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Texas has long been a favored backdrop for many filmmakers, offering a variety of landscapes ranging from rugged deserts and rolling plains to bustling urban skylines. Houston, in particular, has provided a fantastic cinematic setting with its modern architecture, multicultural neighborhoods and big-city environment.
Houston’s NASA facilities have appeared in space-themed films such as Apollo 13 (1995), lending authenticity to Hollywood’s depictions of space exploration. Across Texas, cities like Austin, Dallas, and Marfa have hosted productions from indie gems to blockbuster hits, taking advantage of the state’s film-friendly policies and tax incentives. Whether capturing oil booms, cowboy culture or contemporary life, movies filmed in Texas reflect the state’s unique blend of grit, glamour, and Southern spirit.
RELATED STORY: 20 Richest Texas Cities (8 are in Harris County)
Here are 35 movies filmed in Texas, many of which depict the Houston area:
1. Office Space (1999)
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The 1999 movie Office Space was primarily filmed in and around Austin, Texas. Several locations were used, including the Initech office building, which was filmed at 4120 Freidrich Lane, Austin, TX. Other locations include the Chotchkie’s restaurant exterior at 9739 Great Hills Trail, Austin, Texas, and the apartment complex near Morado Circle.
2. The Life of David Gale (2003)
“The Life of David Gale” was primarily filmed in Texas, with locations including Austin, Huntsville, and Taylor. Key filming locations include the University of Texas in Austin, Sam Houston State University, and Huntsville State Prison.
3. A Perfect World (1993)
About: “A Perfect World” was primarily filmed in Texas, with locations including Huntsville, Austin, and Martindale. Specifically, scenes were shot in and around Austin, including the state capitol building, and in the “nearly abandoned cotton town” of Martindale.
4. Reality Bites (1994)
“Reality Bites” was primarily filmed in Houston, Texas, with some interior scenes shot in Los Angeles. The movie prominently features locations in Houston, including the North Montrose neighborhood where the main characters’ apartment is located, Tranquility Park, and downtown Houston.
5. Selena (1997)
About: “Selena” was filmed primarily in San Antonio and Corpus Christi, Texas, with some scenes also shot in Houston. Specifically, the Alamodome in San Antonio was used to recreate the Houston Astrodome concert scene. Corpus Christi Bayfront and Swantner Park were also significant filming locations.
6. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)
The original “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” (1974) was primarily filmed in Central Texas, specifically in and around Round Rock, Leander, and Austin. The Bagdad Cemetery in Leander was used for the opening cemetery scene. The iconic farmhouse, which has since been relocated, was originally located on Quick Hill Road in Round Rock.
7. Glory Road (2006)
About: This film tells the true story of the 1966 Texas Western College basketball team, featuring the first all-Black starting lineup in NCAA history, and their struggle against racism.
8. The Great Debaters
Starring: Denzel Washington
About: “The Great Debaters” was filmed in several locations, primarily in Louisiana and Texas. Key filming spots included Wiley College in Marshall, Texas, where the real-life story is set, and also in Shreveport and Mansfield, Louisiana.
9. 'Bonnie and Clyde' (1967)
Starring: Warren Beatty, Faye Dunaway, Michael J. Pollard
Location(s): Crandall, Dallas, Denton, Garland, Lavon, Lemmon Lake, Maypearl, Midlothian, Pilot Point, Ponder, Red Oak, Rowlett, Trinity River, Venus, Waxahachie
About: Most of the locations in the film are set in Texas.
10. 'Futureworld' (1976)
Starring: Peter Fonda, Blythe Danner, Arthur Hill
Location(s): Clear Lake, Houston
About: Most of the film was shot in the greater Houston area, and it was the first major film to feature CGI.
11. 'The Bad News Bears in Breaking Training' (1977)
Starring: William Devane, Clifton James, Jackie Earle Haley
Location(s): El Paso, Houston
About: Several scenes in the movie were filmed in Houston, which includes the Astrodome.
12. 'Jason's Lyric' (1994)
Starring: Allen Payne, Jada Pinkett Smith, Bokeem Woodbine
Location(s): Houston, Rosharon
About: The movie was filmed and is set in Houston’s Third Ward.
13. 'Urban Cowboy' (1980)
Starring: John Travolta, Debra Winger, Scott Glenn
Location(s): Deer Park, Houston, Huntsville, Pasadena, Wallis
About: The movie that brought fame to Gilley’s Club. The club burned down in 1990.
14. 'Revenge of the Nerds' (1984)
Starring: Robert Carradine, Anthony Edwards, Timothy Busfield
Location(s): Undisclosed
15. 'RoboCop 2' (1990)
Starring: Peter Weller, Nancy Allen, Daniel O’Herlihy
Location(s): Houston
About: The movie was filmed almost entirely in Houston.
16. 'Sidekicks' (1992)
Starring: Chuck Norris, Beau Bridges, Jonathan Brandis
Location(s): Houston
About: Mattress Mack produced this movie, investing $8 million into it.
17. 'Dazed and Confused' (1993)
Starring: Jason London, Rory Cochrane, Ben Affleck, Matthew McConaughey
Location(s): Austin, Dripping Spring, Georgetown, Seguin, Sunset Valley
About: The film retrospectively features an ensemble cast, with many high-profile actors we know today playing minor and bit roles.
18. 'The Chase' (1994)
Starring: Charlie Sheen, Christie Swanson, Henry Rollins
Location(s): Galveston, Houston, Kemah
About: The final scene was filmed at Moody Gardens in Galveston.
19. 'Apollo 13' (1995)
Starring: Tom Hanks, Kevin Bacon, Bill Paxon, Gary Sinise
Location(s): Ellington Field, Houston
About: While the Johnson Space Center is featured in the film, director Ron Howard opted to build his own Mission Control Center set instead of using Houston’s.
20. 'Powder' (1995)
Starring: Sean Patrick Flanery, Mary Steenburgen, Lance Henriksen, Jeff Goldblum
About: The movie is filmed entirely in Texas, with many locations from the greater Houston area.
21. 'The Good Old Boys' (1995)
Starring: Tommy Lee Jones, Terry Kinney, Frances McDormand
Location(s): Alpine, Brackettville, Del Rio, Fort Davis
About: The made-for-TV movie was filmed entirely in Texas.
22. 'Bottle Rocket' (1996)
Starring: Luke Wilson, Owen Wilson, Ned Dowd
Location(s): Dallas, Farmers Branch, Fort Worth, Hillsboro,
About: The movie was director Wes Anderson’s feature film debut, and the acting debuts of the Wilson brothers.
23. 'Escape from L.A.' (1996)
Starring: Kurt Russell, Steve Buscemi, Stacy Keach
Location(s): New Braunfels
About: The pipeline surf scene was filmed at Schlitterbahn Waterpark in New Braunfels, with pro skater Tony Hawk serving as a stunt double.
24. 'Rushmore' (1998)
Starring: Jason Schwartzman, Olivia Williams, Bill Murray, Brian Cox
Location(s): Baytown, Houston
About: The film is almost entirely shot within Houston.
25. 'Arlington Road' (1999)
Starring: Jeff Bridges, Tim Robbins, Joan Cusack
Location(s): Fort Bend County, Houston, Pearland
About: Many scenes take place in Houston, including George Washington University, which is really the University of Houston.
26. 'Cast Away' (2000)
Starring: Tom Hanks, Helen hunt, Paul Sanchez
Location(s): Arrington Ranch House Lodge, Mobeetie
About: The film begins and ends at the Arrington Ranch, in the Texas Panhandle.
27. 'Space Cowboys' (2000)
Starring: Clint Eastwood, Tommy Lee Jones, Donald Sutherland, James Garner
Location(s): Houston, Webster
About: The bar fight scene was filmed at Outpost Tavern in Webster, a popular hangout for astronauts. It closed in 2009.
28. 'Pearl Harbor' (2001)
Starring: Ben Affleck, Josh Hartnett, Kate Beckinsale, Cuba Gooding Jr.
Location(s): Corpus Christi, Houston, La Porte
About: Scenes were filmed aboard the USS Lexington and at the San Jacinto Battlefield Memorial.
29. 'Spy Kids' (2001)
Starring: Alexa PenaVega, Daryl Sabara, Antonio Banderas, Carla Gugino
Location(s): Austin, San Antonio,
About: The boat chase scene was filmed on Lake Travis.
30. 'The Rookie' (2002)
Starring: Dennis Quade, JD Evermore, Rachel Griffiths
Location(s): Arlington, Austin, Leander, Round Rock, Taylor, Thorndale, Thrall
About: The film was shot entirely in Texas.
31. 'Friday Night Lights' (2004)
Starring: Billy Bob Thornton, Derek Luke, Jay Hernandez
Location(s): Abilene, Austin, Elgin, Houston, Odessa, Taylor
About: The state championship game was set and filmed at the Astrodome.
32. 'Letters from Iwo Jima' (2006)
Starring: Ken Watanabe, Kazunari Ninomiya, Tsuyoshi Ihara
Location(s): San Jacinto Monument
About: The shot of the USS Texas is the actual USS Texas, which was docked at the San Jacinto Battleground State Historical Site. It participated at the Battle of Iwo Jima.
33. 'No Country for Old Men' (2007)
Starring: Tommy Lee Jones, Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin
Location(s): Big Bend National Park, Marfa
About: The film is set in 1980 west Texas.
34. 'Friday the 13th' (2009)
Starring: Jared Padalecki, Amanda Righetti, Derek Mears
Location(s): Austin, Bastrop, La Grange, Marshall, Round Rock, Wimberley
About: The movie was filmed entirely in Texas.
35. 'Crazy Heart' (2009)
Starring: Jeff Bridges, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Robert Duvall
Location(s): Undisclosed
36. 'Mao's Last Dancer' (2009)
Starring: Chi Cao, Bruce Greenwood, Kyle MacLachlan, Joan Chen
Location(s): Downtown Houston, Galleria
About: Several scenes take place at local Houston buildings, including Wortham Theatre Center.
37. 'Transformers: Dark of the Moon' (2011)
Starring: Shia LaBeouf, Josh Duhamel, John Turturro, Tyrese Gibson
Location(s): Johnson Space Center, Houston
About: A flashback scene from the 1960s was filmed at the Johnson Space Center.
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