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City leaders and residents credit the Coen brothers’ film with, at least, temporarily transforming Davilla Street and bringing visitors and revenue to the northern Williamson County city of just over 1,300 people.

"Granger really went through a complete transformation for the movie," Mayor Scott Murrah said.

Crews spent a month constructing facades on buildings and putting wires underground to ensure that downtown Granger looked like Fort Smith, Arkansas in the late 1800s. Some doors and windows are structurally sound enough to remain long after crews leave, but the facades and most other elements were built specifically for the movie and have since been taken down.

Murrah said the directors began scoping out Granger as a potential backdrop in late October.

"The Coen brothers had been in town a couple of times, and we never even knew they were here," Murrah said.

Murrah said the city realized the impact of the film once Granger was selected and crews began arriving.

"It's kind of a running joke between the chief of police and myself that Granger looked a lot better in the late 1800s than it did six months before the filming," Murrah said.

For a couple weeks beginning in late April, Davilla Street was shut down for production, which limited access to stores like Granger Feed & Supply.

"It slowed down our business, but it was interesting to watch," employee Clement Strmiska said. "I was supposed to be working instead of walking around and checking it out."

The film is a remake of the 1969 film starring John Wayne. This time around, it features Jeff Bridges and Matt Damon.