Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows FanStore News Showtimes

Sunset Boulevard

Play trailer 3:13 Poster for Sunset Boulevard Released Aug 10, 1950 1h 50m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
98% Tomatometer 117 Reviews 94% Popcornmeter 50,000+ Ratings
An aging silent film queen refuses to accept that her stardom has ended. She hires a young screenwriter to help set up her movie comeback. The screenwriter believes he can manipulate her, but he soon finds out he is wrong. The screenwriters ambivalence about their relationship and her unwillingness to let go leads to a situation of violence, madness, and death.
Watch on Fandango at Home Buy Now

Where to Watch

Sunset Boulevard

Sunset Boulevard

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Arguably the greatest movie about Hollywood, Billy Wilder's masterpiece Sunset Boulevard is a tremendously entertaining combination of noir, black comedy, and character study.

Read Critics Reviews

Critics Reviews

View All (117)
Wendy Ide The Times (UK) Billy Wilder’s chillingly cold-blooded satire of Hollywood is one of his finest films — and indeed arguably one of the greatest movies of the period. Jun 27, 2023 Full Review Marjory Adams Boston Globe Smashing drama of the old-fashioned kind, plus elegant perceptive characterization of the modern school, combined to make Sunset Boulevard one of the greatest films of the decade. Oct 11, 2021 Full Review James Agee Sight & Sound It is Hollywood craftsmanship at its smartest and at just about its best, and it is hard to find better craftsmanship than that, at this time, in any art or country. Oct 11, 2021 Full Review Don Shanahan Cinephile Hissy Fit Podcast When a movie is still mused upon after 75 years like this, you know you have an undeniably permanent piece of cinema lore. Jun 14, 2025 Full Review David Reddish CBR Movies do not get better than Sunset Boulevard. 75 years later, it stands tall alongside Citizen Kane, The Wizard of Oz, The Godfather, or any other film often named as the greatest. Rated: 4/4 May 5, 2025 Full Review Veronica Elizabeth Bruno Culturess Sunset Boulevard is every bit as relevant as when it first premiered in 1950, due to Wilder's compelling directing as well as writing. Dec 5, 2024 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (1000+)
Shirley L Classic story of someone trying to break into the movie business and taken advantage of by an older star. I could have been a young woman being taken advantage of by an older male star for the same impact. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 08/24/21 Full Review Stephen C Success in 1 hour and 50 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Happy 75th anniversary!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/06/25 Full Review Garrett B Pacing and story felt quite slow and boring though it certainly has its charm. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 05/03/25 Full Review Farah R This is one classic that lives up to its reputation as one of the greatest films about Hollywood ever made. The story is intriguing and the acting is brilliant. It's a splendid character study with complex and thought-provoking themes. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 04/13/25 Full Review Jens B Perhaps the best film ever made about Hollywood. The film makes me feel like I understand the essence of this city, the film industry, and the people who live within it. And I did that without ever having been there. The dream factory thrives on the images it produces of itself. It's only fitting that images and films always depict a past moment, thus glorifying the past. Gloria Swanson is one of the most expressive film faces I've ever seen. "Sunset Boulevard" is always worth watching and, at 75 years old, is still relevant, funny, thrilling, and tragic. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/25/25 Full Review Emma F This film highlights the harsh realities of the film industry. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 03/07/25 Full Review Read all reviews
Sunset Boulevard

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW

Cast & Crew

View All

Billy Wilder

Director

William Holden

Joe Gillis

Gloria Swanson

Norma Desmond

Erich von Stroheim

Max Von Mayerling

Nancy Olson

Betty Schaefer

Fred Clark

Sheldrake

More Like This

View All
The Heiress 100% 93% The Heiress Watchlist A Place in the Sun 82% 84% A Place in the Sun Watchlist TRAILER for A Place in the Sun The Rose Tattoo 67% 73% The Rose Tattoo Watchlist Ace in the Hole 90% 92% Ace in the Hole Watchlist Samson and Delilah 56% 59% Samson and Delilah Watchlist Discover more movies and TV shows. View More
View All

Sunset Boulevard

Sunset Boulevard: Trailer 1 Sunset Boulevard: Trailer 1 3:13 View more videos
View All

Sunset Boulevard

A scene from "Sunset Blvd." A scene from "Sunset Blvd." A scene from "Sunset Blvd." A scene from "Sunset Blvd." (L-R) Gloria Swanson as Norma Desmond and William Holden as Joe Gillis in "Sunset Boulevard." (L-R) Gloria Swanson as Norma Desmond and William Holden as Joe Gillis in "Sunset Boulevard." A scene from the film "Sunset Boulevard." (L-R) William Holden as Joe Gillis and Gloria Swanson as Norma Desmond in "Sunset Boulevard." (L-R) Gloria Swanson as Norma Desmond and William Holden as Joe Gillis in "Sunset Boulevard." Gloria Swanson as Norma Desmond in "Sunset Boulevard." View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis An aging silent film queen refuses to accept that her stardom has ended. She hires a young screenwriter to help set up her movie comeback. The screenwriter believes he can manipulate her, but he soon finds out he is wrong. The screenwriters ambivalence about their relationship and her unwillingness to let go leads to a situation of violence, madness, and death.
Director
Billy Wilder
Producer
Charles Brackett
Screenwriter
Charles Brackett, D.M. Marshman Jr., Billy Wilder
Distributor
Paramount Pictures
Production Co
Paramount Pictures
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Aug 10, 1950, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Jul 1, 2013
Runtime
1h 50m
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.37:1)
Most Popular at Home Now