Texas has been chosen by many filmmakers for good reason. From breathtaking scenery and ever changing landscape to the real and fictional heroes, Texas has it all.
We have listed below many of the film locations that you can visit.
Texas State Railroad
Palestine, Texas
Rough Riders (1997) with Tom Berenger and Sam Elliot
An Assistant Navy Secretary, Theodore Roosevelt, joins a volunteer cavalry brigade, later known as the “Rough Riders”. Volunteers joined from across the nation to form a brigade that would land on Cuba and persevere into a fight of an intense and outnumbered ambush.
Texas State Railroad is embedded in American moving picture culture. Having been featured in over 30 big-screen movies, television series, special productions, documentaries, commercials and music. “Rough Riders” featuring is just one of the many filmed on location.
Blanco Old Courthouse
Blanco, Texas
True Grit (2010) with Jeff Bridges, Josh Brolin, Matt Damon
The courthouse scene in which Rooster Cogburn (Jeff) stands trial for killing a man, was filmed on the top floor of the Courthouse in the small Hill Country town of Blanco.
Baker Street Pub & Grill
Austin, Texas
Office Space (1999) with Jennifer Aniston, Ron Livingston
Peter (Ron) comes into the restaurant “Chotskie’s” to invite the waitress Joanna (Jennifer) to join him next door at another restaurant, “Flingers.” The restaurants look exactly the same because for filming they decorated one half of the same restaurant in red, the other half in green.
Creator and director Mike Judge has lived in Texas, which was his inspiration for his hit series “King of the Hill”.
Brennan’s of Houston
Houston, Texas
Terms of Endearment (1983) with Jack Nicholson, Shirley MacLain
Garrett Breedlove (Jack) convinces Aurora Greenway (Shirley) to let him take her to lunch at Brennan’s. A very peevish date is followed by a famous and even more outrageous drive down the beach.
Broadway Brew Coffeehouse
Plainview, Texas
Leap of Faith (1992) with Lolita Davidovich, Steve Martin, Lukas Haas
Working at The Quick Lunch Diner (now Broadway Brew) Marva (Lolita), catches the eye of Jonas (Steve). Marva warns Jonas not to give false hope to her little brother, Boyd (Lukas) who is unable to walk due to a car accident.
Cedar Creek Brewery
Seven Points, Texas
Tender Mercies (1983) with Robert Duvall, Tess Harper
The saloon and dance hall, Cedar Creek Plowboys Club, is featured many times as the place where Mac Sledge (Robert) often performs after being hired by Rosa Lee (Tess).
The Alamo Freeze
Austin, Texas
Friday Night Lights (TV Series 2006-2011) with Zach Gilford, Gaius Charles, Aimee Teegarden
The Alamo Freeze was the workplace of Matt Saracen (Zach) and later “Smash” Williams (Gaius). During the Season 5 finale Matt Saracen proposed to Julie Taylor (Aimee) outside of the restaurant.
Doug’s Barber Shop
Houston, Texas
Rushmore (1998) with Jason Schwartzman, Bill Murray, Olivia Williams
When a beautiful first-grade teacher (Olivia) arrives at a prep school, she soon attracts the attention of teenager, Max (Jason), who quickly falls in love with her. Max works as an apprentice at his father’s barber shop where many scenes take place.
Dowell House Bed & Breakfast
McKinney, Texas
Benji (1974) with Patsy Garrett, Richard Bachman
This grand home in the 1974 film was used as the abandoned and “haunted” house as the hideout for the lovable stray dog Benj, a stray who has the hearts of a number of the townspeople.
Minute Maid Park
Houston, Texas
Boyhood (2014) with Patricia Arquette, Ellar Coltrane, Lorelei Linklater, and Ethan Hawke
This movie was an epic project, filmed over a 12 year span and following the childhood of the main character. Directed by notable Texan Richard Linklater (“Dazed and Confused”, “School of Rock”), it featured a scene that was filmed at an actual Houston Astros game. The cameras were rolling when a home run was hit, and the actors’ reaction was included in the film.
Pilot Point Town Square
Pilot Point, Texas
Bonnie & Clyde (1976) with Warren Beatty, Faye Dunaway
Pilot Point Town Square was the location of the famous bank robbery scene where Clyde Barrow (Warren) and Bonnie Parker (Faye) lead their first bank robbery as the Barrow Gang.
The Riverwalk
San Antonio, Texas
The Getaway (1972), Selena (1997) & Miss Congeniality (2000)
In The Getaway, when Doc McCoy (Steve) meets Jack Beynon (Ben) for a chat with the corrupt businessman. In Selena, Chris and Selena celebrate their marriage during a walk. And In Miss Congeniality, Miss Rhode Island (Heather) doesn’t describe her perfect date correctly.
Town of Smithville
Smithville, Texas
Hope Floats (1998) with Sandra Bullock, Harry Connick Jr.
On Main Street where Birdee (Sandra) was literally swept off her feet by Justin (Harry), and where the Festival of Lights Parade was held at the end of the film. Sandra Bullock is also a known resident of Lake Travis
Southfork Ranch
Parker, Texas
Dallas (TV Series, 1978-1991) with Larry Hagman, Linda Gray, Charlene Tilton, Patrick Duffy
Dallas, one of the longest lasting primetime dramas in American TV history, ran for 13 seasons, focusing on the conflict of values between members of the wealthy, multi-generational Texas oil family, the Ewings.
The Last Chance Gas Station
Bastrop, Texas
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)
The iconic Last Chance Gas Station, where things start to go wrong for 5 close friends who find themselves chased and hunted by a ugly & deformed chainsaw mad man killer, and his family members of psycho killers in the distant mountains of Texas.
The Royal Theater
Archer City, Texas
The Last Picture Show (1971) Jeff Bridges, Timothy Bottoms, Cloris Leachman
The Royal Theater serves as the lone movie theater where in the final act, best friends Duane (Jeff) and Sonny (Timothy) attend the final screening at the theater.
The Rogers Hotel
Waxahachie, Texas
Places in the Heart (1984) with Sally Field
The first floor lobby of the Rogers Hotel served as the local bank where widow Edna Spalding (Sally) frequently visits in an effort to save her farm from foreclosure.
There have been many other famous movies that have been filmed in Texas that are worth mentioning, such as:
- Giant (1956) with Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson and James Dean, filmed partially in Marfa, Texas
- Lonesome Dove (1989) with Robert Duvall, Danny Glover and Tommy Lee Jones, filmed west of Del Rio, Texas
- No Country For Old Men (2007) with Tommy Lee Jones, Javier Bardem, and Josh Brolin, filmed in Eagle Pass, Texas
Check the map of Texas Classic Film Trail to take a film tour of Texas.
Author: Simon Trask
Simon loves Texas and the Great Outdoors. From East Texas pines to West Texas mountains, he calls North Texas home but is always ready to float a river in Hill Country or go fishing on the Gulf Coast. Simon loves camping and road trips as well, whether it's cruising Highway 287, 82, 69 or 281, that's the true way to see what Texas is all about!
