Table Of Content
- Lights, Camera, Omaha: Uncover the Movie Magic in Nebraska’s Hidden Gem
- Up in the Air – US Box Office: USD$84millions
- About Schmidt – US Box Office: USD$65millions
- To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar – US Box Office: USD$36millions
- Downsizing – US Box Office: USD$24millions
- Election – US Box Office: USD$14millions
Lights, Camera, Omaha: Uncover the Movie Magic in Nebraska’s Hidden Gem
Hey you, movie maven! Seeking some excitement in the heartland of America? Well, look no further than Omaha, Nebraska! While you may not think of Omaha as a bustling hub of lights, camera, and action, this vibrant city has served as the backdrop for a surprising number of iconic films.
Get ready to pack your bags, grab your popcorn, and embark on an adventure where the silver screen meets the real world!
Key Takeaways:
- Omaha, Nebraska may not be the first place that comes to mind when you think of movie magic, but it has been the filming location for several noteworthy films.
- Exploring movie filming locations can be a thrilling and unique way to dive into the world of your favorite movies while also experiencing new places and cultures.
- Visiting these spots can offer a fresh perspective on the behind-the-scenes magic, allowing you to see how a seemingly ordinary street or park can be transformed into a cinematic wonderland.
Now, picture this: you’re strolling through the very same streets that once echoed with the footsteps of your favorite actors. The thrill of standing in the exact spot where a pivotal scene was filmed sends shivers down your spine. You can practically feel the magic in the air as you imagine the director shouting “Action!” and the cast giving their all to bring the story to life.
Imagine visiting Omaha’s bustling Old Market district, where the cobblestone streets are not only the gateway to trendy boutiques and mouthwatering eateries but also a breadcrumb trail of movie history.
As you explore, you might stumble upon the film locations of Alexander Payne’s critically acclaimed movies like “About Schmidt” or “Election.” It’s like stepping into a Hollywood movie set right in the heartland!
But wait, there’s more! Just a short drive from downtown Omaha lies the stunning Lauritzen Gardens. This botanical oasis not only offers breathtaking floral displays but has also played a starring role in movies like “Up in the Air,” where the serene beauty of these gardens spills onto the silver screen.
Take a moment to soak in the scenery, and you might find yourself imagining George Clooney strolling by or engaging in a meaningful conversation with Anna Kendrick.
Visiting movie filming locations is not just a chance to indulge your inner film buff; it’s an opportunity to immerse yourself in the places that have sparked movie magic. So, pack your bags, hop on a plane, and get ready for an adventure like no other in Omaha, Nebraska.
Uncover the secrets behind the scenes, breathe in the air of creativity, and let the charm of this vibrant city captivate you.
Lights, camera, action! Explore the movies filmed in Omaha, Nebraska and bring your film-induced daydreams to life. Check out our listicle below and embark on an unforgettable journey through the landscapes that have inspired cinema’s finest moments. Ready to create your own movie magic? Let’s go!
Up in the Air – US Box Office: USD$84millions
Director: Jason Reitman
Main Cast: George Clooney, Vera Farmiga, Anna Kendrick, Jason Bateman, Amy Morton, and J.K. Simmons
Release Date: 5 September 2009
Filming Locations: Cheshire Inn, St. Louis, Missouri, USA; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; Affton High School, Affton, Missouri, USA; Lambert International Airport – 10701 Lambert International Boulevard, St. Louis, Missouri, USA; Omaha, Nebraska, USA
Main Plot: The story is about Ryan Bingham, who travels the country shooting people. He does a good job and is constantly in the air, flying from one city to the next. He also collects frequent flyer miles and aims to reach ten million. Natalie Keener arrives, thinking that travel is unnecessary and that firings can be done via videoconferencing. Ryan’s boss likes the idea but wants Ryan to show Natalie how he does it. Natalie learns a valuable lesson after one of her counseling sessions goes awry. Ryan also discovers that some of his decisions are not always the best ones.
Famous quotes:
Ryan Bingham: [sitting across the aisle from each other on a plane] “Natalie, what is it you think we do here?”
Natalie Keener: “We prepare the newly unemployed for the emotional and physical hurdles of job hunting, while minimizing legal blow-back.”
Ryan Bingham: “That’s what we’re selling. It’s not what we’re doing.”
Natalie Keener: “Okay, what are we doing?”
Ryan Bingham: “We are here to make limbo tolerable, to ferry wounded souls across the river of dread until the point were hope is dimly visible. And then stop the boat, shove them in the water and make them swim.”
Fun Fact about Up in the Air:
- Many of the people fired in the film are not actors but people recently laid off. The filmmakers posed as a documentary crew looking to document the effects of the recession in St. Louis and Detroit. When people arrived, they were told to treat the camera like the person who fired them and respond as they did or to take advantage of the opportunity to say what they wished they had said.
About Schmidt – US Box Office: USD$65millions
Director: Alexander Payne
Main Cast: Jack Nicholson, Hope Davis, Dermot Mulroney, Kathy Bates, June Squibb, and Howard Hesseman
Release Date: 22 May 2002
Filming Locations: Pioneer Village – 138 E. Highway 6, Minden, Nebraska, USA; Nebraska, USA; Messiah Lutheran Church, 5015 S. 80th Street, Omaha, Nebraska, USA; 5402 Izard Street, Omaha, Nebraska, USA; Dundee, Nebraska, USA
Main Plot: The film begins with shots of the Woodmen Building, a large structure in Omaha, Nebraska. Actuary Warren Schmidt (Jack Nicholson) is sitting in his drab, gray office, counting the minutes until five. Packed boxes all around him indicate that today is his last day of work. When the clock strikes five, Warren grabs his coat, turns off the lights, and walks out. In the following scene, Warren is driving his wife Helen late at night in the rain to a steakhouse where his retirement party is being held. The ceremony is quiet and solemn, with the new guy who replaced Warren paying tribute and telling Warren that he can come to the office anytime. He mentions that he might need some help with Warren’s old accounts. Ray, Warren’s best friend and coworker, delivers an impassioned speech for his friend despite his obvious inebriation. Warren appears moved by the sentiment and apologizes. He goes to the bar on the other side of the restaurant and orders a drink. He clearly does not want to retire.
Famous quotes:
Warren Schmidt: “Say uh, Randall…? How’d that investment situation work out for you? You never called me.”
Larry Hertzel: “Um… don’t bring that up.”
Duncan Hertzel: “You mean that pyramid scheme?”
Randall Hertzel: “No it wasn’t!”
Duncan Hertzel: “All I know is I lost 800 bucks.”
Randall Hertzel: “Well, if you’d stuck with it a little longer you’d have seen results. You bailed out too soon.”
Roberta Hertzel: “Can we change the subject please?”
Sequel: Schmidt Delivered; Schmidt Steps Back
Fun Fact about About Schmidt:
- When asked about the film, author Louis Begley said he liked it and thought it kept the novel’s spirit alive, even though the film changed almost everything from the book. The removal of Schmidt’s Hispanic girlfriend, a key character in the story who was dropped in the film version, was one thing he said he missed.
To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar – US Box Office: USD$36millions
Director: Beeban Kidron,
Main Cast: Wesley Snipes, Patrick Swayze, John Leguizamo, Stockard Channing, Blythe Danner, Arliss Howard, and Jason London
Release Date: 8 September 1995
Filming Locations: 7764 Dodge Street, Omaha, Nebraska, USA; Jersey City, New Jersey, USA; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Loma, Nebraska, USA; Original Victory Bridge – Chattahoochee, Florida, USA
Main Plot: Two Drag Queens, Noxeema Jackson, and Vida Boheme, a newbie and want tobe Drag Queen Chi-Chi Rodriguez, travel across America for the Drag Queen finals in Hollywood. It’s all fun and adventure with a cheap used Cadillac convertible as transportation. That is until the old banger conks out, and they are stranded in the middle of nowhere, in the dusty and dry small town of Plainsville, a backwater. Hot on their tails is homophobic, racist Sheriff Dollard, who is furious and vows to “get these men in dresses.” With an angry Sheriff, small-town blues, and the locals having to adjust to these new, strange, and colorful individuals, it all adds to the fun, frolics, and home truths from both sides of the fence. A chance meeting on the open road, this is more than just minds, friendship, and fate meeting in the most unlikely of places.
Famous quotes:
Noxeema Jackson: “When a straight man puts on a dress and gets his sexual kicks, he is a transvestite. When a man is a woman trapped in a man’s body and has a little operation he is a Transsexual.”
Miss Chi-Chi Rodriguez: “I know that.”
Noxeema Jackson: “When a gay man has way too much fashion sense for one gender he is a drag queen.”
Vida Boheme: “Thank you.”
Noxeema Jackson: “And when a tired little Latin boy puts on a dress, he is simply a boy in a dress!”
Sequel: To Wong with Kung Fu: Thanks for Everything, a 6 Year Old and an 8 Year Old
Fun Fact about To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar:
- The three male leads stated that, after filming, they burned their costumes, wigs, and make-up because it took them so long each morning to “become women.” On the other hand, Patrick’s wife put a wig from the film available for sale at Julien’s on April 28, 2017.
Downsizing – US Box Office: USD$24millions
Director: Alexander Payne
Main Cast: Matt Damon, Christoph Waltz, Hong Chau, Kristen Wiig, Rolf Lassgård, Ingjerd Egeberg, Udo Kier, and Søren Pilmark
Release Date: 30 August 2017
Filming Locations: Trollfjord, Lofoten, Norway; Bergen, Hordaland, Norway; Omaha, Nebraska, USA; Tysfjord, Norway; York University, North York, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Main Plot: In search of a solution to overpopulation and global warming, a scientist invents “downsizing,” a process that reduces people’s height to five inches. Paul and Audrey Safranek, a married couple with financial difficulties in Omaha, meet Dave and Carol Johnson, who have downsized. While the inventors argue that downsizing is environmentally friendly because it reduces waste, Dave claims that the benefits extend far beyond that. And improve one’s life by increasing the value of their money. After researching the benefits of downsizing, Paul and Audrey decide to go through with it and relocate to Leisureland, New Mexico, one of the most popular communities for small people.
Famous quotes:
Ngoc Lan Tran: “Other night on boat, what kind of fuck you give me?”
Paul Safranek: “What?”
Ngoc Lan Tran: “What kind of fuck you give me?”
Paul Safranek: “What kind? I don’t…”
Ngoc Lan Tran: “American people, eight kind of fuck. Love fuck, hate fuck, sex-only fuck, break-up fuck, make-up fuck, drunk fuck, buddy fuck, pity fuck.”
Fun Fact about Downsizing:
- In the film, everyone who goes through the downsizing procedure is put under general anesthesia and then given a colonic enema. However, it is not stated why this is a subtle joke for those who are familiar with human physiology. The procedure shrinks people at the cellular level while leaving non-cellular body material alone. Suppose the patient is not properly evacuated before the operation. In that case, the shrinking process will expel their feces (which remains unchanged) outside, and the patient will end up lying in a pile of their own excrement.
Election – US Box Office: USD$14millions
Director: Alexander Payne
Main Cast: Matthew Broderick, Reese Witherspoon, Chris Klein, Jessica Campbell, Mark Harelik, Phil Reeves, and Molly Hagan
Release Date: 23 April 1999
Filming Locations: 5011 Cass Street, Omaha, Nebraska, USA; 683 Parkwood Lane, Omaha, Nebraska, USA; Memorial Park, Omaha, Nebraska, USA; Papillion-LaVista High School – 402 E. Centennial Road, Papillion, Nebraska, USA; Bellevue, Nebraska, USA
Main Plot: Jim McAllister (Matthew Broderick) is a well-liked high school history teacher. He lives in the Omaha suburbs and is active in many after-school activities, one of which is supervising the student government election process. Tracy Flick (Reese Witherspoon) is a high-achieving junior with an annoying sense of entitlement. Her bitter and divorced mother encourages her to “do whatever it takes” to succeed in life. Earlier in the year, Jim’s best friend, Dave Novotny (Mark Harelik), was fired from his job and divorced by his wife, Linda (Delaney Driscoll). After it was revealed that he and Tracy were having a sexual affair while Tracy’s reputation remained unharmed.
Famous quotes:
Jim McAllister: “Tracy, you’re a very intelligent girl. You have a lot of admirable qualities. But one day maybe you’ll learn that being smart and doing whatever you need to do to get ahead, and stepping on other people to get there… well, there’s a whole lot more to life than that. And in the end you’re only cheating yourself.”
Tracy Flick: “Why are you lecturing me?”
Jim McAllister: “This isn’t the time or the place to get into it, but there is, for just one example, a certain former colleage of mine, who made a very big mistake, a life mistake. Now, I think the lesson here is, old or young, we all make mistakes. And we have to learn that our actions, all of them, can carry serious consequences.”
Tracy Flick: “I don’t know what you’re referring to, but maybe if certain older, wiser people hadn’t acted like such little babies and gotten so mushy, then everything would be OK.”
Jim McAllister: “I agree. And I also think that certain young and naive people need to thank their lucky stars and be very, very grateful that the entire school didn’t find out about certain indiscretions that could have ruined their reputations and their chances to win certain elections.”
Tracy Flick: “And I think certain older people, like you and your colleague, shouldn’t be leching after their students, especially when some of them can’t even get their own wives pregnant. And they certainly shouldn’t be making slanderous accusations, especially when certain young, naive people’s mothers are paralegal secretaries at the city’s biggest law firm, and have won many successful law suits. And if you want to keep questioning me like this, I won’t continue without my attorney present.”
Fun Fact about Election:
- Because the film was shot in a real high school, adjacent classrooms were still used while filming scenes. Some background noises in the soundtrack are provided by real teachers and students. Director Alexander Payne decided to keep it in to make the film sound more realistic.
