It’s time to move on to the next state in my list of movies set in every US state: Connecticut!
Connecticut may be a small state, but there are quite a few movies set here. Most of the movies set in Connecticut seem to be dramas — especially dramas about the difficulties of families and relationships.
Let’s take a look at some of these famous movies set in the Constitution State!
Holiday Inn (1942)
The classic musical from Irving Berlin follows Jim Hardy (Bing Crosby), a singer and dancer who decides to leave the showbiz industry after getting his heart broken by his love, Lila. Lila has left him for Ted (Fred Astair), a dancer. Jim starts his life over and opens a country inn in Connecticut that is only open on the holidays — and provides beloved holiday performances every year. He begins to fall in love with one of the dancers he’s hired, Linda. But soon, his hope for romance is threatened by the arrival of Ted, who has also been abandoned by Lila. Ted sets his sights on Linda, and misunderstandings, heartbreak, and plenty of singing and dancing follow.
Mystic Pizza (1988)
Mystic Pizza is a coming-of-age movie that was one of Julia Roberts’s first-ever film roles. It tells the story of Daisy, Kat, and Jojo, three young pizza parlor employees in Mystic, Connecticut. Daisy (Roberts) and Kat (Annabeth Gish) are sisters, and their friend Jojo (Lili Taylor) works with them. The movie includes themes of class, love, and identity as these three young women learn about their dreams– and about each other.
The Ice Storm (1997)
The Ice Storm is a serious drama takes place in 1973 during a Thanksgiving weekend in suburban Connecticut. The stories of two families are explored as they grapple with the changes in themselves and in society. The parents drink and experiment with the idea of extramarital affairs, while the children experiment with drugs and explore their sexuality. The movie is quite bleak and is sometimes described as an unflinching portrayal of American family life in the 1970s. The movie stars Sigourney Weaver, Kevin Kline, Elijah Wood, Tobey Maguire, and Christina Ricci.
The Stepford Wives (2004)
The satirical horror-comedy is a remake of a 1975 movie with the same name. Both are based on the 1972 book by Ira Levin. It is the disturbing story of Joanna Eberhart (Nicole Kidman), a successful TV executive who moves with her family to the idyllic town of Stepford, Connecticut, only to discover that something sinister is going on. The women of the town all seem to be perfect housewives who are subservient to their husbands, leading Joanna to investigate and uncover a dark conspiracy. Matthew Broderick, Glenn Close, Christopher Walken, and Bette Midler also star.
Reservation Road (2007)
This drama got relatively poor reviews (38% on Rotten Tomatoes). It tells the story of two fathers, Ethan (Joaquin Phoenix) and Dwight (Mark Ruffalo). A tragic accident turns into a crime when Dwight hits Ethan’s son with his car — and then flees the scene. Ethan sets out to get justice, and Dwight is filled with guilt. The movie’s themes include grief, revenge, and forgiveness.
Rachel Getting Married (2008)
Anne Hathaway plays Kym, a troubled young woman who is released from rehab to attend her sister Rachel’s wedding. As the family prepares for the wedding day, they begin to acknowledge the tensions and traumas between them, all of which forces Kym to confront her past and try to come to terms with the role she played in her brother’s death.
The Haunting in Connecticut (2009)
The horror film is loosely based on a true story. The Campbell family has just moved into a what used to be a funeral home in Southington, Connecticut. This is because they need to be closer to the hospital where their son is receiving cancer treatment. In the traditional ghost story format, the Campbells soon begin experiencing unsettling events, all of which build to the reveal of the evil spirits in the house. The movie only received 16% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Revolutionary Road (2008)
The drama follows the lives of Frank (Leonardio DiCaprio) and April Wheeler (Kate Winslet) are a young couple living in 1950s suburban Connecticut who are struggling to make sense of their unsatisfying lives. As they contemplate a move to Paris and a new start, their marriage begins to unravel, and they must face the deep dissatisfaction they feel. They want to believe that they are “different” from everyone else in suburban America, but they may not be able to escape the pressure of 1950s gender roles and expectations.
The Big Wedding (2013)
The Big Wedding tells the story of a dysfunctional family who reunites for a wedding. A pair of divorced parents (Robert De Niro and Diane Keaton) pretend to still be married for the sake of the ceremony, leading to a series of events that just get more and more chaotic. As the family confronts their past and present issues, they come together in unexpected ways.
Additional Movies Set in Connecticut
Some additional movies that are partly or fully set in Connecticut include:
- The Baby-Sitters Club
- Beetlejuice
- The Conjuring
- Firestarter
- Gothika
- Happy Gilmore
- Martha Marcy May Marlene
- Oprhan
- The Ref
- Riding in Cars With Boys
- The Rookie
- Violent Night
