65 Films & TV Shows Set In Iowa
-
The Music Man
Iowa The 1910sThere's big trouble happening in River City, Iowa. — The Music Man is a 2003 American television film directed by Jeff Bleckner and starring Matthew Broderick and Kristin Chenoweth. The television production, which was broadcast by ABC on the February 16, 2003, edition of The Wonderful World of Disney, is based on the book of the 1957 stage musical by Meredith Willson, which was based on a story by Willson and Franklin Lacey. The musical was adapted for television by Sally Robinson. It was filmed entirely in Ontario, Canada. The three-hour presentation was watched by 13.1 million viewers, with a 3.8 rating/9 share in adults aged 18–49. It finished second in the first two hours and fourth in the final hour.
-
The Straight Story
Wisconsin Iowa The 1990sA true story that proves a little determination goes a very, very long way. — A retired farmer and widower in his 70s, Alvin Straight learns one day that his distant brother Lyle has suffered a stroke and may not recover. Alvin is determined to make things right with Lyle while he still can, but his brother lives in Wisconsin, while Alvin is stuck in Iowa with no car and no driver's license. Then he hits on the idea of making the trip on his old lawnmower, thus beginning a picturesque and at times deeply spiritual odyssey.
-
Jesus' Son
Iowa The 1970sA young man turns from drug addiction and petty crime to a life redeemed by a discovery of compassion.
-
Whiteboyz
Illinois Iowa The 1990sThey dreamed of the ghetto...But they woke up in Iowa. — In a virtually all-white Iowa town, Flip daydreams of being a hip-hop star, hanging with Snoop Doggy Dogg and Dr. Dre. He practices in front of a mirror and with his two pals, James and Trevor. He talks Black slang, he dresses Black. He's also a wannabe pusher, selling flour as cocaine. And while he talks about "keeping it real," he hardly notices real life around him: his father's been laid off, his mother uses Food Stamps, his girlfriend is pregnant, James may be psychotic, one of his friends (one of the town's few Black kids) is preparing for college, and, on a trip to Chicago to try to buy drugs, the cops shoot real bullets. What will it take for Flip to get real?
-
Michael
Illinois Iowa TexasHe's an angel... Not a saint. — Tabloid reporters are sent by their editor to investigate after the paper recieves a letter from a woman claiming an angel is living with her.
-
Kingpin
Nevada Pennsylvania Iowa The 1990s The 1970s The 1960sYou wouldn't want to meet these pinheads in an alley. — After bowler Roy Munson swindles the wrong crowd and is left with a hook for a hand, he settles into impoverished obscurity. That is, until he uncovers the next big thing: an Amish kid named Ishmael. So, the corrupt and the hopelessly naïve hit the circuit intent on settling an old score with Big Ern.
-
The Bridges of Madison County
Iowa The 1960sThe path of Francesca Johnson's future seems destined due to an unexpected fork in the road... — Photographer Robert Kincaid wanders into the life of housewife Francesca Johnson for four days in the 1960s.
-
The Last Supper
IowaLove... Sex... Life... Death. In this house it's all on the table. — A group of idealistic, but frustrated, liberals succumb to the temptation of murdering rightwing pundits for their political beliefs.
-
Troublesome Creek: A Midwestern
Iowa The 1990sWell done, personal documentary of one family's fight to save their land.
-
The Puppet Masters
IowaTrust No One — The Earth is invaded by alien parasites—aka 'slugs'—that ride on people's backs and control their minds
-
Life is a terrible thing to sleep through. — Gilbert Grape is a small-town young man with a lot of responsibility. Chief among his concerns are his mother, who is so overweight that she can't leave the house, and his mentally impaired younger brother, Arnie, who has a knack for finding trouble. Settled into a job at a grocery store and an ongoing affair with local woman Betty Carver, Gilbert finally has his life shaken up by the free-spirited Becky.
-
A family reunion with some minor complications. — A mourning son makes a deal to reanimate his one year dead mother, however things turn into an unexpected direction.
-
Noises Off...
IowaJust when they finally get it right, everything starts going wrong! — Hired to helm an Americanized take on a British play, director Lloyd Fellowes does his best to control an eccentric group of stage actors. With a star actress quickly passing her prime, a male lead with no confidence, and a bit actor that's rarely sober, chaos ensues in the lead up to a Broadway premiere.
-
Crash Landing: The Rescue of Flight 232
Iowa The 1980sAuthentic drama of United Airlines flight 232 from Denver to Chicago. The DC-10 crashed during an emergency landing at Sioux City Gateway Airport on July 19, 1989. 184 people survived, partly thanks to the ground rescue workers who had 40 minutes to prepare for the event
-
In the Best Interest of the Children
Iowa The 1980sFact-based story of a legal battle fought over custody of five siblings.
-
Sleeping with the Enemy
Massachusetts IowaSelf-Defense is not murder — A young woman fakes her own death in an attempt to escape her nightmarish marriage, but discovers it is impossible to elude her controlling husband.
-
Field of Dreams
Iowa Minnesota Massachusetts The 1980sIf you believe the impossible, the incredible can come true. — Ray Kinsella is an Iowa farmer who hears a mysterious voice telling him to turn his cornfield into a baseball diamond. He does, but the voice's directions don't stop -- even after the spirits of deceased ballplayers turn up to play.
-
The 'Burbs
Iowa The 1980sHe's a man of peace in a savage land... Suburbia. — When secretive new neighbors move in next door, suburbanite Ray Peterson and his friends let their paranoia get the best of them as they start to suspect the newcomers of evildoings and commence an investigation. But it's hardly how Ray, who much prefers drinking beer, reading his newspaper and watching a ball game on the tube expected to spend his vacation.
-
Zadar! Cow from Hell
IowaA very funny moooovie! — A filmmaker returns home to Iowa in the hopes of making a horror movie.
-
Miles from Home
Iowa The 1950sTwo brothers who are forced off their farm in the debt stricken mid-west become folk heroes when they begin robbing the banks that have been foreclosing on farmers.
-
Fright Night
Iowa The 1980sThere are some very good reasons to be afraid of the dark. — Charley Brewster, a high school student, accidentally discovers the true and creepy nature of Jerry Dandrige, his dashing and enigmatic new neighbor; but no one seems willing to believe him.
-
Terms of Endearment
New York Iowa Nebraska Texas The 1970s The 1980s The 1960sCome to laugh, come to cry, come to care, come to terms. — Aurora, a finicky woman, is in search of true love while her daughter faces marital issues. Together, they help each other deal with problems and find reasons to live a joyful life.
-
The Funhouse
IowaPay to get in. PRAY to get out. — Rebellious teen Amy defies her parents by going to a trashy carnival that has pulled into town. In tow are her boyfriend, Buzz, and their friends Liz and Richie. Thinking it would be fun to spend the night in the campy "Funhouse" horror ride, the teens witness a murder by a deformed worker wearing a mask. Locked in, Amy and her friends must evade the murderous carnival workers and escape before it leaves town the next day.
-
Friendly Fire
🇻🇳 Vietnam Iowa The 1970sIn war, the only thing worse than death is not knowing the truth. — In March 1970, a U.S. Army officer arrived at the Iowa farm of Peg and Gene Mullen and informed them that their son Michael had been killed in Vietnam by "friendly fire." Their determined attempts to learn more about the circumstances of their son's death are the subject of this true account film.
-
Ice Castles
Iowa ColoradoThe story of a girl who refused to forget she was once a champion. — A young girl is on top of the world until a tragic accident dashes her hopes and dreams of becoming a world-class figure skater. Only with the help of those who love her can she prove to the world -- and herself -- that she still has the potential to realize her dreams.
- load more