Los Angeles isn’t just a city; it’s a character. Its hills, streets, and studios have inspired some of the most unforgettable films in cinema history — and Letterboxd users clearly agree. From glossy musicals to noir dystopias, these are the L.A. movies that rank in the top 100 of people’s Four Favorites, capturing everything from the city’s dream-chasing glamour to its eerier, more surreal side.
From La La Land’s sunlit Griffith Observatory to Blade Runner’s neon-soaked 2019 streets, these L.A. films have captured the imaginations of cinephiles everywhere — including stars like Matt Damon, Ana de Armas or Zoe Kravitz. Any guesses on which one tops the list?
La La Land (2016) – #8
Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone dance their way through iconic L.A. landmarks like Griffith Observatory, Angels Flight, and Grand Central Market. It’s a technicolor love letter to the city, and to anyone who’s ever chased big dreams here. Camila Mendes and Marissa Bode count it among their Four Favorites.
Singin’ in the Rain (1952) – #10
Hollywood in its golden age, right as talkies take over. Filmed across L.A. streets and studios, this musical is as much about the city’s early film industry as it is about tap shoes and romance. Hugh Jackman, Glen Powell, and Jeremy Allen White include it in their Four Favorites.
A Woman Under the Influence (1974) – #22
John Cassavetes’s domestic drama takes place in working-class L.A. neighborhoods, portraying family life with an intimacy and grit that only the city’s suburbs could provide. Pamela Anderson, Aubrey Plaza, and Nicole Kidman list it as a Four Favorite.
Everything Everywhere All At Once (2022) – #26
While multiversal chaos reigns, much of the film was shot in the San Fernando and Simi Valleys. L.A. seeps into the film’s absurd, hyperactive domestic world.
The Big Lebowski (1998) – #38
From Venice Beach to the Hollywood Star Lanes, the Coen brothers’ cult classic is practically a tour of L.A.’s quirks, alleys, and bowling alleys. Hailee Steinfeld, Seth Rogen, and Cillian Murphy swear by it in their 4 Favorites.
Magnolia (1999) – #45
Paul Thomas Anderson’s intertwining stories of human desperation and coincidence unfold across the San Fernando Valley, making L.A. itself feel like a character in the film.
Pulp Fiction (1994) – #47
Tarantino’s intersecting crime stories are anchored in L.A.’s streets, diners, and apartments, giving the city its trademark pulp energy. Zoe Kravitz, Ana de Armas, Matt Damon, and Margaret Qualley all count it among their Four Favorites.
Mulholland Drive (2001) – #55
David Lynch’s surreal, noir mystery follows an aspiring actress and an amnesiac woman as their lives collide. Set and filmed in Hollywood and the Hills, it captures the city’s strange, dreamlike duality.
Blade Runner (1982) – #59
Futuristic and noir, Ridley Scott’s vision is unmistakably L.A., set in a dystopian 2019 and featuring downtown streets and the Bradbury Building. Kit Connor, Zac Efron, (and Scott himself!) count it among their favorites.