If you live in Houston, you’ll be interested to learn that quite a few Hollywood blockbusters were filmed here. Find out more about movies that were filmed in Houston and the suburbs on houston-trend.
1. RoboCop 2
This fantasy action film was created by Irvin Kershner in 1990. It is a sequel to the cult RoboCop. The tape was shot as a fantastic action with elements of cyberpunk.
The story is set in Detroit but was mostly filmed in Houston. One can see the Murphy House at 1811 McDuffie Street, the Wortham Theater Center and various other locations.
RoboCop 2 is a strange mixture of violence and humor. Thus, in one scene, a tycoon announces plans to take over Detroit, while in another, RoboCop rips his enemy’s brains out of an artificial skull and dumps them on the pavement. It is a spicy mixture of laughter and blood. A funny dialogue starts right after breaking the skull.
2. Reality Bites
Reality Bites is a 1994 American comedy film, the directorial debut of Ben Stiller. It’s a classic coming-of-age movie about generation X navigating their way through college and the challenges of adulthood with work and love.
Troy rejects all the basic values of American society. Vickie is oppressed by everyday life, the example of her parents’ lives and the perceived stability. Sammy is an insecure homosexual and Lelaina makes a documentary about her friends and dreams of changing the world.
The film was shot in 42 days in Houston and Austin. The final episodes were filmed in Houston’s Alden Place neighborhood, near Montrose, when Troy says goodbye to Lelaina.
3. Powder
The 1995 American sci-fi drama Powder was directed by Victor Salva. It is recognized by film critics as one of the best movies of that year. The main hero is Jeremy ‘Powder’ Reed, who possesses an incredibly high intelligence, as well as telepathy and paranormal abilities. The film demonstrates society’s capacity for unbelievable cruelty.
The movie was shot in Sugar Land, as well as in the cities of San Antonio and Austin. The film also features Prairie View A&M University in Texas and the first White House of the Confederacy in Montgomery, Texas. The latter is the residence of the President of the Confederate States of America, Jefferson Davis and his family.
4. Independence Day
Independence Day is a science fiction film directed by Roland Emmerich in 1996. According to the plot, the Earth is attacked by aliens from outer space, which the humans are unable to resist. Aliens destroy cities without any explanation and overcome any resistance. Survivors from Los Angeles, Washington, D.C. and surrounding areas are set to strike back. It depends on the battle whether July 4, 1996 will be the end of humanity or the Independence Day of the United States (or even the Independence Day of the whole Earth).
A nuclear missile spectacularly destroyed Houston. The movie will make you nervous as you watch Will Smith embody the perfect mixture of heroism and madness.
5. Selena
It is a 1997 American biographical drama about Texas music queen Selena Quintanilla-Perez. It tells the story of Selena’s music career, her rise to fame and the murder of the star at the age of 23. The singer was killed by the president of her fan club and the manager of Selena’s boutiques, Yolanda Saldivar. Thus, she took revenge for the loss of her job, when the singer’s family discovered that she had misappropriated money from both organizations. Quintanilla-Perez is famous in film and music history of Texas.
In the movie, Jennifer Lopez as Selena performed in front of 65,000 spectators at the legendary Houston Astrodome.
6. Armageddon
The Lyndon Johnson Space Center, the headquarters of NASA astronauts, is located in Houston. Therefore, many films about space were shot here. One of them is the 1998 fantasy disaster movie Armageddon (director – Michael Bay). It tells about the drillers who are sent by NASA to stop a giant asteroid from colliding with the Earth.
It’s impossible to forget the departure scene at Joint Reserve Base Ellington, where Liv Tyler falls into Ben Affleck’s arms.
7. Rushmore
Wes Anderson’s 1998 ironic comedy-drama Rushmore was filmed in various locations in Houston. The movie is characterized by unsurpassed original humor and a carefree atmosphere. It tells the story of a clever student Max Fischer, who manages to keep up with everything and be everywhere except his studies.
The film crew spent about 50 days in Houston, filming the scenes in different parts of the city. The academy was St. John’s School located west of the city center. Grover Cleveland High School was actually Lamar High School.
Max’s house is located at 108 Emerald Court. The cemetery where Max visits his mother’s grave is Hollywood Cemetery at 3506 East Main Street. Bert Fisher’s (Max’s father) barber shop was filmed at Doug and Don’s Barber Shop. The huge factory Blume International Saw Pipes was filmed at Saw Pipes USA in the city of Baytown, east of Houston.
After Blume’s wife files for divorce, he moves into a hotel. It was the ZaZa Houston boutique hotel at 5701 Main Street. Max flew his kite in the Delmar Stadium parking lot in northwest Houston.
8. Arlington Road
Mark Pellington’s 1999 drama Arlington Road was set in Virginia and filmed in Houston. Thus, one can recognize the University of Houston and some other locations. Check it out and try to recognize familiar places.
The story follows a widowed George Washington University professor who suspects his new neighbors of being involved in terrorism and becomes obsessed with foiling their terrorist plot.
9. Transformers: Dark of the Moon
The third part of the series of films about Transformers was directed by Michael Bay and also partially shot in the city. The movie was released in 2011 and took first place at the box office. A flashback scene was filmed at the Lyndon Johnson Space Center using extras with old-fashioned hairstyles. In addition, the film was shot in Chicago, Washington, Florida, Indiana, etc.
10. Boyhood
The cult film Youth of 2014 is the work of director Richard Linklater. It depicts the gradual way from childhood to adulthood of the boy Mason and his sister Samantha. It was filmed for several days for 12 years with the same cast, from 2002 to 2013.
Since director Richard Linklater spent part of his childhood in Houston, he wanted to shoot many of the key scenes of the movie in the city. Viewers may recognize Atherton Elementary School, the University of Houston campus, the Cockrell Butterfly Center at the Houston Museum of Natural Science, the Miller Outdoor Theatre, Minute Maid Park baseball stadium and more.
