Film Friendly

Waxahachie is the Movie Capital of Texas, with over thirty motion pictures and three Academy Award films.

Filmmaking began here with Bonnie and Clyde, scripted by Waxahachie native Robert Benton, which was filmed in 1967.It reached its pinnacle in the early 1980’s when Benton returned to his former hometown to write and direct the Oscar-winning feature Places in the Heart, starring Sally Field.

Two other Oscar-winners, Tender Mercies, starring Robert Duvall and Tess Harper, and The Trip to Bountiful, were also shot principally in Waxahachie at that time.

Waxahachie has remained a popular backdrop for numerous films, television shows, commercials and videos.

The City of Waxahachie has the infrastructure in place to be film friendly. If you are interested in filming in Waxahachie, the first step is to fill out the Waxahachie Film Permit and submit to City Hall. For questions, please contact Alice Jauregui, Director of Communications and Marketing, at 469-309-4012 or alice.jauregui@waxahachie.com.

To view a list of restaurants available to serve your crew, click here.

To view a list of hotels available to accommodate your crew, click here.

The staff of the Waxahachie CVB will also be able to assist you while scouting for the perfect locations and be of assistance during your project .

Bonnie and Clyde, 1967 – Faye Dunaway, Warren Beatty, Gene Hackman, Estelle Parsons.Oscars for Best Supporting Actress (Parsons) and cinematography (Burnett Guffrey).

Deadly Blessings, 1980 – Ernest Borgnine, Maren Jensen.

Tender Mercies, 1981 – Robert Duvall, Tess Harper, Wilford Brimley.Oscars for Best Actor (Duvall) and Best Screenplay (Horton Foote).

Of Mice and Men (TV), 1981 – Randy Quaid, Robert Blake.

Cowboy (TV), 1981 – Ted Danson, James Brolin, Patrick Tovatt.

Glory Road, 1982-83 – Gary Busey, Marjoe Gortner (film went bankrupt; never released).

Ellie, 1983 – Pat Paulsen, Shelley Winters, George Gobel.

Places in the Heart, 1983 – Sally Field, Danny Glover, John Malkovich, Ed Harris, Amy Madigan, Lindsay Crouse, Bert Remsen.Oscars for Best Actress (Field) and Best Screenplay (Waxahachie Native, Robert Benton).

1918, 1984 – Matthew Broderick.

The Last of the Caddoes (TV).

The Aurora Encounter, 1984 – Jack Elam.

Peyton Place:The Next Generation, 1985 – Dorothy Malone, Ed Nelson.

The Trip to Bountiful, 1985 – Geraldine Page, Rebecca DeMornay, John Heard, Carlin Glynn.Oscar for Best Actress (Page).

Valentine’s Day, 1985 – Matthew Broderick, William Converse Robert.

True Stories, 1985 – David Byrne.

Thompson’s Last Run, 1985 – Robert Mitchum.

The All-American Cowboy, (TV special) with Charlie Pride.

Katherine Anne Porter:A Texas Childhood (TV), 1986.

Square Dance, 1986 – Jason Robards, Jane Alexander, Winona Ryder, Rob Lowe.

Traveling Man, 1987 – Kay Lenz.

The Fig Tree, 1987-88 – William Converse Roberts, Theresa Wright, Doris Roberts.

Norman Rockwells’s Breaking Home Ties, 1987-88 – Jason Robards, Eva Marie Saint, Doug McKeon, Erin Gray, Claire Trevor.

It Takes Two (working title: My New Car), 1987-88 – Patrick Dempsey, Leslie Hope Barry Corbin.

River Bend (originally titled Night of the Eagles, and previously titled Give or Take a Hundred Years), filmed in 1987-88; released in 1989 – Steve James, Margaret Avery.

Ollie Hopnoodle’s Haven of Bliss, 1987-88 – James B. Sikking, Jean Shepherd.

Born on the Fourth of July, 1987-88 – Tom Cruise (only one small scene in rural part of county).

Love Hurts, 1987-88 – Jeff Daniels, Cloris Leachman.

Bonnie & Clyde: The True Story, 1991.

Pure Country, 1993 – George Strait.

Curse of the Starving Class, 1994 – James Woods, Kathy Bates, Lou Gossett Jr., Randy Quaid, Henry Thomas.

Universal Soldier: The Return, 1999 – Jean-Claude Van Damme.

Walker, Texas Ranger (TV Series), 1993-2000.

Slap Her . . . She’s French, 2001 – Piper Perabo, Jane McGregor, Trent Ford.

Fat Girls, 2005 – Ash Christian.

Walking Tall 2, 2006 – Kevin Sorbo.

Walking Tall 3, 2006 – Kevin Sorbo.

Prison Break (TV Series), Season 2 - 2006.

Missionary Man, 2007 – Dolph Lundgren.

The Beacon, 2008 – Teri Polo.

Mangus, 2010 – Ash Christian.

The Judge, 2010 – Niko Red Star.

Chasing Shakespeare, 2013 – Danny Glover, Ashley Bell, Joshua Winch.

Hoovey, 2014 – Lauren Holly, Patrick Warburton, Cody Linley, Alyson Stoner.

Lawmen: Bass Reeves, 2023 - David Oyelowo, Dennis Quaid, Lauren E. Banks, Barry Pepper, Donald Sutherland, Moses Brings Plenty.