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.

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.

This film highlights the harsh realities of the film industry.

A Haunting Masterpiece That Breathes with Decay and Desperation If there’s a perfect classic film—one that defines Hollywood’s dark, glamorous, and tragic soul—it’s Sunset Boulevard. Everything about it seeps into your bones: the haunting cinematography, the air of faded grandeur, and the decayed beauty of Norma Desmond’s mansion, which feels less like a setting and more like a living, breathing character. From the rotting tennis court to the rusted Isotta Fraschini gathering dust in the garage, you can almost smell the film’s atmosphere. Every inch of the frame radiates age and lost glory, a physical manifestation of Norma herself—once magnificent, now withering away in a delusional haze of silent film memories. That tangible decay is what makes Sunset Boulevard so immersive. You don’t just watch it; you feel it. And at the center of it all is Gloria Swanson, who doesn’t just play Norma Desmond—she is Norma Desmond. Her every movement, every line, every flick of her fingers is infused with desperation, arrogance, longing, and madness. She’s wicked, tragic, grotesque, and mesmerizing all at once, commanding every frame with a performance so layered it becomes almost hypnotic. Her Norma is part grand dame, part ghost, part witch, and entirely unforgettable. Billy Wilder’s direction is razor-sharp, the dialogue crackles, and the film’s bitter take on Hollywood’s cruelty remains just as relevant today. It’s a gothic horror story disguised as noir, a cautionary tale about fame’s fleeting nature, and a darkly poetic portrait of a woman who refuses to fade quietly. If there’s one classic film that embodies everything I love about cinema—atmosphere so thick you can taste it, a performance that burns itself into your mind, and a story that lingers long after the final shot—it’s Sunset Boulevard. It’s not just a movie. It’s a spell.

My favorite movie of all time. Bravo to all!

It is a great movie, it just starts dragging from the middle.

It's nice to get to see old movies that I've heard so much about, like "Sunset Boulevard". I found it to be a tragic story of men and women caught up in a glamorous industry, but largely seeing the tough uninspiring reality of it.

I watched this movie not knowing what to expect and I was absolutely blown away. I was so engrossed in the characters that I couldn't look away. The performances, particularly Gloria Swanson, are top notch. Sometimes I wonder why some of these noir era cinematographic techniques don't get used anymore because they just look so good. I highly recommend this movie.

This film surprised me because I really didn't know what to expect. I like how much its centered around the movie business, especially when we look back at where things started. The main character being a screenwriter is different from what is seen in other films. This movie is beautiful for its time and really stands the test of time. Its characters are interesting and the film had me caring for them throughout. I enjoyed the film and learning more about the world of an early Hollywood, because its always nice to get many takes on what life was like. I would recommend this film to people especially interesting in noir stories, we don't get a whole lot like these anymore.

This noir film was really interesting to watch. You follow a once highly praised silent actress who wants to ‘return’ to the film industry, and as her return is imminent, she hires someone to help her succeed with her plan. In which most people can somewhat resonate with this film, by wanting the help of someone at some given point of their life, trusting them, and from one day to another, you're being taken advantage of. We all have been through there, and it's a high connection that many of us, the viewers, can understand. However, the film itself was somewhat funny, well as for me it was. It was just interesting to see how the overall plot took a twist at the end with Nora’s new husband. Overall, it was a very enjoyable film which I would recommend to many. It's aesthetically beautiful, but the plot is funny, twisting, and questionable. I am highly sure many would enjoy it.

Sunset Boulevard (Dir. Billy Wilder) is a noir/comedy centered around a screenwriter by the name of Joe Gillis. Financially struggling and with no work to do, Joe is trying to avoid finance men so that they won’t take away his car. In a somewhat dramatic chase, Joe pulls up into the driveway of a seemingly abandoned mansion in order to hide due to his flat tire. He enters the home which is owned by an old but once very popular silent movie star, Norma Desmond. Norma is not over her stardom and believes she can still make a return, not a comeback, as specified in the film. A return, “a return to the millions of people who have never forgiven me for deserting the screen.” Sunset Boulevard does a good job of portraying round characters and their intricate relationships. I did not find myself rooting for neither Norma nor Joe. I believe they both have faults and were simply trying to use each other. Norma wanted to make a return and so her opportunity literally walked in through her doors in the form of a screenwriter looking for work. Joe wanted work and Norma had the money to pay him. However, as where all things get twisted, Norma seeked Joe for more than his writing, she wanted Joe in a romantic sense and tried to buy him with gifts. Joe did not want this, he felt as if Norma was invading every aspect of his life when he only signed up to revise a script, not to move in with Norma, or the fancy suits, or the dancing. It took a second watch for me to realize how funny this film is despite the obvious noir elements. Even the way the film closes is such a “full circle” moment because her ex husband, who was a film director, is the one directing the closing scene. Out of all the films I’ve watched in my film study classes this one is high on the list of favorites.

Sunset Boulevard is one of my favorite classics. The story, the acting, and the technical elements are all fantastic. I particularly enjoy the dynamic between Joe and Norma. While Norma is manipulative in making him stay, he makes his choice to stay with her himself. He is taken advantage of but he also reaps the benefits of her wealth and becomes comfortable within her lifestyle. The film is thrilling, Gloria Swanson perfectly encapsulates a vain and delusional washed up silent film star. The choice to show Joe dead at the very beginning of the film and have him narrating, telling the story of how he ended up dead in the pool was a groundbreaking move in storytelling and pays off, building up suspense throughout the movie. While Norma is ultimately responsible for her actions, it isn’t difficult to sympathize with or at least try to understand how she got to where she did. Many of the characters in the film enable or feed into her delusions, in particular her butler and former director, Max. DeMille also feeds into her delusions, entertaining her belief that she will come back and be in another of his movies. The film shows a darker side of Hollywood, contrasting the dreams of the washed up star with the dreams of the eager screenwriter. In the end, Joe gets what he originally wanted, fame and fortune, but it comes at the cost of his life. Norma also gets what she wants, a chance to relive her glory days and have her face on the screen again.

I thought Sunset Boulevard was overall an ok film. The sort of weird romance/sugar baby relationship with Norma Desmond and Joe Gillis. It is interesting how they show how fragile Norma Desmond's mental health actually is during the ending when she seems to go into a VERY manic mental state. She is so crazy she actually shoots Joe after she thinks he is cheating on her. It also seems that the one thing that is keeping her sane is actually Joe and her belief that she is still popular that keeps her from absolutely losing it. She also seems very much stuck in the 20s, actually the whole film seems very stuck in the 20s despite being made in 1950. It is also the film responsible for making the cliche of the main character explaining how they got into an awkward predicament. For example you can see this in the beginning of megamind. Megamind is kind of a role reversal of Sunset Boulevard just without the sugar baby part of the relationship. I think that Max was wrong for feeding into Norma’s delusions for so long. This is because it made her so unstable that her mental health was so fragile that pretty much anything would make her snap. It just kept her in this weird echo chamber where she was so sequestered away from the world where it just made her mentally worse. It also is keeping her away from a possible support network that is not made up of Max or Joe. Lastly Max’s actions eventually ended in the death of Joe so that's also a thing to add on top of that.

I didn’t know what to expect when first watching Sunset Boulevard, I won’t lie I was afraid I would get bored but I was far from it when watching. I don’t think I’ve heard anything about this film before watching it, but I was so surprised. What this film does brilliantly is it speaks on the harsh reality of society’s perspective of older women. The character, Norma Desmond, we pity her and cringe at how desperate she is to be in the limelight again. In the film, because we follow the perspective of Joe Gillis, who sees her as a crazy washed up film star that is delusional in living in her glory days. The audience sees her in this way too. But what is really being said is the harsh reality that women have to deal with as she grows older. Hollywood and society believe that women lose their value as they start to show that they’re getting older. The standards for women are different, if a man gets older he’s still valued and is the much wiser. When a woman grows older, shes expected to step aside for newer, younger, hungrier women. I think its important for a person to see this film at least once in their life, its truly brilliant on speaking on this topic and I feel that there is no other film that speaks it so plainly as Sunset Boulevard does. The same could be said for Joe Gillis’ character as well, what happens when Hollywood has decided that a writer is no longer needed because his material is “stale.” This film, speaks on the dispensability of people in Hollywood. That each person can be easily replaced with newer, brighter and fresher ideas, which is a harsh and cruel truth of Hollywood that is especially relevant to today.

I can't help to fall for this -other than the final result - worth the effort on all levels- Swanson and Holden are tremendously entertaining to behold in their roles.

Nice storyline. Interesing film.

4/4 A film that feels like it was made yesterday, despite it being from 1950. It's one of the greatest films in cinematic history. It posseses possibly the greatest opening scene ever, that's pays off with one of the greatest twists in movie history.

I watched it again after seeing it several years ago. Swanson was great and I rarely use that word. Overall, it held my attention throughout- they really don't make em like this anymore. No unnecessary special effects, loud invasive sound track, etc. It's about interesting people - their personalities and interactions, and the bizarre culture of Hollywood.

Billy Wilder's iconic film Sunset Boulevard has very interesting characters with depths of psychology and gives a very hard critique of Hollywood's darker side. The industry is shown to be brutal and exploitative rather than attractive, which is a concept that I enjoy and is still relevant in today's industry. The cast of characters, each likable in their own special and sometimes imperfect ways, is what really sticks out to me in the entire movie. Norma Desmond, an emotional heroine caught in her past, is likable despite her delusions. She attempts to control Joe via riches by providing him with material luxuries like jewelry, clothing, and a luxury lifestyle in an effort to keep him around. Joe, on the other hand, knows this, but he is also hooked by Norma's comfort, which causes him to stay until the end. The psychological depth of both characters elevates the film, making it more than just a critique of Hollywood. It shows us the fragile egos, the desperation, and the moral compromises people make to survive in the industry. Even though this film is a dark comedy at heart, it feels strikingly real and contemporary, especially in its exploration of power dynamics and relevance. While a few scenes may feel slow or boring, the film remains entertaining throughout, showcasing its influence on countless Hollywood-centered films that followed. Wilder’s exploration of the darker sides of fame and ambition continues to be both relevant and captivating. Overall, I believe it's worth watching this film because it lets you freely create your own opinions on the characters and the whole industry itself.

I really enjoyed Sunset Boulevard. It has such a dark and haunting look and at first, it gave a very unsettling yet captivating feeling throughout. I found the storyline really interesting and eerie and I liked how the director, Billy Wilder was able to maintain a balance of Hollywood with its darker side. He captures both the desire and the emptiness of fame. I think the camera work was fantastic because it definitely brings out the darker atmosphere, especially in the way Norma’s mansion is filmed. The wide shots in this film make it look big but at the same time it is decaying which I think could symbolize her fame fading, and the close-ups of Norma’s expressions show her obsession and desperation so well and clearly. Gloria Swanson as Norma Desmond was so amazing. She was dramatic, intense, and still sympathetic all at the same time. As a viewer, it felt like I could feel her pain and delusion. William Holdens preformance was also very well done. Sunset Boulevard is a great film that goes into the dangers of fame and obsession and what can happen. With its cinematography, good direction, and great performances, it’s one that will pull you in and leave you thinking about maybe the negatives of fame.