A land of Westerns and heroes
It's hard not to recognize the Texas wilderness as the setting for so many memorable westerns. While the genre began to develop in the 1930s, it's fair to say that the greatest masterpieces date from the second half of the 20th century, when filmmakers and their subjects came of age, along with the actors of the period. The result was such unforgettable films as The Prisoner of the Desert by the great John Ford (1956), starring John Wayne, Natalie Wood and Jeffrey Hunter. The heartbreaking story of a Civil War veteran's search for his daughter, kidnapped by the Comanches, is one of the greatest films by the master of the Western, Ford. If you'd like to immerse yourself in the incredible atmosphere of this story, head to Llano Estacado, where most of the film was shot.
The same year saw the release of Giant, another cinematic masterpiece, this time by George Stevens. A family saga revolving around the characters of Rock Hudson, Elizabeth Taylor and James Dean - whose last appearance on screen this time - takes you on a journey through Texas and the Marfa region. Although not directly featured in the film, the town'sHotel el Paisano played host to many of the crew during filming, and boasts an extensive collection of film memorabilia. A place well worth a visit, if only for its very special atmosphere.
To continue our journey, we head east to San Antonio. Although the film Alamo, recounting the heroic resistance of a group of soldiers from the Republic of Texas, was not filmed here, you can still visit the real fort, one of the city's historic landmarks. The Alamo Village film studio, located in Bracketville, unfortunately closed its doors in 2018, much to the dismay of the curious. The Alamo also appears in Miss Detective (2000), starring Sandra Bullock, and in Selena (1997), dedicated to the eponymous singer. While you're in San Antonio, take the opportunity to discover the Riverwalk, one of the many Texas settings in the film Guet-apens (1972) starring Steve McQueen.
Dallas, series and contemporary Texas cinema
Launched in 1978, this series recounting the rivalry between the oil empires of the Ewing and Barnes families was a hit in the USA, before conquering the whole world. The first episodes were actually filmed in Dallas. You may recognize the Renaissance Tower in the first shots of the series, while the Cloyce Box Ranch plays the role of the Southfork Ranch in the first season. Don't hesitate to ask about itineraries that will take you on the trail of the Texas filming locations of the 357-episode series. Since then, many other TV productions have set down their cameras in the region. Friday Night Lights (2006-2011), about the world of American soccer, was largely filmed in Texas, America's Sweethearts (2024) explores the light, but above all the darker side of the Dallas Cowboys cheerleading team, while several episodes of The Leftovers (2014-2017) or Fear the Walking Dead (2015-2023) are also filmed in the state. Recently, the series The Son (2017-2019) starring Pierce Brosnan as an oil prospector was filmed between Austin, Boerne and Driftwood, with Star Hill Ranch in particular as the show's location.
Oil is also the subject of There Will Be Blood (2007), one of director Paul Thomas Anderson's major films, which he shot in Texas with Daniel Day-Lewis and Paul Dano in the lead roles. Along with other filmmakers such as the Coen brothers, Richard Linklater and Robert Rodriguez, he is bringing a new type of cinema to the region, more modern and intense than classic westerns. Whatever your tastes, there's something for everyone in these films. Richard Linklater, for example, is a filmmaker of the long view, depicting in Boyhood the youth and adolescence of a boy, and his evolution over the years. Shot over twelve years in the four corners of the state, in the sumptuous settings of Big Bend National Park and Pedernales Falls State Park to name but a few, this film was nominated for six Oscars on its release in 2014, and won the Silver Bear at the Berlinale. Equally acclaimed, Joel and Ethan Coen's No Country for Old Men (2007) takes you to an entirely different Texas, alongside Tommy Lee Jones, Josh Brolin and the terrifying Javier Bardem. And what about the portrait of the state painted by Robert Rodriguez in his films A Night in Hell (1996) or Machete (2010)? If you don't like bloodshed, don't bother. If, on the other hand, gore or horror films fill you with excitement, take a short detour to Bastrop and its Last Chance Gas Station, the iconic location of an equally cult film, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974).
As we said earlier, it's impossible to list all the film shoots and productions that have taken place in Texas. Texas is also the birthplace of many stars, including Patrick Swayze, Robin Wright, Woody Harrelson, Eva Longoria, Forrest Whitaker, Dakota Johnson, Renée Zellweger, Ethan Hawke, Wes Anderson and Jim Parsons, star of The Big Bang Theory.
Century-old cinemas
It's hard to imagine visiting the land of the seventh art without taking in a movie Texas has a few nuggets to offer you timeless experiences. Not far from Waco, visit the Cliftex, a movie theater inaugurated in 1916 and still in operation today. A cinema rich in history, it is said to have seen no less than Bonnie & Clyde pass through its doors as they fled from the authorities once again.
And if you want to treat yourself to a true Texas cinema experience, head to one of the many Drive-Ins still in operation! Big Sky in Midland, Blue Starlite in Austin, Brazos in Granbury, or Sawyer Yards in Austin. You'll be spoilt for choice, so make the most of it! What's more, many of the state's film festivals (of which there are more than ten) offer special screenings in these theaters and on these screens. Once again, this is movie country, and it would be criminal not to take advantage of it.
