You know you've got a great movie when a comic book character wins an Oscar.

Mostly passed over by the Academy, actors who play heroes and (villains) are usually an afterthought when it comes to awards season.

However, Heath Ledger was so good as The Joker in The Dark Knight, he won an Oscar posthumously for his portrayal of the iconic character.

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Since then, Joaquin Phoenix also scored an Oscar for playing the purple-suited bad guy but he and Ledger's performances were far different.

Either way, Ledger's star turn, coupled with Christian Bale as the tortured Bruce Wayne, along with Christopher Nolan's directing, The Dark Knight is officially the best movie filmed in Illinois.

24/7 Wall Street:

Christopher Nolan’s “The Dark Knight” holds a 94% positive rating from both critics and audiences on Rotten Tomatoes. Though the fictional Gotham City in the Batman comics has been associated with New York City, Nolan’s film was shot in Chicago, which the director referred to as “a really cinematic city” in 2008.

Chicago really is one of the biggest stars in the movie. I firmly believe it's one of the reasons why The Dark Knight is so beloved.

When Nolan filmed the third and final of his Batman flicks, he shot The Dark Knight Rises in Pittsburgh, and honestly, the production suffered because of it. While I'm sure The Steel City is beautiful it just isn't Chicago.

You can check out the full list of Best Movies Filmed in Your State on 24/7 Wall Street.

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Sweet Lenny is the brand manager of 97ZOK, Q98.5, and Operations Manager for Townsquare Media Rockford. Catch him afternoons 3 to 7 on 97ZOK. Follow him on Twitter, Instagram, and like his page on Facebook.

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