The Most Famous Movie Made Here in Minnesota Turns 32 This Year
More than three decades after frozen lakes, long-running feuds, and unforgettable one-liners first hit the big screen, Minnesota’s most iconic film is still aging like a fine brandy in the cold. Now turning 32, its small-town charm and wintery humor prove that some stories — and rivalries — only get better with time.
Minnesota’s Most Famous Movie Turns 32 This Holiday Season
We may be known for our ten thousand lakes, but Minnesota also has a knack for stealing the spotlight on the silver screen. From snowy escapades to quirky small-town dramas, the North Star State has played a starring role in some unforgettable Hollywood hits—proving we're not just a place for hot dishes and hockey.
But perhaps our most famous film is one that is now over 32 years old-- or will be this holiday season. Which one is it? I'm talking, of course, about the classic film, Grumpy Old Men. The blockbuster motion picture based here in the Bold North made its debut in theatres around the country on Christmas Day 32 years ago, back in December of 1993.
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Why Grumpy Old Men Still Matters to Minnesota Fans
In case you need a little refresher, according to IMDB.com, the storyline of Grumpy Old Men centers on the characters played by Walter Matthau (Max Goldman) and Jack Lemmon (John Gustafson), who are childhood friends, rivals, and next-door neighbors in Wabasha. (Picture the big-voiced movie trailer guy saying this tagline the movie used: 'The best of enemies... until something came between them.')
But while Grumpy Old Men's story was set in Wabasha, much of the film wasn't actually filmed there. Most of the exterior scenes of various houses were shot in St. Paul, with various other parts of the state involved, as well.
Where Grumpy Old Men Was Filmed Across Minnesota
The ice fishing scenes were shot on Lake Rebecca, in Rockford, northwest of the Twin Cities (just under two hours northwest of Rochester). Various shots of Barn Bluff in Red Wing were used, as were parts of Faribault. Center City and Stillwater also had a few cameo appearances.
The film went on to gross over $70 million dollars and also spawned the sequel, Grumpier Old Men, which hit movie screens two years later, in 1995. So, on its soon-to-be 31st anniversary, enjoy some pretty funny bloopers and outtakes collected from Minnesota's most famous movies.
And keep scrolling to check out the complete list of OTHER movies that have been filmed here in the Bold North too!
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Gallery Credit: Shel B
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