Lights, Camera, Kansas! 6 Films That Bring the Midwest to Life
Want to get a feel for Kansas before your trip? One of the best ways to explore a place—besides visiting it—is through film.These six movies set in Kansas offer a glimpse into the state’s rich history, larger-than-life figures, and unforgettable landscapes.
From inspiring true stories to iconic classics, these films will help you understand what makes the Sunflower State so uniquely American. Whether you’re road-tripping across the Midwest or just curious about Kansas culture, press play on one of these titles and let the journey begin.
Movies Set in Kansas to Watch Before You Visit the Sunflower State
The Wizard of Oz (1939)
The Wizard of Oz is the film that famously put Kansas on the map. If you’ve never heard of this beloved classic, you might have been living under a rock—it’s one of the most watched movies of all time!
In case you need a refresher, the story follows a young girl named Dorothy Gale (played by Judy Garland) who is swept away by a tornado in Kansas and transported to the magical land of Oz. Along the way, she meets unforgettable characters like the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion, all while trying to find her way back home.
If you’re already a fan of the film, consider a visit to the small town of Wamego in northeast Kansas. It’s home to the Oz Museum, which houses an impressive collection of Wizard of Oz memorabilia—from first-edition books to film artifacts and vintage collectibles.
Was it filmed in Kansas?
Despite its deep connection to the Sunflower State, The Wizard of Oz was not filmed in Kansas. The entire movie was shot on soundstages at MGM’s studio lot in Culver City, California. Today, that same location is part of the Sony Pictures Studio Tour, where you can step behind the scenes and see where the magic happened.
Dances With Wolves (1990)
Dances With Wolves is an epic Western film that helped revive the genre in Hollywood and earned seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director for Kevin Costner.
Costner stars as Union Army Lieutenant John Dunbar, who requests a remote post on the western frontier during the Civil War. He’s stationed at Fort Hays in Kansas—an outpost so isolated that it’s completely deserted upon his arrival.
As he settles into the solitude of frontier life, Dunbar begins to form a relationship with a local Sioux tribe. Over time, his preconceived notions about Native American culture are challenged, and he develops a deep respect for their way of life.
The film’s thoughtful portrayal of Native culture and its sweeping prairie landscapes helped make it a landmark moment in cinematic history. In 2007, it was added to the U.S. National Film Registry for being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.”
Was it filmed in Kansas?
Despite being set (in part) at Fort Hays, Dances With Wolves was not filmed in Kansas. Most of the filming took place in South Dakota, including scenes shot near Pierre and Rapid City. Key locations include Badlands National Park, the Black Hills, the Belle Fourche River, and the Sage Creek Wilderness Area. The unforgettable buffalo hunt scene was filmed at the Triple U Buffalo Ranch outside Fort Pierre.
Amelia (2009)
Amelia is a biographical drama that tells the story of legendary aviator Amelia Earhart, the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. Starring Hilary Swank in the title role, alongside Richard Gere and Ewan McGregor, the film traces Earhart’s incredible rise to fame—from her childhood fascination with flight over the Kansas prairie to her status as one of the most admired and daring figures of the 20th century.
Of course, Amelia is perhaps best known for the mystery surrounding her disappearance in 1937 during her ambitious attempt to circumnavigate the globe.
Amelia Earhart, born and raised in Atchison, is arguably the most iconic Kansan of all time. If you’re curious to learn more about her remarkable life, be sure to visit the Amelia Earhart Birthplace Museum and Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum in her hometown of Atchison.
Was it filmed in Kansas?
Despite its strong Kansas connection, Amelia was not filmed in the Sunflower State. Shooting locations included New York City, Toronto, Nova Scotia, Ontario, and parts of South Africa.
Wyatt Earp (1994)
Wyatt Earp is a sweeping western biopic that follows the life of one of the American West’s most legendary lawmen, Wyatt Berry Stapp Earp (1848–1929). The film stars Kevin Costner in the title role, with a powerhouse supporting cast including Gene Hackman, Dennis Quaid, Bill Pullman, and Tom Sizemore.
Before his famous showdown at the O.K. Corral, Earp spent several years in Kansas—first arriving in the boomtown of Wichita in 1874, where his wife operated a brothel. Earp himself was arrested more than once for his involvement and may have worked as a pimp. Despite this rocky start, he later joined the Wichita police force and earned a reputation as a capable lawman—until he was dismissed after a fistfight with a political rival.
Earp then followed his brother to Dodge City, Kansas, where he once again found himself in the company of brothel owners and gamblers, eventually becoming an assistant city marshal. These Kansas years played a pivotal role in shaping the man who would later become a Wild West icon.
Was it filmed in Kansas?
No. Although the real Wyatt Earp had deep ties to Kansas, the movie was primarily filmed in New Mexico at Ghost Ranch. Some additional scenes were oddly shot in Washington state.
Capote (2005)
Capote is a powerful biographical drama that follows American author Truman Capote as he investigates a shocking real-life crime in rural Kansas—the brutal 1959 murder of the Clutter family.
The film, starring Philip Seymour Hoffman in an Oscar-winning performance, focuses on Capote’s emotional and psychological journey while writing his groundbreaking non-fiction novel In Cold Blood.
While researching the book, Capote travels to the small town of Holcomb, Kansas, and forms a complex relationship with one of the killers on death row. The story reveals not just the chilling details of the crime, but also the toll the process takes on Capote himself.
The murder of the Clutter family was a real and tragic event that deeply shook the quiet farming community of Holcomb. Two ex-convicts were arrested, convicted, and ultimately executed for the crime in 1965.
Was the movie filmed in Kansas?
No. Although the story is deeply rooted in Kansas history, Capote was filmed in and around Winnipeg, Canada—including scenes depicting the Clutter family home and the town of Holcomb.
Dodge City (1939)
Dodge City is a classic Technicolor western starring Errol Flynn as a Texas cattle agent who steps into the role of sheriff to bring justice to the lawless frontier town of Dodge City, Kansas.
The film opens with the arrival of Colonel Dodge on the town’s first train, marking the beginning of a new railroad line that connects Dodge City to the wider world. But in the years that follow, the town descends into chaos—becoming the so-called “Babylon of the frontier,” overrun by cattlemen, outlaws, and opportunists. Determined to restore order, Flynn’s character takes on the badge in an effort to tame one of the wildest towns in the West.
Released at the height of Hollywood’s golden age of westerns, Dodge City helped solidify the romanticized image of the Old West—and introduced a generation of Americans to Kansas’s infamous frontier town.
Was the movie filmed in Kansas?
No. Despite being set in Dodge City, the movie was filmed entirely in California. Key scenes were shot in Thousand Oaks (now home to Wildwood Regional Park), with railroad sequences filmed on the Sierra Railroad in Jamestown. Additional locations included Sacramento, Calabasas, and Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank.
