Omaha Trailer: John Magaro Takes a Heartbreaking Road Trip
•February 11, 2026
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Why It Matters
"Omaha" adds a poignant, socially resonant title to the 2024 indie slate, and its Sundance buzz could boost Greenwich Entertainment’s market presence while positioning John Magaro for further awards‑season visibility.
Key Takeaways
- •Omaha releases April 24 via Greenwich Entertainment.
- •Cole Webley's feature debut premiered at Sundance 2023.
- •Trailer reveals 2008 father‑led road‑trip mystery.
- •John Magaro headlines emotional family drama.
- •Film explores economic hardship, subtle political backdrop.
Pulse Analysis
Cole Webley's first feature, Omaha, moves from Sundance buzz to a spring theatrical window, landing on April 24 under Greenwich Entertainment. The film’s debut at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival earned a quiet standing ovation, signaling strong festival‑circuit momentum for a project that blends narrative restraint with emotional intensity. By releasing the trailer and poster now, the distributor is capitalizing on the lingering festival buzz, a common strategy for indie titles seeking both critical attention and a foothold in a crowded spring slate. The timing aligns with awards‑season positioning, giving the film a chance to build word‑of‑mouth before the fall festival circuit.
Set in 2008, Omaha follows a father‑led road trip that doubles as a socioeconomic snapshot of post‑recession America. The script weaves everyday details—food‑stamp‑funded Lunchables, John McCain campaign signs, a mixtape of a mother’s favorite songs—into a larger commentary on financial strain and parental uncertainty. By viewing the journey through the eyes of the teenage daughter, the film captures a coming‑of‑age lens that heightens the emotional stakes while allowing the audience to piece together the family’s hidden motives. This blend of personal drama and broader cultural signifiers gives the story a layered resonance that extends beyond a simple road‑trip narrative.
John Magaro anchors the project with a performance that builds on his recent work in Past Lives, offering a nuanced portrait of a man caught between responsibility and desperation. Greenwich Entertainment’s involvement provides a credible distribution platform, leveraging its track record of championing award‑caliber indie films. If the trailer’s reception translates into strong opening‑week numbers, Omaha could attract further festival invitations and position itself as a contender in the limited‑release awards race. For audiences seeking character‑driven cinema that reflects contemporary economic anxieties, the film promises both emotional depth and timely relevance.
Omaha Trailer: John Magaro Takes a Heartbreaking Road Trip
*Cole Webley’s Feature Debut Omaha Set for April 24 Release (Greenwich Entertainment)*
Premiering at Sundance last year, Cole Webley’s feature debut Omaha is a heartbreaking look at a father (John Magaro) in crisis as he takes his family on an unexpected road trip. It’s now set for an April 24 release from Greenwich Entertainment, and the first trailer and poster have just been released.
Synopsis (written by Robert Machoian, The Killing of Two Lovers):
“A young girl and her brother are awoken by their father and loaded into the car on an early morning in 2008. As they road‑trip across the American West, she discovers the truth about their seemingly spontaneous journey. A poignant, coming‑of‑age drama starring John Magaro (Past Lives, September 5), Molly Belle Wright, and Wyatt Solis.”
Jake Kring‑Schreifels said in his Sundance review, “Quiet and heartbreaking, if not slightly conventional, Omaha unfolds like a slow‑burning mystery, mostly taking Ella’s skeptical, worried perspective as she tries piecing together clues about this unexpected family road trip. Soon things come into sharper, painful focus. Escaping from their Utah home, they whiz past John McCain presidential signs, purchase Lunchables using food stamps, and enjoy a CD mix of Mom’s favorite songs. It’s not long before Dad explains they’re traveling to Nebraska, but director Cole Webley, in his feature debut, doesn’t tip his hand about any more specifics. It doesn’t seem like Dad knows them either.”
Trailer & Poster
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