Overview
A poignant journey through the heart of America, where a father and son confront their past.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- deadpan
- melancholic
- wistful
- quiet weekend
- reflective movie night
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film as an elegantly simple, deeply resonant, and poetic family road drama anchored by exceptional performances.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The crisp black-and-white cinematography gives the road trip and weathered faces a wistful, elegiac quality.
David repeatedly tries to understand and reach his estranged, aging father Woody during their journey.
Small-town grudges, family dysfunction, and Woody's eccentric behavior are treated with dry humor rather than broad sentimentality.
The trip from Billings to Lincoln is diverted through the Nebraska town where Woody grew up and still has scores to settle.
Films like Nebraska, and why
The Straight Story
Both are bittersweet, character-driven road movies centered on aging, family bonds, and understated humor.
The Royal Tenenbaums
Both combine deadpan comedy with poignant portraits of dysfunctional families and emotionally guarded older men.
Frances Ha
Both are black-and-white American dramas using dry humor and regional settings to explore memory, regret, and family relationships.
The Descendants
Both are restrained, melancholic family dramas about difficult parent-child relationships and the emotional residue of the past.
Movie Details
- Director
- Alexander Payne
- Release Date
- 2013-09-21
- Runtime
- 115 min
- Rating
- 7.4 / 10 (1980)
Cast
- Bruce Dern
- Will Forte
- June Squibb
- Bob Odenkirk
- Stacy Keach
- Mary Louise Wilson
- Rance Howard
- Tim Driscoll
- Devin Ratray
- Angela McEwan
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- JustWatch TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Nebraska about?
- A weary son shepherds his stubborn father across the Great Plains, discovering that an unwanted road trip can reopen buried family histories.
- What is Nebraska like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Nebraska as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Nebraska violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Nebraska.
- What did critics think of Nebraska?
- Critics broadly praised the film as an elegantly simple, deeply resonant, and poetic family road drama anchored by exceptional performances.
- Which films are like Nebraska?
- Films with a similar feel include The Straight Story, The Royal Tenenbaums, Frances Ha, and The Descendants.
- How long is Nebraska?
- Nebraska runs 115 minutes.
- Where can I watch Nebraska?
- In United States, Nebraska is available to rent or buy from JustWatch TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
