisconsin
Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011)
Two Fathers: Justice for the Innocent (1994)
Ultraviolet (2006)
The Unborn (2009)
Uncle Buck (1989) (#1 film in U.S.)
The Untouchables (1987) (mob film)
U.S. Marshals (1998) - partly in Chicago
Vegas Vacation (1997) - starts in Chicago
V.I. Warshawski (1991)
Wanted (2008)
The Watcher (2000) (#1 in the U.S.)
Wayne's World (1992) (#1 film in the U.S.) - partly in Chicago
Wayne's World 2 (1993) (#1 in the U.S.) - partly in Chicago
The Weather Man (2005)
A Wedding (1978)
What Women Want (2000) (#1 in the U.S.)
When Harry Met Sally (1989) - partly in Chicago
While You Were Sleeping (1995) (#1 in the U.S.)
The Whole Nine Yards (2000) (#1 in the U.S.)
Wicker Park (2004)
Wildcats (1986)
Within Our Gates (1920)
Although not set in the city's limits, the John Hughes films Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club, Pretty in Pink (1986) (#1 film in U.S.), and Weird Science take place in the fictional town of Shermer, Illinois, which is based on Northbrook, Illinois.
In The Matrix (1999), the subway sets were based on the CTA. One of the trains is clearly a Brown Line train, which in reality, barring construction, never goes underground.
In Old Chicago (1938) - destroyed by the Great Chicago Fire
Independence Day (1996) - mentioned
Chain Reaction (1996) - parts of the city destroyed by an explosion caused by a hydrogen reactor
Category 6: Day of Destruction (2004) - destroyed by a series of tornadoes and a category 6 hurricane over the Great Lakes
Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011) - seriously damaged by the Decepticons' assault on the city as well as the final battle between the Autobots and Decepticons (#1 film in U.S.)
Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014) - the city was rebuilt five years later, where it was used for KSI first (#1 in U.S.)
Batman Begins (2005) The Dark Knight (2008)
According to Jim (2001–2009). ABC
Against the Wall (2011)
Barbershop: The Series (2005)
The Beast (2009)
Betrayal (2013-2014)
Biker Mice from Mars (1993–1995)
The Bob Newhart Show (1972–1978)
The Boondocks (2005-2014) Adult Swim
Boss (2011–2012)
Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (1979–1981) - in its first season (1979–1980), "New Chicago" functioned as Earth's capital city
The Building (1993)
Charlie & Co. (1985-1986)
The Chicago Code (2011) Billy Corgan did the theme song. FOX
Chicago Fire (2012–present). NBC
Chicago Hope (1994–2000). Emmy-winner for Mandy Patinkin. CBS
Chicago Med (2015–present). NBC
Chicago PD (2014–present). NBC
Chicago Sons (1997)
Chicago Story (1982)
Coupling (2003) - US version only
The Crazy Ones (2013-2014) with Robin Williams. CBS
Crime Story (1986–1988)
Crisis (2014)
Cupid (1998)
The Dresden Files (2007)
Due South (1994–1996, 1997–1999) - some filming in Toronto, Canada
Early Edition (1996–2000)
Easy (2016)
E/R (1984–1985)
ER (1994–2009). Won 23 Emmy Awards. Most nominated drama show ever. NBC
Exosquad (1993–1995) - Chicago, renamed to Phaeton City, was one of the central locations of the show
Family Matters (1989–1998) Emmy-nominated. ABC
The Forgotten (2009–2010). ABC
Generations (1989–1991)
The Girlfriend Experience (2016) Starz
Good Times (1974–1979) Golden Globe nominated. CBS
The Good Wife (2009–present) 5-time Emmy winner for Julianna Margulies. CBS
Happy Endings (2011–2013)
The Hogan Family (1986–1991)
It Takes Two (1982-1983)
Kenan & Kel (1996–2000) on Nickelodeon
Kolchak: The Night Stalker (1974–1975)
Lady Blue (1985–1986)
The League (2009–2015)
Legally Mad (2009)
Leverage (2008–2012) - pilot episode only
Life Goes On (1989–1993)
Life With Bonnie (2002–2004)
The Loop (2006–2007)
M Squad (1957–1960)
Married... with Children (1987–1997). FOX
Mike and Molly (2010–2016) Emmy winner in 2011 for Melissa McCarthy. CBS
Mind Games (2014)
Modern Men (2006)
My Boys (2006–2010)
Pepper Dennis (2006)
Perfect Strangers (1986–1993)
The Playboy Club (2011)
The Real O'Neals (2016)
Prison Break (2005–2009) - partly set in Chicago
Punky Brewster (1984–1986)
Revolution (2012–2014)
Samantha Who? (2007–2009)
Sense8 (2015–Present)
Shake It Up (2010–2013) Disney Channel
Shameless (2011–present) Emmy-winner in 2015 for Joan Cusack. Showtime
Sirens (2014-2015)
Sisters (1991–1996)
Soul Food: The Series (2000–2004). Emmy-nominated. Showtime
Special Unit 2 (2001-2002)
Starting Over (2003–2004 season)
The Steve Harvey Show (1996–2002). The WB
Still Standing (2002–2006). CBS
Terra Nova (2011)
Traffic Light (2011)
Trust Me (2009)
Turks (1999)
Two of a Kind (1998–1999). ABC
The Untouchables (1959–1963) Emmy winner. ABC
Webster (1983–1987)
What About Joan? (2001)
Whitney (2011–2013)
Wild Card (2003–2005)
Many considered Hill Street Blues, which never made explicit what city it was in, to be set in Chicago.
The Real World: Chicago (2002)
Real World: Skeletons (2014–2015)
This is a list of video games in which a major part of the action takes place in Chicago, Illinois. This list does not count sports games or flight simulators, save for Pilotwings 64 and Tom Clancy's H.A.W.X.
18 Wheels of Steel series (PC)
BattleTanx (N64)
Blues Brothers 2000 (N64)
Chicago 90 (Amiga)
Chicago 1930 (PC, Mac)
Chicago Enforcer (Xbox)
The Crew (PC, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox 360)
Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge (Xbox)
Cruisin' USA (Midway Games) (arcade/N64)
Deus Ex: Invisible War (PC/Xbox)
Double S.T.E.A.L: The Second Clash (Xbox)
Driver 2 (PS/GBA)
Emergency Call Ambulance (arcade)
Grid 2 (PC, PS3, Xbox 360, Mac)
Halo 2 (Xbox/PC) - the multiplayer level "Foundry" is based in Chicago
Hitman: Absolution (PC/Xbox360/PS3)
I Am Alive (PC/PS3/Xbox360)
Lethal Enforcers (Konami)
Michael Jordan in Chaos in the Windy City (SNES)
Midtown Madness (PC)
Mob Enforcer (PC)
NARC (Williams Electronics) (PC/PS2/Xbox)
Nocturne (PC)
Perfect Dark (N64)
Pilotwings 64 (N64)
Project Gotham Racing 2 (Xbox)
Rampage 2: Universal Tour (N64/PS1)
Rampage: Total Destruction (GCN/PS2/Wii)
Rampage World Tour (N64/PS1)
Resistance 2 (PS3)
Rock Band (PS2/PS3/Xbox360/Wii/PSP)
Stranglehold (PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PC) Saints row series(Xbox 360)
Tekken (PS1/arcade)
Tom Clancy's H.A.W.X. (PC/PS3/Xbox360/Wii)
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Blacklist (PC/PS3/Xbox360/WiiU)
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4 (PC/PS/PS2/Xbox)
US Racer (PC)
Watch Dogs (PC/PS3/PS4/WiiU/Xbox360)
You Don't Know Jack (PC) - the host periodically mentions being in or from Chicago
Comics, manga, and cartoons
Blue Beetle
Cage, volume 1 (April 1992-November 1993) - ongoing series by Marvel Comics featuring the superhero Luke Cage; 20 issues were published
C.O.W.L.
Ghost
Gunsmith Cats
Kremin 1-4 Grey Productions Inc 1991-1992
Nightwing Vol 3., Issue #18-ongoing
Plastic Man (DC)
Riding Bean
Savage Dragon
Tintin in America
Ben 10
"Monster Weather"
The Legend of Tarzan
"The Mysterious Visitor"
