{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2026}} {{Infobox film | name = Small Town Wisconsin | image = Small Town Wisconsin.jpg | alt = A man holding a bowling ball out of the car window | caption = Film poster | director = Niels Mueller | producer = {{Plainlist| * Scott Foley * Josh Rosenberg * Niels Mueller * Hongtao Liu }} | screenplay = Jason Naczek | starring = {{Plainlist| * David Sullivan * Kristen Johnston * Bill Heck * Cooper J. Friedman * Tanya Fischer * Braden Andersen * Malkia Stampley * David Sapiro * Andi Matusiak * Lily Knight * David Ferrie }} | music = Nicholas Jacobson-Larson | cinematography = Nathaniel Goodman | editing = Tracy Adams | studio = {{Plainlist| * Mahua FunAge * Cream City Films }} | distributor = Quiver Distribution | released = {{Film date|2020|8|15|Sarajevo|2022|6|10|United States}} | runtime = | country = United States | language = English | budget = | gross = }} '''''Small Town Wisconsin''''' is a 2020 American drama film written by Jason Naczek, directed by Niels Mueller and starring David Sullivan, Kristen Johnston and Bill Heck.<ref>{{cite web|last=Mobarak|first=Jared|title=BIFF Review: Small Town Wisconsin Puts a Humorous Spin on Hitting Rock Bottom|date=12 October 2020|publisher=The Film Stage|url=https://thefilmstage.com/biff-review-small-town-wisconsin-puts-a-humorous-spin-on-hitting-rock-bottom/|access-date=22 November 2020}}</ref> Alexander Payne and Jinhua Yang served as executive producers of the film.<ref>{{cite web|last=Grierson|first=Tim|title='Small Town Wisconsin': Sarajevo Review|date=18 August 2020|publisher=Screen Daily|url=https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/small-town-wisconsin-sarajevo-review/5152369.article|access-date=22 November 2020}}</ref>
The film was released in theaters in the United States on June 10, 2022, by Quiver Distribution.<ref name="ref1">{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2022/05/alexander-payne-dramedy-small-town-wisconsin-acquired-by-quiver-distribution-1235015177/|title=Quiver Distribution Acquires Dramedy ''Small Town Wisconsin'' From Executive Producer Alexander Payne – Watch The Trailer|date=May 3, 2022|first=Matt|last=Grobar|website=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=May 3, 2022}}</ref>
==Plot== After losing a custody battle, perpetual teenager Wayne Stobierski steals his son away for one last father-son weekend to the city of their dreams - Milwaukee, Wisconsin. What's supposed to be a light-hearted adventure, transforms into a journey of profound redemption.
==Cast== * Kristen Johnston as Alicia * Tanya Fischer as Deidra * David Sapiro as Stu * David Sullivan as Wayne * Cooper J. Friedman as Tyler * Bill Heck as Chuck * Braden Andersen as Matt * David Ferrie as Tom
==Release== The film premiered at the Sarajevo Film Festival in August 2020.<ref>{{cite web|last=Rosser|first=Michael|title=Niels Mueller's 'Small Town Wisconsin' to premiere at Sarajevo|date=10 August 2020|publisher=Screen Daily|url=https://www.screendaily.com/news/niels-muellers-small-town-wisconsin-to-premiere-at-sarajevo/5152203.article|access-date=22 November 2020}}</ref> The film was also shown at the Milwaukee Film Festival in October 2020.<ref>{{cite web|last=Barclay|first=Melissa|title=Film Small Town Wisconsin: "A love letter to Milwaukee"|date=19 October 2020|publisher=WTMJ (AM)|url=https://wtmj.com/wisconsins-afternoon-news/2020/10/15/film-small-town-wisconsin-a-love-letter-to-milwaukee/|access-date=22 November 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Niels Mueller-Small Town Wisconsin (10/21/20)|publisher=WKLH|url=https://wklh.com/on-air/niels-mueller-small-town-wisconsin-10-21-20/|access-date=22 November 2020}}</ref>
It was picked up for online distribution by Quiver.<ref name="ref1"/>
==Reception==
On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an 83% rating based on 12 reviews.<ref>{{cite web |title=Small Town Wisconsin |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/small_town_wisconsin |website=Rotten Tomatoes }}</ref> Glenn Kenny of ''The New York Times'' wrote that director Niels Mueller’s approach was "patient and sensitive," praising the cast and noting that the film’s comedic elements “sometimes earn a chuckle.”<ref>{{cite news |date=9 June 2022 |author=Glenn Kenny |author-link=Glenn Kenny |title=‘Small Town Wisconsin’ Review: A Father-Son Trip Goes Awry (Published 2022) |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/09/movies/small-town-wisconsin-review.html |access-date=2025-11-11 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240911084717/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/09/movies/small-town-wisconsin-review.html |archive-date=2024-09-11 }}</ref>
== See also == * Independent film * Film industry in Wisconsin
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{IMDb title|5157426}}
Category:American drama films Category:2020 drama films Category:2020 films Category:Films directed by Niels Mueller Category:2020 English-language films Category:2020 American films Category:English-language drama films