Where was Dazed and Confused filmed?
1993
City Locations
Austin, Texas
Location Types
Schools/Colleges, House, Auditorium
Location Styles
Cape Cod, Classic Car, Parking Lot, Rustic
About Dazed and Confused
The 1993 movie Dazed and Confused, directed by Richard Linklater, is a classic American coming-of-age comedy. It follows the story of high schoolers in Austin, Texas, on their last day before summer vacation starts. An ensemble cast featuring Ben Affleck, Jason London, Parker Posey, and Milla Jovovich brings this iconic film to life with Matthew McConaughey’s unforgettable performance as David Wooderson at its helm.
The plot follows the activities of various groups of friends throughout the end of their senior year. This includes a hazing ritual for incoming freshmen, an impromptu baseball game before their traditional bonfire, and partying at local hangouts with music from Aerosmith and Kiss playing in the background. As night falls and graduation draws closer, the characters face decisions regarding the future, which will shape their lives forever.
When Dazed and Confused premiered, it was recognized for its impact with five nominations at the 1994 Young Artist Awards. This included Best Youth Actor Co-Starring in a Motion Picture Drama (Jason London). Additionally, Richard Linklater received two awards; one from Locarno International Film Festival's screenplay competition and another from the Awards Circuit Community Award's Original Screenplay category. Finally, the movie earned recognition as an Outstanding Cast Ensemble by receiving another ACCA award. Additionally, it received widespread critical acclaim, garnering a 92% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and being included on several "Best Of" lists from publications such as Time Magazine and Entertainment Weekly.
Dazed and Confused Locations
The 1993 classic movie Dazed and Confused was filmed in various areas around Austin, Texas. Most scenes for the production were shot in central Texas' capital city and its surrounding regions. The backdrop of the region looks like a peaceful town with old-style buildings, plenty of outdoor green spaces, and quaint restaurants.
Some notable filming locations in the area include Bedichek Middle School in Austin, West Enfield Park beneath the Moontower, and the Poodle Dog Lounge in Allandale. These sites give viewers a sense that they are a part of a larger community and experience life through the eyes of a high school student living in this era.
All sites used to film Dazed and Confused capture the essence of Austin's laid-back atmosphere and its rich history. A trip to these iconic locations would be worthwhile as it would allow fans to get up close with some of the most memorable elements from this classic movie.
Fans could not only visit these spots but also explore other nearby attractions within the same vicinity such as museums, parks, eateries, shopping centers, and universities. Taking a tour through Dazed and Confused's filming locations will make for an exciting journey full of nostalgia for anyone looking for a cinematic sightseeing adventure.
Lee High School scenes in Dazed and Confused
6800 Bill Hughes Rd, Austin, TX 78745, USA
In the opening scene of Dazed and Confused, a 1970 Pontiac GTO is seen rolling into the Lee High School parking lot as Aerosmith's “Sweet Emotion” plays on the radio. In the car are two teenage boys and a beautiful girl who rolls a joint while they arrive at school. The setting is Bedichek Middle School, located at 6800 Bill Hughes Road in Austin, Texas.
The scene captures the spirit of youth rebellion prevalent during this high school coming-of-age period. The school's star football player, Randall "Pink" Floyd (Jason London), is requested to affix his signature to a vow committing him not to partake in drugs or anything else that might thwart their goal of a championship season. As classes end, the incoming freshmen boys are tracked down by the seniors and spanked with paddles as part of their hazing ritual. The arriving freshmen girls must endure similar humiliation; they are rounded up in the parking lot by senior girls and wholly covered from head-to-toe with mustard sauce, ketchup, flour, and raw eggs before being ordered to propose marriage proposals for any senior boy present at the scene.
The exterior scenes for Dazed and Confused were filmed around Thelma Drive near Bedichek Middle School in Austin, Texas. While Austin may have changed since 1993, visitors can still experience what it felt like when teenagers drove into that parking lot looking for adventure with some sweet tunes on the radio. To get to this location from central Austin you can take I-35 Southbound and exit at Slaughter Lane/William Cannon Drive Eastbound. Then take a right onto William Cannon Drive, followed by another right onto Bill Hughes Road until you reach your destination on your left side.
Austin Filming Locations Scout
Junior high school scenes in Dazed and Confused
507 E University Ave, Georgetown, TX 78626, USA
In these classic scenes, the incoming freshman class is hazed by older students, which is what Mitch (Wiley Wiggins) and his friends experience during their last day of 8th grade. The iconic scene includes senior students taunting and heckling the younger students while they are walking down the hallway of their school.
The location where this scene was shot was at 507 E University Avenue, Georgetown. At the time it was known as Everette L. Williams Elementary School, but it has since reopened as Hammerlun Center for Leadership and Learning.
To get to this location, travelers can take I-35 N from Austin to Georgetown. It’ll take you roughly an hour to get there, so this location is within easy reach of Austin.
Carl's house scene in Dazed and Confused
6409 Wilbur Dr, Austin, TX 78757, USA
Mitch and Carl (Esteban Powell) bravely stand up to local bully O’Bannion (Ben Affleck). After escaping, Pink offers to give Mitch a ride home. And when they arrive at Carl's house, his mom confronts O’Bannion with a shotgun in one of the most iconic scenes in the entire movie. This scene shows that sometimes people need courage but are also never alone, as someone is always willing to lend them aid.
6409 Wilbur Drive in the idyllic neighborhood of Allandale, Austin, is where this scene was filmed. Picture mature trees lining peaceful streets and homes from the mid-20th century—it's a lovely, family-friendly area! Not to mention nearby Beverly S. Sheffield Northwest District Park, which has sports courts, a pool, and even an adorable duck pond. We request that all visitors to this private residence honor the property and respect the privacy of its occupants.
For those wishing to visit this location today in Austin, Texas, it can easily be reached by car or public transport. It’s just a short drive of about seven miles north of the city center.
"Why can't we be friends?" scene in Dazed and Confused
2200 Hancock Dr, Austin, TX 78756, USA
In the movie, Darla (Parker Posey) leads a group of upperclassmen girls in an initiation ritual for incoming freshmen outside of a movie theater. Benny (Cole Hauser), Pink, Melvin (Jason O. Smith), and Don (Sasha Jenson) linger inside their pickup truck at the front of the parking lot, watching the freshmen perform a series of increasingly embarrassing tasks. The scene is a classic example of teen hijinks in Dazed and Confused and captures the spirit of teenage rebellion.
The hazing scenes were filmed at the former Americana Theatre, now home to the Yarborough Branch of Austin Public Library located at 2200 Hancock Drive, Austin. In 1988, the branch was moved from North Loop West to a rental space at 2210 Hancock Drive, before eventually moving to its current location.
To get to this location from downtown Austin, head just five miles north from the city center.
Access Austin Film Shoot Locations
Top Notch Hamburgers scene in Dazed and Confused
7525 Burnet Rd, Austin, TX 78757, USA
This unforgettable scene in Dazed and Confused occurs at the local drive-in restaurant, a hot spot for teenagers to meet up. Cars full of kids arrive and leave, making plans for their night out. Wooderson (Matthew McConaughey) is a mature guy who still frequents high school spots, and in one line of dialogue he laments his presence: "I said to God I would never step foot back at Top Notch Hamburgers, yet here I am picking through jalapeno burgers and limp fries."
The scene was filmed in Austin at the very real Top Notch Hamburgers on Burnet Road. The eatery has been open since 1971, and the décor appears unchanged, complete with red checkered tablecloths, neon lights, and even vintage jukeboxes.
Top Notch Hamburgers is at 7525 Burnet Rd in Austin. To get there from the center of Austin, head north on I-35 for the majority of the nine-mile drive.
Austin Production Spaces Directory
Conclusion
Dazed and Confused (1993) is a highly entertaining and thought-provoking movie that has gained immense recognition and praise since its debut. Linklater's direction is naturalistic yet humorous, with the actors delivering performances that truly bring the characters to life.
The script is also well-written, with just enough humor to balance out the more serious moments of teenage angst. The dialogue feels authentic and genuine, and cleverly captures the energy and essence of teenage life. The idea behind the film itself is brilliant—it presents an experiential snapshot of what it’s like to be a teenager during the summer before entering adulthood.
Dazed and Confused has made an enormous contribution to the movie industry. It was one of the first films to successfully capture teenage life on film honestly, without resorting to caricature or stereotypes. Its influence can be seen in many contemporary films about adolescence, such as Superbad (2007), Juno (2007), Ladybird (2017), and Booksmart (2019).
And with so many of its iconic filming locations easily accessible in and around Austin, it’s easy to enjoy your own Dazed and Confused experience in real life.