10 Wisconsin movies & series to stream, from ‘Public Enemies’ to ‘Laverne & Shirley’

Looking for something "Wisconsin" to stream? Several movies and series shot in or based in Wisconsin are available on streaming platforms. Here's a guide to watching Wisconsin.

Related: 'Green and Gold': How 2 Yooper brothers made a Packers movie in Door County, honored farmers and came to call Craig T. Nelson a friend

Movies shot in Wisconsin

"The Godfather of Green Bay" (2005)

• Plot:Comedy/Indie film. A stand-up comedy veteran hits the road to a small Wisconsin town to try to impress a "Tonight Show" talent scout. He encounters a rough crowd at a roadside bar filled with hunters, football fans and a hoodlum.

• Where in Wisconsin?Filming locations included Marinette, Wisconsin, and Menominee, Michigan.

• Cast:Pete Schwaba, Lance Barber, Lauren Holly

• Rating:R

• Stream it:Free on Tubi and Fandango at Home; for purchase at Amazon Prime Video

"Major League" (1989)

• Plot:Comedy/sports. The new owner of the Cleveland baseball team (a former showgirl) tries to assemble a ragtag roster with hopes of having the team fail so she can move it to Miami. However, her antics fail — and the team turns into a winner. Notably for Wisconsinites, Menominee Falls native Bob Uecker , a catcher for the Milwaukee Braves in 1962 and 1963 and later the Brewers' play-by-play announcer for 54 seasons, plays the Cleveland team's play-by-play announcer Harry Doyle. A side note: Uecker also played the character of father and sportswriter George Owens on the 1985-1990 sitcom "Mr. Belvedere," appearing regularly, and made cameo appearances as himself in several films and TV sitcoms, including episodes of "Who's the Boss?" and as the "head of Bob Uecker" in a Futurama episode ("A Leela of Her Own"). In 2021, he also made a guest appearance on the Disney+ series "Monsters at Work," voicing a parody of himself named "Bob Yucker."

• Where in Wisconsin?The story is set in Cleveland, but the film was shot mostly in Milwaukee. Milwaukee County Stadium, which was then home to the Brewers and a few Packers games each season, doubles as Cleveland Stadium. The sign for the television station on the scoreboard is for WTMJ-TV, Milwaukee's NBC affiliate. One of the ending scenes in the movie is in West Milwaukee's 4th Base restaurant. Another restaurant scene, at the then Gritz's Pzazz on Milwaukee's north side, was filmed at a restaurant that is no longer open.

• Cast:Tom Berenger, Charlie Sheen, Corbin Bernsen, Margaret Whitton, James Gammon, Rene Russo, Bob Uecker, Wesley Snipes

• Rating:R

• Stream it:Free on Pluto TV or with a subscription to AMC+, Philo, YouTube, Sling TV, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube TV; or purchase from Google Play Movies & TV or Fandango at Home

Related: The great Brewers radio calls with Bob Uecker on the microphone

"Mr. 3000" (2004)

• Plot:Comedy/sports. Fictional Milwaukee Brewers player Stan Ross (Bernie Mac) angers his teammates by retiring during a 1995 playoff game after making his 3,000th base hit. Nine years later, an error is discovered that invalidates three of his hits. The 47-year-old then persuades the Brewers to let him rejoin the team to make his last three hits.

• Where in Wisconsin?Portions of the film were shot at Marquette University High School and Miller Park (now American Family Field) in Milwaukee.

• Cast:Bernie Mac, Paul Sorvino, Chris Noth, Michael Rispoli, Angela Bassett

• Rating:PG-13

• Stream it:Purchase from YouTube, Google Play Movies & TV, Apple TV, Fandango at Home and Amazon Prime Video

"Public Enemies" (2009)

• Plot:Crime/action. The movie follows Depression-era bank robber John Dillinger, a thorn in the side of the FBI and its director, J. Edgar Hoover. To capture the outlaw, Hoover makes Dillinger "Public Enemy No. 1" and assigns an agent to bring him in, dead or alive.

• Where in Wisconsin?Columbus, Oshkosh, Beaver Dam, Darlington, Milwaukee, Madison and several other places in Wisconsin, including the Little Bohemia Lodge in Manitowish Waters, which was the actual location of a 1934 gun fight between Dillinger and the FBI.

• Cast:Johnny Depp, Christian Bale, Marion Cotillard, Billy Crudup, Stephen Dorff, Stephen Lang

• Rating:R

• Stream it:With a subscription to Netflix; or purchase from Google Play Movies & TV, Apple TV, Fandango at Home and Amazon Prime Video

"Super Size Me" (2004)

• Plot:Documentary/Indie film. Morgan Spurlock conducts a month-long experiment of eating only food from McDonald's. Along the way, his weight increases, his energy level plummets and he experiences all sorts of side effects. The film also examines the corporate giant's role in contributing to an obesity epidemic.

• Where in Wisconsin?Appleton Central High School and its then-lunch menu was featured in the film along with Natural Ovens of Manitowoc, a bakery that worked with the school to provide healthy meals.

• Cast:Morgan Spurlock, Alexandra Jamieson

• Rating:PG-13

• Stream it:Free on Peacock, Tubi, Pluto TV or PLEX; available with a subscription to Amazon Prime Video or YouTube TV; or available to purchase from YouTube, Google Play Movies & TV, Fandango at Home and Apple TV

TV shows & series based in or shot in Wisconsin

"That '70s Show" (1998-2006)

• Plot:Sitcom, eight seasons. The Fox TV series introduced many now-famous actors, like Topher Grace, Ashton Kutcher, Mila Kunis, Laura Prepon, Wilmer Valderrama and Danny Masterson as the characters of Eric Forman, Michael Kelso, Jackie Burkhart, Donna Pinciotti, Fez and Steven Hyde, respectively, as they moved through their teenage years in 1970s Wisconsin. Episodes focused on the characters' romantic entanglements and various antics, like flashing President Gerald Ford when he visited, meeting on top of the water tower or avoiding the wrath of Eric's father, Red (played by Kurtwood Smith). Each was dotted with references to the state, like the Green Bay Packers helmet always seen in the Forman basement, or calling out "Hello Wisconsin" at the end of the iconic theme song, "In the Street."

• Where in Wisconsin?Fictional "Point Place, Wisconsin," described as a "fictional suburb of Green Bay." The exact location was the focus of a USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin article in 2020 . According to that article, in summer 2012, Kurtwood Smith, who played Red in the series and was born in New Lisbon, traveled in a van as part of a "Heartland RV Tour" to campaign for President Barack Obama's second term, and on the way from Sheboygan to Oshkosh made a stop in Fond du Lac's Veteran's Park, according to Tom Kitchen, collector of presidential memorabilia and Fond du Lac County supervisor. About 30 to 40 people gathered at the park to see the stop, and during his speech, Smith dropped a "That' 70s Show" factoid: the show was set in Fond du Lac.

• Cast:Topher Grace, Mila Kunis, Ashton Kutcher, Danny Masterson, Laura Prepon, Wilmer Valderrama, Debra Jo Rupp, Kurtwood Smith, Tanya Roberts, Don Stark, Lisa Robin Kelly, Tommy Chong, Josh Meyers

• Stream it:With a subscription to Peacock or purchase at Amazon Prime Video

"Happy Days" (1974-1984)

• Plot:Sitcom, 11 seasons. The series tells the story of the Cunningham family during the 1950s and 1960s in Milwaukee. Characters include father Howard, mother Marion, son Richie and daughter Joanie. Howard owns a hardware store while Marion stays at home. Richie's best friends are Potsie and Ralph. Arthur "Fonzie" Fonzarelli is a local "bad boy" who rides a motorcycle and fills his days fixing cars and dating girls. His catchphrases "Ayyy!", "Sit on it" and "Correctamundo" became part of pop culture.

• Where in Wisconsin?Milwaukee.

• Cast:Ron Howard, Marion Ross, Anson Williams, Tom Bosley, Henry Winkler, Donny Most, Erin Moran, Pat Morita, Scott Baio, Lynda Goodfriend, Cathy Silvers, Ted McGinley, Linda Purl, Heather O'Rourke

• Stream it:Free on Pluto TV or with a subscription to Paramount+ or YouTube

"Laverne & Shirley" (1976-1983)

• Plot:Sitcom, eight seasons. "One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight! Schlemiel! Schlimazl! Hasenpfeffer Incorporated!" These words started each episode during the opening. What do they mean? The words "Schlemiel" and "Schlimazel" are Yiddish terms often used in a comical sense of humor. "Schlemiel" means an unlucky bungler. "Schlimazel" means a consistently unlucky person. And "Hasenpfeffer" is the name of a German stew. The show follows best friends and roommates Laverne DeFazio and Shirley Feeney, who work together at Shotz Brewery in Milwaukee.

• Where in Wisconsin?Milwaukee.

• Cast:Penny Marshall, Cindy Williams, Michael McKean, David Lander, Eddie Mekka, Phil Foster, Betty Garrett

• Stream it:Free on Pluto TV

"Masters of the Air" (2024)

• Plot:History drama miniseries, one season. A 2024 American war drama that's executive produced by Tom Hanks, Steven Spielberg and Gary Goetzman, the miniseries is based on a 2007 book of the same name by Donald L. Miller. It follows the action of the 100th Bomb Group, a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bomber unit in the Eighth Air Force in eastern England during World War II. It follows bomber crews on dangerous missions to destroy targets inside German-occupied Europe and portrays the intensity of war, the dangers airmen faced, and the friendships and relationships they developed.

• Where in Wisconsin?This series isn't based in Wisconsin but shines a light on Manitowoc hero John "Bucky" Egan, one of the most notable U.S. pilots during the Second World War, according to the American Air Museum's archives. Alongside his friend Gale "Buck" Cleven, the larger-than-life Wisconsin hero is a main figure in the series. Egan was shot down in October 1943 and was a prisoner of war in German concentration camps for the rest of World War II. He was released as a prisoner of war at the end of the conflict and would go on to serve in other military positions, including participating in the Korean War. Also after World War II, Egan was promoted to deputy colonel and was one of 172 Wisconsin men given permanent military commissions. He received many awards for his valor, including the Purple Heart.

• Cast:Austin Butler, Callum Turner, Anthony Boyle, Barry Keoghan, Stephen Campbell Moore, Sawyer Spielberg, Isabel May, James Murray, Nate Mann, Laurie Davidson, Joanna Kulig, Louis Hofmann, Jamie Parker, Bel Powley, Sam Hazeldine, Josiah Cross, Braden Cook, Ncuti Gatwa, Jerry MacKinnon, Josh Dylan

• Stream it:With an Apple TV or Amazon Prime Video subscription

Related: Spielberg/Hanks miniseries 'Masters of the Air' featuring Manitowoc native who earned Purple Heart in WWII set for finale

"Making a Murderer" (2015, 2018)

• Plot:Documentary, two seasons. The original 10-episode documentary series debuted in December 2015 and focuses on the conviction of Steven Avery in the 2005 murder of Teresa Halbach, one of the state's most famous crimes. Avery had been exonerated after spending nearly two decades in prison for a crime he did not commit. Then, he filed suit against Manitowoc County and several individuals involved with his arrest. Shortly thereafter, he found himself behind bars again, this time accused of murdering 25-year-old photographer Teresa Halbach, who was last seen on Avery's property, where she was to photograph a vehicle. Avery and his nephew Brendan Dassey were tried and convicted of the crime, although they maintain their innocence and continue to appeal their convictions.

• Where in Wisconsin?Primarily Manitowoc County.

• Stream it:With a Netflix subscription.

Related: Follow the latest in the Steven Avery case

Contact Brandon Reid at  breid@gannett.com .

This article originally appeared on Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter: Wisconsin movies, series to stream: Public Enemies, That 70s Show & more