Rian Johnson didn't want a soundstage. He wanted creaky floorboards. He wanted that specific, oppressive smell of old money and dust that you only get from a house that has seen generations of secrets. When you're watching the movie, it feels like the Thrombey mansion is one cohesive, labyrinthine character. But here’s the thing: that house doesn't actually exist in one piece.
So, where was Knives Out filmed? Mostly in the suburbs and backroads of Massachusetts.
The production team basically performed a surgical operation on two different historic properties to create Harlan Thrombey’s "ancestral" home (which, as the movie snarkily reminds us, he bought from a Pakistani real estate mogul in the 80s). It’s a mix of Gothic Revival architecture and cozy, wood-paneled interiors that feel like a giant game of Clue come to life.
The Exterior: The Ames Mansion
The outside of the house—those looming stone walls and the sprawling grounds where the dogs run—is the Ames Mansion in Easton, Massachusetts. It's located within Borderland State Park. If you go there today, you’ll recognize it instantly. It was built in 1910 for Oakes Ames and his wife Blanche, and it has this incredibly distinct "old world" vibe despite being barely a century old.
It’s imposing. It’s cold.
The crew spent a significant amount of time shooting on the grounds here to establish the geography of the property. You know the scene where the dogs are barking at the gate? That’s the Ames estate. Interestingly, while the exterior is public-facing now because it’s part of a state park, the interior used for the film is actually located elsewhere. They didn't use the inside of the Ames Mansion for the primary rooms because Rian Johnson needed a very specific "cluttered" look that the Ames house just didn't provide.
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The Interior: A Private Gothic Gem
Most of the indoor scenes—the library, the grand staircase, and the room where the "Knife Throne" sits—were filmed at a private residence in Medfield, Massachusetts. Unlike the Ames Mansion, this place isn't open to the public. It’s a 19th-century Gothic Revival manor that looks like it was designed specifically for a murder mystery.
The production designer, David Crank, basically went into this private home and "Thrombey-fied" it.
They filled every nook and cranny with bizarre trinkets, books, and automatons. The goal was to make it feel like Harlan was a man who lived inside his own stories. The Medfield house provided that narrow, vertical feel. You’ve got these tall windows and dark wood that make the characters look small and suspicious. It’s honestly impressive how seamlessly they edited the Medfield interiors with the Easton exteriors. You’d never know they were miles apart.
That Incredible Library
We have to talk about the library. It’s the heart of the movie.
That wasn't a set built in a warehouse. It’s a real room in the Medfield house. The three-story layout with the perimeter walkways allowed the director of photography, Steve Yedlin, to play with heights. Think about the scene where Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) is watching the family from above while they’re being interviewed. That verticality creates a sense of constant surveillance.
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The "Knife Throne" was the only major piece of furniture brought in specifically to anchor the room. It’s a masterpiece of prop design, but the bones of that room—the shelves, the ladders, the shadows—are all real Massachusetts history.
Beyond the Mansion: Norfolk and Canton
While the house is the star, the movie does venture out into the real world. Briefly.
Remember the scene where Marta (Ana de Armas) and Ransom (Chris Evans) go to a local "greasy spoon" diner? That’s the Hillside Diner in Canton, Massachusetts. It’s a classic, narrow-car diner. If you want to eat where Captain America ate Biscoff cookies and plotted a murder, that’s your spot. It hasn't changed much since filming, though it’s definitely seen an uptick in film buffs stopping by for a coffee.
Then there’s the car chase. Well, "chase" might be a strong word for Marta’s slow-speed getaway in her beat-up Hyundai.
Those driving sequences and the exterior of the local police station were filmed in Norfolk, Massachusetts. The town provided that quintessential New England autumn aesthetic—lots of orange leaves, grey skies, and sleepy brick buildings. It grounds the movie in a reality that contrasts with the heightened, theatrical world of the Thrombey estate.
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Why Massachusetts?
Tax incentives play a role, sure. But for Knives Out, it was about the light. New England in November has a very specific, flat, cool light that makes colors pop without looking "sunny." It feels crisp.
The production stayed almost entirely within the Greater Boston area.
- Wellesley: Used for some of the leafy residential street shots.
- Marlborough: Provided some of the office and interior "city" vibes.
- Waltham: Parts of the production office and additional photography happened here.
The Misconception of the "Real" House
People often search for "The Knives Out House" expecting to find a single museum they can tour. You can't.
Since the interior is a private home, you’re limited to visiting Borderland State Park to see the exterior. This has actually led to some funny situations where fans show up at the Ames Mansion, pay for parking, walk up to the house, and are confused why they can't find the room with the knives.
Just remember: Cinema is a collage. The "house" is a Frankenstein’s monster of two different locations and a lot of set dressing.
Practical Steps for Location Hunters
If you're planning a trip to see where Knives Out was filmed, you need to be strategic. You aren't going to see everything in an hour.
- Start at Borderland State Park: This is in North Easton. It costs a few dollars for parking. You can hike the trails and get right up to the Ames Mansion. It’s the most "authentic" fan experience you can have because it’s the most recognizable part of the film.
- Visit the Hillside Diner: It’s in Canton. Go for breakfast. It’s a real, working diner, so don't expect a movie museum—just expect a good omelet and the knowledge that you’re sitting where Benoit Blanc likely sat during a production break.
- Respect Private Property: The Medfield house is a home. People live there. Don't go looking for it. There are no public tours, and the owners generally prefer their privacy, which is fair considering their living room is now one of the most famous locations in modern mystery cinema.
- Check the Season: If you want the "movie feel," go in late October or early November. The foliage in Massachusetts during this window is exactly what Rian Johnson captured on film.
The locations worked because they weren't too polished. They felt lived-in. In an era where so many movies are shot against green screens in Atlanta or London, the fact that Knives Out used real, drafty Massachusetts houses gave it a texture that you can almost feel through the screen. It’s why the movie feels like a classic, even though it’s a totally modern story.