CINCINNATI (WOWK) — Some of the most famous actors of all time starred in films that came out of Ohio. Both Marilyn Monroe and Morgan Freeman had films that were shot in Ohio.
Here are facts about films shot in Ohio using the Internet Movie Database (IMDb).
In the top 10, one film won Best Picture at the Academy Awards. That film is “Rain Man”, which also won Best Actor in a Leading Role, Best Director and Best Original Screenplay.
“Judas and the Black Messiah” won two Academy Awards, these include Best Actor for Daniel Kaluuya and Best Original Song.
Five films were nominated for Academy Awards but did not win. “The Shawshank Redemption” had the most with seven nominations, but did not win any. “Rain Man”, “The Asphalt Jungle”, “A History of Violence” and “Judas and the Black Messiah” were the other four.
While “The Shawshank Redemption” did not win any of its seven Academy Award nominations, the film’s 9.3/10 rating from around 2.6 million users makes it the highest-rated film on IMDb.
According to Metacritic scores, three films are tied for the most critically acclaimed. “The Asphalt Jungle”, “Judas and the Black Messiah” and “Take Shelter” all have an 85/100 Metacritic Score. “More Than a Game” had the lowest Metacritic score. It is sitting at a 59/100 score.
Cincinnati and Cleveland were featured in the most amount of films. Cincinnati was a part of four of the films and Cleveland was in two of the films.
This list was compiled using user ratings from IMDb. The film has to have 1,000 ratings or more to be considered a part of the top 10.
1. The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
Director: Frank Darabont
Writer: Frank Darabont (Screenplay), Stephen King (Based on the Short Novel)
Stars: Tim Robbins, Morgan Freeman, Bob Gunton
Genre: Drama
IMDb Rating: 9.3/10 (2.6 million ratings)
Metacritic Score: 81/100
Where in Ohio?: Mansfield, Richland County | Butler, Richland County | Lucas, Richland County | Bellville, Richland County | Upper Sandusky, Wyandot County | Ashland, Ashland County
IMDb Synopsis: “Two imprisoned men bond over a number of years, finding solace and eventual redemption through acts of common decency.”
2. Rain Man (1988)
Director: Barry Levinson
Writer: Ron Bass (Screenplay), Barry Morrow (Story)
Stars: Dustin Hoffman, Tom Cruise, Valeria Golino
Genre: Drama
IMDb Rating: 8/10 (506,000 ratings)
Metacritic Score: 65/100
Where in Ohio?: Cincinnati, Hamilton County | East Walnut Hills, Hamilton County
IMDb Synopsis: “After a selfish L.A. yuppie learns his estranged father left a fortune to an autistic-savant brother in Ohio that he didn’t know existed, he absconds with his brother and sets out across the country, hoping to gain a larger inheritance.”
3. A Christmas Story (1983)
Director: Bob Clark
Writer: Bob Clark (Screenplay), Leigh Brown (Screenplay), Jean Shepherd (Based on the Novel)
Stars: Peter Billingsley, Melinda Dillon, Darren McGavin
Genre: Comedy, Family
IMDb Rating: 7.9/10 (147,000 ratings)
Metacritic Score: 77/100
Where in Ohio?: Cleveland, Cuyahoga County
IMDb Synopsis: “In the 1940s, a young boy named Ralphie Parker attempts to convince his parents, teacher, and Santa Claus that a Red Ryder Range 200 Shot BB gun really is the perfect Christmas gift.”
4. The Asphalt Jungle (1950)
Director: John Huston
Writer: John Huston (Screenplay), Ben Maddow (Screenplay), W.R. Burnett (Based on the Novel)
Stars: Sterling Hayden, Louis Calhern, Marilyn Monroe
Genre: Crime, Drama, Film-Noir, Thriller
IMDb Rating: 7.8/10 (27,000 ratings)
Metacritic Score: 85/100
Where in Ohio?: Cincinnati, Hamilton County
IMDb Synopsis: “A major heist goes off as planned, but then double-crosses, bad luck and solid police work cause everything to unravel.”
5. Planes, Trains & Automobiles (1987)
Director: John Hughes
Writer: John Hughes
Stars: Steve Martin, John Candy, Laila Robins
Genre: Comedy, Drama
IMDb Rating: 7.6/10 (139,000 ratings)
Metacritic Score: 72/100
Where in Ohio?: Madison, Lake County | Chardon, Geauga County
IMDb Synopsis: “A Chicago advertising man must struggle to travel home from New York for Thanksgiving, with a lovable oaf of a shower curtain ring salesman as his only companion.”
6. Dark Waters (2019)
Director: Todd Haynes
Writer: Mario Correa (Screenplay), Matthew Michael Carnahan (Screenplay), Nathaniel Rich (Based on the Article)
Stars: Mark Ruffalo, Anne Hathaway, Tim Robbins
Genre: Biography, Drama, History
IMDb Rating: 7.6/10 (85,000 ratings)
Metacritic Score: 73/100
Where in Ohio?: Cincinnati, Hamilton County | Springdale, Hamilton County | Hamilton, Butler County
IMDb Synopsis: “A corporate defense attorney takes on an environmental lawsuit against a chemical company that exposes a lengthy history of pollution.”
7. More Than a Game (2008)
Director: Kristopher Belman
Writer: Kristopher Belman, Brad Hogan
Stars: LeBron James, Dru Joyce, Romeo Travis
Genre: Documentary, Biography, Sport
IMDb Rating: 7.6/10 (5,400 ratings)
Metacritic Score: 59/100
Where in Ohio?: Akron, Summit County
IMDb Synopsis: “This documentary follows NBA superstar LeBron James and four of his talented teammates through the trials and tribulations of high school basketball in Ohio and James’ journey to fame.”
8. Judas and the Black Messiah (2021)
Director: Shaka King
Writer: Shaka King (Screenplay & Story), Will Berson (Screenplay & Story), Kenneth Lucas (Story), Keith Lucas (Story)
Stars: Daniel Kaluuya, LaKeith Stanfield, Jesse Plemons
Genre: Biography, Drama, History
IMDb Rating: 7.4/10 (74,000 ratings)
Metacritic Score: 85/100
Where in Ohio?: Cleveland, Cuyahoga County | Mansfield, Richland County
IMDb Synopsis: “Offered a plea deal by the FBI, William O’Neal infiltrates the Illinois chapter of the Black Panther Party to gather intelligence on Chairman Fred Hampton.”
9. Take Shelter (2011)
Director: Jeff Nichols
Writer: Jeff Nichols
Stars: Michael Shannon, Jessica Chastain, Shea Whigham
Genre: Drama, Sci-Fi, Thriller
IMDb Rating: 7.3/10 (100,000 ratings)
Metacritic Score: 85/100
Where in Ohio?: LaGrange, Lorain County | Elyria, Lorain County | Grafton, Lorain County | Lorain, Lorain County | Catawba Island, Ottawa County
IMDb Synopsis: “Plagued by a series of apocalyptic visions, a young husband and father questions whether to shelter his family from a coming storm, or from himself.”
10. City of Hope (1991)
Director: John Sayles
Writer: John Sayles
Stars: Vincent Spano, Tony Lo Bianco, Stephen Mendillo
Genre: Crime, Drama
IMDb Rating: 7.3/10 (2,500 ratings)
Metacritic Score: N/A
Where in Ohio?: Cincinnati, Hamilton County
IMDb Synopsis: “An intersecting tale with a multitude of characters living lives which, in one way or another, revolve around an old apartment block scheduled to be demolished.”
