The great state of Wisconsin is known for many things, with everything from the Green Bay Packers, the Great Lakes, Spotted Cow and Frank Lloyd Wright’s architecture serving as national touchpoints.And while several classic sitcoms, such as “Happy Days” and “That 70’s Show,” rose to prominence on the small screen, the state of Wisconsin isn’t quite as well known for the films shot within state lines. But that doesn’t mean its share of classics haven’t been shot here.
While most people are aware of where movies are set, it is always interesting to learn what movies were shot in your state. Here at BetWisconsin.com, your future home to everything Wisconsin sports betting, we looked at some of the best films ever shot in the state.
Best Movies Shot in Wisconsin
BetWisconsin.com considered all the movies shot in Wisconsin as listed on Wikipedia as a starting basis for the research. We then utilized IMDb rating, Rotten Tomatoes Audience score, Rotten Tomatoes Critic score, and Academy Award recognition to create a scoring system.
David Lynch’s “The Straight Story” Comes In At No. 1
At No. 1 in our rankings for the best film shot in Wisconsin is director David Lynch’s 1999 effort “The Straight Story,” in which an elderly war veteran makes a unique road trip across Iowa and Wisconsin to patch things up with his estranged brother. While not a box office success (1999 saw the release of “The Matrix,” “The Sixth Sense” and “Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace”) the G-rated sentimental film wowed critics like Roger Ebert, who gave it four stars. The film’s lead, Richard Farnsworth, received an Academy Award nomination, though he lost to Kevin Spacey in “American Beauty.” If you missed “The Straight Story” during its original run, the film is currently available on Disney +.
John Belushi and Kristen Wiig Make Their Mark
The No. 2 and No. 3 films on our list prove that the state of Wisconsin appreciates a good laugh. At No. 2 is the 1980 classic “The Blues Brothers,” in which Dan Aykroyd and the late John Belushi successfully took their “Saturday Night Live” characters to the big screen, where they were joined by Aretha Franklin and James Brown, among other musical legends.
At a tie for No. 3 is the modern comedy classic “Bridesmaids.” A passion project from Kristen Wiig (another “SNL” alum) the film grossed over $300 million on a $33 million budget. It also launched the career of Melissa McCarthy, who steals the show among a deep cast that also includes Rose Byrne and Maya Rudolph.
Tied with “Bridesmaids” was Morgan Spurlock’s 2004 documentary “Super Size Me,” in which the poor guy ate only McDonald’s food for a 30-day stretch. At least he got an Academy Award nomination for his troubles.
Best of The Rest
What other films stand out among Wisconsin’s history? Michael Mann and Johnny Depp make an appearance at No. 5 with their John Dillinger story “Public Enemies.” While the thriller grossed over $200 million at the box office, it also served as a touch point in the debate about film tax credits that are offered by many states.
No. 9 on our list also featured a unique tie. Zach Braff’s “The Last Kiss,” his highly-anticipated romantic follow-up to “Garden State,” came in with the same score as 2002’s “Dahmer,” in which a young Jeremy Renner took on the famous serial killer in Milwaukee.
Keep tabs on this site for more fun items like this as we patiently wait for the arrival of Wisconsin sports betting apps like BetMGM Wisconsin.
Author
Thomas Leary is a news editor and writer for BetWisconsin.com. He previously spent six years at Sports Business Journal, where he helped identify emerging sectors across sports business, such as legalized gambling and helped launch a digital newsletter division. Thomas lives in Charlotte, N.C., with his wife Emmie, and their dog, Pickles.