Sunset Boulevard

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Sunset Boulevard

Released Aug 10, 1950

1h 50m

Drama

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Popcornmeter

98%

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117 Reviews

94%

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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.

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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.

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Stephen C

Success in 1 hour and 50 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Happy 75th anniversary!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/06/25

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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

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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

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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

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Emma F

This film highlights the harsh realities of the film industry.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/07/25

Full Review

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Sunset Boulevard: Trailer 1

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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)

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