Omaha

Citizen Ruth (1996)

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The 1996 Alexander Payne film “Citizen Ruth” was primarily shot in Omaha, Nebraska, with a bit of additional shooting just over the Iowa border. Early in the film, Ruth, played by Laura Dern, gets kicked out of her boyfriend’s apartment.

LOCATION: 2454 Harney St, Omaha, NE 68131

Ruth asks to stay at her brother’s house. He refuses and gives her some money instead.

LOCATION: 411 Hickory St, Omaha, NE 68108

Ruth buys some patio sealant from a hardware store, where she heads to the back of the building and gets high.

LOCATION: 4949 Underwood Ave, Omaha, NE 68132

The abortion clinic scenes were filmed in Council Bluffs, Iowa, which is just over the state border from Nebraska.

LOCATION: 200 S 29th St, Council Bluffs, IA 51501

At the end of the film, Ruth is seen running away down this alley, located across the street.

LOCATION: Alley across from 200 S 29th St, Council Bluffs, IA 51501 (GPS coordinates: 41.259361, -95.890616)

Related articles: Election (1999), About Schmidt (2002), Sideways (2004), The Descendants (2011), Nebraska (2013), Downsizing (2017)

About Schmidt (2002)

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The 2002 Alexander Payne film “About Schmidt,” like much of the director’s work, was primarily filmed in Nebraska, with additional filming in Iowa and Colorado. In the film, Warren Schmidt, played by Jack Nicholson, begins retirement from working for an insurance company. The building featured as Schmidt’s workplace, Woodmen Tower, can be found in Omaha.

LOCATION: 1700 Farnam St, Omaha, NE 68102

Schmidt lives with his wife Helen, played by June Squibb, at this home, also located in Omaha.

LOCATION: 5402 Izard St, Omaha, NE 68132

Schmidt embarks on a journey to Denver for his daughter’s wedding. Along the way he decides to stop off and visit his childhood home, only to discover it has been razed and a tire shop now stands in it’s place. This scene was filmed in Council Bluffs, Iowa, which is just over the state border from Nebraska.

LOCATION: 2103 W Broadway, Council Bluffs, IA 51501

Schmidt arrives at the home of Roberta, played by Kathy Bates, which is supposedly located in Denver, Colorado. The real home can actually be found back in Omaha.

LOCATION: 3215 Poppleton Ave, Omaha, NE 68105

Related articles: Citizen Ruth (1996), Election (1999), Sideways (2004), The Descendants (2011), Nebraska (2013), Downsizing (2017)

Election (1999)

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The 1999 film “Election,” like many of director Alexander Payne’s films, was shot around Omaha, Nebraska. The school scenes at “George Washington Carver High,” where much of the film takes place, were shot at Papillion-La Vista Senior High School in Papillion.

LOCATION: 402 E Centennial Rd, Papillion, NE 68046

Dave and Linda Novotny, played by Mark Harelik and Delaney Driscoll, lives at this home. After Dave begins an affair with Tracy Flick, played by Reese Witherspoon, Linda kicks him out of the house.

LOCATION: 683 Parkwood Ln, Omaha, NE 68132

Tracy Flick first begins her affair with her teacher, Dave Novotny, at Godfather’s Pizza in La Vista, after they’re the last two remaining from a dinner with yearbook editors.

LOCATION: 7920 S 84th St, La Vista, NE 68128

The house of Paul Metzler, played by Chris Klein, can be found at 1562 S 187th Cir, Omaha, NE 68130. Paul’s girlfriend Lisa, played by Frankie Ingrassia, lives at 1007 N 64th St, Omaha, NE 68132.

Jim McAllister, played by Matthew Broderick, lives in this home.

LOCATION: 5011 Cass St, Omaha, NE 68132

Related articles: Citizen Ruth (1996), About Schmidt (2002), Sideways (2004), The Descendants (2011), Nebraska (2013), Downsizing (2017)

Downsizing (2017)

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Portions of the 2017 Alexander Payne film “Downsizing,” like much of his work, filmed in the director’s home state of Nebraska, with additional filming in Canada and Norway. Early in the film, Paul and Audrey Safranek, played by Matt Damon and Kristen Wiig, live at this duplex, located in Omaha. In one scene, they are seen selling their belongings in a yard sale out front, as they prepare to downsize.

LOCATION: 4629 Douglas St, Omaha, NE 68132

The back of the property and garage also appear in the film. An alley runs behind Douglas Street to this area.

Paul sits with his buddies watching a news program debating the benefits of downsizing at this restaurant.

LOCATION: 4432 Leavenworth St, Omaha, NE 68105

The Safraneks look at this home in Elkhorn as they evaluate the local housing market. The interior was filmed at a different house in the same neighborhood.

LOCATION: 18676 Oregon Cir, Elkhorn, NE 68022

Paul and Audrey attend an alumni gathering at this school, where they run into an old friend Dave, played by Jason Sudeikis. Dave has been downsized and tells Paul all about the benefits of his life after the procedure. The entrance seen in the film is at the back and has been slightly remodeled since filming took place.

LOCATION: 7400 Western Ave, Omaha, NE 68114 (back entrance at 41°16’19.5″N, 96°01’39.8″W)

Paul and Audrey have a going away gathering at Jams Old Market (1101 Harney St, Omaha, NE 68102).

Related articles: Citizen Ruth (1996), Election (1999), About Schmidt (2002), Sideways (2004), The Descendants (2011), Nebraska (2013)