
The 1988 film Rain Man, starring Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman, was shot across various locations in the United States, including Ohio, Nevada, Kentucky, Indiana, Oklahoma, and Los Angeles. The airport scenes were filmed at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport in Hebron, Kentucky, specifically at CVG's Terminal 2, which is now closed to the public.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Airport name | Greater Cincinnati International Airport |
| Airport location | 2939 Terminal Drive, Hebron, KY 41048 |
| Phone number | 859.767.3151 |
| Terminal | CVG's Terminal 2 |
| Mural | "American Laundry Machinery" by Winold Reiss |
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What You'll Learn
- The airport scenes were filmed at CVG's Terminal 2, now closed to the public
- The airport scene was cut by most airlines for in-flight showings
- Raymond's fear of flying is a key part of the plot
- The airport scene was filmed in front of a Winold Reiss mural
- The film was shot in several locations across the US

The airport scenes were filmed at CVG's Terminal 2, now closed to the public
The 1988 film Rain Man, starring Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman, was shot across various locations in the United States, including Ohio, Nevada, Kentucky, Indiana, Oklahoma, and Los Angeles. The airport scenes, in particular, were filmed at CVG's Terminal 2, which is now closed to the public.
CVG, or the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, is located in Hebron, Kentucky, and served as the setting for the airport scenes in Rain Man. While Terminal 2, where the scenes were specifically shot, is no longer accessible to the public, the airport itself continues to be a bustling transportation hub for the region.
The choice of CVG as a filming location for Rain Man holds significance. The film's narrative involves the characters travelling to and from Cincinnati, with the airport scenes playing a pivotal role in the story's progression. By filming at CVG, the production team was able to authentically capture the atmosphere and dynamics of air travel, enhancing the overall realism of the film.
In addition to its practical considerations, the selection of CVG as a filming location also contributed to the local film community's development. The production's presence in the Greater Cincinnati area helped promote local talent and resources, fostering a sense of cinematic culture in the region. This impact extended beyond the airport scenes, as other locations in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky were also featured in the film, such as the John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge and Evergreen Cemetery.
The airport scenes in Rain Man have left a lasting impression, with some airlines even offering edited versions of the film during in-flight entertainment in 1989. These edited versions omitted a scene involving a character's refusal to fly, along with mentions of several prominent airline crashes. However, Qantas, the airline with a perfect safety record, presented the film in its entirety, showcasing its unique distinction.
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The airport scene was cut by most airlines for in-flight showings
The 1988 film Rain Man, starring Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman, was filmed in several locations across the United States, including Ohio, Nevada, Kentucky, Indiana, Oklahoma, and Los Angeles. One of the most memorable scenes in the film—in which Hoffman's character, Raymond Babbitt, recites a string of airplane crash statistics and refuses to board a plane—was shot at the Greater Cincinnati International Airport in Hebron, Kentucky.
This four-minute airport scene, however, was cut by most airlines for in-flight showings. The reason for this edit was to avoid alarming passengers and making them uneasy about air travel. Don Sathern, supervisor for visual programming at Sony-Trans Com Inc., the company providing in-flight movies, stated that any references to plane crashes, nudity, or rough language are typically edited out of films shown on planes due to the captive audience.
While some people may understand the decision to cut the scene as a precaution to ease passengers' fears, others criticised the move as censorship. George Kirgo, president of the Writers Guild, for example, called the decision "preposterous" and suggested that airlines should focus on improving other aspects of the flight experience instead.
The director of Rain Man, Barry Levinson, and screenwriter Ronald Bass, were among those who disagreed with the cut. They argued that the scene was crucial to understanding the characters and the narrative arc of the film. Levinson emphasised that without the scene, viewers would lose the context for why the brothers embark on a cross-country drive and the dynamic of their relationship.
Despite the controversy, the edited version of Rain Man was shown on at least 15 different airlines, with Qantas being the only airline known to have shown the film with the airport scene intact.
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Raymond's fear of flying is a key part of the plot
As they navigate this unexpected turn of events, they encounter Raymond, Charlie's brother, who quotes a few useful statistics at the Greater Cincinnati International Airport and decides that road travel is preferable. This decision sets the tone for a significant portion of the movie, as the trio embarks on a cross-country journey in a 1949 Buick convertible.
Raymond's fear of flying, which is referenced in the airport scene, becomes a pivotal plot point. His reluctance to fly stems from a deep-seated anxiety, and this particular scene was shot at CVG's Terminal 2 in Cincinnati, which is now closed to the public. The airport scene holds significant narrative weight as it establishes Raymond's character and his unique perspective on the world, which is later revealed to be a result of his autism and savant syndrome.
The film's portrayal of Raymond's fear of flying and its impact on his decision-making adds depth to the story and provides insight into his character. It also sets in motion the road trip aspect of the film, allowing for the development of the relationship between Charlie, Susanna, and Raymond. Their journey becomes a transformative experience, fostering understanding, acceptance, and familial bonds.
Interestingly, in 1989, several major airlines chose to omit the scene depicting Raymond's fear of flying from the in-flight version of the film. This decision was made due to the character's refusal to fly and the mention of several prominent airline crashes. However, Qantas, the only airline mentioned as having a perfect safety record in the film, did show the scene in its entirety.
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The airport scene was filmed in front of a Winold Reiss mural
The 1988 American road comedy-drama film Rain Man features several locations across the United States. The airport scene, in particular, was filmed in front of a Winold Reiss mural at the Greater Cincinnati International Airport, also known as CVG. This airport, located in Hebron, Kentucky, serves the city of Cincinnati, Ohio.
In the scene, Raymond Babbitt, played by Dustin Hoffman, sits under artist Winold Reiss' mural "American Laundry Machinery" and recites airline crash statistics, ultimately refusing to board the plane due to his fear of flying. This scene was deemed crucial by director Barry Levinson as it provides context for the subsequent road trip taken by the two brothers, Raymond and Charlie Babbitt, played by Tom Cruise.
The airport scene holds significance as it showcases Raymond's unique characteristics, including his remarkable memory and his struggles with autism and savant syndrome. Raymond's fear of flying and subsequent refusal to board the plane set in motion the transformative journey of self-discovery that the brothers embark upon.
The Greater Cincinnati International Airport, or CVG, holds a special place in cinematic history as it was chosen as the filming location for this memorable scene in Rain Man. The airport, located in Kentucky, is easily accessible from Cincinnati, Ohio, which served as the primary setting for the film.
The mural "American Laundry Machinery" by artist Winold Reiss provided a unique backdrop for the scene, adding a touch of artistic flair to the functional space of an airport terminal. The choice to film in front of this mural showcases the attention to detail and the effort to incorporate meaningful visuals into the storytelling process.
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The film was shot in several locations across the US
The 1988 film Rain Man, starring Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman, was shot in several locations across the US. The film's crew was based in Oklahoma City for the cross-States journey, with scenes also shot in El Reno, Oklahoma, and Los Angeles, California.
The film features several locations in and around Cincinnati, Ohio, including the Greater Cincinnati International Airport in Hebron, Kentucky, where the airport scenes were shot. The airport was closed to the public at the time of filming. The John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge, a prototype for the designer's later Brooklyn Bridge, is also featured in the film, as well as the Dixie Terminal Building, which can be seen from the bridge. The St. Anne's Convent in Melbourne, Kentucky, served as Wallbrook, the institution where the characters Charlie and Raymond first met in the film.
Other locations in the Cincinnati area include the Vernon Manor Hotel on Oak Street in Newport, Kentucky, where the crew only used the exterior, with interior scenes shot inside the WCET studios. Evergreen Cemetery in Southgate, Kentucky, was used for the scene of Charlie's father's funeral, and Pompilio's Italian Restaurant in Newport, Kentucky, was also featured in the film.
The film also includes scenes shot in Indiana, Nevada, and Kentucky. In Nevada, scenes were filmed at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas, and in Indiana, the crew filmed along the I-275 highway, which is the ring road around Cincinnati.
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Frequently asked questions
The airport scenes in Rain Man were filmed at the now-closed Terminal 2 of the Greater Cincinnati International Airport, which serves Cincinnati, Ohio, and is located in Kentucky.
In the scene, Raymond, an autistic savant, recites airline crash statistics and refuses to board a plane to Los Angeles. This scene was edited out of the film by Sony-Trans Com Inc. for in-flight viewings.
Rain Man is a 1988 American road comedy-drama film directed by Barry Levinson and written by Barry Morrow and Ronald Bass. It stars Tom Cruise as Charlie Babbitt and Dustin Hoffman as Raymond Babbitt, two estranged brothers who go on a transformative journey of self-discovery. The film was a critical and commercial success, earning $354 million worldwide and winning four Academy Awards, including Best Picture.
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