The Mastermind is an American feature film directed and written by Kelly Reichardt. A prominent figure in American independent cinema, the filmmaker makes her return to the Croisette with this new movie, which is included in the official competition at the Cannes Film Festival 2025. Led by Josh O’Connor, Alana Haim, and John Magaro, the film is set for French cinemas on February 4, 2026.
The story is set in Massachusetts in the early 1970s. Mooney, a family man looking for a fresh start, decides to shake things up by getting involved in art theft. Alongside two accomplices, he plans and carries out a museum heist, convinced he can easily sell the stolen paintings on the black market.
But things don’t go according to plan. Unable to sell the artworks, Mooney draws the attention of the authorities and quickly finds himself on the run. What was supposed to be a controlled operation spirals into a dead-end escape, gradually exposing the cracks in a man overwhelmed by his own decisions.
Set against the backdrop of the Vietnam War and the women’s liberation movement, the film weaves an individual journey into a rapidly changing social and political landscape, where certainties waver and traditional norms start to break apart.
The Mastermind marks yet another collaboration between Kelly Reichardt and a cast drawn from American independent cinema. A familiar face at Cannes, the director was previously featured in Un Certain Regard with Wendy and Lucy in 2008, and more recently competed in the official selection with Showing Up in 2022, the year she also received the Carrosse d’Or.
During the Cannes press conference on April 10th, Thierry Frémaux, the festival's General Delegate, described the film as a modern reinterpretation of 1970s American crime thrillers. He emphasized its roots in a tradition of minimalist crime storytelling, emphasizing subtle gestures and the power of silence.
True to her style, Kelly Reichardt favors a minimalist approach to filmmaking and tight storytelling, focusing less on the spectacle of the heist and more on its emotional and moral repercussions. The film is aimed at viewers who appreciate art-house crime cinema and compelling portraits of men in crisis, continuing the themes explored in her previous works.
The Mastermind
Film | 2026
Release date in theaters: February 4, 2026
Drama, Crime | Running time: 1h50
Directed by Kelly Reichardt | Starring Josh O’Connor, Alana Haim, John Magaro
Original title: The Mastermind
Country: United States
With The Mastermind, Kelly Reichardt continues her journey into the margins of America, offering an intimate crime thriller where failure and disillusionment overshadow the myth of the perfect crime. Now available to watch on the big screen.
To extend your in-theater experience, check out the February movie releases, the must-see films of the moment, and our collection of standout police films of the year.
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