Yes, There's a Movie Set in Every Single US State — These Are the Most Iconic
As we celebrate holidays like Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, and Labor Day, we can't help but think about the vast history of our country, and the very different states that make up our nation. This complex variation is represented on film, and yes — there's a movie set in every single US state. There's obviously more than one memorable movie per state and multiple memorable movies set in certain states, but we've narrowed it down to one single iconic film to represent each one.
Alabama: Forrest Gump
Though Forrest's hometown of Greenbow, AL, isn't real, he has so much love for his home state, even though he gets to see a great deal of the world.
Alaska: Into the Wild
Like the book, the film paints such a gorgeous picture of untouched American wilderness, even if there is no traditionally happy ending.
Arizona: Tombstone
Doc Holliday is, memorably, your huckleberry in this Wyatt Earp Western set in the town it's named after.
Arkansas: True Grit
Young Mattie Ross (Hailee Steinfeld) is on a mission to find the man who killed her father and bring him to justice in the Western era drama that begins in a dusty, wild Arkansas.
California: Vertigo
Lots of San Francisco landmarks get their close-up in Hitchcock's iconic thriller, like this scene of an attempted suicide at the Golden Gate Bridge.
Colorado: The Shining
The mountains and trees of Colorado are a breathtaking defining feature and have been used to dazzle in films, but there's also something about the snow-covered Winter — showcased in one of the most terrifying horror films ever — that's equally thrilling.
Connecticut: Mystic Pizza
The pizza is as exquisite as its leading ladies in this movie, set in the very real town of Mystic, CT.
Delaware: Fight Club
Aside from the classic Wayne's World line ("Hi. I'm in Delaware"), this is Delaware's biggest moment on the big screen.
Florida: Magic Mike
Magic Mike and the boys delight the ladies of Tampa at their sexy strip club.
Georgia: Gone With the Wind
The iconic Southern tale takes place at Tara, the plantation owned by the family of Scarlett O'Hara.
Hawaii: Blue Crush
Oh, all the things you thought you could do because of Blue Crush, like live in the most gorgeous state in the union.
Idaho: Napoleon Dynamite
The fact that Napoleon and his cohorts live in Preston, ID, is an inspiration directly from the filmmaker, Jared Hess, who grew up in the same town.
Illinois: Ferris Bueller's Day Off
Ferris Bueller loves Chicago, and Chicago loves Ferris Bueller.
Indiana: A Christmas Story
This classic piece of Americana is set in the fictional Indiana town of Hohman. It's based on the real Indiana town of Hammond, which is where author Jean Shepherd (whose short stories inspired the film) grew up.
Iowa: Field of Dreams
If you build it, he will come — and we will always think of Iowa as some magical baseball farmland, too.
Kansas: The Wizard of Oz
Kansas will always be the land of sweet farm girls, tornadoes, and the yellow brick road because of this classic.
Kentucky: Elizabethtown
It may be named after the specific place of Elizabethtown, KY, but the place comes to symbolize homecoming and all its complicated emotions.
Louisiana: Interview With the Vampire
These brutal, passionate vampires jaunt around many places, including Europe, but New Orleans is where they make their home (and try to do dastardly things to Lestat in a swamp).
Maine: The Cider House Rules
The quaint orphanage at the center of this film iconically memorializes its setting with the sweet refrain: "Goodnight, you princes of Maine, you kings of New England."
Maryland: Wedding Crashers
"Crabcakes and football! That's what Maryland DOES!"
Massachusetts: Good Will Hunting
As the first feature written by Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, who both grew up in Massachusetts, it makes sense that they would set it in the Boston area, with their characters specifically from South Boston.
Michigan: American Pie
With a title like American Pie, it makes sense that the setting is a Midwestern state known for its wholesomeness, even if these boys aren't wholesome at all.
Minnesota: Drop Dead Gorgeous
Close your eyes and I bet you can hear the heaviest Minnesotan accent in this satire about a small town and its over-the-top pageant (for real, it's called the Sarah Rose Cosmetics Mount Rose American Teen Princess Pageant!).
Mississippi: The Help
This 2011 movie explores the tension-filled race dynamics of the 1960s and uses a setting of particular significance in the time frame: Jackson, MS.
Missouri: Gone Girl
Both set in and filmed in Missouri, where the Midwestern state contributes to Amy's feeling of identity loss, among other things.
Montana: Legends of the Fall
What's more beautiful in this film: the wilds of Montana or Tristan (Brad Pitt)? We won't make you say it, but we know the answer.
Nebraska: Nebraska
This one was an obvious choice, but we had to. Alexander Payne's black and white dramedy gives its setting a simultaneously stark and graceful feel.
Nevada: The Hangover
It's ironic that a movie about blacking out is so memorable. Vegas, of course, is where it all begins and is the perfect place for this.
New Hampshire: What About Bob?
Lake Winnipesaukee, NH, would have been the perfect vacation getaway if not for, you know, Bob.
New Jersey: Garden State
Zach Braff's directorial debut is another movie that uses its state setting as a symbol of the complicated feelings about one's home.
New Mexico: Thor
OK, but look at New Mexico too and not just the shirtless demigod (Chris Hemsworth) who crashes there.
New York: Elf
There are countless movies set in New York and so many iconic ones that it was hard to narrow this one down, but we did. The way Buddy the Elf approaches the Big Apple's yellow cabs, giant department stores, and buzzing energy with such wonder earns it the spot on the list.
North Carolina: Bull Durham
"Bull Durham" is actually the nickname of Durham, NC, the town where Crash Davis (Kevin Costner) shows off his stuff on the baseball field.
North Dakota: Fargo
No movie will ever be more iconically North Dakota than comedy-drama-murder mystery Fargo.
Ohio: Heathers
Who knew that the world's meanest mean girls would be found in a high school in suburban Ohio?
Oklahoma: Oklahoma!
Another obvious one, but you know there is someone in your life who starts singing the title song when they hear the state's name.
Oregon: Wild
Taking place largely in California, Cheryl's (Reese Witherspoon) journey on the PCT ends at the breathtaking Bridge of the Gods on the border of Oregon and Washington.
Pennsylvania: Rocky
Dun dun nuh nuh nuh nuh nuh nuh nuh NUH! (That's the theme song to accompany Rocky running up the Art Museum's steps in Philadelphia).
Rhode Island: Dumb and Dumber
It's important to note that though Harry and Lloyd make their life in Rhode Island, they choose to leave it because they ain't got no jobs, no food, and their pets' heads are falling off.
South Carolina: The Notebook
The picturesque town of Seabrook Island is where Noah and Allie meet, fall in love, and then fall back in love years later.
South Dakota: Son in Law
Cali boy Pauly Shore gets a taste for farm life when he tags along to a friend's for Thanksgiving in her South Dakota hometown.
Tennessee: Walk the Line
Country music's home is Nashville, so we had to highlight this epic Johnny Cash biopic, since he also called the place home.
Texas: Varsity Blues
Nothing is more Texan than football, this pigskin-obsessed '90s classic proves.
Utah: 127 Hours
Utah's Canyonlands National Park may be the site of suffering for James Franco's character, but it's also a place of revered beauty.
Vermont: Super Troopers
This comedy made us want to go to Vermont right meow, crazed police departments and all.
Virginia: Donnie Darko
Virginia is for lovers and also brilliant but slightly disturbed teenagers with visions of a frightening bunny rabbit.
Washington: Sleepless in Seattle
This movie gave the Pacific Northwestern city a sudden very romantic quality.
West Virginia: October Sky
Coalwood, WV, is where Homer Hickam (Jake Gyllenhaal) gets inspired to eventually become an astronaut instead of a coal miner like his father.
Wisconsin: Bridesmaids
Milwaukee is the setting for the wedding shenanigans of Kristen Wiig, Rose Byrne, and co.
Wyoming: Brokeback Mountain
This tragic romance finds its home in the mountains of Wyoming, though the titular Brokeback Mountain is actually fictional.