Actor Matthew McConaughey was honored in his home state of Texas on Monday, with a local cinema in Austin renamed in his name. The Alamo Drafthouse Mueller is now officially the Matthew McConaughey Cinema, and August 10 has been declared 'Matthew McConaughey Cinema Day' in the city.
The ceremony marked a rare public appearance with his family, as McConaughey attended with his wife, Camila Alves, and their three children: Levi, Livingston, and Vida. The family posed for a photograph together at the event.
"More than just what’s on the screen, movies have always been about who you watch them with and the memories you take home," McConaughey said in a statement. "Alamo Drafthouse has championed that kind of moviegoing from the very beginning, and to have a theater dedicated in my name in the city that's shaped so much of who I am means a great deal to me."
Austin Mayor Kirk Watson described McConaughey as a "beloved local Austin icon," stating that the renaming was "a wonderful way to celebrate his professional accomplishments and celebrate someone who genuinely loves this city."
The event also featured a screening of McConaughey's new film, "The Rivals Of Amziah King," and a live musical performance by the actor. McConaughey performed alongside members of the band The Last Bison, playing the mandolin.
McConaughey, originally from Uvalde and raised in Longview, Texas, moved back to Austin with his family in 2014 after spending years in Los Angeles. He has previously stated that the move was partly to shift away from being typecast as a romantic comedy actor and to prioritize roles he genuinely wanted.
"I didn't want to. So, since I couldn't do what I wanted to do, I stopped doing what I was doing," McConaughey said in a 2024 podcast appearance. "I went down [to Texas] and I made a pact with my wife and said, 'I'm not going back to work unless I get offered roles I want to do.'"
This career pivot eventually led to his Academy Award win for "Dallas Buyers Club" in 2014. McConaughey has also cited family as a key reason for returning to Texas, noting the sense of security and connection to his extended family, including his mother and brothers who live in the state.
He has described Austin as a "very creative city in a state that is very structured," and a place where individuals are accepted for who they are. The actor emphasized the city's unofficial motto, "Be You," which he hopes will continue to be a guiding principle.
McConaughey and Alves, who married in Austin in 2012, have spoken about how life in Texas has reintroduced ritual into their family, including regular family dinners and storytelling. McConaughey also remains a notable fan of the University of Texas Longhorns football team.