The Mastermind
- May 13, 2025, Cannes
If you love to immerse yourself in a film with stripped-back dialogue, long takes, and a minimalistic style, The Mastermind is the movie for you.
The upcoming crime drama will have its world premiere at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival this May, where it has received a nomination in the prestigious Palme d’Or section.
If the flick wins the Golden Palm, it will be in a stronger position for a Best Picture nomination at the Academy Awards in 2026.
If you want to see if the film lives up to its hype, here is everything you need to know about The Mastermind: its release date, plot, cast, director, and much more.
BEO Betting odds are showing the Golden Palm winner is unlikely to win Best Picture at the Academy Awards 2026 ::: Discover the latest Bet Entertainment Odds predictions for this market.
What’s the Release Date for The Mastermind?
The Mastermind’s world premiere will take place at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, as it has received a nomination for the Palme d’Or and will compete in the main section against many other movies.
The annual festival will run from May 13-24, 2025, in Cannes, France, and the film is likely to have a theatrical release later this year.
What’s the Plot?
The Mastermind is set in 1970 in the backdrop of the Vietnam War and the women’s liberation movement.
It follows James Mooney and two friends who steal four paintings from a museum in broad daylight.
However, holding onto the art is more challenging than stealing it, as Mooney is forced to live on the run while struggling with shifting political and social dynamics.
Who Stars in the Movie?
Josh O’Connor (The Crown) takes on the lead role of James Mooney, who orchestrates the art heist. It will be one of two films starring Josh O’Connor to appear at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, as he appears in Oliver Hermanus’s The History of Sound, which will also compete in the Palme d’Or section.
Joining him on the silver screen are Josh Magaro (The Big Short), Alana Haim (Licorice Pizza), Hope Davis (Captain America: Civil War), Bill Camp (Joker), Gaby Hoffman (Sleepless in Seattle), and Amanda Plummer (The Hunger Games: Catching Fire), to name a few cast members.
Who Wrote and Directed The Mastermind?
Kelly Reichardt directed and wrote the screenplay for The Mastermind. The American filmmaker is best known for various minimalist films featuring working-class characters, such as River of Grass (1994), Old Joy (2006), Night Moves (2013), and First Cow (2019).
Who Produced the Movie?
The Mastermind was produced by Neil Kopp, Vincent Savino, and Anish Savjani.
Is The Mastermind Likely to Win the Golden Palm?
A nomination for the Palme d’Or is likely to encourage film lovers to buy tickets to watch The Mastermind in movie theaters later this year.
However, it is hard to say if it is likely to win the Golden Palm award, as it is up against stiff competition in the section, such as Ari Aster’s Eddington, Lynne Ramsay’s Die, My Love, and Wes Anderson’s The Phoenician Scheme, to name a few films. You will need to wait and see which film walks away with the sought-after accolade.
Can I Watch an Official Trailer?
There isn’t an official trailer for The Mastermind yet. It is likely to arrive on YouTube closer to the movie’s release date. Keep a lookout for it!
