Awards season is upon us, and the Academy of Motion Pictures just released the list of nominees for the upcoming 97th Oscars. Noticeably missing from the list, at least to us in Cincinnati, is the 2023 film The Bikeriders, much of which was shot in Cincinnati. Variety wrote in October that the film would be competing for a spot in the Adapted Screenplays category, but it ultimately didn’t make it to the list released in January, which includes A Complete Unknown, Conclave, Emilia Pérez, Nickel Boys and Sing Sing.

So while Cincinnati film buffs won’t be able to root for their hometown-shot film during the Academy Awards this year, there are still a number of motion pictures that were (at least partly) filmed in the Queen City. From a Best Picture winner and ones that raked in the nominations, here are the films that were shot in Cincinnati that won or were nominated for Oscars. 

Portions of Rain Man were filmed in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. Photo: Courtesy of Fathom Events
Rain Man (1988) Charlie Babbit (Tom Cruise) is a self-centered car dealer from Los Angeles who only cares about money. After his father dies, Charlie finds out all the money from his father’s state is being left to a psychiatric institution. Charlie looks into why, only to find out he has an autistic brother, Raymond, who lives in the institution, that Charlie never knew about. Charlie hatches a plan to start a custody battle over Raymond with the institution, hoping to get the institution to settle out of court for half his father’s estate. The brothers then embark on a cross-country road trip to meet with Charlie’s lawyers. During the road trip, however, Charlie learns more about Raymond, his mysterious role in their family and what it means to be brothers. You can still see the payphone from the toothpick scene at Pompilios in Newport. Other local filming locations included St. Anne’s Convent in Melbourne, Kentucky, the Dixie Terminal building, WCET Channel 48 offices and CVG. Award Nominations: Won Best Actor in a Leading Role (Dustin Hoffman as Raymond Babbitt); Directing (Barry Levinson); Best Picture; and Best Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen (Ronald Bass and Barry Morrow) in the 61st Oscars. Also nominated for Best Art Direction, Cinematography, Film Editing and Original Score. Photo: IMDB.com
Traffic (2000) Traffic is a drama that takes a look at America’s war on drugs through the viewpoints of five people: a conservative judge tapped by the president to spearhead the battle against drugs, only to discover his daughter is suffering from addiction; two DEA agents; the wife of a jailed drug kingpin; and a Mexican cop whose boss may not be as anti-drug as he painted himself out to be. In the movie, you can see glimpses of the way Hyde Park and Over-the-Rhine looked in the late ‘90s/early 2000s. Award Nominations: Won Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Benicio Del Toro as Javier Rodriguez); Directing (Steven Soderbergh); Film Editing; and Best Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published (Stephen Gaghan) in the 73rd Oscars. It was also nominated for Best Picture. Photo: IMDB.com
The Best Years of Our Lives (1946) Three World War II vets return home to America to find their lives drastically changed as they try to readjust to society and rebuild their bonds with their families. The fictional town the movie is based in, Boone City, was based on Cincinnati, and you can see aerial shots of Walnut Hills High School, as well as Xavier University’s former Corcoran Stadium, which served as the “Jackson High Football Stadium” in the movie. Award Nominations: Won Best Actor (Fredric March as Al Stephenson); Actor in a Supporting Role (Harold Russell as Homer Parrish); Directing (William Wyler); Film Editing; Music Score of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture; Motion Picture; Screenplay (Robert E. Sherwood) and a Special Award — “To Harold Russell for bringing hope and courage to his fellow veterans through his appearance in The Best Years of Our Lives.” — in the 19th Oscars. It was also nominated for Best Sound Recording. Photo: IMDB.com
Carol (2015) Aspiring photographer Therese Belivet (Rooney Mara) is working as a shop clerk in 1950s New York when she meets Carol Aird (Cate Blanchett), a married mother who is separated from her husband, Harge (Kyle Chandler). Finding themselves attracted to one another, Carol and Therese begin a romantic relationship and fall in love. But when Harge finds out about their romance and threatens to gain full custody of their daughter, Carol will have to choose between her love of Therese and her life with her daughter. Scenes were shot in places like the restaurant Maury’s Tiny Cove in Cheviot, the Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza and the exterior of the former Shillito’s department store in downtown Cincinnati and Eden Park. Award Nominations: Nominated for Best Actress in a Leading Role (Cate Blanchett as Carol Aird); Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Rooney Mara as Therese Belivet); Best Cinematography; Best Costume Design; Best Original Score; and Best Adapted Screenplay (Phyllis Nagy) in the 88th Oscars. Photo: IMDB.com
The Asphalt Jungle (1950) Career criminal Dr. Erwin Riedenschneider (Sam Jaffe) puts together a crew for a jewel heist, but one of the members has his own plan for the take. After the heist, however, all their plans begin to go awry. Parts of downtown Cincinnati can be seen in the opening scenes. Award Nominations: Nominated for Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Sam Jaffe as Dr. Erwin Riedenschneider); Black-and-White Cinematography; Directing (John Huston); and Screenplay (Ben Maddow and John Huston) in the 23rd Oscars. Photo: IMDB.com
Ides of March (2011) Stephen Meyers (Ryan Gosling) is an idealistic campaign worker for Gov. Mike Morris (George Clooney), an unconventional presidential candidate whose ideas can really shake up the political landscape. But as attention turns to the Ohio primary, Morris’ integrity will be tested, while Meyers becomes caught in a scandal with a young intern who has a secret. You can see scenes shot at Xavier University and the Cintas Center, Riverboat Row in Newport, Lunken Airport and more. Award Nominations: Nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay (George Clooney, Grant Heslov and Beau Willimon) in the 84th Oscars. Photo: IMDB.com
The Avengers (2012) Loki (Tom Hiddleston), using the power of the Tesseract and otherworldly forces, seeks to bend the world to his whim. Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner), Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), Thor (Chris Hemsworth) and Captain America (Chris Evans) are assembled to defeat Loki. As the heroes overcome their differences, they ultimately thwart Loki and save the world. Realizing there are more threats to come, the team stays together as Earth’s mightiest heroes. Some scenes were filmed in Ohio, including in Cincinnati and at Dayton’s Wright Patterson Air Force Base. Award Nominations: Nominated for Best Visual Effects in the 85th Oscars. Photo: IMDB.com

Katherine Barrier is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati’s journalism program and has nearly 10 years of experience reporting local and national news as a digital journalist. At CityBeat, she...