# Small Town Wisconsin

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> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Small_Town_Wisconsin
> Source revision: 1340512324
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

{{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](/source/Niels_Mueller)
| producer      = {{Plainlist|
* Scott Foley
* Josh Rosenberg
* Niels Mueller
* Hongtao Liu
}}
| screenplay     = Jason Naczek
| starring       = {{Plainlist|
* [David Sullivan](/source/David_Sullivan_(actor))
* [Kristen Johnston](/source/Kristen_Johnston)
* [Bill Heck](/source/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](/source/Mahua_FunAge)
* Cream City Films
}}
| distributor    = [Quiver Distribution](/source/Quiver_Distribution)
| released       = {{Film date|2020|8|15|[Sarajevo](/source/Sarajevo_Film_Festival)|2022|6|10|United States}}
| runtime        = 
| country        = United States
| language       = English
| budget         = 
| gross          = 
}}
'''''Small Town Wisconsin''''' is a 2020 American [drama film](/source/drama_film) written by Jason Naczek, directed by [Niels Mueller](/source/Niels_Mueller) and starring [David Sullivan](/source/David_Sullivan_(actor)), [Kristen Johnston](/source/Kristen_Johnston) and [Bill Heck](/source/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](/source/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](/source/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](/source/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](/source/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](/source/Kristen_Johnston) as Alicia
* Tanya Fischer as Deidra 
* David Sapiro as Stu
* [David Sullivan](/source/David_Sullivan_(actor)) as Wayne
* Cooper J. Friedman as Tyler
* [Bill Heck](/source/Bill_Heck) as Chuck
* Braden Andersen as Matt
* David Ferrie as Tom

==Release==
The film premiered at the [Sarajevo Film Festival](/source/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](/source/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](/source/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)](/source/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](/source/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](/source/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](/source/Rotten_Tomatoes) }}</ref> 
Glenn Kenny of ''[The New York Times](/source/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](/source/Independent_film)
* [Film industry in Wisconsin](/source/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

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Small Town Wisconsin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Small_Town_Wisconsin) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Small_Town_Wisconsin?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.