Austin is known for many things - one of them being that we're the film capital of the South.
Ever since the early 70s, the city has been a staple setting for the filming of everything from early indie movies to Hollywood blockbusters. Filmmakers like Richard Linklater and Robert Rodriguez all got their start here, and with things like the Austin Film Society, this legacy isn’t going anywhere. So while you’re cozying up for a night at home watching movies, we have you covered on films made in and about your own backyard. Here are The Most Austin Things You Can Stream.
Contributed by Chance Williams
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Dazed and Confused
Stream on: Amazon, Peacock
Richard Linklater's throwback heartfelt comedy follows a group of high schoolers on the last day of the school year. They navigate life, love, and friendship as they all try and find something to do (a teen trope as old as time). Set in small-town 70s Texas, this classic teen film was shot in and around Austin with some notable landmarks such as the Top Notch Burger used as a key location in the movie.
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ACL TV Tapings
Stream on: ACL TV, Youtube
Austin City Limits TV is the longest-running music show in television history and is still going strong to this day. Originally filmed in the PBS studios on campus, its pilot featured Willie Nelson and was shot in 1974. Since then, the show has featured the biggest and brightest up-and-coming stars in music.
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Slacker
Stream on: Amazon
Richard Linklater initially established his reputation for indie filmmaking with this meandering tale that uses Austin as the backdrop. You’ll notice multiple landmarks like the Capitol, UT's West Campus, and even the 360 Overlook. An experimental narrative that flows from one character to another, this film captures an in-depth look at the bohemian culture Austin had cultivated for itself in the 80s.
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Look Both Ways
Stream on: Netflix
Lili Reinhart brings the Austin V LA dynamic into the world of feel-good rom-coms. Lili's character Natalie finds herself with a pregnancy scare on the eve of her college graduation, splitting into two stories after she takes a pregnancy test. With one story set in LA and the other in Austin, we follow her story through shots of SXSW, her boyfriend's band playing at the Continental Club, hanging out at Stubb’s Bar-B-Q, and confessing feelings on the Pfluger Bridge. We favor the Austin story, but we might have bias.
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Tower
Stream on: Amazon, Vudu
A harrowing tale of one of the first school shootings to occur in America, this documentary takes a detailed look at the day that Charles Whitman fired upon citizens with a sniper from the UT Campus Tower until finally stopped by the local police. Filmed on location at UT’s campus and then animated with rotoscope, the documentary serves as an emotional historical document of that day.
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Office Space
Stream on: Hulu, Amazon
Even a city as wild and weird as Austin can still sometimes be, well, a drag. That’s what Mike Judge comically conveys in his classic take on corporate culture in Office Space. Even though this was filmed in Austin, it's not likely that you'll notice any of the locations used. That's because Judge masterfully transforms our unique city into Anywhere, USA to drive home the blandness of a 9-to-5 life.
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Boyhood
Stream on: Amazon, Criterion
Linklater's most recent Austin-based film, this movie was shot over 12 years and follows the growth of one boy and his family as they navigate through life. Set in the neighboring cities such as San Marcos and Bastrop, and even a scene inside of UT’s dorms, this movie nails the quaintness of Hill Country life.
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The Texas Chain Saw Massacre
Stream on: Tubi, Amazon
What many consider one of the landmarks of early independent cinema, and also the beginning of modern horror movies as we know them, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is a terrifying ride to the very end. Filmed in Round Rock, and made by UT grads and other local Austinites, the film scene as we know it in this city couldn’t have been possible without this iconic movie.
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Idiocracy
Stream on: Amazon, Vudu
Another Mike Judge piece filmed right in our backyard, this film serves as a cautionary tale about complacency and intelligence of the masses. Luke Wilson stars as the smartest man in a stupid society, and if you look closely you can also spot local landmarks such as the Powerplant and the Frank Erwin Center!
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What's Eating Gilbert Grape
Stream on: Netflix, Amazon
Sometimes even the Hollywood blockbusters make their way to Austin, and that was the case for this classic 90s film starring a young Johnny Depp and an even younger Leonardo DiCaprio. Set in the small town of Manor 15 miles east of Austin, the movie follows Depp as he helps his family raise his mentally handicapped brother - an early career-best for DiCaprio. This movie makes you feel as though you’re right at home in the Hill Country small-town setting.
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Do512 Lounge Sessions
Stream on: YouTube, Our Site
You didn't think we'd forget this one, did ya? If you're looking for some primo Austin content, check out the multitude of bands we've had in our very own lounge doing intimate recordings. From local favorites to touring artists, we'd have some of the best around tear up our tiny stage through the years. For a taste of what that's like, check 'em out!
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Be Here To Love Me
Stream on: Currently Unavailable Online
An intimate and emotional portrait of the Austin-based country music star, this documentary details the life and troubles of Townes Van Zandt. Featuring archival footage, much of which takes place in Austin, as well as interviews with those who knew him personally, and classic concert footage, Be Here To Love Me serves as a time capsule of one of the best artists to ever come out of this city.
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EVEN MORE AUSTIN THINGS TO STREAM:
Stream On: Kanopy (via Austin Public Library), Amazon
Stream On: Amazon Prime
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What's your Austin stream of choice?
