The Mastermind is a 1970s-set art-heist drama written and directed by Kelly Reichardt. This exciting movie, starring Josh O’Connor, Alana Haim, Hope Davis, Gaby Hoffmann, John Magaro, and Bill Camp, has already made a splash. It premiered at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival and was nominated for a Palme d’Or. Set for release on October 17, 2025, by Mubi, it tells the story of J.B. Mooney, an unemployed carpenter plotting a chaotic art heist in 1970s Massachusetts.
At NetFilming, we’re diving into the confirmed filming locations that brought this gritty tale to life, showcasing how Ohio and Kentucky stood in for New England’s retro vibe.
The Mastermind Filming Locations
The movie takes place in a fictional town in Massachusetts, but the crew chose Ohio and Kentucky to get the look of the 1970s. These places had the perfect mix of small-town charm and post-industrial grit, which was perfect for Reichardt’s minimalist style. From Cincinnati’s bustling downtown to quiet neighbourhoods in Middletown and the architectural gem of Columbus, Indiana, here’s where the cameras rolled.
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati was the heart of The Mastermind’s production, with its downtown streets transformed into 1970s New England. The film dressed areas around Cincinnati City Hall, Court Street, Main Street, and 8th Street with vintage cars, buses, and protest scenes to match the era. The city’s mid-century architecture and urban layout made it a convincing stand-in for the film’s Massachusetts setting. Local reports highlighted active shoots in Northside, near Hamilton and Chase, and even a surgeon’s house in Wyoming used as a key set.
Trivia: Cincinnati has a rich filming history. It served as a backdrop for classics like Rain Man (1988), where Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman drove through the city, and The Ides of March (2011), starring George Clooney and Ryan Gosling, which used local landmarks like Miami University.
Red Fox Grill (Sixth & Sycamore), Cincinnati
The Red Fox Grill at 232 E 6th St. has been a Cincinnati favourite since the 1960s. The retro shopfront was great for outside shots because it fit in so well with the movie’s period look. Local news outlets shared photos from the set that showed crews setting up scenes outside this famous diner, which added to the 1970s feel.
Did you know?
The Red Fox Grill’s area has been used in other projects, like Carol (2015), where Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara filmed scenes in Cincinnati’s historic downtown, showing how timeless it is.
Hamilton, Ohio (Downtown – Third Street)
Another key location in the film was Downtown Hamilton, specifically Third Street. In early November 2024, production crews redressed shopfronts to create a 1970s commercial district. The area’s older buildings provided a nostalgic backdrop, helping sell the film’s setting. Local galleries captured the transformation, showing vintage signage and props that brought the era to life.
Trivia: Middletown was a filming hub for Hillbilly Elegy (2020), directed by Ron Howard, which used the city’s neighborhoods to depict working-class America, much like The Mastermind’s vibe.
Columbus, Indiana
The exterior of the fictional Framingham Art Museum was filmed at the Cleo Rogers Memorial Library in Columbus, Indiana. This beautiful red-brick building, designed by I.M. Pei, made a great setting for the robbery scenes. Its clean, modern look matched the film’s style and made it look like a real cultural landmark.
Did you know? – Columbus is a great place for filmmakers and architecture lovers. Columbus (2017), which starred John Cho, used it as a key location to show off the city’s unique modernist buildings, making it a cinematic gem.
Kentucky
Across the river from Cincinnati, parts of Kentucky were used for additional scenes. These locations, often featuring hollowed-out downtowns, helped create the film’s gritty, post-industrial atmosphere. The proximity to Ohio allowed seamless integration into the production’s 1970s world.
Trivia: Kentucky’s riverfront areas have appeared in films like Seabiscuit (2003), which used local racetracks, and * Secretariat* (2010), tapping into the state’s horse-racing heritage for authentic backdrops.
Production Timeline
| Period | Details |
|---|---|
| October 2024 | Filming began in Cincinnati, Middletown, and Kentucky, focusing on suburban and downtown scenes. |
| November 2024 | Production wrapped in Cincinnati, with key shoots around City Hall and Hamilton’s Third Street. |
| May 2025 | The Mastermind premiered at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, competing for the Palme d’Or. |
| October 17, 2025 | Scheduled wide release by Mubi, bringing the film to global audiences. |
The Mastermind Behind The Scenes
When you look at how Kelly Reichardt made The Mastermind, you can see how she put her own spin on the heist genre. She got the idea for her story from a real art theft by teens in Massachusetts in 1972. The story is about the chaos of everyday life during the Vietnam War.
According to Forbes, Reichardt said at Cannes, “I was looking for a good art heist story for a while, and I finally found the seed of the story when I heard about the 50th anniversary of two teenagers who got caught stealing art.” This real-life event gave the movie its gritty, realistic feel by focusing on regular people in tough situations.
Josh O’Connor, who plays the bumbling thief J.B. Mooney, loved portraying flawed characters. He said, “I find myself drawn to the ordinary. When we go to the theaters often times, we see the most extreme versions of characters, that’s drama. I like ordinary people in extraordinary positions.” O’Connor also highlighted Mooney’s privilege and confusion about his role in a changing world: “It comes from a place of privilege, from generations of men being told they deserve something more, it’s an interesting time in history about male roles in that period.”
Working with Reichardt felt special for O’Connor. He noted, “There’s a kindness to working with Kelly which you don’t often get.” The production moved quickly, filming in Ohio and Kentucky to capture that 1970s small-town feel. Reichardt praised distributor Mubi for their hands-off support: “Thank you to Mubi, they gave us the resources to do it, standing there, they were here if we needed any help, they didn’t impose in any way, that’s a very fortunate thing.”
Reichardt broke down traditional heist tropes too. She explained, “I followed this tradition but also showed how to break it down a little bit. The genre deconstructs as Mooney’s plan does.”
Alana Haim, playing Mooney’s wife Terri, brought a grounded energy, though she kept quieter in interviews. Overall, the team aimed for authenticity, blending humor and tension in a way that feels fresh.
The Mastermind Official Trailer
Keep an eye out for its release, and let us know which location you’re most excited to see in the film!
FAQs
Q1: What is The Mastermind about?
A1: Kelly Reichardt directed The Mastermind, a drama about an art heist that takes place in the 1970s. It follows a carpenter who tries to pull off an amateur art heist.
Q2: Where was The Mastermind filmed?
The movie was mostly shot in Ohio, with Downtown Cincinnati, Hamilton, and Middletown standing in for 1970s Massachusetts.
Q3: Who stars in The Mastermind?
A3: Josh O’Connor, Alana Haim, Gaby Hoffmann, Hope Davis, John Magaro, and Bill Camp are all in the cast.
Q4: When did filming take place?
A4: The main filming took place in the Cincinnati area and nearby areas from October to November 2024.
Q5: When will The Mastermind be released?
A5: The movie had its first showing at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, and it will be shown in theatres all over the world on October 17, 2025.
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