If you are not a native Texan, the first things coming to mind about the Lone Star State’s artistic footprint are probably things like country music, mariachi bands and Billy Bob’s Honky Tonk.
While art forms such as these are undoubtedly Texan staples, the state’s connections to pop culture is much more diverse. As a native Texan growing up in the Metroplex, this is something unrecognized in the media I consumed.
I’m tired of cows’ moos always marking TV show characters’ entrances in the state, or films making horseback riding the way people get around Austin.
When exploring movies set in Texas, I realized it isn’t always the case. Not only are there some iconic and influential Texas-set films, but lesser-known ones making me feel not just entertained— but seen.
This is my list of must-watch Texas inspired films, some of which you may have never known.
- Dazed and Confused (1993)
I will never forget the first time I watched the cult-classic coming of age film, Dazed and Confused. Set in the Austin suburbs, the movie follows high school juniors on their last day of school on May 28, 1976. The film was inspired by writer/director Richard Linklater’s childhood in Huntsville. This movie is the perfect depiction of a “Texas night.” Teenagers driving through neighborhoods, brightly lit businesses and chirping crickets feels like home, giving me a new appreciation for my state’s landscapes.
- Old Yeller (1957)
This classic film has left generations of children heartbroken, set in a post-Civil War Texas. Based on the 1956 novel, it tells the story of a young farm boy and his bond with a stray dog accepted into his family. The movie’s tragic ending makes it one of the most famous dog movies of all time, and is a great depiction of southern culture during the time period.
- The Great Debaters (2007)
Set at a predominantly Black college in Texas following the Great Depression, this movie shows an important perspective of Texan history. It highlights perseverance in the south during the Jim Crow era. Inspired by true events, The Great Debaters shows a side of Texan culture often forgotten. While this film’s depiction of harsh realities can be brutal, it is an important view through a lens often unseen in the 1930s. The Great Debaters shows the strength of Black culture and the importance of tradition through a small college debate team, connecting today’s culture and art forms.
- Paris, Texas (1984)
There is an assumption that films based in Texas fit into categories – cowboys, sports or music. But the 1984 film Paris, Texas goes against these artistic barriers. It is a film full of gorgeous cinematography, and an intriguing plot line following the journey of a man wandering out of the desert. The story has little to do with being Texan. Instead, we see the state’s influence through the small town setting. This is a great example of a movie not necessarily screaming that it is inspired by Texas, but you can feel it. While not true to the real town of Paris, the movie was shot in Big Bend National Park and areas of West Texas, reminding me of the nostalgia of traveling through quiet and isolated regions on road trips.
- Bonnie and Clyde (1967)
Serving as a romanticized view of the most infamous couples in crime, this film details the backstory of Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow. Considered groundbreaking at the time of its release, it is an introduction to a new era for Hollywood. Certainly high school students may not realize how local their story is to Coppell. Both Parker and Barrow lived in the DFW area for years prior to their 1934 death. Parker is buried at Crown Hill Memorial Park and Barrow at Western Heights Cemetery in Dallas.
- Friday Night Lights (2004)
Friday Night Lights is a classic high school football film set in the state playing it best and worshipping the most. It shows just how much high school football is ingrained into Texas culture. The movie reminds me of home, with the inclusion of a crackling local radio talk show and the community ritual of seeing kickoff. The story exaggerates at times, but highlights the pressure often placed on teen athletes to succeed and the reality of socioeconomic and racial divides of 1980s Odessa.
- The Iron Claw (2024)
This movie shows a prevalent aspect of Texas culture— strength, or more accurately, a fight to be strong enough. Whether for family, love or pride, Texans want to be the best. For the Von Erich brothers, one of the most famous families in wrestling, this desire to be the best leads to their tragic downfall. The movie is heartfelt for its depiction of trauma, addiction and family, an uncomfortable reality for many Texans.
- Miss Congeniality (2000)
I forgot this film was primarily set in San Antonio. Looking back, it makes sense that a plot set around a high-stakes beauty pageant takes place in Texas. Pageant culture runs rampant. The training, precision and dedication required is consuming— something Sandra Bullock’s undercover FBI agent character must quickly learn.
- The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)
Unlike some others on this list, this is a film I’d be surprised if you have not heard of. The plot follows a group of friends on a road trip to a rural homestead and what happens next is pretty much explained in the movie’s title. The setting in middle-of-nowhere Texas makes it that much more horrifying, contributing to the sense of helplessness felt by the isolated characters. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre was one of the first independent horror films to go mainstream, casting unknown actors from the area of central Texas where it was filmed. It is regarded as one of the most influential horror movies of all time. Screenwriter, Tobe Hooper, worked at the University of Texas at Austin at the time, and credits the coverage of Texas serial killer cases by the local media as the film’s inspiration.
- Giant (1956)
A walk through Texas films shows our multifaceted media and lanes of expression in the Lone Star State. Texas is forever connected to the silver screen. Hang up your metaphorical cowboy hat and enjoy the shows.
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