The Highest Rated Movies Filmed In Austin, Texas.

Over 100 movies have been filmed in Austin and the surrounding area! Here are the highest rated movies based on their average Rotten Tomatoes audience and critic score.

If you want to visit some of these film locations with a guide, check out our Austin Film Tour.

#1. Temple Grandin (2010) - 97%

This Emmy-winning biographical HBO film is based on the true story of mother, Eustacia Cutler, and her autistic child, Temple Grandin, navigating the 1950s and 1960s when not much accurate information is known about autism.

The film chronicles their challenges, the people who helped them along the way, and the breakthroughs in thinking of autism.

Notable Location: The scene where Temple gives an inspiring speech at the 1981 National Autistic Convention was filmed at the Austin Convention Center!

#2 The Whole Shootin' Match (1978) - 94%

Follow along as two country men, Frank and Loyd, try to live their American dream, by inventing a kitchen gadget and selling the patent. Will they achieve their dream or will other factors challenge their rise to the top? You'll have to watch it to find out!

Notable Location: When Frank drives around downtown Austin, you get a great look at what Austin's streets, shops, and alleys looked like back in the 1970s.

#3 Tower (2016) - 94%

This chilling animated film retells the events during the first major school shooting. Told from the perspective of multiple people in the area, such as the local Co-op shop owner, the police chief, and multiple students who were injured, the Tower shines a light on a dark time in UT history.

Notable Location: The South Mall at the University of Texas where in the baking heat, a hero student calms a shot pregnant student while waiting for help and safety.

#4 Dazed & Confused (1993) - 92%

It wouldn't be an Austin film list without a film by Director Richard Linklater. This movie follows several high school students as they try to figure out their place in their social groups and the world.

The film gave many now well-known actors their big debut: Matthew McConaughey, Ben Affleck, Milla Jovovich, Wiley Wiggins, and Joey Adams. .

Notable Location: Matthew McConaughey's famous quote "Alright, alright, alright" is said off screen as he's driving into Top Notch Hamburgers. This fast food joint still exists at 7525 Burnet Road! We dive further into Matthew McConaughey and other actors on our Austin Film Tour!

#5 Blood Simple (1984) - 91%

This is Frances McDormand's first film and big debut. She also met her future husband here, co-director Joel Coen. Frances plays a woman who is having an affair and the film shows the bloody chaos that ensues.

The Coen brothers are also known for filming in Austin. This horror/thriller was their first big film and they would go on to film other movies like Fargo (1996), No Country for Old Men (2007), and True Grit (2010).

Notable Location: Ray looks out the window of a red brick building on 6th street as he suspects that someone may be out to get them. We, the audience, can see that a man has a gun pointed right towards him. Want to see the building? We feature it as a stop on our Austin Film Tour!

#6 True Grit (2010) - 90%

Speaking of True Grit, the Coen brothers filmed their highest grossing film ever, here in Austin! Hailee Steinfeld got her big debut in this Western that has you questioning, who really is the one with true grit?

Notable Location: The final scene is shot in front of an old opera house that is currently being leased by the Austin Club. Want to see the building? We feature it as a stop on our Austin Film Tour!

#7 The Devil & Daniel Johnston (2006) - 90%

You may not know who Daniel Johnston is, but back in the 80s, he was the symbol of counterculture music in Austin. This documentary takes you through his life, introduces you to the notable people that he came across, gives you a taste of his music, and showcases the struggles that Daniel has with mental illness.

Notable Location: To Austinites and UT students, many sites will be familiar but it's worth visiting one site not in the film: the How Are You? mural. This frog-like creature and the words above him were created by Daniel and can be seen on many Austin souvenirs.

Want to see the mural and learn more about Daniel? We feature it as a stop on our Austin Film Tour #2: Campus & North Austin!

#8 Boyhood (2014) - 89%

Richard Linklater returned to Austin for this groundbreaking film, which was shot over 12 years. Many scenes were filmed in and around Austin, including at the University of Texas.

If you're from Houston, you'll also see some familiar sites. Richard is from Huntsville, near the Houston area, and attended UT so you could say Austin and Houston are his filming playing field.

Notable Location: Ethan Hawke's character gives his son a pep talk at Antone's Blues Club, a notable music venue in Austin that has featured artists like Muddy Waters and BB King! Pass by Antone's on our Austin Film Tour!

#9 Office Space (1999) - 87%

This cult classic about workplace frustration was directed by Mike Judge, the creator of Beavis & Butthead and co-creator of King of the Hill. The movie was inspired by his short 3 month stint working as an engineer in San Francisco in the 1980s.

Mike Judge has filmed other movies in Austin both behind the scenes (Idiocracy) and as an actor (Spy Kids 2)! Office Space features other recognizable actors like Jennifer Aniston, Ron Livingston, and Gary Cole.

Notable Location: You can find the location of the Initech building at 4120 Freidrich Lane. While it's not much to look at—it is just an office space after all— it still is a cool piece of local movie history.

#10 Chef (2014) - 86%

Jon Favreau wanted to go back to making smaller budget movies and decided on a story about a chef named Carl Casper. Tired of the pressures of critics, Carl decides to embark on his own food truck journey with his best friend and son.

Notable Location: Jon chose to film in Austin because of it's food and music culture. In one scene, Carl visits Franklin Barbecue where the actual owner Aaron Franklin shows him the deliciousness that is Central Texas barbecue.

There are many more films that have been filmed in Austin and if we left out your favorites, blame the critics! Check out our list of the Top 10 highest grossing films filmed in Austin.

If you like movies and are visiting Austin, your trip wouldn't be complete without an Austin Film Tour. We visit many of the above film locations and more!

See y'all soon!