Best Movies About Los Angeles

From Quentin Tarantino, starring John Travolta, Uma Thurman, Samuel L. Jackson, Bruce Willis
Rated R

Pulp Fiction is a classic 1994 movie directed by Quentin Tarantino that follows a series of intertwining stories involving a variety of characters in the criminal underworld of Los Angeles. Two hit men, Vincent Vega (John Travolta) and Jules Winnfield (Samuel L. Jackson), are sent out to retrieve a mysterious briefcase for their boss, Marsellus Wallace (Ving Rhames). The two soon find themselves embroiled in a crime involving a young boxer, Butch Coolidge (Bruce Willis), and an old acquaintance, Mia Wallace (Uma Thurman). Meanwhile, their boss is dealing with a corrupt police officer who is extorting him. The film is full of dark humor, violence, and unpredictable plot twists, and is widely considered to be one of the greatest films of all time.

From Roman Polanski, starring Jack Nicholson, Faye Dunaway, John Huston, Perry Lopez
Rated R

Chinatown is a 1974 neo-noir film directed by Roman Polanski and starring Jack Nicholson, Faye Dunaway, and John Huston. The film follows Jake Gittes (Nicholson), a private detective who, while investigating an adultery case, stumbles upon a city-wide conspiracy involving the water supply of Los Angeles. He meets powerful businessman Noah Cross (Huston) and uncovers a web of corruption and deception at the heart of the city. Gittes must fight to clear his name and uncover the truth behind the mysterious Chinatown, a place of secrets, lies and murder. The film is widely considered to be a classic, and was nominated for 11 Academy Awards, winning Best Original Screenplay.

From Curtis Hanson, starring Kevin Spacey, Russell Crowe, Guy Pearce, Kim Basinger
Rated R

L.A. Confidential is a neo-noir crime drama set in 1950s Los Angeles. The film follows three homicide detectives as they work to solve a series of mysterious and brutal murders. As the detectives investigate, they uncover a web of corruption involving Hollywood celebrities, the police force, and organized crime. The detectives must face their personal demons and confront the seedy underbelly of the city in order to bring justice. Along the way, they must confront their own moral dilemmas as they are forced to choose between loyalty and justice. In the end, the detectives are forced to come to terms with the darker side of human nature in order to bring the killers to justice and restore order to the city.

From Paul Thomas Anderson, starring Mark Wahlberg, Julianne Moore, Burt Reynolds, Luis Guzmán
Rated R

Boogie Nights is a 1997 American drama film written, produced and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson. The film is set during the Golden Age of Porn of the 1970s and follows the rise and fall of porn star Dirk Diggler (Mark Wahlberg), who is eventually taken under the wing of porn filmmaker Jack Horner (Burt Reynolds). Along the way, Dirk meets a variety of people, including drug-addicted porn actress Amber Waves (Julianne Moore) and her son, Buck (William H. Macy). The film also features iconic performances from Philip Seymour Hoffman, Don Cheadle, Heather Graham and John C. Riley. Boogie Nights portrays the underground world of pornography, exploring themes such as friendship, ambition, and familial relationships, as well as the effects of success and failure. Ultimately, the film is a portrait of a lost era in American culture, providing a glimpse into the lives of those who worked in the industry during that time.

From Paul Haggis, starring Don Cheadle, Sandra Bullock, Thandiwe Newton, Karina Arroyave
Rated R

Crash is an Academy Award-winning drama film directed by Paul Haggis. The film follows the lives of numerous characters in Los Angeles who are affected by racism and the ways in which it intersects with other forms of discrimination. As the film progresses, the characters find themselves drawn closer together and face the consequences of their actions, their own prejudices and the prejudices of others. It explores themes of racism, classism, alienation, power, privilege and redemption. The film stars an ensemble cast including Sandra Bullock, Don Cheadle, Matt Dillon, Jennifer Esposito, Brendan Fraser, Thandie Newton, Terrence Howard, and Ryan Phillippe. The film was critically acclaimed and won numerous awards, including the Academy Award for Best Picture.

From Marc Webb, starring Zooey Deschanel, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Geoffrey Arend, Chloë Grace Moretz
Rated PG-13

500 Days of Summer is a 2009 romantic comedy-drama directed by Marc Webb. The film follows the story of Tom Hansen (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), a greeting card writer, and Summer Finn (Zooey Deschanel), the girl of his dreams. Though Tom has been in love with Summer since the moment they met, Summer doesn't believe in true love, and Tom must learn to accept that as they embark on a tumultuous, but ultimately rewarding 500 days together. Along the way, Tom must reconcile his fantasies with reality, and come to terms with the kind of relationship he truly wants.

From Mick Jackson, starring Steve Martin, Victoria Tennant, Richard E. Grant, Sarah Jessica Parker
Rated PG-13

From Mick Jackson, starring Tommy Lee Jones, Anne Heche, Gaby Hoffmann, Don Cheadle
Rated PG-13