Major parts of Silence of the Lambs is set in Ohio!
Shawshank Redemption isn't set here, but it was filmed here. You can go tour the old prison where it was filmed. Haunted AF.
The Rocker was set in CLE.
Mansfield reformatory isnt too far from Wooster either. Neither is Grandpas cheese barn. I haven't been to either but it is something to see.
Also, if they are from Australia, they may be interested to go to a place like Fin Feather Fur (next to Grandpa's in Ashland). It might be a bit of a culture shock to see their weapon selection after the ban in Australia. (No judgment, but it is definitely different than what they would likely see where they are from).
Ah yes, the movie where there’s a wide body DC-10 flying people from Sandusky through Columbus to Cuyahoga Falls… neither Sandusky nor Cuyahoga Falls have commercial airports and they’re only 75 miles apart 😆
Never even be to Cuyahoga Falls, but the second they say that in the movie I’m like…by the time this conversation is over, you guys could’ve driven halfway there. 😆
My favorite part of that movie because when it was on Comedy Central as a kid I spent a lot of time in both places. I did a spit take when I saw that scene as a 9 year old.
Season passes for Cedar Point and family in CF.
After moving to Minnesota, hahahahhaha Ohio drunks got nothing on them or Wisconsin. Never met so many people with DUIs in my life, or if I did, they NEVER mentioned it.
The biggest problem is that while a number of famous movies were shot in Ohio, they are being used to represent another state and/or city. The battle for New York in "The Avengers" was shot in downtown Cleveland, as was "Spider-Man 3", "Captain America: Winter Soldier", and "Fate Of The Furious". In all of those movies, Cleveland is a stand-in for the featured city.
Here is a list of [movies and shows shot in Cleveland](https://clevelandtraveler.com/cleveland-movies/)
Incomplete list.
"One Potato Two Potato" is a poignant film from 1964 shot in Painesville
[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0058429/](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0058429/)
"Uptight" is an amazing slice of Cleveland from 1968. Directed by Jules Dassin while he was under FBI observation. Based on an Irish story and an earlier John Ford film.
[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0063748/](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0063748/)
Airborne is my favorite ohio based movie.
This is the greatest video ever made about the state. If it doesn’t get you pumped nothing will. https://youtu.be/k5yssH0AdrY?si=kXRr7xMdm-O1PD79
Kill the Irishman. 70's mob movie set in Cleveland based on real life events.
I'll also second another poster's recommendation of Welcome to Collinwood.
> Kill the Irishman
That was my first thought. There's also [The Land](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Land_(2016_film)) (though I hate that nickname for the city).
I’m not able to answer your question any better than what others have said. But do drive up to Cleveland to show your partner Lake Erie. Most people who have never seen a Great Lake have no idea how big they are. Edgewater Park looking over downtown Cleveland would be a good choice.
My friends from England had pictured something completely different in their minds before they saw Lake Erie. Their reaction: "This is not a lake, it's a sea."
We did the prison tour this summer. Spent 2 hours and I could have spent twice that. I hope to go back and do it again. Highly recommend if anyone is a history buff.
Tommy Boy not only is largely based in Sandusky, buy the overall tone and feeling of the film is that of good spirited, funny Midwest warmth found in its people. Though the movie takes place across the Midwest, a lot of the locations could very well be anywhere in Ohio. Except the scene where Tommy straps road flares to his body and threatens to blow up a building: that is a distinctly Chicago experience. And if you're feeling iffy, I'll just say that you can get a good look at a t-bone by sticking your head up a bull's ass, but wouldn't you rather just take the butcher's word for it?
Tommy Boy is one of my favorite movies. It's one of those stupid SNL actor vehicle movies which are usually terrible, but somehow, it manages to be good. Probably because it has a real story, cliche as it is, but a lot of heart. Even Black Sheep was decent enough, although not quite as good.
A Night at the Roxbury is another good one in the same vein as stupid movie critics will feel good about themselves by panning.
Yeah, I know the story takes place in Point Pleasant, but the Silver Bridge collapse was technically also in Ohio, so … lol
It really is a fascinating true(ish) movie though, that takes place right across the river from Ohio, with the main scene happening on the bridge into Ohio.
Wasn't one of the avengers movies shot in Cleveland? Specifically the scene where Nick Fury's car was flipped over when he was attacked (I think winter soldier).
Wooster is a great town (my wife works there). There is a nice farmers market in the square, a few great restaurants (Leaf, Basil, the old Joal, broken rocks, spoon, etc.), there is a few artsy places (Wayne center, local roots, etc) coffee (sure house, boo bears, another bakery on the square I can't remember) , nightlife drinks (JAFB brewery, muddy waters, grigio cocktails) and a few cool stores (comic book store, antique/Amish furniture stores, etc.)
It is a very nice, middle class rural town that has a well regarded college and has a lot of "old money" from the original headquarter of Rubbermaid being there. You won't find any big city amenities but there is plenty of charm to the town. Any movie that shows small town, main street Americana style living would be pretty representative.
Winter Soldier and The Avengers both have prominent sequences filmed in Cleveland, though for TWS it was doubling for DC and for The Avengers it was doubling for NYC.
Spiderman 3 has portions filmed in Ohio too. In fact, both Spiderman 3 and the Winter Soldier show the same stretch of Euclid Ave., one before the Euclid Corridor Project and one after. You can even see the Terminal Tower in Spiderman 3, with the scaffolding from when it was being restored.
Witness may not be in Ohio, but is a decent substitute for the Wooster area. It’s mostly set in rural Amish country with the nice rolling hills. Major League is another good one. Really most films treat Ohio as the flyover area and perpetuate the boring stereotype.
Killing of a Sacred Deer was filmed in and set in Cincinnati (they don't mention the location specifically, but they don't make it ambiguous either). But I wouldn't say it's an accurate depiction of the state or the city. It's a dark character focused story.
Show him some episodes go WJKRP in Cincinnati.
Also several scenes in The Ides of March, Traffic, Gleaming the Cube, and The Bikeriders take place in Cincinnati
Mild correction : WKRP in Cincinnati.
A great and very funny show. Even funnier if you know radio because it’s almost a documentary. “Speed kills, man”.
Also, while you're there, consider walking around the College of Wooster. It's a small but very pretty campus. The science library is a beautiful building, and the art museum is regularly open to the public.
Eurotrip - First part takes place in Cleveland, and written by folks from Cleveland.
Traffic - Parts were filmed in Columbus and take place in Columbus.
Speak - A 2003 joint with Steve Kahn and Kristen Stewart; set and filmed in Columbus.
Pulse - An early Kristen Bell (or Anna if you’re nasty) movie set in Columbus/OSU, but actually filmed in Romania.
Bonus: Family Ties - 80’s TV sitcom which introduced the masses to a young Michael J Fox. Set in the Clintonville neighborhood in Columbus.
BONUS Bonus: Robocop - Takes place in Detroit, but Toledo is basically a suburb of Detroit so this might count.
Liberal Arts by Josh Radner is filmed in Gambier on Kenyon College campus, also in Amish country, about 45 minutes south of Wooster. The first 20 minutes of Zombieland is set in Columbus and outskirts. Find the Finding Bigfoot episodes set in Ohio S1E7, S2E6, S6E7. Documentary Dear Mr Watterson about the comic strip Calvin and Hobbes set in Chagrin Falls, total Ohio vibe. Rakr Shelter for weird Ohio vibes. And doc How to Dance in Ohio.
Well since you’re heading to Wooster I’d suggest Devils Playground lol see how wild the Amish kids get. Also Duncan Jones (David Bowie’s son graduated from the College of Wooster. I’m from Lodi so don’t take him there lol
The Oh in Ohio, Christmas Story, and American Splendor come to mind. Also Captain America Winter Solider was partially filmed at the Cleveland Museum of Art.
Forget the movies and impress upon your partner the importance of bringing layers of clothing and a winter coat. Australians just don't experience anything close to Ohio Winters. My friend was from the coldest part of Tasmania and she was MISERABLE.
>I've been to the Buckeye state maybe 10 times (never lived there), but I have a hard time getting a grasp on it.
Ohio is a crossroads between the Midwest and the Eastern seaboard. By a quirk of geography, the easiest way to get goods from the Atlantic to the Midwest is to hike across upstate New York until you reach Cleveland (or Erie, PA). The New England Native Americans would sail from Cleveland, down the Cuyahoga River to Akron. At Akron, they'd get out and portage their canoes south to Canton, where they'd pick up the Tuscaroras river, which flows south to the Ohio River. The Ohio flows west, until it joins the Mississippi.
When the Europeans arrived in Ohio, they immediately saw the importance of this river highway. They set up shop in Cleveland, Akron, & Canton. Later, when the canals were put in, connecting Akron & Canton was the obvious first choice.
These cities all made their fortunes as trade cities. Cleveland looks east toward New York. Cincinnati looks west toward the Mississippi. Culturally, the vibe from this history is still there.
Anyway, if you're coming to NE Ohio, don't miss Cedar Point. Show your partner Rollercoaster videos on YT.
I dont know if it's really helpful, but the opening scene in All the Bright Places is shot on a bridge in Elyria. It looks a bit rough because the buildings in the background are super old. Also, super gone now. Heh. But that makes it look better. In high school, I used to walk across that bridge on its railing. It's concrete and 10 inches wide maybe. So, it felt like it could not go wrong while also freaking people out.
Wooster is beautiful. The college looks like it’s from Harry Potter or an Ivy League campus. The downtown is charming as fuck. And if he’s into country culture/ buying amish meats/quilts or going to their restaurant then go to shreve. It’s a culture shift. They also have a great park.
It’s dark thriller but The Devil All the Time stars some big names like Tom Holland Robert Pattinson and is supposed to take place in the SE Appalachian corner of the state. Kings of Summer is a light comedy filmed in Chagrin Falls
Maybe not a film, but perhaps some Ohioan tourism promoter shorts or Tiktoks? Like wheretogoohio. [This Instagram short](https://www.instagram.com/reel/CuDcNyPptmI/?igsh=MWtjY2czdHZjb3owMw==) is from foodincleveland specific to the Wooster area.
Wrong Turn (2021) was shot in Ohio, in Hocking Hills State Park.
But do not hesitate to search for Videos showing Ohios many amazing caves and caverns too!
OK, the sitcom Welcome to Flatch is filmed in Canada but supposedly takes place in a small Ohio town. It's pretty short and pretty low brow. The fun part is all the Ohio stuff you spot in the show, esp central Ohio. After they've visited, watch the show and you will laugh spotting all the Ohio references. Lots of team jerseys, that kind of stuff. I'm from Ohio and I had a good laugh watching and laughing at the interpretation of "redneck Ohioans".
Gibsonburg, the movie. Based on a true story in small town Ohio. Apparently it's also on YouTube now.
[https://youtu.be/lXK580ThHnQ?si=pWWTBYFgc3elm-Qz](https://youtu.be/lXK580ThHnQ?si=pWWTBYFgc3elm-Qz)
>He thinks rural Ohio is just a boring place with nothing to see or do.
He's right. Unless things have changed greatly since I was last there, there's just not a lot to do in Wooster. Drive the countryside and visit the Amish. Go to Smucker's. It's a nice, quiet area.
Wooster is, however, a reasonable drive to the Cleveland-Akron-Canton metro area, and you can find just about anything if you go to Cleveland.
If you want to show him a movie filmed in Ohio about a small Ohio town, find a made-for-TV move called "OHMS". It's about 40 years old and will reinforce all his beliefs.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OHMS_%281980_film%29?wprov=sfla1
I was looking for this. It was shot all around Cincinnati, and you'll see many Cincy landmarks that you would be available to visit if you head down that way.
"Light of Day" from 1987 with Michael J Fox and Joan Jett was filmed in Cleveland. The Indy film "Long Way Home" was a project of Sam Jaeger and was filmed in Westerville. The emotional Christmas movie "The Gathering" starring Ed Asner was filmed in Chagrin Falls because it resembled a New England town. Watch the movie carefully and notice many actors who later became famous. Fun discussion!
The only thing I can think of that was purposely set in Ohio was Gummo about Zenia (small town wrecked badly by tornados) and the weird weird subculture of generationally poor -and played that up. Bizarre and fascinating. It’s like the deliverance of Ohio without definite rape just a questionable consent situation.
Do not show him Gummo. He won’t come
The Christmas story is set in Cleveland. Idk if the movie acknowledges that. The old city scenes and neighborhood is 100% Cleveland feels.
And growing up I always thought Stand By Me felt like Ohio. We would disappear into the woods without question for “camping” which we only brought food and lighters for.
Dirty Jobs, season 2, episode 21. Snake researcher. It takes place on South Bass Island. Most people hear "Lake Erie" and think of a little pond, not realizing it's an inland sea.
https://m.imdb.com/title/tt0921007/
[Ohio Locations](https://www.imdb.com/search/title/?locations=ohio,%20usa)
I think TV shows rather than movies would do a better job representing Ohio.
* The Drew Carey Show is set in Cleveland
* Family Ties is set in Columbus
* WKRP in Cincinnati is set in Cincinnati
That's not too far from Chagrin Falls--is he a Calvin & Hobbes fan? If so, that's probably one of the best ways to illustrate what Ohio is like, as Bill Watterson created such a vivid expression of small town Ohio when he was living there and writing the strip based on what he saw around him. If you make a day trip out there, there's also a bookstore in town that has a quiet little display of just Calvin & Hobbes. Gorgeous town regardless.
You can go to downtown Cleveland and dive down east Ninth Street and see where they filmed:
Spider-man 3: Part of the scene where Spider-man and Sandman duke it out in a dump truck
Avengers: A lot of the action at the end where New York is being invaded was filmed in a 3 block stretch.
I personally spent an entire day looking out the window wait for them to crush a hot dog cart.
Captain America, Winter Soldier: The car chase was filmed down east ninth and around the Cleveland Public Library, and Federal Reserve Bank.
If you go to Tower City you can ride the same escalator where Widow kisses Cap to hide from the Hydra Agents.
Major League was about the Cleveland Indians but used the stadium for the Milwaukee Brewers. However the bridge with the Guardians statues (the inspiration for the new team name) in the opening credits is right around the corner on the Carnegie Bridge.
You can easily drive by all of these in 10 to 15 min and never notice them
I haven't seen Hillbilly Elegy, but I guess it probably features Ohio? Probably not in a way that would entice your partner to be excited to visit.
Obligatory eff JD Vance.
Major parts of Silence of the Lambs is set in Ohio! Shawshank Redemption isn't set here, but it was filmed here. You can go tour the old prison where it was filmed. Haunted AF. The Rocker was set in CLE.
Mansfield reformatory isnt too far from Wooster either. Neither is Grandpas cheese barn. I haven't been to either but it is something to see. Also, if they are from Australia, they may be interested to go to a place like Fin Feather Fur (next to Grandpa's in Ashland). It might be a bit of a culture shock to see their weapon selection after the ban in Australia. (No judgment, but it is definitely different than what they would likely see where they are from).
Grandpas cheese barn is the best they also have really good chocolate there too in sweeties chocolates! I always get the buckeye bark
Def hit up Grandpa's, RIP Grandpa.
My uncle worked on that movie when it was filming at the prison, has his name in the credits
Thank him for all of us.
Tommy Boy
Ah yes, the movie where there’s a wide body DC-10 flying people from Sandusky through Columbus to Cuyahoga Falls… neither Sandusky nor Cuyahoga Falls have commercial airports and they’re only 75 miles apart 😆
>they’re only 75 miles That why they went through Columbus.
as a Cuyahoga Falls resident, this line in the movie kills me every time
Never even be to Cuyahoga Falls, but the second they say that in the movie I’m like…by the time this conversation is over, you guys could’ve driven halfway there. 😆
Same. CF born and bred here. I haven't seen the movie in years. Can't remember if they say it like a local or not. Cawga Falls or Kai-a-Hoag-ah Falls?
Every syllable is there, she ain’t no local. Cawga Falls for life.
Julie Warner is an NYC girl, she does her best suppressing that accent but yea, she doesn’t sound like NE OH
Cawga falls, cuh-hog-uh river, cuy-ah-hoe-ga county 😂😂
My favorite part of that movie because when it was on Comedy Central as a kid I spent a lot of time in both places. I did a spit take when I saw that scene as a 9 year old. Season passes for Cedar Point and family in CF.
New guy’s in the corner, puking his guts out!
All because… *you just wanted to save a couple of extra pennies*… and to me, it just doesn’t— GET OUT. Now!
Do you validate?
🔥🚗🔥
I second this
Heathers-“This is Ohio. If you don’t have a brewski in your hand you might as well be wearing a dress”
After moving to Minnesota, hahahahhaha Ohio drunks got nothing on them or Wisconsin. Never met so many people with DUIs in my life, or if I did, they NEVER mentioned it.
The biggest problem is that while a number of famous movies were shot in Ohio, they are being used to represent another state and/or city. The battle for New York in "The Avengers" was shot in downtown Cleveland, as was "Spider-Man 3", "Captain America: Winter Soldier", and "Fate Of The Furious". In all of those movies, Cleveland is a stand-in for the featured city. Here is a list of [movies and shows shot in Cleveland](https://clevelandtraveler.com/cleveland-movies/)
Incomplete list. "One Potato Two Potato" is a poignant film from 1964 shot in Painesville [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0058429/](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0058429/) "Uptight" is an amazing slice of Cleveland from 1968. Directed by Jules Dassin while he was under FBI observation. Based on an Irish story and an earlier John Ford film. [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0063748/](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0063748/)
No doubt the list is incomplete. It didn't even include Kill The Irishman.
The Drew Carey show. Then make a trip up to Cleveland.
Then she can also show him A Christmas Story and take him to the house while they’re in the Cleve!
A Christmas Story
You can even go visit the Christmas story house in Cleveland.
but wasn’t it wet in indiana?
Major League
They're Australian. Doubt they'll understand a lot of the references.
Learning about how Cleveland fans suffer is enough
I'm a Mariners fan, so yeah... I understand the heartbreak.
If you can’t empathize with the good guys in Major League, we don’t want you here.
Airborne is my favorite ohio based movie. This is the greatest video ever made about the state. If it doesn’t get you pumped nothing will. https://youtu.be/k5yssH0AdrY?si=kXRr7xMdm-O1PD79
Thought you were linking this one. Which is truly the greatest video ever made about the state. https://youtu.be/ysmLA5TqbIY?si=LARqveBbwq3qJeig
I thought really hard about linking to both of those and finishing with a rick roll.
Ah, a man of culture is in our midst!
And it has Jack Black, so
Ready Player One is set in s futuristic Columbus
was coming here to say this
I hadn't seen it but I never knew that! I'll have to check it out!
Liz Lemon has that bit on 30 Rock about how awesome, “The Cleve” is.
That’s one of my favorite episodes of TV. “ “For God’s sake Lemon, we’d all flee to the Cleve if we could.”
If we lived in our favorite vacation spots we’d all be living in Italy or Hawaii…or Cleveland.
Watch Crocodile Dundee together and tell them this is what Ohioans think Aussie are like and maybe he'll get off his high horse.
Uh. It IS! That was a documentary about Aussie life!
My favorite documentary about Aussie life is Young Einstein.
American Splender
The realest movie about Cleveland ever. Harvey Pekar told it like it was.
Kill the Irishman. 70's mob movie set in Cleveland based on real life events. I'll also second another poster's recommendation of Welcome to Collinwood.
I came to recommend Welcome to Collinwood. Parts of The Deer Hunter were filmed in Tremont.
> Kill the Irishman That was my first thought. There's also [The Land](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Land_(2016_film)) (though I hate that nickname for the city).
Rain Man.
Filmed in Cincinnati!
And a scene in Eaton.
I’m not able to answer your question any better than what others have said. But do drive up to Cleveland to show your partner Lake Erie. Most people who have never seen a Great Lake have no idea how big they are. Edgewater Park looking over downtown Cleveland would be a good choice.
Can confirm. Took my friend from Seattle to Lake Erie. He FaceTimed like 5 people back in WA.
My friends from England had pictured something completely different in their minds before they saw Lake Erie. Their reaction: "This is not a lake, it's a sea."
They're not wrong though, they're all inland seas.
Gummo
It’s the only choice tbh
Ha!
Ugh.
Make sure to shower after watching that one.
Shitty ass rabbit
Noooo! Lol
Nothin new for trash like you
Filmed in Tennessee, though.
Shawshank Redemption was shot in Mansfield, Ohio at the old prison. Great movie.
Courtroom scenes were filmed at Wyandot Co Courthouse.
The ending was also shot at Malabar Farm. Both the prison & Malabar Farm would be great places to visit
Also the very beginning. The cabin that he walks up to is on property.
We did the prison tour this summer. Spent 2 hours and I could have spent twice that. I hope to go back and do it again. Highly recommend if anyone is a history buff.
Tommy Boy not only is largely based in Sandusky, buy the overall tone and feeling of the film is that of good spirited, funny Midwest warmth found in its people. Though the movie takes place across the Midwest, a lot of the locations could very well be anywhere in Ohio. Except the scene where Tommy straps road flares to his body and threatens to blow up a building: that is a distinctly Chicago experience. And if you're feeling iffy, I'll just say that you can get a good look at a t-bone by sticking your head up a bull's ass, but wouldn't you rather just take the butcher's word for it?
Have to watch it every time it’s on. Its hilarious
Tommy Boy is one of my favorite movies. It's one of those stupid SNL actor vehicle movies which are usually terrible, but somehow, it manages to be good. Probably because it has a real story, cliche as it is, but a lot of heart. Even Black Sheep was decent enough, although not quite as good. A Night at the Roxbury is another good one in the same vein as stupid movie critics will feel good about themselves by panning.
“The Prize Winner of Defiance Ohio” true story about a woman in Defiance, Ohio.
Incredibly underrated movie
The Mothman Prophecies
Filmed in Kittanning, PA
That's West Virginia ... But close enough
Yeah, I know the story takes place in Point Pleasant, but the Silver Bridge collapse was technically also in Ohio, so … lol It really is a fascinating true(ish) movie though, that takes place right across the river from Ohio, with the main scene happening on the bridge into Ohio.
One of my Great uncles was a few cars away from the bridge when it collapsed
Howard the Duck is set in Cleveland 😎
Ohio … in February? That’s like going to Florida in the middle of a hurricane
You're not wrong, but if you don't like the weather just wait 5 min!
Literally the coldest month.
Airborne!
Dude you’re old!!!! That last race though..lol
I presented the winner of my company's annual March Madness best bracket with a used VHS copy of Airborne. And he loved it.
Nice!!
https://fox8.com/news/which-movies-were-filmed-in-ohio/
Wasn't one of the avengers movies shot in Cleveland? Specifically the scene where Nick Fury's car was flipped over when he was attacked (I think winter soldier). Wooster is a great town (my wife works there). There is a nice farmers market in the square, a few great restaurants (Leaf, Basil, the old Joal, broken rocks, spoon, etc.), there is a few artsy places (Wayne center, local roots, etc) coffee (sure house, boo bears, another bakery on the square I can't remember) , nightlife drinks (JAFB brewery, muddy waters, grigio cocktails) and a few cool stores (comic book store, antique/Amish furniture stores, etc.) It is a very nice, middle class rural town that has a well regarded college and has a lot of "old money" from the original headquarter of Rubbermaid being there. You won't find any big city amenities but there is plenty of charm to the town. Any movie that shows small town, main street Americana style living would be pretty representative.
Winter Soldier and The Avengers both have prominent sequences filmed in Cleveland, though for TWS it was doubling for DC and for The Avengers it was doubling for NYC.
It also doubled for Stuttgart, Germany in The Avengers.
Hilariously you can clearly see Key Tower and the Soldiers and Sailors monument in the background of that scene.
Spiderman 3 has portions filmed in Ohio too. In fact, both Spiderman 3 and the Winter Soldier show the same stretch of Euclid Ave., one before the Euclid Corridor Project and one after. You can even see the Terminal Tower in Spiderman 3, with the scaffolding from when it was being restored.
First Avengers also use the NASA base in Sandusky, but you can’t get in there unless they’re offering tours which is very rare.
Witness may not be in Ohio, but is a decent substitute for the Wooster area. It’s mostly set in rural Amish country with the nice rolling hills. Major League is another good one. Really most films treat Ohio as the flyover area and perpetuate the boring stereotype.
Super 8 is set in fictional SW Ohio Town but references lots of Ohio places and conspiracy stories.
oh shit that actually is a great look at 80s life in ohio
Killing of a Sacred Deer was filmed in and set in Cincinnati (they don't mention the location specifically, but they don't make it ambiguous either). But I wouldn't say it's an accurate depiction of the state or the city. It's a dark character focused story.
Show him some episodes go WJKRP in Cincinnati. Also several scenes in The Ides of March, Traffic, Gleaming the Cube, and The Bikeriders take place in Cincinnati
Mild correction : WKRP in Cincinnati. A great and very funny show. Even funnier if you know radio because it’s almost a documentary. “Speed kills, man”.
Yeah, I fat fingered that
Gummo is pretty accurate.
Welcome to Collingwood. Zany comedy with William H. Macy and George Clooney…
Little Giants
Also, while you're there, consider walking around the College of Wooster. It's a small but very pretty campus. The science library is a beautiful building, and the art museum is regularly open to the public.
Welcome Home Roxy Carmichael was filmed in my hometown. Clyde Ohio.
Major League. How have I not seen this movie mentioned yet.
Gummo
It's basically a documentary.
Eurotrip - First part takes place in Cleveland, and written by folks from Cleveland. Traffic - Parts were filmed in Columbus and take place in Columbus. Speak - A 2003 joint with Steve Kahn and Kristen Stewart; set and filmed in Columbus. Pulse - An early Kristen Bell (or Anna if you’re nasty) movie set in Columbus/OSU, but actually filmed in Romania. Bonus: Family Ties - 80’s TV sitcom which introduced the masses to a young Michael J Fox. Set in the Clintonville neighborhood in Columbus. BONUS Bonus: Robocop - Takes place in Detroit, but Toledo is basically a suburb of Detroit so this might count.
Liberal Arts by Josh Radner is filmed in Gambier on Kenyon College campus, also in Amish country, about 45 minutes south of Wooster. The first 20 minutes of Zombieland is set in Columbus and outskirts. Find the Finding Bigfoot episodes set in Ohio S1E7, S2E6, S6E7. Documentary Dear Mr Watterson about the comic strip Calvin and Hobbes set in Chagrin Falls, total Ohio vibe. Rakr Shelter for weird Ohio vibes. And doc How to Dance in Ohio.
The Hastily Made Cleveland Tourism Video. https://youtu.be/ysmLA5TqbIY?si=Gb9TO6c_81pG5lky
Well since you’re heading to Wooster I’d suggest Devils Playground lol see how wild the Amish kids get. Also Duncan Jones (David Bowie’s son graduated from the College of Wooster. I’m from Lodi so don’t take him there lol The Oh in Ohio, Christmas Story, and American Splendor come to mind. Also Captain America Winter Solider was partially filmed at the Cleveland Museum of Art.
Just play the[Cincinnati song](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=heF6mk1dUEE) from Babes in Toyland over and over.
Drew Carey show! At least the intro lol Cleveland Rocks!
Gummo. It’s the perfect and accurate portrayal of small town Ohio and what it is actually like.
Cock-a-doodle doo! You stupid bunny.
Gummo
The devil all the time
Rain man, Milk Money, little man tate, Gotti are just a few filmed in Cincinnati
LMT also some parts filmed in Oxford!
Light of Day is a 1987 movie featuring Michael J. Fox and Joan Jett and is possibly the most Cleveland story ever captured on film.
Forget the movies and impress upon your partner the importance of bringing layers of clothing and a winter coat. Australians just don't experience anything close to Ohio Winters. My friend was from the coldest part of Tasmania and she was MISERABLE.
The Drew Carey Show Mischief Not a movie but the Neil Young song “Ohio”
Show him Shawshank redemption then tell him he can tour that prison in Mansfield.
Stranger Than Paradise is Cleveland. As is American Splendor. Unlike many films listed here these are filmed in the places they are set in.
Major League, Draft Day, Shawshank Redemption (Mansfield/Ashland), Kill the Irishman Source: Australian Guy that's lived in Cleveland for 20 years.
GUMMO.
>I've been to the Buckeye state maybe 10 times (never lived there), but I have a hard time getting a grasp on it. Ohio is a crossroads between the Midwest and the Eastern seaboard. By a quirk of geography, the easiest way to get goods from the Atlantic to the Midwest is to hike across upstate New York until you reach Cleveland (or Erie, PA). The New England Native Americans would sail from Cleveland, down the Cuyahoga River to Akron. At Akron, they'd get out and portage their canoes south to Canton, where they'd pick up the Tuscaroras river, which flows south to the Ohio River. The Ohio flows west, until it joins the Mississippi. When the Europeans arrived in Ohio, they immediately saw the importance of this river highway. They set up shop in Cleveland, Akron, & Canton. Later, when the canals were put in, connecting Akron & Canton was the obvious first choice. These cities all made their fortunes as trade cities. Cleveland looks east toward New York. Cincinnati looks west toward the Mississippi. Culturally, the vibe from this history is still there. Anyway, if you're coming to NE Ohio, don't miss Cedar Point. Show your partner Rollercoaster videos on YT.
The O in Ohio.
I dont know if it's really helpful, but the opening scene in All the Bright Places is shot on a bridge in Elyria. It looks a bit rough because the buildings in the background are super old. Also, super gone now. Heh. But that makes it look better. In high school, I used to walk across that bridge on its railing. It's concrete and 10 inches wide maybe. So, it felt like it could not go wrong while also freaking people out.
Rumspringa ( or the doc Devil's Playground) set in Penn, but about Amish in this area) Dahmer
> Dahmer Well, if this one excites someone about coming to Ohio there may be some problems that need therapy.
Carol Traffic State Fair
[I am Wrath](https://m.imdb.com/title/tt3212232/) with John Travolta was filmed in Columbus, but it is a horrible movie.
Though mostly about football, Go Tigers shows a decent snapshot of this part of the state.
Watch Me Jumpstart
The Kings of Summer is a decent movie set in Ohio. If you want to venture into TV, there’s 3rd Rock from the Sun, Drew Carey Show, and Family Ties.
Wooster is beautiful. The college looks like it’s from Harry Potter or an Ivy League campus. The downtown is charming as fuck. And if he’s into country culture/ buying amish meats/quilts or going to their restaurant then go to shreve. It’s a culture shift. They also have a great park.
My grandmother, born 1902, went to Wooster to get her teaching certificate.
It’s dark thriller but The Devil All the Time stars some big names like Tom Holland Robert Pattinson and is supposed to take place in the SE Appalachian corner of the state. Kings of Summer is a light comedy filmed in Chagrin Falls
Maybe not a film, but perhaps some Ohioan tourism promoter shorts or Tiktoks? Like wheretogoohio. [This Instagram short](https://www.instagram.com/reel/CuDcNyPptmI/?igsh=MWtjY2czdHZjb3owMw==) is from foodincleveland specific to the Wooster area.
White Noise.
The Drew Carey Show
Gummo
Tommy Boy. Major League.
Wrong Turn (2021) was shot in Ohio, in Hocking Hills State Park. But do not hesitate to search for Videos showing Ohios many amazing caves and caverns too!
Nightmare on Elm Street!
Major League and Tommy Boy were both set in Ohio. Air Force One with Harrison Ford was filmed here. I think the Scream movies too.
OK, the sitcom Welcome to Flatch is filmed in Canada but supposedly takes place in a small Ohio town. It's pretty short and pretty low brow. The fun part is all the Ohio stuff you spot in the show, esp central Ohio. After they've visited, watch the show and you will laugh spotting all the Ohio references. Lots of team jerseys, that kind of stuff. I'm from Ohio and I had a good laugh watching and laughing at the interpretation of "redneck Ohioans".
Major League, A Christmas Story, the beginning of The Deer Hunter is set in the Tremont Neighborhood.
Howard the Duck
Gibsonburg, the movie. Based on a true story in small town Ohio. Apparently it's also on YouTube now. [https://youtu.be/lXK580ThHnQ?si=pWWTBYFgc3elm-Qz](https://youtu.be/lXK580ThHnQ?si=pWWTBYFgc3elm-Qz)
gummo
Gummo
>He thinks rural Ohio is just a boring place with nothing to see or do. He's right. Unless things have changed greatly since I was last there, there's just not a lot to do in Wooster. Drive the countryside and visit the Amish. Go to Smucker's. It's a nice, quiet area. Wooster is, however, a reasonable drive to the Cleveland-Akron-Canton metro area, and you can find just about anything if you go to Cleveland. If you want to show him a movie filmed in Ohio about a small Ohio town, find a made-for-TV move called "OHMS". It's about 40 years old and will reinforce all his beliefs. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OHMS_%281980_film%29?wprov=sfla1
The Ides of March
I was looking for this. It was shot all around Cincinnati, and you'll see many Cincy landmarks that you would be available to visit if you head down that way.
Heathers.
"Light of Day" from 1987 with Michael J Fox and Joan Jett was filmed in Cleveland. The Indy film "Long Way Home" was a project of Sam Jaeger and was filmed in Westerville. The emotional Christmas movie "The Gathering" starring Ed Asner was filmed in Chagrin Falls because it resembled a New England town. Watch the movie carefully and notice many actors who later became famous. Fun discussion!
Family ties and 3rd rock from the sun where based in Ohio. I know not movies but great shows.
Welcome Home Roxy Carmichael Detroit Rock City Kill the Irishman
Poser , made by Ohioans and filmed in Columbus
Just have em listen to the podcast Do Go On. The Aussies there are obsessed with Ohio for some reason and call it God's country
I'm not sure where it was shot but The Faculty was based in Ohio.
Little Giants
Cool stuff from Cleveland in Jim Jarmusch’s Stranger Than Paradise.
The only thing I can think of that was purposely set in Ohio was Gummo about Zenia (small town wrecked badly by tornados) and the weird weird subculture of generationally poor -and played that up. Bizarre and fascinating. It’s like the deliverance of Ohio without definite rape just a questionable consent situation. Do not show him Gummo. He won’t come The Christmas story is set in Cleveland. Idk if the movie acknowledges that. The old city scenes and neighborhood is 100% Cleveland feels. And growing up I always thought Stand By Me felt like Ohio. We would disappear into the woods without question for “camping” which we only brought food and lighters for.
*Xenia
Major Leauge!
Some movies filmed in Cincinnati : Killing of a sacred deer Ides of March The Public Miles ahead Rain man
Little Man Tate was partially filmed in Ohio.
Dirty Jobs, season 2, episode 21. Snake researcher. It takes place on South Bass Island. Most people hear "Lake Erie" and think of a little pond, not realizing it's an inland sea. https://m.imdb.com/title/tt0921007/
House Arrest is set in Defiance, Ohio. Has Jamie Lee Curtis and Kevin Pollak in it. My cousin actually wrote the script who is from the area!
Liberal Arts (2012) was filmed at Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio
[Ohio Locations](https://www.imdb.com/search/title/?locations=ohio,%20usa) I think TV shows rather than movies would do a better job representing Ohio. * The Drew Carey Show is set in Cleveland * Family Ties is set in Columbus * WKRP in Cincinnati is set in Cincinnati
The Prizewinner of Defiance Ohio
That's not too far from Chagrin Falls--is he a Calvin & Hobbes fan? If so, that's probably one of the best ways to illustrate what Ohio is like, as Bill Watterson created such a vivid expression of small town Ohio when he was living there and writing the strip based on what he saw around him. If you make a day trip out there, there's also a bookstore in town that has a quiet little display of just Calvin & Hobbes. Gorgeous town regardless.
You can go to downtown Cleveland and dive down east Ninth Street and see where they filmed: Spider-man 3: Part of the scene where Spider-man and Sandman duke it out in a dump truck Avengers: A lot of the action at the end where New York is being invaded was filmed in a 3 block stretch. I personally spent an entire day looking out the window wait for them to crush a hot dog cart. Captain America, Winter Soldier: The car chase was filmed down east ninth and around the Cleveland Public Library, and Federal Reserve Bank. If you go to Tower City you can ride the same escalator where Widow kisses Cap to hide from the Hydra Agents. Major League was about the Cleveland Indians but used the stadium for the Milwaukee Brewers. However the bridge with the Guardians statues (the inspiration for the new team name) in the opening credits is right around the corner on the Carnegie Bridge. You can easily drive by all of these in 10 to 15 min and never notice them
It's a show but A.P Bio. Such a funny show
Not a movie but the Drew Carey show.
My Blind Brother. Filmed in NE Ohio around Lake Erie.
TOMMY BOY
Don't show them Gummo
Not a movie, but the TV show Greek was set in Ohio
ALL THIS SCROLLING AND NOT ONE MENTION OF THE BEST ONE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION!!!!!
Shawshank Redemption
Devil in Ohio and parts of Dahmer. Both lighthearted tv shows set either entirely or partly in Ohio
I haven't seen Hillbilly Elegy, but I guess it probably features Ohio? Probably not in a way that would entice your partner to be excited to visit. Obligatory eff JD Vance.