Sure, Los Angeles has Hollywood—but Columbus has been stealing scenes for years. While Ohio’s capital might seem like a surprising choice for a movie set, quite a few blockbuster hits, Oscar-winning films, indie flicks and even reality TV shows have proven otherwise. So grab some buckeyes, Al’s Delicious popcorn and your favorite local beer and get ready to say “yes, Columbus” every time your go-to spots come into frame.
Here’s a look at just some of the movies and TV shows that gave Columbus a starring role.
Air Force One (1997)
In the Academy Award-nominated film Air Force One, Russian communists hijack the U.S. president’s plane and hold his family hostage as they fly around Europe—allegedly. Ramstein Air Base, in Germany? Rickenbacker International Airport. That crazy scene where the lead hijacker tries to fly Air Force One out of Germany, loses control of the plane and clips a military cargo plane on the way out? That was actually a real aerial sequence flown by a real pilot, also at Rickenbacker International Airport.
The Ohio Statehouse. Source: Experience Columbus
Traffic (2000)
Traffic is a movie about a conservative judge (played by Michael Douglas) who’s been tasked by the President to solve the drug crisis in America. If you’ve seen it and know Columbus, you might’ve noticed a couple important landmarks—the judge’s press conferences and public speeches were filmed on the steps of the Ohio Statehouse and court scenes took place in the Art Deco-style chambers of the Moyer Judicial Center.
The film went on to win four Academy Awards for Best Director, Best Supporting Actor, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Film Editing. Moral of the story? Film a movie in Columbus and you just might win a bunch of Oscars.
Ohio Theatre. Source: CAPA
Little Man Tate (1991)
Jodie Foster made her directorial debut with Little Man Tate, a movie about a single mom dealing with the highs and lows of having a genius for a seven-year-old son. Throughout the film, the young prodigy competes in seemingly-impossible math challenges on national and international stages—two of which just happen to be right here in Columbus, Ohio. While the competitions weren’t set in our beloved city, two (including the big “Odyssey of the Mind” scene) were filmed at the Wexner Center for the Arts and Ohio Theatre.
Source: The Ohio State Fair
Parker (2013)
In the action-thriller Parker, starring Jason Statham and Jennifer Lopez, a professional thief leads a heist-gone-wrong at none other than the Ohio State Fair. To make it as authentic as possible, a production crew filmed the high-stakes robbery at the actual 2012 Ohio State Fair. While Statham and his team run around the Ohio Expo Center disguised as clowns, everyone in the background—people milling around, drinking milkshakes, riding carnival rides, checking out exhibits, and watching parades, animal shows and the All-Ohio State Fair Band—are real Ohioans who just happened to go to the fair.
Buckeye Donuts. Source: Buckeye Donuts website.
I am Wrath (2016)
I Am Wrath, starring John Travolta and Christopher Meloni, is about an ex-engineer out to avenge his wife’s murder after corrupt (and fictional) Ohio politicians and cops failed to bring her killers to justice. This movie was both set and filmed in Columbus. Watch it and see how many places you recognize—like Stained Skin Tattoo, Holy Rosary & St. John Catholic Church, Buckeye Donuts, Old Familiar Barber Shop, John Glenn Columbus International Airport, Bexley, Merion Village, Short North Arts District, Ohio Statehouse and more.
Source: The Ohio State University
Aftermath (2017)
Arnold Schwarzenegger has had deep ties to Columbus since he won the Mr. World bodybuilding competition here in 1970, and later even founded the annual Arnold Sports Festival here in 1989. So when it came time to find a setting for Aftermath, Ohio’s capital was an obvious choice. This movie is based on the real-life air collision of two Danish airplanes in 2002, but is reset as an American disaster. Airport scenes were shot at John Glenn International Airport, funerals and burials were filmed at the historic Green Lawn Cemetery, and residential scenes took place in Merion Village. You might also notice Canterbury Apartments, Man About Town Barbershop, The Ohio State University, Golden Donuts Diner, Vance Outdoors and former Columbus mayor Mike Coleman, who makes a cameo.
Fun fact: Actress Maggie Grace, who plays Christina, grew up in Worthington.
Source: Comune
Poser (2021)
Co-directed by Denison University alums who now own a local production company, Loose Films, Poser is both set and produced in Columbus. Debuting at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2021, this movie follows a music-obsessed woman who starts a podcast to get an inside look at the Ohio capital’s underground music scene. The film focuses heavily on Columbus’ thriving artist community, and every musician she interviews and group that performs is one of the city’s real local indie bands. Some places you might recognize are Used Kids Records, Cafe Bourbon Street, Comune Restaurant and Buckeye Donuts.
Source: Experience Columbus
Love Is Blind, Season 10 (2026)
We can’t talk about Columbus being on TV without mentioning its most recent claim to fame: Netflix’s Love Is Blind, Season 10. The unconventional dating experiment brought together single men and women from Columbus, Cincinnati and Cleveland and filmed much of it in Ohio’s capital. Throughout the season, we see hosts Nick and Vanessa Lachey open an episode on the Scioto Mile, dates at Panacea Luxury Spa Boutique or Pickle & Chill, romantic strolls through Topiary Park and the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, and nights out at Pins Mechanical Co. and Hollywood Casino Columbus. The couples that stick together even get married at nearby White Willow Meadows.
Now that you’ve seen Columbus in the spotlight, go check out those screen-worthy landmarks and all the other food, fun and culture the city has to offer! Wherever you go, tag your photos with the hashtag #yesColumbus so we can follow along. Love the movies? Catch even more trailers at our Columbus Welcome Center highlighting 20 projects made in Columbus.
