First Lady’s Many Cameos in Television and Film

Chicago’s riverways are instantly recognizable, so it’s no wonder they feature heavily in TV and movies. By extension, our iconic fleet often finds itself on the silver screen, with our boats making cameos in countless classics.

Movies Featuring Chicago’s First Lady

Chicago is a very photogenic city, so of course it makes a great backdrop for movies across every genre. The Chicago River has appeared in many popular blockbusters, but we’re specifically looking for scenes that feature our boats. We might be a bit biased, but our beautiful vessels make for excellent set dressing in some beloved films.

My Best Friend’s Wedding

Maybe you’ve heard of Julia Roberts? She and co-star Dermot Mulroney filmed a tragically romantic scene aboard a Chicago’s First Lady vessel. This 1997 rom-com was a massive hit, and while the pair weren’t exactly taking in the sights (they had other things on their minds), this scene offers a nostalgic look at our Chicago architecture cruises in the mid-1990s. The scene in question is notorious for being heart-wrenching, despite the excellent scenery, if we do say so ourselves.

Rampage

Based on a popular video game series, Rampage was a sci-fi action film in which Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson faced off against dozens of massive creatures as they rampaged through multiple cities. The monsters wreaked havoc all over Chicago, but a notable scene on the Chicago River features aerial shots of our boats alongside a giant crocodile and giant apes. We can imagine the sightseeing cruises that day were especially exciting!

As Seen on TV

Everyone has a favorite show, and ours are any that give our fleet some screen time. Even with a million options on a hundred different streaming platforms, you’ll eventually come across a show that puts our boats front and center. Well, sometimes we’re a bit off to one side, but that’s because we're busy guiding folks on architectural boat tours!

The Bear

The Bear is a show that really hits on what makes Chicago wonderful, from our food to our enterprising small businesses, the city really shines in the limelight. It’s the best show about Chicago in recent memory, and you don’t need to be a foodie to get it. It’s hard not to be a fan of this show. Set as a backdrop to the family, restaurant, and relationship drama on this prestige FX show, Chicago is on full display. So it’s no wonder our First Lady fleet makes a quick cameo during an important episode in season 2. As Sydney explores Chicago for culinary inspiration, she takes a lonely tour aboard Chicago’s Emerald Lady, as a short montage of architecture and food plays. It’s an honor to have played an important role in this huge Chicago show. 

Chicago Fire, P.D., and Med

Dick Wolf, creator of the Law & Order franchise, eventually turned his attention to Chicago, creating a trio of shows known as the One Chicago franchise. In multiple scenes where Chicago’s finest are doing their thing, you can see the vessels of First Lady fleet. Spanning hundreds of episodes, our boats frequently pop up in the background as fictional crises unfold.

All Her Fault

This twisty thriller based on a bestselling novel is a bit of a geographical puzzle. The story in the book takes place in Dublin, Ireland, but the screen adaptation swaps the setting for Chicago. While set in the Windy City, most of the show was actually filmed in Australia. However, the Chicago Riverwalk is impossible to emulate, which is why you can spot a First Lady boat in one of the few scenes shot on location in Chicago for this Peacock drama. We're right there in the background, happily cruising along—and based on the filming timeline, it might have even been one of our Creepy Cruises!

From the Screen to the Water

We bet you can find even more instances of our boats popping up on screens both big and small! If you’ve spotted us in your favorite movie or show, we’d love to hear about it. And if you’re looking to see Chicago architecture (or scout out a great movie location along our waterways), book a tour today!