Table Of Content
Lights, Camera, Action! Unleash Your Inner Movie Star in Rapid City, South Dakota!
Ah, Rapid City, South Dakota! Not only is this city brimming with natural beauty and incredible adventures, but it also boasts a glamorous movie history that will leave you starstruck.
Calling all movie buffs and travel junkies, because we’re about to take you on a journey through the silver screen. Get ready to explore the movie magic that has graced the streets of Rapid City and discover why visiting these filming locations is an absolute must!
Key Takeaways:
- Rapid City is not just a destination for outdoor enthusiasts; it’s a treasure trove of movie history waiting to be explored.
- Visiting movie filming locations adds an exciting twist to your itinerary, giving you a unique perspective on the city’s cultural and artistic legacy.
- You’ll feel like a star yourself as you walk in the footsteps of Hollywood legends and see familiar settings in person.
- Discover hidden gems that were featured in films, which might not be on the usual tourist radar.
- Keep your eyes peeled for local landmarks and businesses that have made cameo appearances throughout the years.
We’ve all been there, my fellow movie fanatics. You’re sitting at home, browsing the internet, feeling a little bored and wondering what new adventures await. Well, have you ever thought about stepping into the shoes of your favorite actors and actresses?
Imagine strolling through the same streets, gazing at the same stunning landscapes, and feeling like you’re part of the action. Rapid City, South Dakota offers you this irresistible opportunity!
Picture yourself standing on the exact spot where the stars once stood, strutting your stuff and imagining the cameras rolling. It’s an exhilarating experience that will transport you to the heart of the movie magic. From blockbusters to indie films, Rapid City has hosted a spectrum of productions, making it a cinematic playground for you to explore.
As you wander through Rapid City, keep your eyes open for those hidden gems that you might recognize from the big screen. Spot the cozy cafe that served as the backdrop for a memorable scene or stroll past the iconic building that stole the show in a pivotal moment. You’ll feel like you have a secret connection with the city as you discover these unexpected cinematic treasures.
But the fun doesn’t stop there! Visiting movie filming locations offers a chance to see your favorite locales from a whole new angle. You’ll find yourself appreciating the details—the architecture, the sweeping views, and the nuances of everyday life—that may have gone unnoticed on the silver screen. It’s like peeling back the curtain and discovering the magic behind the movie magic.
So, fellow adventurers, gear up for an unforgettable journey through the lights, camera, and action of Rapid City, South Dakota. Whether you’re an aspiring actor or simply a lover of movies, diving into the world of film in this historic city will tickle your imagination and leave you craving for more.
Now, without further ado, it’s time to grab your camera, dust off your sunglasses, and embark on a blockbuster adventure of your very own.
Lights, camera, action—let’s go explore the mesmerizing movies filmed in the stunning Rapid City, South Dakota! Remember, the spotlight is waiting for you.
Lights, camera, explore! Discover the movies filmed in Rapid City, South Dakota and unleash your inner movie star. Embark on an exciting journey through the silver screen, and let the magic of cinema transport you to a world of adventure.
Start your unforgettable adventure now with our list of movies filmed in Rapid City, South Dakota!
Dances with Wolves – US Box Office: USD$184,208,848
Director: Kevin Costner
Main Cast: Kevin Costner, Mary McDonnell, Graham Greene, Rodney Grant
Release Date: November 21, 1990
Filming Locations: Badlands National Park, South Dakota, USA; Black Hills, South Dakota, USA; Jackson Hole, Wyoming, USA; Nebraska, USA; Rapid City, South Dakota, USA
Main Plot: During the American Civil War in Tennessee, Union Army officer Lt. John J. Dunbar learns that his injured leg is about to be amputated. Seeing the plight of fellow soldiers with amputated legs, Dunbar refused the amputation and stole a horse that was standing nearby. Between the Union and the Confederation’s opposing positions, he was stuck at a dead end for several days. He committed suicide by crossing the line of fire on horseback. His action has the unexpected effect of rallying his comrades, who attack distracted allies and win the battle. After the war, an experienced general surgeon saves Dunbar’s leg. The commander recognizes Dunbar as a hero and gives Sisko the horse. He used to carry him into battle, giving Dunbar his coveted title.
Famous quotes:
John: “My name is Dances with Wolves. I have nothing to say to you. You are not worth talking to.”
Ten: “Dances with Wolves has been quiet these past few days. Is his heart bad?”
John: “Killing those soldiers at the river was a good thing. I never got to thank all of you for saving me.”
Stands With a Fist: “It is the name all the people are calling you now.”
John: “There was purpose in everything he did, and I knew he wanted me to stay.”
Sequel: Holy Road
Fun facts about Dances with Wolves:
- Due to the film’s enormous success and benevolent attitude toward Native Americans, the Lakota accepted Kevin. Costner as an honorary member.
- Kevin did his entire stunts in the film.
- To make the film more realistic, a language teacher was called in to teach Lakota cast members who didn’t know how to speak it.
- Kevin Costner’s Tig Productions spent $250,000 on animatronic buffaloes to use in the climactic buffalo hunt to avoid animal cruelty.
How the West Was Won – US Box Office: USD$46.50million
Director: John Ford, Henry Hathaway, George Marshall
Main Cast: James Stewart, John Wayne, Gregory Peck, Henry Fonda, Carroll Baker, Lee Cobb
Release Date: February 20, 1963
Filming Locations: Cave-In-Rock State Park – 1 New State Park Road, Cave-In-Rock, Illinois, USA; Silverton, Colorado, USA; Cumberland River, Kentucky, USA; Rapid City, South Dakota, USA; Eugene, Oregon, USA
Main Plot: A sprawling epic that follows the Prescotts, an emigrant family, through four generations. They moved from the Erie Canal in the 1830s to their western home half a century later. Along the way, they encounter river pirates and escape with the help of fur trapper Linus Rawlings, who subsequently marries one of their daughters, Eve. The parents drown on a sinking raft, and the other daughter, Lilith, becomes a singer on a riverboat. She attracts the attention of distinguished adventurer Cleve Van Valen. Together they cross the prairie in a wagon, making and losing fortunes in California. Meanwhile, Linus has become a farmer, joins the Union Army during the Civil War, and is killed in the Battle of Shiloh. One of his sons, Zeb, also joined the army and remained as a cavalry officer after the war. He was sent to Colorado to help protect the pioneer railroad against the Indians whose lands they crossed.
Famous quotes:
Narrator: “Its pioneers, settlers won the west, and adventurers are long gone now.”
Narrator: “After Shiloh, the South never smiled.”
Zebulon Prescott: “O Lord, without consulting with Thee, we have sent thy way some souls whose evil ways passeth all understanding.”
Narrator: “This land has a name today and is marked on maps. But, the names, marks, and maps all had to be won from nature and primitive man.”
Cleve Van Valen: “From the first moment I saw you, I’ve known that I couldn’t live without you.”
Sequel: The Rivers; The Plains; The Civil War; The Railroad; The Outlaws
Fun facts about How the West Was Won:
- Stuntman Bob Morgan was seriously injured and nearly died while performing a stunt in this image.
- While filming in June 1961, Karl Malden had to be rushed to the hospital to undergo an appendectomy.
- Cinema was so extensive that it couldn’t be configured for close-ups.
- Includes over 12,000 extras, including various Native American tribes.
Nebraska – US Box Office: USD$17,654,912
Director: Alexander Payne
Main Cast: Bruce Dern, Will Forte, June Squibb, Bob Odenkirk, Stacy Keach, Mary Louise Wilson
Release Date: January 24, 2014
Filming Locations: Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Billings, Montana, USA; Hooper, Nebraska, USA; Rapid City, South Dakota, USA; Wyoming, USA
Main Plot: The Grants – father Woody, mother Kate, and grown sons Ross and David – live in Billings, Montana. Old Woody has nearing dementia, and while his family liked to think, he believed only what was on the surface. Woody’s delusions were fueled by a lifetime of alcoholism. Woody’s latest belief is that he has won $1 million, which his family knows is one of those scams where people buy magazine subscriptions. So Woody, who didn’t think the USPS would mail his “winner’s” certificate, was determined to go to the company’s headquarters in Lincoln, Nebraska, to claim his $1 million. The money he wants is a new pickup truck, which he never had, even though he shouldn’t be driving it anymore. Another is to buy an air compressor to replace the one stolen from him decades ago and to leave a small inheritance to Ross and David.
Famous quotes:
David: “No, he just believes what people tell him.”
Ed Pegram: “And his momma cried, cause if there’s one thing that she doesn’t need”
Kate Grant: “He always did have a nice voice.”
David: “Was the whole town trying to seduce you?”
Kate: “There’s Woody’s little sister, Rose.”
Sequel: Sideways; The Descendants
Fun facts about Nebraska:
- Bruce Dern claimed he and Will Forte got stuck in the car for hours filming the driving scenes because cameras were mounted on both doors
- Alexander Payne’s first experiences with black and white, digital cameras, and anamorphic lenses.
- Alexander Payne tried to get the movie made for several years.
- Bryan Cranston auditioned for the role of David, but director Alexander Payne felt he was not suitable.
The Rider – US Box Office: USD$2,419,031
Director: Choe Zhao
Main Cast: Brady Jandreau, Mooney, Tim Jandreau, Lily Jandreau, Leroy Pourier
Release Date: April 13, 2018
Filming Locations: Pine Ridge, Pine Ridge, South Dakota, USA; Badlands, South Dakota, USA; Rushville, Nebraska, USA; Rockyford, South Dakota, USA; Rapid City, South Dakota, USA
Main Plot: Brady, his father, Wayne, and his autistic younger sister Lilly all live in poverty. Brady, who was once a rising star on the rodeo circuit, was injured while competing in bronc riding and had a brain injury. It affects his right hand’s motor capabilities and makes him susceptible to seizures. According to the doctors, his attacks will worsen if he continues to ride. Brady frequently sees Lane, a friend who had a severe brain injury in a similar bull-riding accident and now resides in a care home. While the family’s money is wasted on drinking and gambling, his father does little to provide for the family.
Famous quotes:
Brady: “If any animal around here got hurt as I did, they’d have to be put down.”
Brady: “You know, Lilly, God gives us a purpose.
Brady: “To the horse, run across the prairie.”
Brady: “For a cowboy, it’s to ride.”
Lily: “Very true!”
Sequel: Songs My Brother’s Taught Me; Nomadland
Fun facts about The Rider:
- Cholé went to the farm where Jandro worked, and he taught her to ride a horse
- The character of Brady Blackburn is based on actor Brady Jandreau. He suffered a head injury after falling from a horse.
- In real life, Brady Jandreau is married to Terri Dawn Poirier and has a daughter.
- Brady, his father, and his autistic sister, Lilly, are family.
- Lane Scott plays herself, actually injured from a rodeo injury, and is lifelong friends with Brady’s real family.
Lakota Girls
Director: Molliane Cameron
Main Cast: Charise Abernathy, Carrie Scott, Emma Brewer, Marshall Burnette, Cavan Cameron
Release Date: May 20, 2017
Filming Locations: Custer State Park – 13329 U.S. Highway 16A, Custer, South Dakota, USA; Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, South Dakota, USA; Rapid City, South Dakota, USA; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Hill City, South Dakota, USA
Main Plot: Mato Win is an 8-year-old Native American girl who lives on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. She was sent to live with a white family on a horse farm in the Black Hills when her parents were seriously injured in an accident. She lives with an eight-year-old white girl, Clara, and her family. But Mato is determined to go back to their place. She ran away to the mountainous forest, but she was found. She even called her brother to get out of that place. She is afraid she will be kept from her parents and does not trust Clara’s older brother Cavan.
Famous quotes:
Clara: “How much Indian do you have to be to be Indian?”
Mato Win: “Why do you have an old photo of two Indian men in your home?”
Emylon Brown: “He’s like a big cup of hot cocoa. I want to drink him up.”
Russell: “There’s no shame in being from the reservation.”
Emylon: “Frank and I are fighting against the same group, white men.”
Emylon:” They have all the power, and we don’t. To be happy, I want to be with a man on my side.”
Sequel: Lakota Daughters
Fun facts about Lakota Girls:
- Written by Molliane Cameron
- Genres of the film: Drama, Family, History
- Soundtracks: Wagnuka Olowan by Woodpecker song
- Ohitika Looking Horse won the Rising Star Award
- She also won Best Youth Actor/Actress in a Feature Film.
