Nebraska (2013)
89%RT Audience Score: 83%
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 6 Oscars
29 wins & 169 nominations total
Elegant in its simplicity and poetic in its message, Nebraska adds another stirringly resonant chapter to Alexander Payne’s remarkable filmography
Nebraska” is a heartwarming movie that will make you laugh and cry at the same time. It’s a story about a man who wants to leave a legacy for his family, and his son who takes him on a road trip to claim a prize that doesn’t exist. The characters are relatable and the black-and-white cinematography adds a touch of nostalgia. Bruce Dern’s performance is outstanding, and it’s refreshing to see him in a role that’s not a ruthless killer. Overall, “Nebraska” is a must-watch for anyone who loves a good story about family, love, and redemption.
Production Company(ies)
Les Films, Impéria Les Productions, Georges de Beauregard Société Nouvelle de Cinématographie
Distributor
Paramount Pictures
Release Type
Streaming, Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Lincoln, Nebraska, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for some language
Year of Release
2014
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Color:Color
Black and White -
Sound mix:Dolby
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Aspect ratio:2.35 : 1
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Runtime:1h 54m
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Language(s):English, Spanish
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Nov 15, 2013 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 25, 2014
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Bruce Dern, Will Forte, June Squibb, Bob Odenkirk, Stacy Keach, Mary Louise Wilson, directed by Alexander Payne, written by Bob Nelson, drama, R-rated, box office gross $17.6M, reviewed by J Hoberman, Candice Frederick, Jason Bailey, Melissa Anderson, Philippa Hawker, David Stratton, produced by Albert Berga, Ron Yerxa, Paramount Pictures, sweepstakes, road trip, family, father-son relationship, small town, black and white cinematography, musical score, Middle America, Coen Brothers style, wistful demeanor, empathetic, tearjerker, nuanced performances, heartfelt, poignant, character-driven, redemption, legacy, aging, alcoholism, estranged family, lottery, prize, hero, predator, non-Hero’s Journey, neglected population, elderly, self-destructive, giving, lost, simple, poetic, remarkable filmography
Worldwide gross: $27,682,872
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $34,596,592
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,500
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 3,772,802
US/Canada gross: $17,654,912
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $22,064,177
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,383
US/Canada opening weekend: $140,401
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $175,466
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,715
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $12,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $14,996,967
Production budget ranking: 1,515
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $8,075,867
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $11,523,759
ROI to date (est.): 50%
ROI ranking: 1,153
Will Forte – David Grant
June Squibb – Kate Grant
Bob Odenkirk – Ross Grant
Stacy Keach – Ed Pegram
Mary Louise Wilson – Aunt Martha
Director(s)
Alexander Payne
Writer(s)
Bob Nelson
Producer(s)
Albert Berga, Ron Yerxa
Film Festivals
Cannes, Telluride
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 6 Oscars
29 wins & 169 nominations total
Academy Awards
Oscar Nominees
All Critics (253) | Top Critics (77) | Fresh (229) | Rotten (24)
Nebraska is a slow-burning heart-warmer that neatly dodges the cornball bullet of a climactic manly hug.
February 22, 2019
J. Hoberman
ARTINFO.com
TOP CRITIC
… its beauty lies in its simplicity.
September 6, 2017 | Rating: B
Candice Frederick
Reel Talk Online
TOP CRITIC
Forever typecast as nutjobs and con artists, Dern’s Woody Grant is a little chubby, a little bewildered, and a lot unkempt. He’s grizzled, resigned, and wonderful, and so is the film.
June 18, 2016
Jason Bailey
Flavorwire
TOP CRITIC
Nebraska, despite a few pleasures, strikes me as Payne’s most cartoonish, one-dimensional work.
May 22, 2014
Melissa Anderson
Artforum
TOP CRITIC
There is a sentimental aspect to the concluding stages of the film: it’s not as broad or astringent as Payne can be. But there’s also something intriguingly dreamlike about its tone.
February 20, 2014 | Rating: 3.5/5
Philippa Hawker
The Age (Australia)
TOP CRITIC
In Payne films, as in the films of Jean Renoir, there are no “goodies” or “baddies”; everyone has their reasons, and that makes his work distinctly different from most mainstream American films these days.
February 18, 2014 | Rating: 4.5/5
David Stratton
The Australian
TOP CRITIC
“Nebraska” is easy on the eyes and soul. It’s a redemptive and often humorous tale that shows it’s never too late to heal a fractured family.
May 21, 2022 | Rating: 4/5
Ian Kane
Epoch Times
“Nebraska” is about the non-Hero’s Journey; life lived terminally inside the village compound, with no aspirations to anything other than a bit of comfort. It’s possible to make an exciting movie about unexciting lives, but Nebraska is not that movie.
April 5, 2022 | Rating: 2/5
Mark Jackson
Epoch Times
Nebraska is rare in its sensitivity to the plight of a neglected and suffering population.
February 27, 2021
Joanne Laurier
World Socialist Web Site
A plain spoken but lyrical black-and-white film about a man grasping at a last chance for a legacy.
February 1, 2021 | Rating: 4.5/5
Richard Crouse
Richard Crouse
Dern delivers a fine performance (a considerable distance away from ruthlessly killing John Wayne).
December 3, 2020 | Rating: 7/10
Mike Massie
Gone With The Twins
Alexander Payne has crafted a film that doesn’t feel like a film.
September 18, 2020 | Rating: 3.5/4.0
Richard Propes
TheIndependentCritic.com…
Plot
“NEBRASKA” is a father-and-son road trip, from Billings, Montana to Lincoln, Nebraska that gets waylaid at a small town in central Nebraska, where the father grew up and has scores to settle. Told with deadpan humor and a unique visual style, it’s ultimately the story of a son trying to get through to a father he doesn’t understand.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
June Squibb’s performance as Woody’s agitated and foul-mouthed wife in Nebraska earned her an Academy Award nomination.
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