In ‘Omaha,’ John Magaro Tackles Fatherhood, Fear and Financial Insecurity

John Magaro wants a new definition of masculinity.

“I grew up in the Midwest, in Ohio, in Cleveland, during a time when jobs were going away, when the idea of masculinity for these blue-collar guys was being shaken to the core,” he told TheWrap. “I know how hard it is for them to reach out for help.”

This struggle drew Magaro to “Omaha,” a film directed by Cole Webley and written by Robert Machoian that opened in theaters on Friday after first premiering at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. Magaro leads the film as a character simply known as “Dad,” who takes his two children (Ella and Charlie) and dog on a road trip across the Midwest after losing his home amid the 2008 economic crisis.

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