These movies have Kentucky sceneries in the background. Have you seen them?

Ana Rocío Álvarez Bríñez, Louisville Courier Journal
·3 min read
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Kentucky has been the stage for many Hollywood films, from romance to horror.

Kentucky's sceneries are not new to the big screen as movies including “Coal Miner's Daughter," "How the West Was Won," "The Kentuckian" and "Stripes" were filmed in the state more than 40 years ago.

Many movies have also been done about Kentucky-related topics, most notably the Kentucky Derby and its winners (we're looking at you "Secretariat").

More: Fern Creek High School students make silver screen debut with movie filmed in Louisville

Here are some Kentucky-based movies:

'Devil's Revenge' (2019)

Actors: William Shatner, Jeri Ryan and Jason Brooks

Synopsis: An archaeologist returns from a cave expedition with a cursed relic and in order to stop it from cursing his family, he has to go back to the cave and destroy it, according to IMDb.

Kentucky locations in the movie: Parts of rural Kentucky and Louisville were used as stages for the horror film, The Courier Journal previously reported. The trailer features West Broadway and the Jefferson Community and Technical College.

'Elizabethtown' (2005)

Director Cameron Crowe, left, talked with Yvette Cason as he signed autographs outside the Elizabethtown Movie Palace before the screening of his new film, "Elizabethtown." Sept 17, 2005
Director Cameron Crowe, left, talked with Yvette Cason as he signed autographs outside the Elizabethtown Movie Palace before the screening of his new film, "Elizabethtown." Sept 17, 2005

Rating: PG-13

Actors: Orlando Bloom, Kirsten Dunst and Susan Sarandon

Synopsis: A man starts a romance with a flight attendee when he goes home for his father's memorial, according to IMDb.

Kentucky locations in the movie:

  • WQXE Quicksie radio station in Elizabethtown, Kentucky

  • The Brown Hotel in Louisville

  • Otter Creek Park in Brandenburg, Kentucky

  • Area in downtown Versailles, Kentucky

'Rain Man' (1988)

The 1988 film "Rain Man," starring Tom Cruise, left, and Dustin Hoffman, was filmed in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky in 1988. The film was awarded four Oscars, including best picture, best director Barry Levinson and best actor Hoffman.
The 1988 film "Rain Man," starring Tom Cruise, left, and Dustin Hoffman, was filmed in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky in 1988. The film was awarded four Oscars, including best picture, best director Barry Levinson and best actor Hoffman.

Rating: R

Actors: Dustin Hoffman, Tom Cruise and Valeria Golino

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," IMDb states.

Kentucky locations in the movie: Locations in Northern Kentucky, including the Evergreen Cemetery in Southgate, Kentucky, St. Anne Convent in Melbourne and Pompilio's Italian Restaurant in Newport, The Courier Journal previously reported.

'Rust Creek' (2018)

Actor Sean O'Brien (left) and Producer Stu Pollard (right ) on location in Kentucky during filming of "Rust Creek."
Actor Sean O'Brien (left) and Producer Stu Pollard (right ) on location in Kentucky during filming of "Rust Creek."

Rating: R

Actors: Hermione Corfield, Jay Paulson and Sean O'Bryan

Synopsis: A college student gets stuck in the woods in Kentucky after getting lost on her way to a job interview, according to IMDb.

Kentucky locations in the movie:

  • Fern Creek

  • St. Matthews

  • Floyds Fork

  • Iroquois Park

  • Boyle county

  • Bullitt county

  • Franklin county

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'Secretariat' (2010)

Nelsan Ellis, background-left, and John Malkovich in a scene from the motion picture "Secretariat." Photo by John Bramley, Disney Enterprises [Via MerlinFTP Drop]
Nelsan Ellis, background-left, and John Malkovich in a scene from the motion picture "Secretariat." Photo by John Bramley, Disney Enterprises [Via MerlinFTP Drop]

Rating: R

Actors: Diane Lane, John Malkovich and Margo Martindale

Synopsis: The movie details the story of Triple Crown winner Secretariat, The Courier Journal previously reported.

Kentucky locations in the movie: Parts of the movie were shot at Churchill Downs and the Belmont at Keeneland, The Courier Journal previously reported.

'Stripes' (1981)

Rating: R

Actors: Bill Murray, John Candy and Harold Ramis

Synopsis: Two men join the army because they are not happy with their jobs, according to IMDb.

Kentucky locations in the movie:

  • Fort Knox

  • The Jim Beam-owned Chapeze Distillery in Clermont, Kentucky

  • Washington Street in Louisville

  • A barbershop on West Market Street in Louisville

  • The George Rogers Clark Memorial Bridge

  • The former River City Mall, which is now Fourth Street in Louisville

'The Art of Self Defense' (2017)

Rating: R

Actors: Jesse Eisenberg, Alessandro Nivola and Imogen Poots

Synopsis: A man signs up for a local dojo to learn how to defend himself after getting attacked on the street, according to IMDb.

Kentucky locations in the movie: The Courier Journal previously reported the movie was filming in Louisville.

'Wildcat' (2023)

Actors: Maya Hawke, Laura Linney and Philip Ettinger

Synopsis: The story of writer Flannery O'Connor when she was trying to publish her first novel, according to IMDb.

Kentucky locations in the movie: Movie crews were seen filming in Frankfort near the Capitol.

A few others

  • "Raintree County" (1957)

  • "Goldfinger" (1964)

  • "Harlan County, USA" (1976)

  • "Coal Miner's Daughter" (1980)

  • "In Country" (1989)

  • "The Insider" (1999)

  • "Seabiscuit" (2003)

  • "The Stand-In" (2020)

Previous reporting from Kirby Adams and former reporters Billy Kobin and Emma Austin was used in this story.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Check out which of your favorite movies have been filmed in Kentucky