Did you know that Cincinnati has served as the backdrop for major Hollywood productions? From gritty dramas to Oscar-winning performances, the Queen City has quietly become a go-to filming location for directors who want classic architecture, Midwest charm, and a bit of cinematic magic. Whether you’re a movie buff or just love local trivia, here are some of the most iconic movies filmed in Cincinnati—and where you can visit the locations today.
🎙️ “Rain Man” (1988)
Cincinnati stars as itself in this Oscar-winning road movie. Scenes were shot at the P&G Towers, the Roebling Suspension Bridge, and the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport. Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman strolled through several downtown streets you can still walk today.
🎥 “The Ides of March” (2011)
This political thriller starring George Clooney and Ryan Gosling used Cincinnati’s downtown and Xavier University as stand-ins for presidential campaign stops. Fountain Square, Memorial Hall, and even a now-closed bar in Over-the-Rhine all make appearances.
🎨 “Carol” (2015)
Todd Haynes’s critically acclaimed period romance transforms modern Cincinnati into 1950s New York. Filming locations included the Cincinnati Club, Eden Park, and the Taft Museum of Art. Even the old Shillito’s department store got a cinematic moment.
⛪ “The Killing of a Sacred Deer” (2017)
Director Yorgos Lanthimos brought his eerie, unsettling style to several Cincinnati hospitals, homes, and neighborhoods—including Christ Hospital and Hyde Park. If you want to rewatch it, be warned: it’s not exactly a feel-good film.
👦 “Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile” (2019)
This Ted Bundy biopic starring Zac Efron was mostly filmed in Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati. Key courtroom scenes were shot in the historic Hamilton County Courthouse. The film uses local landmarks to double as Seattle and Utah.
🎦 “Bones and All” (2022)
This offbeat love story starring Timothée Chalamet and Taylor Russell filmed in Cincinnati and across Ohio. While the story is nomadic, parts of the film were shot near the Ohio River and in rural outskirts just beyond the city.
🌟 Bonus: Explore IRL, Then Join the Chat
If you’re the kind of person who rewatches movies to spot local landmarks or loves swapping trivia, you’re not alone. We talk about this kind of stuff all the time in Cincy Discord, our community for locals who want to make friends, meet up IRL, and explore the city together.
Join the conversation (and maybe plan a movie-themed walk around downtown) at cincydiscord.com/join.
See you in the credits.