Wisconsin may be known for cheese and beer, but it also has its fair share of shout outs in numerous movies and television shows. From major motion pictures, like Titanic, to other kinds of classics, like Mean Girls, Hollywood has not forgotten about this great state we call home.       

 In Titanic, Jack Dawson uses Wisconsin to break the ice with Rose when he meets her for the first time on the ship’s deck. Speaking of ice, he uses the extreme winter temperatures, specifically in his hometown Chippewa Falls, as a comparison to the ocean waters into which Rose is about to jump. If he didn’t do this, there is a chance he would not have been able to discourage her from ending her life. Wisconsin saved one of the most famous love stories in movie history. Here’s to you, brutal winters!     

Cedar Rapids, a quirky comedy selected in the 2011 Sundance Film Festival, stars Ed Helms and John C. Reilly. It takes place at an insurance convention in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Dean Ziegler (Reilly) mentions that he is from Stevens Point and Tim Lippe (Helms) is from Brown Valley.     

As one of the best Christmas movies, Home Alone has to be near the top of the list. In the airport, Kevin’s mom, Kate, meets Gus Polinski, also known as “The Polka King of the Midwest.” To her surprise, he does a lot of business in Sheboygan -- more than he does in Chicago.      

It is no secret that Ryan Reynolds is one of the better-looking actors out there. In Definitely, Maybe, everyone can thank Wisconsin for this beautiful man. Reynolds plays Will Hayes, a political consultant who tries to explain his complicated love life to his 11-year-old daughter, Maya, played by Abigail Breslin. He met his first girlfriend in college. Guess where? Yep, the University of Wisconsin-Madison.     

Another great guy who went to Madison? Mark Johnson from the movie, Miracle. Played by Eric Peter-Kaiser, Johnson played hockey here before joining the U.S.A Olympic hockey team, which went on to win the gold medal against Russia in 1980.      

Speaking of Madison, Cady Heron has a connection to this wonderful city, too. In Mean Girls, she realizes that she may be the new Queen of The Plastics, when Karen and Gretchen ask what their weekend plans are. Unfortunately, she can’t hang out because she has to go to Madison with her parents.

“Oh, you live in Milwaukee? Oh, I’m sorry.” This famous quote comes from the hilarious movie Bridesmaids. Kristen Wiig plays Annie Walker who resides in Milwaukee. The movie even has clips from the downtown area, including a shot of the Calatrava, a famous building that is home to the Milwaukee Art Museum.      

Last, but not least, we have That '70s Show. The entire series takes place in Wisconsin. Topher Grace, Mila Kunis, Ashton Kutcher, Danny Masterson, Laura Prepon, and Wilmer Valderrama all went on to have acting careers after the show ended. Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher, now married, dated on the show. Did Wisconsin unite them and encourage them to take their romance off-screen? Possibly.

These are just a few instances of how Wisconsin helped characters fall in love, stay grounded, and create a more realistic background story, since not everyone can be from New York or California. We really do live in one of the best states around. Just ask Ashton Kutcher and Ryan Reynolds. Who knows, maybe the next blockbuster will take place right on campus.