Austin Trivia: Lights, camera, and action

Lights, camera, and action in Austin! Movies are a great escape from reality, a place where we can let our imaginations run free, and suspend our disbelief for a little while  

They are also big business!  In fact, an old 2011 stat from the City of Austin suggests that the film industry contributes $280 million annually to the Austin economy.  So while Austin is not the movie mecca you'll find on the West coast, we do have a few notable productions associated with our city.  Who's ready for some movie mania?

Do you recognize these films?

Do you recognize these movies that were filmed in and around Austin?

• Dazed & Confused

• Boyhood

• What’s Eating Gilbert Grape

• Office Space

• Ms. Congeniality

• Kill Bill Volume 1

• Spy Kids

Horror movies also have a home in Austin

The Austin area has also been the scene of the crime for some spine-tingling horror movies.  From campy to gory, these movies cover the horror genre. 

• All the Boys Love Mandy Lane (shot in Austin and Bastrop)

• Death Proof (filmed in part at the Texas Chili Parlor in Austin)

• Planet Terror (shot in Austin, Luling, and the Williamson County Jail)

• The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (filmed near Round Rock)

• Friday the 13th (the 2009 version was filmed in Austin, La Grange, Round Rock, and Wimberley)
  

You can visit these movie locations in Austin

If you're a movie buff, you may enjoy visiting these Austin-area locations that have been featured in film:

• Top Notch (Dazed & Confused)

• Hamilton Pool (Predators)

• Mount Bonnell (Blood Simple)

• Dairy Queen (Friday Night Lights)

• Texas State Capitol (Road Trip)

• Austin Club (True Grit)

• Seaholm Power Plant (Idiocracy)

• Barton Springs (The Tree of Life)

• Texas School for Deaf (The Faculty)

• Continental Club (Slacker)

• Guero’s Taco Bar (Chef)

Celebrity sightings

Not only is Austin a popular a filming location, we've also attracted our fair share of film industry residents.  Indeed, you'll often spot celebrities around town.  If you've had a brush with fame, we want to hear about it!

In addition to filmmakers Richard Linklater and Robert Rodriguez, here are some of the actors that have chosen to call Austin home:  

• Matthew McConaughey (actor)
• Jensen Ackles (actor)
• Brooklyn Decker (actess)
• Kyle Chandler (actor)
• Nancy McKeon (actress)
• Chris Klein (actor)
• Tate Donovan (actor)
• Jamie Lynn Sigler (actress)
• James Van Der Beek (actor)
• Scott Eastwood (actor/model)

While we may not have the status of Los Angeles, Austin is making it's own mark on the movie industry.  Let it roll....