Top 15 Movies Filmed in Texas by US Box Office

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Lights, Camera, Texas! Explore the Movies Filmed in the Lone Star State

Hey there, fellow movie buff and thrill-seeker! Looking for an adventure that combines the magic of cinema with the excitement of exploration? Well, buckle up and get ready to embark on a wild ride through the great state of Texas, where blockbuster movies have left their mark on these iconic filming locations. Trust me, you won’t want to miss out on this film-inspired journey!

Key takeaways:

  • Texas isn’t just about, well, Texas. It has served as the backdrop for some of the most memorable movies ever made.
  • Visiting movie filming locations is like stepping into the shoes of your favorite actors and experiencing their world firsthand.
  • Exploring these locations allows you to see familiar sights with a fresh perspective, adding a touch of cinematic magic to your wanderlust-filled adventures.

Now, I know what you’re thinking. Why would I want to travel all the way to Texas just to see where a movie was filmed? Well, my friend, let me tell you, it’s not just about the films themselves, but the incredible experiences and stories that come with them. Picture yourself standing in the spot where a nail-biting action sequence unfolded or strolling through the charming town square where a romantic comedy reached its heartwarming climax. It’s like stepping into the screen and becoming a part of the story yourself!

So, if you’re ready for an adventure that combines Hollywood glitz with the spirit of the Lone Star State, let’s dive into some key takeaways about visiting movie filming locations in Texas:

  1. Unleash Your Inner Film Star: Ever dreamed of delivering an Oscar-worthy monologue or reenacting your favorite movie scenes? Visiting movie filming locations gives you the chance to channel your inner actor and embrace the limelight. Who knows, maybe you’ll discover a hidden talent or become the next big thing!
  2. Uncover Movie Secrets: Did you know that some iconic filming locations in Texas have hidden secrets and trivia? From behind-the-scenes stories to unexpected anecdotes, exploring these spots will leave you marveling at the movie-making magic that unfolded right before your eyes.
  3. It’s More Than Just a Movie: Whether you’re a film fanatic or just looking for an exciting travel experience, visiting movie filming locations in Texas offers a unique opportunity to delve into the history, culture, and beauty of the state. From small towns to sprawling landscapes, you’ll be captivated by the diverse settings that have graced the silver screen.

So, my adventurous friend, get ready to soak up the Texas sun, embrace your inner film star, and discover the captivating locations that have brought some of your favorite movies to life. With each step, you’ll uncover a new story, a new memory, and a new sense of wonder. Lights, camera, ACTION!

Want to explore the mesmerizing world of Texas filming locations? Check out the listicle below to discover the movies that have made these spots truly unforgettable. Lights, camera, let the exploring begin!

Transformers: Dark of the Moon – US Box Office: USD$352.39millions

Director: Michael Bay

Main Cast: Shia LaBeouf, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Tyrese Gibson, Josh Duhamel

Release Date: 29 June 2011

Filming Locations: Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Old Post Office, Chicago, Illinois, USA; Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Main Plot: The Autobots and their human allies find a forgotten piece of Cybertronian technology that has been in human custody for some time, two years after the Egypt event. The item is revealed to be a piece of an Autobot spacecraft that crashed on the Moon during the Apollo 11 expedition to the Moon and contained both the famous Sentinel Prime (Optimus Prime’s former instructor) and unique technology. Sam Witwicky learns that the Decepticons conspire to utilize it for their wicked ends. Furthermore, Optimus Prime discovers that they are up against a danger that likewise intends to use it to enslave humans to resurrect Cybertron.

Famous quotes:

Que: “Ah, good, you’re here. My name’s Que. I do hope you have answers for him. I’ve never seen him so upset!

Lennox: “Optimus, you remember Charlotte Mearing, our director of National Intelligence?

[Optimus stays in truck mode]

Dino: “He’s in a bad mood. He’s not talking to anybody today.”

Charlotte Mearing: “What is this, the silent treatment?

Ironhide: “We’ve seen that and this is not that.

Que: “Definitely not!”

Ironhide: “This is worse. Prime, make something of yourself!

[bangs fist on top of Optimus’s cab, Optimus transforms]

Ironhide: “He’s pissed.”

Optimus Prime: [pounds the ground] “You lied to us! Everything humans know of our planet we were told had all been shared!

[points to component]

Optimus Prime: “So why was this found in human possession?

Sequel: Transformers (2007); Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009); Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014); Transformers: The Last Knight (2017)

Fun Facts about Transformers: Dark of the Moon:

  • Contrary to claims that Megan Fox and Michael Bay had a falling out, Steven Spielberg had Fox sacked from this movie (after she compared Bay to Nazis). Fox was already being prepared for this movie by Bay when she was forced to leave.
  • There were 70,000 components in the Driller. It cost ILM 122 hours for each frame (288 hours for the Driller’s assault on the building), and it used up all of its render farms.
  • Michael Bay claims that 532 automobiles were obliterated in the movie. All of them were flood-damaged, so an insurance firm gave them away for free.

Independence Day – US Box Office: USD$306.17millions

Director: Roland Emmerich

Main Cast: Will Smith, Bill Pullman, Jeff Goldblum, Mary McDonnell

Release Date: 6 November 1996

Filming Locations: Blue Ridge, Georgia, USA; Reykjavik, Iceland; White Sands, New Mexico, USA; Quartzsite, Arizona, USA; Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah, USA

Main Plot: On July 2, strange air interference disrupted communication systems worldwide. Within a short period, the military discovers numerous enormous objects are speeding toward the planet. These objects, at first thought to be meteorites, are later revealed to be massive spaceships piloted by a mysterious alien race. This is David Levinson, a physicist turned cable technician. After futile attempts to reach them, humanity learns that the aliens plan to launch a global attack on strategic places within a day. In addition to New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, the aliens virtually annihilated Paris, London, Houston, and Moscow on July 3. The military is rumored to have its own abducted extraterrestrial spaceship, so the survivors set out in convoys headed for Area 51, a secret government testing facility. The humans who have survived the aliens’ enslavement plot a counterattack on July 4. And this date is chosen as the starting point for their campaign. Their national holiday of independence is July 4.

Famous quotes:

Captain Steven Hiller: “THAT’S RIGHT! THAT’S RIGHT! That’s what you get! Look at you, ship all *banged* up! Who’s the man? Huh? Who’s the man? Wait till I get another plane! I’m-a line all your friends up right beside you!”

Captain Steven Hiller: “Where you at, huh? Huh? Where you at?”

Captain Steven Hiller: “Welcome to earth!”

Captain Steven Hiller: “Now that’s what *I* call a close encounter.”

Julius Levinson: “All you need is love. John Lennon. Smart man. Shot in the back, very sad.”

Fun Fact about Independence Day:

  • The desert scene where Will Smith carries the comatose extraterrestrial was shot on the salt flats of Utah, not far from Great Salt Lake. Smith’s remark, “And what the hell is that *smell*?” was completely improvised. Tiny crustaceans, known as brine shrimp, live in the Great Salt Lake. After passing away, their bodies decay at the shallow lake’s base. When the wind is blowing, the bottom muck is churned up, releasing the putrid odor of millions of dead brine shrimp. Will was not forewarned.

Transformers: Age of Extinction – US Box Office: USD$245.44millions

Director: Michael Bay

Main Cast: Mark Wahlberg, Nicola Peltz Beckham, Jack Reynor, Stanley Tucci

Release Date: 25 June 2014

Filming Locations: Detroit, Michigan, USA; Monument Valley, Utah, USA; Pontiac, Michigan, USA; Jasper, Michigan, USA; Hong Kong, China

Main Plot: Chicago was destroyed in a war between Autobots and Decepticons, and now people assume that any robots from outer space are dangerous. A CIA agent named Harold Attinger responds by forming a special task force to track them down. They have the help of another extraterrestrial robot on the hunt for Optimus Prime. “Robotics specialist” Cade Yeager purchases an old vehicle and, upon closer inspection, concludes that it is a Transformer. After turning it on, he realizes it is Optimus Prime. Men from the unit come seeking Optimus afterward. The hunter follows them, but he aids Yeager in evacuating him and his daughter Tessa. After evading capture, Yeager discovers, thanks to the men’s stolen technology, that a tech tycoon and defense contractor named Joshua Joyce is involved in the conspiracy.

Famous quotes:

Tessa Yeager: “You knew this, and you didn’t warn them?”

Brains: “Little girl, you go into a pretty dark place when you’re on death row. He’s been playing KSI all this time, all so he could manipulate them into going after the Seed!”

Shane Dyson: “The Seed?”

Tessa Yeager: “Those nasty soldiers that were chasing us, I saw them take something that they called the Seed…”

Sequel: Transformers (2007); Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009); Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014); Transformers: The Last Knight (2017); Bumblebee (2018)

Fun Fact about Transformers: Age of Extinction:

  • Michael Bay had no plans to direct a fourth Transformers film until he had an epiphany. A trip to the Transformers ride at Universal Studios was something Bay had been looking forward to since filming the 2011 sequel, Transformers: Dark of the Moon. After seeing a three-block-long line of excited people waiting for the attraction, he decided to stay with the franchise.

Cast Away –  US Box Office: USD$233.63millions

Director: Robert Zemeckis

Main Cast: Tom Hanks, Helen Hunt, Paul Sanchez, Lari White

Release Date: 7 December 2000

Filming Locations:  Monuriki, Fiji; Farm to Market Road 48 and Farm to Market Road 1268, Mobeetie, Texas, 79061, USA; Arrington Ranch House Lodge, 9765 County Road Canadian, Texas, 79014, USA; Red Square, Kitai-gorod, Tverskoy District, Moscow, Russia; 74 Devon Way, Memphis, Tennessee, 38111, USA

Main Plot: FedEx executive changes physically and emotionally following the island tragedy. Chuck Noland, a FedEx operations executive, and Kelly Frears, a grad student, have dated and lived together for years but haven’t been married because of their busy schedules, especially Chuck’s. Chuck contacts Kelly on Christmas Day 1995 as he hurries to catch a FedEx jet. The plane crashes in the south Pacific due to mechanical problems. Chuck washes up on a life raft on a deserted island, unaware of his crew or plane. Several packages for delivery wash ashore with him, which he first respects. Chuck’s goal is survival and rescue (food, drink, shelter, fire). Kelly gifted him an ancestral pocket watch with her portrait for Christmas, and after getting the FedEx packages, he paints a face on a Wilson volleyball and names it Wilson. As time passes, Chuck experiences a spectrum of emotions, but he realizes he must find a way off the island, which is nearly impossible due to the tremendous onshore surf. Chuck may not realize that the longer he isn’t saved, the tougher it will be to return to his prior existence. Kelly’s death drives him to be rescued, although Kelly may have moved on emotionally.

Famous quotes:

Chuck Noland: “We live and we die by time, and we must not commit the sin of turning our back on time.”

Kelly Frears: “I always knew you were alive, I knew it. Everybody said that I had to let you go. I love you. You’re the love of my life.”

Chuck Noland: “I couldn’t even kill myself the way I wanted to. I had power over nothing.”

Chuck Noland: “87 hours is an eternity! The cosmos was created in less time. Wars have been fought, and nations toppled in 87 hours! Fortunes made and squandered.”

Chuck Noland: “Hey, you want to hear something funny? My dentist’s name is James Spalding.”

Sequel: Castaway 2 (2017) 

Fun Facts about Cast Away:

  • Tom Hanks chose to stay inactive and gain weight to appear to be a typical, out-of-shape middle-aged man. Then, for a year, production was put on hold so that he could shed fifty pounds and grow out his hair in preparation for his time on the isolated island. During this break, Robert Zemeckis employed the same crew to shoot What Lies Beneath (2000).
  • Following the release of this movie, FedEx job applications increased by 30%.
  • To assist Tom Hanks in communicating with Wilson the volleyball more naturally, actual words of dialogue were produced for the inanimate object.

The Martian –  US Box Office: USD$228.43millions

Director: Ridley Scott

Main Cast: Matt Damon, Jessica Chastain, Kristen Wiig, Kate Mara

Release Date: 30 September 2015

Filming Locations: Wadi Rum, Jordan; Budapest Whale, Budapest, Hungary; Korda Studios, Etyek, Hungary

Main Plot: After a severe storm during a human journey to Mars, Astronaut Mark Watney is abandoned and later declared dead. But Watney made it through, and now he’s alone on the dangerous planet. He must rely on his resourcefulness, cunning, and determination to survive and discover a means to send word back to Earth that he is still alive. NASA and a multinational team of scientists labor feverishly to return “the Martian” to Earth while the astronauts on his rescue team plan an audacious and perhaps impossible expedition to bring him home. As these feats of extraordinary bravery are revealed, people worldwide unite in their hope that Watney will make it back home safely.

Famous quotes:

Annie Montrose: “What the hell is “Project Elrond?”

Rich Purnell: “I had to make something up.”

Annie Montrose: “But “Elrond?”

Mitch Henderson: “Because it’s a secret meeting.”

Annie Montrose: “How do you know that, and why does Elrond mean secret meeting?”

Mitch Henderson: “The Council of Elrond. It’s the… it’s… it’s… from The Lord of the Rings. It’s the meeting where they decide to destroy the one ring.”

Teddy Sanders: “If we are going to have a secret project called Elrond, I would like my code name to be Glorfindel.”

Annie Montrose: “I hate every one of you.”

Fun Facts about The Martian:

  • Tom Hanks chose to stay inactive and gain weight to appear to be a typical, out-of-shape middle-aged man. Then, for a year, production was put on hold so that he could shed fifty pounds and grow out his hair in preparation for his time on the isolated island. During this break, Robert Zemeckis employed the same crew to shoot What Lies Beneath (2000).
  • Following the release of this movie, FedEx job applications increased by 30%.
  • To assist Tom Hanks in communicating with Wilson the volleyball more naturally, actual words of dialogue were produced for the inanimate object.

Armageddon –  US Box Office: USD$201.57millions

Director: Michael Bay 

Main Cast: Bruce Willis, Billy Bob Thornton, Ben Affleck, Liv Tyler

Release Date: 26 August 1998

Filming Locations: Houston, Texas, USA; Edwards Air Force Base, California, USA;  Launch Complex 34 (Apollo 1 Memorial), Kennedy Space Center, Titusville, Florida, USA; Istanbul, Turkey

Main Plot: The untimely destruction of a shuttle as it traveled through space informs NASA of the presence of a doomsday asteroid headed in the direction of Earth. It would appear that the only method to deflect its path would be to bore a hole into its surface and detonate a nuclear weapon there. But while NASA’s underfunded but ingenious crew prepares the best drillers in the world for the job, the truth begins to reach the public, and a frenzy ensues. This causes the social order of the globe to start to crumble. At the same time that high-ranking officials are using the endeavor to play politics, members of the drilling crew are dealing with profound personal difficulties that could put humanity’s last chance at risk.

Famous quotes:

Truman: “So what’s the verdict?”

Harry Stamper: “They’ll do it. They’ve made a few requests though.”

Truman: “Such as?”

Harry Stamper: [riffles through sheets of paper] “Well, there’s uh, few things here, uh… nothin’ really big, uh, just- Well, as an example, uh, uh, Oscar here, he’s got some outstanding parking tickets. Wants them wiped off his record.”

Oscar: [shouting from balcony] “Fifty-six tickets in seven states…”

Harry Stamper: [to Oscar] “I’ll-I’ll tell ’em Oscar, you got it.”

Oscar: “Okay.”

Sequel: Armageddon 2: Harry’s Last Stand

Fun Fact about Armageddon:

  • Due to the script’s patriotic character and Top Gun’s popularity (1986), starring Tom Cruise as recruitment material, the producers were able to convince NASA to allow filmmaker Michael Bay and his crew to film in the traditionally restricted space agency. This includes the neutral buoyancy laboratory, a 65 million-gallon, 40-foot-deep pool intended to educate astronauts for weightlessness, and the utilization of two $10 million space suits. In addition to filming at Edwards Air Force Base in California, the crew was also permitted to film on the historic launch pad that was decommissioned following the Apollo 1 catastrophe.

Pearl Harbor – US Box Office Hit: USD$198.54million

Director: Michael Bay

Main Cast: Ben Affleck, Kate Beckinsale, Josh Hartnett, William Lee Scott

Release Date: 06 June 2001

Filming Locations: Badminton House, Gloucestershire, England, UK; Corpus Christi, Texas, USA; Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, O’ahu, Hawaii, USA; San Bernardino Railroad Historical Society, San Bernardino, California, USA; Linda Vista Hospital – 610 S. St. Louis Street, Los Angeles, California, USA

Main Plot: Best friends and pilots Rafe and Danny work together. Rafe and Danny enlist in the Army Air Corps due to the United States’ decision not to participate in World War II when it breaks out in Europe. Even though Rafe develops feelings for Evelyn, a nurse, he seizes the chance to enlist in the British Air Corps. He departed just before being shot down and declared dead. Both deployed in Pearl Harbor, Danny and Evelyn rely on one another after hearing this heartbreaking news. When Rafe learns about them, though, he freaks out and chases after Danny. However, Pearl Harbor is unexpectedly assaulted, and some of the assailants’ planes are shot down. Colonel Doolittle is put in command after Roosevelt chooses to take action against Japan, and he invites Rafe and Danny to accompany him. They consent, aware that the likelihood of their returning is remote. But tension still exists between them.

Famous quotes:

Lt. Col. Jimmy Doolittle: “There’s nothing stronger than the heart of a volunteer.

Admiral Yamamoto: “I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant.


Rafe: “Danny, you can’t die. You can’t die. You know why? ‘Cause you’re gonna be a father. You’re gonna be a daddy. I wasn’t supposed to tell you. You’re gonna be a father.

Danny: “No, you are.

Admiral Yamamoto: “A brilliant man would find a way not to fight a war.

Rafe: “Not anxious to die, sir, just anxious to matter.

Sequel: Pearl Harbor II: Pearlmageddon

Fun Facts about Pearl Harbor

  • Back to the Future (1985) trilogy flubs include Michael J. Fox embarrassingly calling John Astin’s character, The Judge, “Doc,” the name of Christopher Lloyd’s character.
  • While filming this in New Zealand, Michael J. Fox felt he needed a break from the movie industry and returned to television in the lead role of a sitcom, Spin City (1996). Indeed, this turned out to be his final starring role.

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade – US Box Office Hit: USD$197.17million

Director: Steven Spielberg

Main Cast: Harrison Ford, Sean Connery, Alison Doody, Denholm Elliott

Release Date: 24 May 1989

Filming Locations: Moab, Utah, USA; South Park Avenue, Arches National Park, Utah, USA; Al-Khazneh, Petra, Jordan; Figure 3 Ranch, Amarillo, Texas, USA; Guadix, Granada, Andalucía, Spain

Main Plot: Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) follows the adventures of bullwhip-wielding archaeologist Indiana Jones as he searches for his lost father, Professor Henry Jones, in 1938, just two years after the hero meets with Adolf Hitler’s Nazis during the hunt for the Ark of the Covenant. Continuing the quest begun by his estranged father, Dr. Jones travels to Venice, Italy, with his surrogate father and fellow academic, Marcus Brody, before continuing to frigid Austria with the beautiful archaeologist Dr. Elsa Schneider. The power-hungry megalomaniac Colonel Ernst Vogel, the SS commander, is determined to discover the whereabouts of the sacred artifact first, so a confrontation with him there may only lead to greater trouble.

Famous quotes:

Sallah: “Please, what does it always mean, this… this “Junior”?”

Professor Henry Jones: “That’s his name.”

[points to himself]

Professor Henry Jones: “Henry Jones…”

[points to Indy]

Professor Henry Jones: “Junior.”

Indiana Jones: “I like “Indiana.”

Professor Henry Jones: “We named the *dog* Indiana.”

Marcus Brody: “May we go home now, please?”

Sallah: “The dog?”

[starts laughing]

Sallah: “You are named after the dog? HA HA HA…!”

Indiana Jones: “I’ve got a lot of fond memories of that dog.”

Sequel: Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

Fun Fact about Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade:

  • As he had in the previous Indiana Jones films, Harrison Ford performed many of his action sequences. According to stuntman Vic Armstrong, Ford was doing so much of the action himself that he had to draw Ford to one side and ask him to let him “do some work.” A bit later, Armstrong remarked, “If he wasn’t such a wonderful actor, he might have made a terrific stuntman.”

The Day After Tomorrow – US Box Office Hit: USD$186.74million

Director: Roland Emmerich 

Main Cast: Dennis Quaid, Jake Gyllenhaal, Emmy Rossum, Dash Mihok

Release Date:  26 May 2004

Filming Locations: Montréal, Québec, Canada; New York Public Library – 476 5th Avenue, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Century Freeway I-105, Los Angeles, California, USA; Scotland, UK

Main Plot: Jack Hall, a paleoclimatologist in Antarctica, discovers that a massive ice sheet has separated. But he does not realize that this event will cause a catastrophic climatic shift that will impact the global population. Meanwhile, his son Sam is attending an event with friends in New York City. They learn that it has been pouring nonstop for the past three days. After a succession of weather-related tragedies occurred all over the planet, everyone recognized that the world was about to enter a new Ice Age. Attempts are made to flee to warmer climes in the south. Jack bravely attempts to rescue his kid and his pals, who are stranded in New York City and have survived a tremendous wave and potentially lethal cold conditions.

Famous quotes:

Jack Hall: [on Sam failing calculus] “I’m not angry. I’m disappointed.”

Sam Hall: “Do you wanna hear my side of it?”

Jack Hall: “Sam, how can there be two sides?”

Sam Hall: “Hey, look, I got every question right on the final and the only reason why Mr. Spengler failed me was because I didn’t write out the solutions.”

Jack Hall: “Why not?”

Sam Hall: “I do them in my head.”

Jack Hall: “Did you tell him that?”

Sam Hall: “I did. He didn’t believe me. He said if he couldn’t do them in his head then I must be cheating.”

Sequel: The Day After Tomorrow sequel 2

Fun Fact about The Day After Tomorrow:

  • Twenty-First Century Fox invited a group of scientists to a screening of this film to gauge their reaction to the “science” depicted in it. None of the scientists were impressed by what they observed, but the majority agreed that the film was entertaining nonsense.

Apollo 13 – US Box Office Hit: USD$173.84million

Director: Ron Howard

Main Cast: Tom Hanks, Bill Paxton, Kevin Bacon, Gary Sinise

Release Date:  15 November 1995

Filming Locations: Kennedy Space Center, Titusville, Florida, USA; Johnson Space Center – 2101 NASA Rd., Houston, Texas, USA; Ellington Field, Texas, USA; Merritt Island, Florida, USA; Stage 36, Universal Studios – 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA

Main Plot: A motion picture based on the mission that was supposed to be the third one to land on the moon. After a near-fatal accident cripples the spacecraft, this movie depicts the struggles and tribulations that the crew of Apollo 13, mission control, and the families of the astronauts go through as a result. Suddenly, a mission that the media had overlooked. Space travel had become so commonplace in the eyes of the American public. And was thrust into the center of attention. This story of averted disaster and heroism shows a monument to the resourcefulness of the scientists who supervised the early space flights. It is an inspiring story.

Famous quotes:

CAPCOM 2: “13, we just got another request from the Flight Surgeon for you to get some sleep. Don’t like these readings down here.”

Jim Lovell: [Tearing off his biomeds] “Let’s see how he likes this. I am sick and tired of the entire western world knowing how my kidneys are functioning!”

Dr. Chuck: [after Lovell’s heartrate flatlines] “Flight, we just lost Lovell!”

CAPCOM 2: “13, Houston. Jim, we just had a bottoming out on your biomeds.”

Jim Lovell: “I’m not wearing my biomeds.”

CAPCOM 2: [after Gene Kranz shrugs it off] “Ok, Jim. Copy that.”

[Jack and Fred now tear away their own biomeds]

Dr. Chuck: [after all three crew members flatline] “Flight, now I lost all three of them!”

Gene Kranz: “It’s just a little medical mutiny, Doc. I’m sure the boys are still with us. Let’s cut them a little slack, ok?”

Sequel: Apollo 13: The Dark Side of the Moon (2020)

Fun Fact about Apollo 13:

  • Using NASA’s KC-135 aircraft, the cast and crew traversed 612 parabolic arcs (nicknamed the “Vomit Comet”). Each turn achieved 20 seconds of weightlessness. In thirteen days, these flights were all performed. The genuine KC135 (NASA serial number N930NA) was decommissioned after 22 years of service in 1995 and placed on display at Ellington Field in 2000.

True Grit – US Box Office Hit: USD$171.24million

Director: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen 

Main Cast: Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon, Hailee Steinfeld, Josh Brolin

Release Date: 23 February 2011

Filming Locations: Buena Vista Ranch, New Mexico, USA; Austin, Texas, USA; Garson Studios, College of Santa Fe – 1600 Saint Michaels Drive, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA; Granger, Texas, USA

Main Plot: Mattie Ross, a 14-year-old farm girl, sets out to apprehend Tom Chaney, the man responsible for the murder of her father. To assist her, she employs Reuben J. “Rooster” Cogburn, the most tenacious U.S. marshal she can locate and a man with “real grit.” Mattie insists on traveling with Cogburn, whose drinking, laziness, and generally reprehensible nature do not inspire her confidence. Contrary to his wishes, she joins him on his journey across the Indian Nations in quest of Chaney. Texas Ranger LaBoeuf joins them; he desires Chaney for his purposes. On their voyage, each member of the improbable three encounters dangers and surprises that test their “grit.”

Famous quotes:

LaBoeuf: “As I understand it, Chaney… or Chelmsford, as he called himshelf in Texas… shot the senator’s dog. When the senator remonstrated, Chelmsford shot him as well. You could argue that the shooting of the dog was merely an instance of malum prohibitum, but the shooting of a senator is indubitably an instance of malum in se.”

Rooster Cogburn: “Malla-men what?”

Mattie Ross: “Malum in se. The distinction is between an act that is wrong in itself, and an act that is wrong only according to our laws and mores. It is Latin.”

Rooster Cogburn: “I am struck that LaBoeuf is shot, trampled, and nearly severs his tongue, and not only does not cease to talk, but spills the banks of English!”

Sequel: Rooster Cogburn

Fun Fact about True Grit:

  • According to the information from the 1969 film True Grit, Rooster Cogburn is supposed to be roughly 40 years old; nevertheless, both John Wayne and Jeff Bridges were in their early sixties when they played the roles. Jeff Bridges was 60, and John Wayne was 62.

Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines – US Box Office Hit: USD$150.37million

Director: Jonathan Mostow

Main Cast: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Nick Stahl, Kristanna Loken, Claire Danes

Release Date:  9 July 2003

Filming Locations: Arco AM/PM – 33488 Crown Valley Rd, Acton, California, USA; Rose Hills Cemetery – 3888 Workman Mill Road, Whittier, California, USA; Texas, USA; Santa Clarita, California, USA; Griffith Park – 4730 Crystal Springs Drive, Los Angeles, California, USA

Main Plot: Over a decade after the events of “Terminator 2,” John Connor is now a nomad living “off the grid” so that no future Terminators can pursue him. Unfortunately, SkyNet does send back another one, and this one is the T-X, which is much more evolved and powerful than the terrifying T-1000. Nonetheless, a second CSM-101 Terminator is sent back to protect John from the T-X. Under the appearance of a computer virus, Skynet is patiently seizing control of civilian computer systems. In addition, John has met the woman who will one day be his wife, Kate Brewster. Kate’s father is a United States Air Force General who is in command of military computer systems, and he is concerned about the uplinking of SkyNet. Kate’s father is a general in the United States Air Force who is in charge of the military’s computer systems and is concerned about the uplinking of SkyNet. However, when the SkyNet virus penetrates the U.S. military computers and leaves the nation vulnerable to attack, the robots commence their horrible takeover. Soon, a nuclear conflict will ensue, and the struggle against robots will start.

Famous quotes:

Terminator: “You cannot self-terminate.”

John Connor: No, you can’t. I can do anything I want. I’m a human being, not some god-damn robot.

Terminator: [correcting him] “Cybernetic organism.”

John Connor: “Whatever! Either we go, and save her Dad, or so much for the Great John Conner. Because your future, my destiny, I want no part in it, I never did.”

Terminator: “Based on your pupil dilation, skin temperature, and motor functions, I calculate an 83% probability that you will not pull the trigger.”

Sequel: Terminator Salvation

Fun Fact about Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines:

  • The studios have long desired to create a sequel to the previous Terminator films, but Arnold Schwarzenegger refused to participate unless James Cameron directed it. Cameron ultimately advised his pal to “just do it and ask for a shitload of money,” thinking that the character was equally Schwarzenegger’s. Schwarzenegger verified this on a talk show, stating that Cameron urged him to “take the money and run” when he inquired.

Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan – US Box Office: USD$128.51million

Director: Larry Charles 

Main Cast: Sacha Baron Cohen, Ken Davitian, Luenell, Chester

Release Date: 22 November 2006

Filming Locations: Glod, Romania (Kazakhstan); Moroieni, Romania (Kazakhstan); Castel Film Studios, Bucharest, Romania; Virginia, USA

Main Plot: As Kazakhstan’s sixth most well-known person and a prominent journalist, Borat Sagdiyev works as a TV reporter for a popular program. His government sent him to the United States from his native country in order for him to film a documentary on American society and culture. For the purpose of learning American humor, Borat enrolls in a course in New York City. Borat learns how gorgeous these women are in the person of C while watching Baywatch on television. Pamela Anderson, a Californian actress from Malibu, played J. Parker. In an effort to win her love and bring her back to his country, he decides to take a road trip across the country to California. On their travels, Borat and his producer come upon a nation full of unusual and fascinating Americans—real individuals caught up in genuine chaos with hilarious results.

Famous quotes:

Borat: “You telling me the man who try to put a rubber fist in my anus was a homosexual?”

Borat: “He is my neighbor Nursultan Tuliagby. He is pain in my assholes. I get a window from a glass, he must get a window from a glass. I get a step, he must get a step. I get a clock radio, he cannot afford. Great success!”

Borat: “What’s up with it, Vanilla face? Me and my homie Azamat just parked our slab outside. We’re looking for somewhere to post up our Black asses for the night. So, uh, bang bang, skeet skeet, nigga. Just a couple of pimps, no hos.”

Borat: “This is my country of Kazakhstan. It locate between Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan, and assholes Uzbekistan.”

Borat: “My wife is dead?”

Borat: “High five!”

Borat: [referring in thought to woman speaking in feminism group] “I could not concentrate on what this old man was saying.”

Sequel: Borat Subsequent Moviefilm: Delivery of Prodigious Bribe to American Regime for Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan 

Fun Fact about Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan:

  • Borat is based on a Russian doctor whom Sacha Baron Cohen once met. He admitted that the doctor was completely hilarious, but this was unintentional.

Traffic – US Box Office Hit: USD$124million

Director: Steven Soderbergh

Main Cast:  Michael Douglas, Benicio Del Toro, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Jacob Vargas

Release Date: 06 May 2016

Filming Locations: Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Columbus, Ohio, USA; El Paso Intelligence Center – 11339 SSG Sims Street, El Paso, Texas, USA; El Paso, Texas, USA;  La Jolla, San Diego, California, USA

Main Plot:

The president nominated a conservative judge to lead America’s drug battle, but his daughter is a crack addict. Two DEA agents protect a source. The jailed drug baron’s wife tries to run the family business.

A drama about the U.S. war on drugs seen through the eyes of a once conservative judge, now drug czar, his heroin-addicted daughter, two DEA agents, a jailed drug kingpin’s wife, and a Mexican cop who questions his boss’ motives.

The modern perspective of America’s war on drugs is conveyed through four interwoven stories. A conservative judge designated U.S. drug czar learns his teenage daughter is a drug addict. A trophy wife tries to rescue her husband’s drug business while two DEA agents protect a witness with inside knowledge. In Mexico, a corrupt but committed cop fights with his conscience when he hears his new boss may not be an anti-drug official.

Famous quotes:

Caroline Wakefield: [29:46] “What’s Washington like?”

Robert Wakefield: “What’s Washington like? Well, it’s like Calcutta, surrounded by beggars. The only difference is the beggars in Washington wear fifteen hundred dollar suits, and they don’t say please or thank you.”

Javier Rodriguez: [1:20:37] “You like baseball? We need lights for the parks, so kids can play at night. So they can play baseball. So they don’t become burros para Los Malones. Everybody likes baseball. Everybody likes parks.”

Montel Gordon: [1:02:45] “I lost my virginity with a sophomore in high school.”

Ray Castro: “That’s cool.”

Montel Gordon: “Yeah, sweet.”

Ray Castro: “Did he treat you well?”

Sequel:  Traffic 2

Fun Fact about Traffic: 

  • In the movie, Michael Douglas goes to the California border crossing to meet with other agents to discuss drug interdiction. However, the scene was filmed at the Tijuana border crossing instead. The fact that this was never supposed to be a part of the movie contributes to its low visual and sound quality. Out of character, Douglas started questioning Rudy M. Camacho about drug trafficking along the border. Rudy M. Camacho was confused. Camacho served as the actual Customs chief who was in command of California’s border crossings during that time. The director, Steven Soderbergh, started filming it with a hand-held camera while simultaneously praying that Camacho wouldn’t refer to the actor as “Mr. Douglas.”

Seabiscuit – US Box Office Hit: USD$120.28million

Director: Gary Ross 

Main Cast: Tobey Maguire, Jeff Bridges, Elizabeth Banks, Chris Cooper

Release Date: 25 July 2003

Filming Locations: Hemet, California, USA; Saratoga Race Track, Saratoga Springs, New York, USA; Fillmore, California, USA; Keeneland Racetrack – 4201 Versailles Road, Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Fairplex – 1101 West McKinley Avenue, Pomona, California, USA

Main Plot: Everyone needs a dream during the Depression. After losing his only kid and his first marriage, car builder Charles Howard is trying to rebuild his life. Charles joins a team of underdogs to race horses with Marcela, his second wife. Tom Smith, a horse trainer, is first. The second is Seabiscuit, a little horse with lame that Tom chooses for Charles. If Seabiscuit can be retrained, Tom believes he can win. Third, Johnny “Red” Pollard, a red-haired jockey, is hired. Red, like Tom, has always been good with horses, but his terrible upbringing owing primarily to the Depression, has made him an angry young man who has gotten into trouble on and off the track. He’s a big jockey, so he’s always fighting weight. Traditional horse racing circles have been called Tom, Seabiscuit, and Red mad. Seabiscuit, with his human team, beats the odds and inspires dreamers. Seabiscuit wins smaller races. Charles wants Seabiscuit to race Triple Crown winner War Admiral, who should win.

Famous quotes:

Charles Howard: [about the horse] “Will he get better?”

Tom Smith: “Already is. A little.”

Charles Howard: “Will he race?”

Tom Smith: “No. Not that one.”

Charles Howard: “So why are you fixing him?”

Tom Smith: “Cause I can. Every horse is good for something.”

Sequel: Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles III; Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles: The Secret of The Ooze; Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles; TMNT, Ninja Turtle: The Next Mutation; Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles: The Legend of the Supermutants

Fun Fact about Seabiscuit: 

  • The close-up action was captured using a device called Equicizer. Similar to a hobby horse. It was a spring-equipped, wooden-headed, carpet-bodied mechanical horse. It was fondly referred to as SS Seabiscuit. It was a 12 ft by 20 ft platform with steering wheels in the rear and front. However, it ran on rails around the track, simulating the movement of a running horse. It had a 454 Chevy engine and could travel between 40 and 50 miles per hour.

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