6 Films Featuring Austin Culture
The silver screen is one of many ways to learn about the city of Austin and its diverse culture. Produced in a variety of eras in a multitude of genres, perhaps one of these films will inspire you to visit Austin yourself.
Slacker
Produced by acclaimed filmmaker Richard Linklater, Slacker was the first major film to put Austin, Texas on the map. The slice-of-life film offers a true to life view of the city, with an intellectual and engaging storyline that paints a vivid picture of 90’s urban culture.
Dazed and Confused
Dazed and Confused was acknowledged as a classic almost immediately. Another slice-of-life film produced by Richard Linklater, this relaxed film follows a group of Austin teenagers as it showcases Austin through music and peeks at daily life.
Walking Life
The third movie on our list to be produced by Linklater, this film focuses on the faculty of the University of Texas. The movie was filmed with a device known as a rotoscope: revolutionary technology at the time.
Office Space
Filmed in Austin itself, this movie focuses on the life and work of the common office employee, following a depressed protagonist who views his office job as a dead-end to his life. Relatable to most, the film reveals a side of Austin often overlooked by most.
Sin City
Perhaps the most popular film on our list, Sin City was one of the first films based on a comic to find blockbuster status in Hollywood. Capturing the imaginations of fans and critics alike, the film proved that big-budget films made in Texas could both competitive and lucrative.
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
Another well-known Texas film, it’s become a standard for grindhouse movies in the horror genre. The film was created by a group of Austin students on a limited budget, and draws from the Wild West aesthetic that define Texas so well.
Which film do you plan to watch first?
