'Blues Brothers' Voted Illinois' Top Movie; Should It Be No. 1?

Illinois residents love their cinematic criminals if an online poll celebrating the state's bicentennial is any indication. Movies featuring hoods, hustlers and hooligans dominate the list of the state's top films with "The Blues Brothers" nabbing the No. 1 spot in the Illinois Top 200 project.

More than 1,500 people voted for their favorite Illinois-based movies as part of an initiative to select the best of the best in the state, according to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, one of the project's organizers. Voting is done every two weeks in one of 20 different categories, leading up to Illinois' 200th birthday on Dec. 3.

Along with "The Blues Brothers" — a feature-length film based on "Saturday Night Live" characters created by Dan Aykroyd and the late John Belushi — the other movies rounding out the state's top five include "Ferris Bueller's Day Off," "A League of Their Own," "The Fugitive" and "The Untouchables," respectively, the library said.

“I’m a big fan of all three of the top movies, so I’m thrilled by the results," Alan Lowe, the museum and library's executive director, said in a statement. "More importantly, I’m thrilled that people are taking part in a conversation about the best of Illinois history.”

Films set in the state that were nominated but didn't make the top 10 cut included "Young Mr. Lincoln," "Medium Cool" and "His Girl Friday."

"And where is 'Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter'?" one person tweeted — jokingly, one would imagine — after the list was revealed Monday.

Here's a look at the top 10 list as determined by voters:

1. “The Blues Brothers” (1980)
2. “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” (1986)
3. “A League of Their Own” (1992)
4. “The Fugitive” (1993)
5. “The Untouchables” (1987)
6. “The Sting” (1973)
7. “Chicago” (2002)
8. “Eight Men Out” (1988)
9. “Hoop Dreams” (1994)
10. “Ordinary People” (1980)

As Lowe eluded to, one of the biggest appeals to a list like this is the discussion it generates. Besides "Ferris Bueller," what other films from director John Hughes' oeuvre should have made the list? What about "Thief" and "Public Enemies" from Chicago native Michael Mann? Do "The Dark Knight" or "Man of Steel" count as Illinois-based films with Chicago pretending to be Gotham City and Plano standing in for Smallville, respectively? What about cult favorites like "Adventures in Babysitting," "Wayne's World," "Candyman" or "High Fidelity?" And should the recently released "Death Wish" remake and the upcoming "Rampage," the action movie based on the 1990s arcade game, have made the cut?

Movie voting has ended, but the Illinois Top 200 has moved on to the next category, top businesses. Go to the project's website to cast your ballot.

YOUR TURN: What Illinois-based movies should have made the state's top 10 list? Share your thoughts and suggestions in the comments section?

Dan Aykroyd (left) and John Belushi star in "The Blues Brothers." (Screen shot image via Universal Pictures | YouTube)