What Troublemaker Studios does

Troublemaker Studios is an independently-held film studio founded in 2001 by filmmaker Robert Rodriguez and producer Elizabeth Avellán, operating from a 20+ acre secure campus in Austin, Texas. The facility functions as a turn-key production campus combining 30,000 sq ft of production offices, two soundstages totaling 24,000 sq ft (including a 10,000 sq ft stage with Texas's largest green screen supporting Volume, VR, and motion capture work), a 100,000 sq ft interchangeable backlot (currently dressed as the 'Iron City' set from Alita: Battle Angel), a mill and fabrication facility with industrial machinery and 3D printing, and on-site post-production. Across 25 years of operation, the studio has produced or hosted more than 100 productions ranging from low-budget independent features to films with $200M+ budgets, with cumulative gross exceeding $2 billion across titles including Spy Kids, Sin City, Machete, Predators, Alita: Battle Angel, From Dusk Till Dawn, and Once Upon a Time in Mexico.

The company monetizes the asset base through four streams: (1) paid public studio tours at $49 per person booked via FareHarbor; (2) private event venue rentals across Hangar Stage 1, Hangar Stage 2, and the City Backlot accommodating 700 to 6,000 guests; (3) production services — stage rentals, backlot access, fabrication, creative services, and crew/vendor recommendations for film, TV, commercial, and music video clients; and (4) direct-to-consumer merchandise under the Troublemaker Studios and Brass Knuckle Films sub-brands via e-commerce with flat-rate shipping. Pricing is unit-based for tours and merchandise and quote-based for events and production services.

The studio is privately controlled by its co-founders with no disclosed venture capital, private equity, or institutional investment, operating with Texas production incentives of up to 31% cash grants as a structural cost advantage. Go-to-market spans direct-to-consumer booking through the website, sales-led outreach for production services, and event-driven demand from corporate clients, film enthusiasts, and educational groups. Most recent strategic activity includes Robert Rodriguez signing to direct 'The Naughty List' for Paramount Animation (announced April 2026) and the launch of tours, events, and merchandise as recurring revenue channels distinct from traditional production rentals.

Name

Troublemaker Studios

Legal name

Troublemaker Studios

Website

https://troublemakerstudios.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Troublemaker Studios is an independent film studio operating a 20+ acre turn-key production campus in Austin, Texas, offering film and TV production services, paid studio tours, private event venue rentals, and branded merchandise to production companies, corporate clients, and film enthusiasts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Film Production Services

NAICS

Motion Picture and Video Production (51211), Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries (512), Sound Recording Studios (51224)

SIC

Services-Allied To Motion Picture Production (7819), Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)

akta.pro primary industry

Studio Campus / Production Facility Operators (MPADAIAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Backlot & Exterior Lot Rental (MPADAIAB), Set Operations & Facilities Support (Power, Generators, Site Services) (MPADAFAF), Studios, Stages & Location Services (Facilities, Location Scouting/Permits) (MPAAAMAG)

Keywords

• Film production services
• Studio venue rentals
• Behind-the-scenes tours
• Private event spaces
• Branded merchandise

Headquarters

HQ city

Austin

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Studio Tours: Guided behind-the-scenes tours of the working film studio offering exclusive access to soundstages, backlot, props, and costumes. Tours are 60-90 minutes and booked by appointment only.
2. Private Event Venue Rental: Rental of studio spaces including Hangar Stage 1 (10,000 sq ft, capacity 700-1500), Hangar Stage 2 (14,000 sq ft, capacity 990-2000), and City Backlot (100,000 sq ft, capacity 3000-6000) for corporate events, celebrations, and brand activations.
3. Production Services: Rental of stage space, backlot access, fabrication services, and studio support for filmmakers and production companies. Includes production offices (30,000 sq ft), soundstages, and comprehensive production infrastructure.
4. Merchandise Sales: Sale of branded merchandise including apparel (t-shirts, hoodies) and accessories (trucker hats) through the studio's e-commerce platform. Products ship within 5-7 days with $5 flat rate shipping.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Troublemaker Studios operates a 20+ acre independent film production campus in Austin, Texas offering soundstage rentals, backlot access, fabrication/mill services, and production support to film and TV productions. The studio also monetizes its facilities through public behind-the-scenes Studio Tours and by renting Hangar Stages and the City Backlot as private event venues. A branded merchandise line under Troublemaker Studios and Brass Knuckle Films is sold through an own e-commerce storefront.

Product overview

Troublemaker Studios is an independent film studio in Austin, Texas offering a portfolio of services centered around film production, studio tours, and private event venue rentals. The core offerings include Studio Tours (Ultimate Studio Tour at $49 and Private Tours) providing behind-the-scenes access to working production facilities; Private Events with three distinct venue spaces (Hangar Stage 1 at 10,000 sq ft, Hangar Stage 2 at 14,000 sq ft, and City Backlot at 100,000 sq ft); Production Services encompassing infrastructure, creative services (custom set design, prop creation, art department, scenic installations), and production support (crew recommendations, vendor connections). The studio also operates a merchandise line under the Troublemaker Studios and Brass Knuckle Films sub-brands, offering apparel including trucker hats ($30), t-shirts ($30), and hoodies ($50). Founded in 2001 by Robert Rodriguez and Elizabeth Avellán, the studio is located on a 20+ acre secure campus featuring two soundstages, a mill/fabrication area with 3D printing capabilities, and one of the world's largest interchangeable backlots.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Brass Knuckle Films: Merchandise brand under Troublemaker Studios offering apparel and gear including trucker hats and t-shirts.

Products and services

• Studio Tours

Quantifiable outcome

• 100+ productions delivered from indie to $200M+ blockbusters
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Paramount AnimationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 April 2026Robert Rodriguez is directing 'The Naughty List' Christmas movie for Paramount Animation. This is a director/project partnership where Rodriguez writes, directs, and produces. The film is based on a concept Rodriguez developed for over a decade with his children. This marks the first big development title for Paramount Animation's new leader Jennifer Dodge.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Sunset Studios (Hudson Pacific): Operates large soundstage campuses in Los Angeles, including Sunset Bronson and Sunset Las Palmas Studios, with comparable soundstage and office leasing to production clients.
• Pinewood Studios: Iconic UK-based film and television studio operator with multiple soundstages, backlots, and production facilities. A direct competitor for high-end production rentals serving global film productions.
• Tyler Perry Studios: 330-acre Atlanta studio campus with multiple soundstages and backlots, similarly established by a high-profile filmmaker with integrated production and event capabilities. Closest comparable in scale and founder-led model.
• Cinespace Studios: Operates expansive studio facilities in Chicago and Toronto with dozens of soundstages, serving as a major North American alternative production hub comparable in scale to Troublemaker.
• EUE/Screen Gems Studios: Operates major soundstage facilities in Atlanta and New York (Cinecittà), with a focus on feature film and TV production rentals. Directly competes for productions choosing southeastern US locations.
• Kaufman Astoria Studios: New York-based film and television production facility with multiple soundstages and a backlot, serving major studio productions in a major US production hub.

Others

• Blackmagic Design: Manufacturer of professional film production equipment including cameras, switchers, and post-production hardware. Adjacent technology supplier to production facilities rather than a direct peer.

Broad incumbents

• Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden: Warner Bros.-owned UK studio complex with multiple soundstages, workshops, and backlots. A vertically integrated incumbent offering overlapping production facility services.
• Netflix Studios (Albuquerque/Los Angeles): Netflix-owned studio facilities including Albuquerque and major LA properties. A vertically integrated incumbent with self-operated production capacity that competes for major productions.

Regional players

• Austin Studios: Austin, Texas-based municipal studio complex operated by the Austin Film Society. Local competitor offering soundstage and production facility rentals within the same geographic market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/troublemaker-studios

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Troublemaker Studios