Ohio is about to get the IMAX treatment, and no, it’s not a new superhero franchise.
Instead, it’s Ohio: Wild at Heart, a sweeping new documentary from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and MacGillivray Freeman Films. The movie takes audiences into the state’s forests, rivers, and skies with a front-row seat to bald eagles, fireflies, and the kind of scenery you usually only see in glossy travel magazines.
The film is narrated by Ohio legend Archie Griffin.
It explores both the beauty and the behind-the-scenes work that keeps our parks and wildlife thriving. Expect stories of conservation wins like the return of bald eagles and trumpeter swans, plus jaw-dropping aerial views of Hocking Hills, Lake Erie, and more.
“Ohio’s great outdoors has set the scene for many captivating stories of conservation and adventure,” said ODNR Director Mary Mertz. “Ohio: Wild at Heart is our love letter to the mission of protecting our natural resources and expanding opportunities to explore, and we are excited to share these stories with the world.”
The movie will debut in select theaters across the state this fall and winter, with a Columbus showing at COSI’s giant screen theater on Saturday, November 8.
Here’s the full rollout schedule:
- Toledo – Imagination Station, October 10
- Dayton – Boonshoft Museum of Discovery, October 19
- Cincinnati – Cincinnati Museum Center, October 24
- Columbus – COSI, November 8
- Cleveland – Museum of Natural History, November 15
- Cleveland – Great Lakes Science Center, opening in 2026
Ohio: Wild at Heart started filming in July 2024, so everything on screen will feel fresh and familiar. You can watch the trailer now on YouTube or find more details on the official website.
If you’ve ever needed an excuse to trade in Netflix for nature, this might be it.
Featured image via ODNR (Facebook).
