Old Joliet Prison to Host Special Blues Brothers Movie Night

Fans of an iconic movie set in Illinois will have the chance to experience the film from inside the location where it all began.

Celebrating a Chicago-Area Film Classic

The Joliet Area Historical Museum (JAHM) will be honoring a piece of Illinois film history with a 45th anniversary screening of The Blues Brothers in an extra-special location.

According to the Old Joliet Prison Facebook page, JAHM will host an event in the historic prison yard so fans can watch the movie in the same location where the opening scenes were filmed in 1979.

A Legendary Filming Location

In August 1979, a Hollywood crew took over the Joliet Correctional Center, which was once known as the "World's Toughest Prison," according to the post.

Filming took only two days under heavy security, capturing the unforgettable scene when Jake Blues (played by John Belushi) reunites with his brother Elwood (played by Dan Aykroyd) outside the limestone prison walls.

The site is now a cultural landmark and has hosted 'Blues Brothers Con' in 2022 and 2024.

More Than Just a 45th Anniversary Movie Screening

The special 45th Anniversary showing of The Blues Brothers is planned for Saturday, October 4, 2025, with tours of the prison grounds beginning at 4 pm, and the movie will roll at 7 pm under the night sky in the Old Joliet Prison yard.

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Besides exploring the 16-acre prison campus, there will be expanded access for guests to view inside the historic structures, thanks to over $6.5 million in redevelopment grants from agencies in Illinois.

Local food trucks, specialty merchandise, and drinks will be served to moviegoers.

Ticket Information

Where: Old Joliet Prison Historic Site, 1125 N. Collins Street, Joliet, Illinois
When: Saturday, October 4, 2025. Tours begin at 4 pm, Screening at 7 pm.
Tickets: Adults $35 ($30 for JAHM members), Children 18 and under $15 ($10 for members).
CLICK HERE to get more info or to purchase tickets.

LOOK: Which movies were filmed in Illinois?

Stacker compiled a list of movies filmed in Illinois using data from Movie Locations, with additional information about each film collected from IMDb.

Gallery Credit: Stacker