And the winner is … Austin, Texas!
For centuries, Austin’s strong local film community, diverse locations (urban, rural, historic, parks), and supportive film commission have made it one of the most filmed cities in Texas.
And on March 16, 2026, the Academy of Arts and Motion Pictures, Art and Sciences will bring the best of the movie industry together for its 97th annual event, where many of its attendees have chosen our jaw-dropping views to enhance their creative visions.
To applaud their passion for Austin and the surrounding Central Texas area, we’re sharing highlights of famous movies and TV shows filmed throughout the region.
If you’ve thought about moving to Austin and need an apartment to rent, or live here and need a new apartment to rent in Austin, reach out to our team at Juniper Springs apartments for rent in Austin, Texas, for red-carpet assistance advice!
POPULAR MOVIES FILMED IN AUSTIN AND CENTRAL TEXAS
Classic & Cult Films
- Dazed and Confused (1993) — Shot in and around Austin.
- The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) — Classic horror partly shot near Bastrop/Austin.
- Office Space (1999) — Much of this cult comedy was filmed in Austin.
- What’s Eating Gilbert Grape (1993) — Shot in Manor (near Austin) representing small-town America.
- Spy Kids (2001) and Spy Kids 2 — A lot of Austin and nearby outdoor locations stood in for the movie’s settings.
- True Grit (2010) — Scenes shot in downtown Austin with period set dressing.
- Boyhood (2014) — Filmed over 12 years throughout Austin and surrounding areas.
Other Notable Films With Austin Connections
- Temple Grandin (2009) — Used Austin locations to stand in for New England and other locales.
- Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014) — Some scenes were shot in Austin.
- Blood Simple (1984) — Early Coen brothers film shot in Austin.
TV SERIES FILMED IN AND AROUND AUSTIN, TEXAS
Major Series
- Friday Night Lights (2006–2011) — All five seasons were filmed around Austin and Pflugerville, using real locations rather than sound stages.
- Fear the Walking Dead (parts of multiple seasons) — Production relocated to the Austin area for some seasons.
- Walker (2021–2024) — The reboot of Walker, Texas Ranger is based in Austin and filmed there.
- The Real World: Austin (2005) — MTV reality show season filmed in Austin.
- Skam Austin (2018–2019) — Teen drama web series shot on location in Austin.
Other TV Productions with Austin Elements
- 1923 (Season 2) — Period drama series filmed in Austin in recent seasons.
Bonus / Lesser-Known Projects
These may be indie or documentary titles tied to Austin’s culture or filmed here:
- Tower (2016) — Documentary about the University of Texas tower shooting (features Austin footage).
- Various reality or documentary installments about Austin subjects (e.g., local stories or true-crime docs).
BUT WAIT! There’s more fun ahead for movie and TV aficionados. Click into our next blog this month to see a “Self-guided Walking and Driving Tour” of where some famous film and television shows have captured the beauty, history, and iconic sights of Austin, Texas!