31. Sunset Boulevard (1950)
An aging star of the silent era refuses to step out of the limelight and aims to mount a comeback in Billy Wilder’s black comedy cleverly disguised as a noir thriller.
Movies by Hollywood about Hollywood can often devolve into self-indulgence, but Sunset Boulevard doesn’t put a foot wrong as the story spirals into madness and murder.
Irresistibly clever without being smug and almost entertaining to a fault, Sunset Boulevard saw through the bright lights and exposed the seedy underbelly of the movie business.
