Movies Filmed in and Around the DFW Metroplex
You’ll find the Dallas–Fort Worth (DFW) Metroplex has hosted a wide range of productions, from Logan’s Run (1976) and RoboCop (1987) to the long-running TV series Dallas (1978–1991). Wes Anderson launched his career here with Bottle Rocket (1996), while Bonnie and Clyde (1967) used North Texas locations to recreate Depression-era settings. The region’s distinctive architecture—from Dallas City Hall to the Fort Worth Water Gardens—has attracted filmmakers for decades. Whether you’re interested in sci-fi backdrops or indie filmmaking roots, the Metroplex’s production history runs deeper than many visitors expect.
RoboCop, JFK, and the Movies That Made Dallas Famous
Image: Kent Wang, DallasCityHallB, CC BY-SA 2.0
When Paul Verhoeven filmed RoboCop in 1986, Dallas’s modern skyline became a stand-in for a futuristic Detroit. You’ll recognize Dallas City Hall at 1500 Marilla Street as the headquarters of Omni Consumer Products (OCP), while the Plaza of the Americas and other downtown locations appear throughout the film. The Sons of Hermann Hall, a historic building dating back to 1911, also appears in interior scenes. While some sequences were filmed outside Texas, Dallas provided much of the film’s urban identity. Another major production, Oliver Stone’s JFK (1991), used Dealey Plaza—the real-life site of President John F. Kennedy’s assassination—along with various Dallas locations to recreate historical events.
When Dallas Became a Filming Destination: 1950s–1970s Foundations
Dallas’s film history began earlier than many realize. The film Dallas (1950), starring Gary Cooper, was partially filmed in North Texas, marking one of the first major productions tied to the region. By the 1960s, filmmakers began using nearby towns and neighborhoods for more ambitious projects. Bonnie and Clyde (1967) filmed scenes in Dallas and surrounding areas, including parts of North Texas that doubled for 1930s settings. These early productions helped establish the Metroplex as a viable filming location, paving the way for larger projects in the 1970s and beyond.
The Dallas TV Boom: From the Ewings to Modern Productions
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No show shaped the region’s global image like Dallas. Premiering in 1978, the series followed the wealthy Ewing family and brought international attention to North Texas. You can still visit Southfork Ranch in Parker, where exterior scenes were filmed. While interior shots were filmed in California, the ranch remains one of the most recognizable TV locations in Texas. More recently, productions like Queen of the South (2016–2021) filmed in Deep Ellum, Oak Cliff, and Fair Park, highlighting Dallas’s urban diversity and continuing its legacy as a filming hub.
Wes Anderson and North Texas Indie Filmmaking
DFW has also played a role in independent cinema. Wes Anderson’s Bottle Rocket (1996) was filmed in parts of Dallas, Fort Worth, and Hillsboro, using local neighborhoods and commercial areas as key backdrops. The film helped launch Anderson’s career and demonstrated how North Texas locations could support distinctive, character-driven storytelling. Filmmaker Shane Carruth, known for Primer (2004), also worked in the region, reinforcing DFW’s reputation as a place where independent filmmakers can develop and produce original work.
Dallas Sci-Fi Legacy: Logan’s Run and Beyond
Image: Photo: Andreas Praefcke, Fort Worth Water Gardens, CC BY 3.0
Dallas gained recognition in science fiction cinema when Logan’s Run (1976) used its modern architecture to depict a futuristic society. The Dallas Market Center and Fort Worth Water Gardens served as key filming locations, with the Water Gardens still open to visitors today. The city’s clean lines and modernist buildings made it an ideal setting for futuristic storytelling. This architectural appeal later influenced productions like RoboCop, reinforcing Dallas’s reputation as a go-to location for sci-fi visuals.
Where Dallas Movies Were Actually Filmed: Locations You Can Visit
You can still visit many filming locations across the Metroplex:
- Dealey Plaza – Featured in JFK
- Dallas City Hall – Seen in RoboCop
- Fort Worth Water Gardens – Featured in Logan’s Run
- Southfork Ranch (Parker) – Exterior shots from Dallas
- NorthPark Center – Appeared in Dr. T & the Women (2000)
- Fair Park – Used in multiple TV and film productions
These locations remain accessible, making it easy to explore the Metroplex through a cinematic lens.
Inside Las Colinas Studios: A Regional Production Hub
Located in Irving, Las Colinas Studios has been part of North Texas’s production infrastructure since the early 1980s. The facility has hosted film, television, and commercial projects over the years, along with music rehearsals and productions. Its multiple soundstages and flexible space helped support regional filmmaking during key growth periods. Today, the site continues to be used for media production, reflecting the Metroplex’s ongoing role in the industry.
Texas Stadium and Sports Film Moments
Texas Stadium, once home to the Dallas Cowboys, appeared in several productions before its demolition in 2010. The stadium was featured in Any Given Sunday (1999), where it doubled as a professional football venue for the fictional Miami Sharks. It also appeared in the opening credits of Dallas, further cementing its place in pop culture history.
Deep Ellum and Oak Cliff: Dallas’s Gritty Film Backdrops
For productions seeking a more urban and artistic atmosphere, Deep Ellum and Oak Cliff have become go-to filming locations. Deep Ellum’s industrial buildings and street art appear in Bottle Rocket and Queen of the South, while Oak Cliff provides residential and commercial settings with a more grounded, everyday feel. Nearby Fair Park, with its Art Deco architecture, has also been used in multiple productions, offering a distinctive visual style that stands out on screen.
Conclusion
You’ll find that the DFW Metroplex has quietly built a diverse film and television legacy. From classic crime dramas and sci-fi films to modern TV series and indie projects, the region continues to attract filmmakers with its architecture, accessibility, and variety of locations. Whether you’re visiting Southfork Ranch, walking through Dealey Plaza, or exploring Deep Ellum, you’re stepping into places where stories have been brought to life on screen.
