CLEVELAND, OH—November 12, 2025—Ohio’s natural wonders are getting their star turn in the Cleveland Museum of Natural History’s newest big screen experience, Ohio: Wild at Heart. The film showcases the wild beauty of the Buckeye State in a trailblazing adventure across the state’s stunning parks and waterways, narrated by Ohio legend Archie Griffin. Ohio: Wild at Heart opens in the Museum’s Murch Auditorium on November 15, 2025.
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 fireflies lighting up the night sky, viewers will also rediscover the joy and meaning that come from spending time in the natural world.
“We’re thrilled to be part of Ohio: Wild at Heart, a film that celebrates the same spirit of conservation that drives our work every day,” said Sonia Winner, President & CEO of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. “Through our Natural Areas Program, we protect nearly 13,000 acres of Ohio’s most ecologically significant habitats, working to restore native ecosystems, safeguard biodiversity, and ensure that future generations can experience the wild beauty of our state.”
Ohio: Wild at Heart showcases Ohio’s natural treasures with spectacular aerial cinematography, highlighting the sandstone cliffs of Hocking Hills, the sparkling shores of Lake Erie and the winding pathways of the Buckeye Trail, all on the big screen. You’ll also enjoy the thrill of paddling down the Ohio River, mountain biking in Mohican State Park, dog-sledding in Punderson State Park, and gazing at fireflies glittering in the night sky of the Edge of Appalachia Preserve.
“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 is a place of incredible natural 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.”
The story of Ohio’s great outdoors is also a story of comebacks, and viewers will meet everyday Ohioans working to restore the state’s wild spaces—wildlife rehabilitators preparing orphaned bobcats for release to the wild, scientists charting the triumphant comeback of bald eagles and trumpeter swans, and volunteers turning once-polluted rivers into destinations for recreation enthusiasts and wild animals.
Ohio: Wild at Heart opens on November 15, 2025 at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, located at 1 Wade Oval Drive, Cleveland, OH 44106. Visit the Museum’s website for tickets and showtimes. During premiere weekend on Saturday, November 15 & Sunday, November 16, tickets to Ohio: Wild at Heart will be included with general admission.
Ohio: Wild at Heart is produced by MacGillivray Freeman Films and presented by the 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/.
About the Cleveland Museum of Natural History
The Cleveland Museum of Natural History illuminates the world around us and inspires visitors to engage with the natural forces that shape their lives. Since its founding in 1920, the Museum has pioneered scientific research to advance knowledge across diverse fields of study and used its outstanding collections, which encompass millions of artifacts and specimens, to deepen the public’s understanding of the dynamic connections between humans and nature. Through its Natural Areas Program, the Museum stewards more than 12,500 acres of protected ecosystems across northern Ohio. A community gathering place, educational center, and research institution, the Museum is a vital resource that serves Cleveland and the nation. For more information, visit CMNH.org.
About ODNR
ODNR ensures a balance between wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all. Visit the ODNR website at ohiodnr.gov.
About MacGillivray Freeman Films
Based in Laguna Beach, California, MacGillivray Freeman Films is the world’s foremost independent producer and distributor of giant screen 70mm films with nearly 50 films for IMAX® and giant screen theaters to its credit. Throughout the company’s history, its films have won numerous international awards including two Academy Award® nominations for The Living Sea and Dolphins and three films inducted into the IMAX Hall of Fame, including Everest, the highest grossing giant screen film of all time. MacGillivray Freeman’s films are known for their artistry and celebration of science and the natural world. It is the first documentary film company to reach the one-billion-dollar benchmark for worldwide box office.
Media Contact
Samantha Guenther
Assistant Director of Marketing & Media Relations
Cleveland Museum of Natural History
Office: 216.231.4600 x3432
Mobile: 440.429.2902
sguenther@cmnh.org
