Tex is a 1982 American coming-of-age drama film directed by Tim Hunter in his directorial debut, from a screenplay by Charles S. Haas and Hunter, based on S. E. Hinton's best-selling 1979 novel of the same name. It follows two teenage brothers in rural Oklahoma and their struggle to grow up after their mother's death and their father's departure. The film stars Matt Dillon in the title role, with Jim Metzler, Meg Tilly, Bill McKinney, and Ben Johnson in supporting roles. Metzler was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for his performance. Tex is seen as one of the earliest efforts for Disney to put mature content in its movies and received positive reviews for its realism and its content. Premise A coming-of-age adventure about two brothers, Tex and Mason McCormick, struggling to make it on their own when their mother dies and their father leaves them in their Oklahoma home. Fifteen-year-old Tex McCormick and his 17-year-old brother Mason are trying to make it on their own in the absence of their rodeo-riding father. Mason takes over running the household and, to make ends meet, sells Tex’s beloved horse, Rowdy. Tex gets mad at Mason and heedlessly tumbles into scrape after scrape. When his Pop comes home, Tex is shocked to learn that he isn’t his real father. But Tex realizes that Mason and Pop do love him, and it is time to start growing up. Cast Matt Dillon as Texas "Tex" McCormick Jim Metzler as Mason "Mace" McCormick Meg Tilly as Jamie Collins Bill McKinney as Pop McCormick Frances Lee McCain as Mrs. Johnson Ben Johnson as Cole Collins Phil Brock as Lem Peters Emilio Estevez as Johnny Collins Tom Virtue as Robert “Bob” Collins Jack Thibeau as Coach Jackson Željko Ivanek as Hitchhiker Mark Jennings Pamela Ludwig as Connie Peters S.E. Hinton as Mrs. Barnes Production The film was rated "PG" rather than the "G" then customarily earned by Walt Disney Studios productions, and was noted as an early effort by Disney to incorporate more mature subject matter into its films. The film was somewhat edgy for Disney at the time for its scenes that depicted marijuana use as well as featuring a moderate amount of profanity. Tim Hunter, who had previously co-written the 1979 film Over the Edge with Charles Haas, brought the project to Disney and asked for the opportunity to direct it himself. The film