"Ohio: Wild at Heart" Brings Ohio's Great Outdoors to the Giant Screen Narrated by Ohio Legend Archie Griffin

Daily Dose  |  09/17/2025 11:00 am

Audiences can explore the wild beauty of the Buckeye State in Ohio: Wild at Heart, an uplifting journey through Ohio’s stunning parks and waterways, narrated by Ohio legend Archie Griffin. The film opens on October 9, 2025, at Imagination Station KeyBank Discovery Theater as its newest giant screen experience.  

Ohio: Wild at Heart, from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and Academy Award®-nominated producers MacGillivray Freeman Films, is the story of Ohio’s great outdoors and successful conservation efforts aimed at restoring its natural wonders. From soaring with eagles to lighting up the night sky with fireflies, the film also highlights the joy and meaning that come from spending time in the natural world. 

“Bringing Ohio’s great outdoors to the big screen is a great way to showcase why Ohio truly is the Heart of it All,” said Ohio Governor Mike DeWine. “We hope Ohioans go to the movies and experience the natural beauty and wonder of our state in a whole new way.”

“Ohio is the heart of it all, full of captivating stories of exploration and quiet moments of tranquility, it can all be found amongst the state’s natural beauty,” said ODNR Director Mary Mertz. “Ohio: Wild at Heart is our love letter to the mission of protecting our natural resources and we are excited to share it with the world.”

Ohio: Wild at Heart showcases Ohio’s natural treasures with spectacular aerial cinematography, highlighting places like the sandstone cliffs of Hocking Hills, the sparkling shores of Lake Erie and the Buckeye Trail, all on the giant screen. Audiences will also enjoy the thrill of paddling down the Ohio River, mountain biking in Mohican State Park and dog-sledding in Punderson State Park, discovering just how much Ohio has to offer as a natural playground.

"Here in northwest Ohio, we’re surrounded by incredible natural beauty – whether it’s bird watching in the marshes, hiking through the parks, or casting a line in Lake Erie — there’s always something new to discover,” said Imagination Station’s chief executive officer, Lori Hauser. “To have Ohio: Wild at Heart premiere at Imagination Station is very special. We’re excited to bring this celebration of our state’s great outdoors to our community, where a love for nature runs deep."

The story of Ohio’s natural landscapes is also a story of comebacks, and viewers will meet the everyday Ohioans who are working to restore the state’s natural wonders—from the reintroduction of bald eagles and trumpeter swans, to releasing orphaned bobcats back to the wild and the revival of once-polluted rivers. 

“Ohio is a place of incredible beauty, and we are thrilled to bring its story of renewal to the giant screen,” said the film’s producer and director, Shaun MacGillivray.“Ohioans share a deep passion for nature, and our hope is that the film inspires people everywhere to go outside and rediscover the magic waiting just beyond their doorstep.” 

Ohio: Wild at Heart is produced by MacGillivray Freeman Films and presented by Ohio Department of Natural Resources. It is family-friendly and has a running time of 40 minutes.

Watch the trailer and learn more at https://ohiothemovie.com/.

KeyBank Discovery Theater is located at 1 Discovery Way, Toledo, OH 43604. For information on tickets and showtimes, please call 419-244-2674 or visit the website at imaginationstationtoledo.org.