Many know Houston, Texas, as a city of industry, and you may not expect to find filming locations for some of your favorite movies in its borders. But they’re here!
Filmmakers have shot scenes in countless spots around the metropolitan area. So, are any worth visiting?
Today, we’re highlighting five movie locations you’ll want to see around Houston.
Let’s roll!
Don’t Miss These Movie Locations in Houston
Houston is a vibrant and dynamic metropolis in the state’s southeastern corner. Located about 50 miles from the Gulf of Mexico, the founders built much of its infrastructure on swampland. In fact, plenty of folks consider it the Bayou City.
The area features modern highrise buildings alongside historic structures. When you combine the cityscape with its proximity to the coast, subtropical jungle, and vast swaths of agricultural land, it’s no surprise that Houston has become a popular movie filming location. After all, it offers diverse terrain that can serve as countless destinations on camera.
From Independence Day to Terms of Endearment, this city makes an ideal backdrop for a wide range of aesthetics.
Best of all, you can check out many of these must-see sites yourself. If you want some guidance on which spots to hit, we have you covered. Here are five top movie locations you’ll want to see when you visit Houston.
#1 NASA’s Johnson Space Center
Most of us remember that line from Apollo 13 when Jack Swigert, played by Kevin Bacon, says, “Houston, we have a problem.” Well, NASA’s Johnson Space Center was on the other end of that transmission when Swigert spoke those words in real life. Filmmakers chose to go right to the source to record many scenes for the epic flick.
And that’s not the only cosmic movie shot on location at the Houston facility. Creators filmed scenes for Armageddon, Space Cowboys, Transformers: Dark of the Moon, and The Martian here.
Head to Space Center Houston, the site’s official visitor center, to check out this premier destination. Kids and adults will love learning the ins and outs of travel beyond our own planet. You can discover what it takes to get to Mars, see authentic space suits that have protected astronauts, and even tour a replica of the Independence shuttle.
You can also enhance your experience by having breakfast with an astronaut or purchasing a VIP tour of Mission Control.
General admission tickets start around $25, and kids under four years old enter for free.
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#2 Astrodome
Once called the Eighth Wonder of the World, the Astrodome is another iconic spot in the Bayou City. In its heyday, it served as one of Houston’s central movie locations. Flicks like Friday Night Lights, The Bad News Bears in Breaking Training, Brewster McCloud, and Ted Danson’s Once Upon a Sky were all filmed here.
But this stadium has a heck of a story in real life, too. It opened in 1965 and catered to Major League Baseball, the National Football League, and the National Basketball Association. It was the first major sports arena to use artificial grass, which is why we call it AstroTurf.
Sadly, this facility has seen better days. In 2008, it failed to pass code inspections, and officials closed it to the public. Several entities, including local government, have attempted to revitalize the space, but none have succeeded. One proposal even suggested turning it into a production studio.
While visitors can’t go inside the Astrodome today, you can still drive by and see the imposing structure for yourself. However, we wouldn’t be surprised to hear it’s slated for demolition, as it’s now notoriously unsafe.
#3 Delmar Stadium
Fortunately, some of Houston’s sports facilities are still going strong. For example, the 12,000-seat Delmar Stadium hosts regular games for the local school system. This is where they filmed some of the scenes for Rushmore, the 1998 movie starring Bill Murray and Jason Schwartzman.
Wes Anderson and Owen Wilson wrote this flick together. In it, Schwartzman plays Max Fischer, a student who spends most of his time on extracurricular activities. Max meets Herman Blume (Murray), the wealthy father of two schoolmates. The two form an unlikely friendship that falls apart over their mutual interest in a widowed teacher.
If you make it to Houston in autumn, try to catch a high school football game at the iconic movie location. Although it’s received a facelift since its cameo in Rushmore, you can still relive the scene where Max first lays eyes on Rosemary.
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#4 Buffalo Bayou Park
Another beloved outdoor space in the city is Buffalo Bayou Park. You might recognize this 160-acre waterfront location from scenes in multiple movies filmed in Houston.
The 1970 flick Brewster McCloud is about a reclusive young man living in a fallout shelter below the Astrodome. While the local police search for the whereabouts of the Houston Strangler, Brewster is busy building a set of wings that’ll help him take flight.
Jason’s Lyric, featuring Jada Pinkett Smith as the leading lady, follows two brothers as they traverse different paths. One falls for a vivacious waitress, while the other enters a life of crime.
The park stretches along the Buffalo Bayou and includes multi-use trails, pedestrian bridges, and a dog park. You’ll find boat and bike rental facilities on-site that allow you to explore however you like.
Public art is a highlight of the area. While there are some permanent pieces, many others rotate, so you’ll see new works regularly.
Flora Mexican Kitchen is at the west end of the greenway, and you can often find food trucks near the Water Works visitor center on the other side. While you’re here, be sure to tour the old cistern beneath the city.
#5 Houston Museum of Natural Science
Our final Houston movie location is one you won’t want to miss. Richard Linklater chose the Museum on Natural Science to shoot a scene from the epic coming-of-age tale Boyhood. The creators filmed the flick over 12 years and finally released it to critical acclaim in 2014.
The family, played by Ethan Hawke, Patricia Arquette, Ellar Coltrane, and Lorelai Linklater, visits the Cockrell Butterfly Center on a day of sightseeing. And while we certainly suggest a trip to this exhibit, there’s plenty more to see at the museum.
You can encounter massive dinosaur skeletons, see an ancient Egyptian sarcophagus, or admire precious gem and mineral specimens.
Each day, they offer screenings of fascinating films at both the Wortham Giant Screen Theater and the Burke Baker Planetarium. Depending on when you visit, you might learn about black holes, megalodons, or the dark side of the moon.
It’s easy to make a whole day of the museum. With loads of exciting exhibits and several restaurants, including the Periodic Table, you won’t run out of ways to explore.
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Houston Movie Locations Will Keep You Coming Back for More
The next time you make a trip to Houston, you can relive some of your favorite movie scenes at locations around the city. Best of all, many of these spots are places you’d want to check out anyway. Innovative destinations like the Johnson Space Center and the Houston Museum of Natural Science keep locals and tourists entertained year-round!
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