THE LAST RODEO is a 2025 American drama film written and directed by Jon Avnet. The film stars Neal McDonough—who also co-wrote and produced the project—alongside Mykelti Williamson, Christopher McDonald, Sarah Jones, and rising talent Daylon Moeller. The film comes from Angel Studios, known for faith-based storytelling that seeks to uplift and inspire audiences. After the worldwide success of Sound of Freedom, Angel Studios is back with another powerful story, this time about toughness, redemption, and the lasting power of family.
THE LAST RODEO MOVIE STORY
Neal McDonough plays Joe Wainwright, a retired rodeo champion who thought his days of riding bulls were over. His story is at the heart of THE LAST RODEO. Joe’s life is calmer now. He spends time with his daughter Sally Wainwright (Sarah Jones), whom he hasn’t seen in a while, and his young grandson Cody (Daylon Moeller). But everything changes when Cody has a medical emergency and is told he has a disease that could kill him. His family is heartbroken to learn that their insurance will only pay for 40% of the $150,000 surgery that could save his life.
Joe doesn’t have many choices, so he takes a risk and enters the Legends Championship in Tulsa. It’s a tough bull-riding competition with a $750,000 grand prize. Joe goes back to rodeo with the help of his loyal friend and former bullfighter Charlie Williams (Mykelti Williamson), even though he is old and hasn’t been in the ring in years. Along the way, Joe faces up to painful memories, gets back in touch with his family, and rediscovers a strong spiritual faith that keeps him going. Rose Wainwright, his wife played by Neal’s real-life wife Ruvé McDonough, is the person who makes him feel strong.
WHERE WAS THE LAST RODEO FILMED?
Filming for THE LAST RODEO took place primarily in Oklahoma, with production running from March to April 2024. The filmmakers utilized a mix of urban landmarks and rural backdrops to bring the world of professional bull riding to life. Key filming locations include Tulsa, Owasso, Collinsville, Skiatook, Okmulgee, and Thackerville.
In an interview with the Tulsa World that came out on May 23, 2025, producer Kip Konwiser talked about why Tulsa and nearby towns were chosen:
“We have a studio director and studio-level producer and production on an independent movie budget… Tulsa really won out over the other states that we were looking at.”
Let’s take a closer look at each location used in filming The Last Rodeo.
1) TULSA, OKLAHOMA
Tulsa was the main location for filming THE LAST RODEO. It had a lot of different places to shoot, from arena scenes to local diners. Some famous places to film in Tulsa are:
Expo Square Pavilion: The bull-riding scenes in the movie took place in this large, multi-use arena. As the site of the Legends Championship, it makes Joe’s big return to the ring seem more real.
The Mabee Center, which is on the campus of Oral Roberts University, was used for scenes with a crowd and outside.
Tim’s Diner: The diner had a vintage Americana feel and was the setting for a heart-to-heart between Joe and Charlie.
Tulsa has become more popular as a place to film thanks to movies like Tulsa King, The Girl Next Door, Reservation Dogs, and Killers of the Flower Moon. Because it is easy to move around and has a rich midwestern look, it is perfect for showing how tough rodeo life can be.
Tulsa has grown in popularity as a film destination, hosting productions like Tulsa King, Reservation Dogs, and Twisters. Its flexible filming infrastructure and rich midwestern look make it ideal for capturing the grit of rodeo life.
2) OWASSO, OKLAHOMA
The local watering hole Jack of Clubs Bar was the setting for scenes where Joe met up with old rodeo friends again. It was also the site of an important bar fight scene.
McCarty Park Rodeo Grounds: Used for practice scenes and flashbacks to when Joe was a bull rider.
Owasso is a suburb that is growing quickly. It has both country charm and modern conveniences. Because of its history with the railroad and strong sense of community, it fit perfectly with the movie’s themes of redemption and leaving a legacy.
3) COLLINSVILLE, OKLAHOMA
The small town of Collinsville gave filmmakers a chance to show a more personal, rural side of things. Most of the movies were shot here at:
The popular local diner—Silver Dollar Café was turned into a Texas-style bar. This place is important because it’s where Joe thinks about the choices he’s made in the past.
Collinsville has a lot of small-town American charm and is known as the “Dairy Capital of Oklahoma.”. Its quieter streets and welcoming businesses helped shape the film’s more personal moments.
4) SKIATOOK, OKLAHOMA
The exact locations used in Skiatook were not made public, but this town provided a lot of background scenes and road scenes.
Skiatook is called “The Gateway to the Osage” because it is on the border of Tulsa and Osage counties. Its wide-open spaces and easy access to scenic drives made it perfect for scenes that needed to flow into each other in the movie, especially when Joe travels to see important people from his past.
5) OKMULGEE, OKLAHOMA
Some outdoor scenes and neighborhood shots were shot in Okmulgee, which gave the movie a feel of life in a small Oklahoma town.
Okmulgee’s architecture and the countryside around it are shown in a number of montages, though not as much as Tulsa or Owasso. The town helped show the film’s wider cultural landscape because it has a lot of Native American history and heritage.
6) THACKERVILLE, OKLAHOMA
Thackerville, which is close to the Texas border, was used to show rodeo circuits from other states. Even though they are short, these scenes show Joe’s travels around the area as he looks for redemption and prize money.
Thackerville is best known as the location of the WinStar World Casino. It has wide-open country roads and fields that helped tell the story visually by showing both loneliness and possibility.
THE LAST RODEO FINAL TRAILER
Even though THE LAST RODEO has a plot that isn’t new—what makes it great is how well the locations where it was filmed across Oklahoma were chosen to tell the story visually. There should be a strong sense of place in every scene, from bullrings in Tulsa to roadside diners in Collinsville. The filmmakers did a great job of using Oklahoma’s diverse landscapes and rich culture as a backdrop for the story, which made it relatable to people who are looking for honesty and traditional American values in small towns.
Whether you’re a film enthusiast, a fan of Neal McDonough, or simply curious about behind-the-scenes production, the filming journey of The Last Rodeo offers insight into how location shapes story.
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