Movies About Movies: Top 20 Best Films About Cinema

1-21

Ignacio Weil

Entertainment - February 9th 2025, 15:00 GMT+1

Cropped About — About this gallery:

For this list, we decided to focus on movies that deal – whether directly or indirectly – with the film industry: actors, directors, screenwriters, and much more. To keep things fun (and avoid endless debates), we’ve arranged them chronologically instead of ranking them.

Think we missed a movie about movies? Then drop it in the comments! We love a good "How could you forget THIS one?!" moment... | © Realitism Films

Cropped Sunset Blvd — Sunset Boulevard (1950)

Ah, *Sunset Boulevard –* where Hollywood glamour goes to die, but in the most fabulous, dramatic way possible. This noir masterpiece takes us into the decaying mansion of Norma Desmond, a faded silent film star who's not ready to admit she's, well… faded. With the unforgettable line, "I’m ready for my close-up, Mr. DeMille," Gloria Swanson delivers a performance so hauntingly good, it’s practically engraved in cinema history. The film is both a love letter and a scathing breakup text to Hollywood, exposing its ruthless obsession with youth and fame. It’s dark, tragic, and oh-so-addictive – kind of like scrolling through social media at 3 AM. | © Paramount Pictures

Cropped Singin in the Rain — Singin' in the Rain (1952)

If *Sunset Boulevard* shows Hollywood’s dark side, *Singin’ in the Rain* is like the cheery neighbor who pretends everything’s fine… while secretly fighting for survival. Set during the chaotic transition from silent films to talkies, it’s filled with catchy songs, jaw-dropping dance numbers, and more charm than Gene Kelly’s umbrella-twirling could ever contain (which is saying something). Sure, the plot’s about the technical challenges of sound, but really, it’s about love, laughter, and how to make the best of a bad situation – like when life rains on you, and you decide to dance anyway. Iconic. Timeless. And yes, wet. Very, very wet. | © MGM

Cropped 8½ — 8½ (1963)

If cinema had a therapy session, it would look a lot like Federico Fellini’s 8½. This surreal masterpiece follows Guido, a film director suffering from the worst creative block in history, which is basically every writer’s Monday. With dream sequences, reality blurring into fantasy, and existential dread sprinkled like parmesan on top, 8½ is both confusing and brilliant – kind of like trying to understand modern art. It’s a film about making a film, but it’s also about not knowing how to make a film. Irony level: off the charts. Watch it, get lost in it, and pretend you totally understood it (we won’t tell). | © Cineriz

Cropped Day for Night — Day for Night (1973)

*Day for Night* is like eavesdropping on a film set, only instead of just hearing gossip, you get all the drama, chaos, and existential crises wrapped in one delightful package. François Truffaut (yes, the director himself) plays a director desperately trying to hold his film together as everything – actors, crew, cats – spirals out of control. The title refers to the cinematic trick of shooting night scenes during the day, which is kind of a perfect metaphor for the movie business: everything’s an illusion, but we pretend it’s magic. It’s funny, heartfelt, and will make you appreciate that any film ever gets finished at all. | © Les Films du Carrosse

Cropped Blow Out — Blow Out (1981)

Take a dash of conspiracy thriller, a sprinkle of paranoia, and a generous helping of John Travolta’s hair, and you’ve got *Blow Out*. Brian De Palma’s film is a masterclass in tension, following a sound technician who accidentally records evidence of a crime. It’s like *Blow-Up* but with more explosions and less brooding photographers. This movie doesn’t just show the technical side of filmmaking; it makes it thrilling. Who knew recording sound effects could be so… deadly? The ending hits harder than a jump scare, leaving you with the unsettling thought that sometimes the truth isn’t just stranger than fiction – it’s also way more tragic. | © Filmways Pictures

Cropped Videodrome — Videodrome (1983)

Long live the new flesh! If that line doesn’t make sense now, it will after watching David Cronenberg’s *Videodrome –* though "understanding" might be optional. This film is a wild fever dream about media, technology, and body horror, featuring James Woods as a sleazy TV executive who discovers a pirated broadcast that literally messes with his mind (and his body… and reality itself). It’s like if cable TV grew tentacles and whispered dark secrets straight into your brain. A gloriously weird, prophetic look at how media consumes us, *Videodrome* is as unsettling as your screen time report after a weekend binge. | © Universal Pictures

Cropped Cinema Paradiso — Cinema Paradiso (1988)

*Cinema Paradiso* is the cinematic equivalent of a warm hug, sprinkled with nostalgia and a dash of bittersweet tears. Set in a small Italian village, it tells the story of a young boy named Toto who falls in love with movies, mentored by the grumpy yet lovable projectionist, Alfredo. It’s a beautiful ode to the magic of cinema, the kind that makes you want to quit your job, move to Italy, and stare wistfully at old film reels. By the time you reach the final scene (if you know, you know), you’ll either be weeping or pretending you’re "just tired." A love letter to film, friendship, and the power of memories. | © Miramax Films

Cropped Ed Wood — Ed Wood (1994)

Tim Burton’s *Ed Wood* is a gloriously quirky tribute to the worst filmmaker in history – and somehow, it’s one of the best films about filmmaking. Johnny Depp plays Ed Wood, an endlessly optimistic director with zero talent but an unmatched passion for cinema. Watching him try to make *Plan 9 from Outer Space* with cardboard sets, visible strings, and Bela Lugosi (played to perfection by Martin Landau) is pure joy. It’s a film that celebrates failure with such affection that you can’t help but root for Ed, proving that sometimes enthusiasm beats talent. After all, who needs good scripts when you have… enthusiasm? | © Touchstone Pictures

Cropped Mulholland Drive — Mulholland Drive (2001)

What’s *Mulholland Drive* about? Great question. If you figure it out, let us know. David Lynch’s neo-noir puzzle box is part dream, part nightmare, part Hollywood fever dream, and entirely mesmerizing. Naomi Watts gives the performance of a lifetime (actually, maybe two lifetimes – it’s complicated) as an aspiring actress who gets tangled up in a mystery involving amnesia, identity, and… a terrifying guy behind a diner. It’s like Hollywood took a mirror selfie, but the reflection stared back and whispered, “Nothing is real.” You’ll finish it confused, intrigued, maybe terrified – and then rewatch it to feel all of that again. | © Universal Pictures

Cropped Adaptation — Adaptation (2002)

*Adaptation* is what happens when screenwriter Charlie Kaufman has writer’s block… and decides to write a movie about having writer’s block. Nicolas Cage plays not one but two Kaufmans – Charlie, the anxious, self-loathing writer, and Donald, his confident, completely fictional twin brother. The film starts as an adaptation of a book about flowers and somehow morphs into a meta-thriller with alligators, car chases, and existential dread. It’s like watching someone spiral into madness, but in an extremely creative, oddly relatable way. Equal parts hilarious and mind-bending, *Adaptation* is proof that even failure can be cinematic gold. | © Columbia Pictures

Cropped The Dreamers — The Dreamers (2003)

Bernardo Bertolucci’s *The Dreamers* is like a love letter to cinema… written in lipstick on a foggy mirror after an all-night film marathon. Set in 1968 Paris, against the backdrop of student protests, it follows an American student who befriends an enigmatic pair of French twins. What follows is a whirlwind of cinephile references, revolutionary ideals, and, well… let’s just say the walls between personal boundaries are as thin as the pages of a vintage film magazine. It’s sexy, provocative, and dripping with youthful rebellion – like Godard if he’d added more nudity and fewer jump cuts. Watch it with your inner film geek fully engaged (and maybe not with your parents). | © Fox Searchlight Pictures

Cropped Birdman — Birdman (2014)

Ah, *Birdman –* the film that made everyone suddenly care about single-take cinematography and existential dread. Michael Keaton (in an almost-too-perfect role) plays Riggan, a washed-up actor once famous for playing a superhero, now desperately trying to reclaim his artistic integrity with a Broadway play. The film feels like one long, anxiety-fueled breath, thanks to its seamless “one-shot” illusion. But beyond the technical wizardry, it’s a darkly funny meditation on ego, relevance, and the voices in our heads – literally, in Riggan’s case. Also, shout-out to that jazzy drum score, which is basically the sound of a mental breakdown, but make it art. | © Fox Searchlight Pictures

Cropped Reality — Reality (2014)

Quentin Dupieux’s *Reality* is what happens when you take a dream, put it in a blender with absurdist humor, and hit “puree.” The plot – if we can even call it that – follows a wannabe filmmaker trying to capture the perfect scream for his horror movie, but along the way, reality folds in on itself like a cinematic origami. Think *Inception* meets *The Twilight Zone*, but with more VHS tapes and fewer explanations. It’s bizarre, hilarious, and unapologetically weird, the kind of movie where you’ll ask, “Wait, what just happened?” – but you’ll be smiling the whole time. | © Realitism Films

Cropped Hugo — Hugo (2011)

Martin Scorsese making a family film? Sounds like a joke, but *Hugo* is proof that even the guy behind *Taxi Driver* has a soft spot for movie magic. Set in 1930s Paris, it follows a young orphan living in a train station who discovers a mechanical automaton linked to one of cinema’s real-life pioneers, Georges Méliès. It’s a visually stunning, heartfelt tribute to the early days of filmmaking, with enough gears, clocks, and film reels to make any cinephile swoon. Watching *Hugo* feels like opening a dusty old box and finding a forgotten piece of cinematic history – and realizing it still sparkles. | © Paramount Pictures

Cropped The Artist — The Artist (2011)

*The Artist* is a silent film made in the era of smartphones, and somehow, it works like a charm. Set during Hollywood’s transition from silent films to talkies, it follows George Valentin, a dashing silent film star whose career plummets as sound takes over. It’s black-and-white, nearly dialogue-free, and yet more emotionally engaging than most movies drowning in special effects. Jean Dujardin’s expressive performance is a masterclass in charisma, proving you don’t need words when your face can do all the talking. *The Artist* is a joyful, nostalgic reminder that sometimes, less really is more – unless we’re talking popcorn, then more is always more. | © Warner Bros. Pictures

Cropped La La Land — La La Land (2016)

*La La Land* is like that friend who says, “I’m fine,” while dramatically gazing out a window with a single tear rolling down their cheek. On the surface, it’s a bright, colorful musical filled with spontaneous dance numbers, dreamy sunsets, and jazz hands galore. But underneath? Oh, it’s a full-on heartbreak wrapped in a love letter to Los Angeles and the bittersweet pursuit of dreams. Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone have chemistry so electric it could power the Griffith Observatory, and the ending? Let’s just say it’ll have you staring into the distance, questioning every life choice you’ve ever made – while humming "City of Stars," of course. | © Lionsgate

Cropped Once Upon a Time in Hollywood — Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019)

Quentin Tarantino’s *Once Upon a Time in Hollywood* is part fairy tale, part love letter, and part “Hey, wasn’t the ’60s wild?” It follows faded TV star Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his stunt double/best bro Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt) as they meander through a sun-soaked, acid-tinged version of 1969 Los Angeles. It’s less about plot and more about vibe – hanging out with these characters, cruising down neon-lit boulevards, and watching Pitt make even opening a can of dog food look cool. Oh, and there’s an alternate history twist that’s so Tarantino, you’ll either gasp or cheer… or both. Probably both. | © Columbia Pictures

Cropped Mank — Mank (2020)

*Mank* is like if *Citizen Kane* had a behind-the-scenes documentary – only shot in glorious black-and-white with David Fincher’s meticulous fingerprints all over it. The film dives into the messy, boozy life of Herman J. Mankiewicz (played by Gary Oldman), the screenwriter behind *Kane*, who’s equal parts genius and disaster. It’s witty, cynical, and packed with old Hollywood drama, from political scandals to egos the size of Orson Welles’s shadow. Watching *Mank* feels like sipping a vintage cocktail: classy, a little bitter, and guaranteed to leave you with a newfound appreciation for Hollywood’s golden (and not-so-golden) age. | © Netflix

Cropped Babylon — Babylon (2022)

*Babylon* is like someone took Hollywood’s wildest parties, mixed them with an existential crisis, and cranked the volume up to 11. Damien Chazelle’s chaotic epic explores the hedonistic highs and tragic lows of the film industry during the transition from silent films to talkies. It’s messy, bold, and unapologetically extra – kind of like if *The Great Gatsby* had a fever dream about cinema. Margot Robbie and Diego Calva shine amidst the madness, while Brad Pitt swaggers through like the embodiment of old-school cool. Prepare for jazz, elephants (yes, really), and enough cinematic excess to make you both love and question Hollywood’s very existence. | © Paramount Pictures

Cropped The Fabelmans — The Fabelmans (2022)

*The Fabelmans* is Steven Spielberg’s semi-autobiographical love letter to, well… Steven Spielberg. It’s a deeply personal, tender film about a young boy named Sammy who discovers the magic of filmmaking while navigating the complexities of family life. Think of it as *E.T.* without the alien, or *Close Encounters* without the UFOs – just pure, heartfelt storytelling about what inspires someone to pick up a camera in the first place. It’s nostalgic, moving, and filled with that signature Spielberg wonder, proving that sometimes the most extraordinary stories are the ones closest to home. Bonus points for the cameo that will make every film nerd lose their mind. | © Universal Pictures

1-21

Cinema has always had a fascination with itself. From the golden age of Hollywood to modern-day masterpieces, filmmakers have explored the magic, madness, and mechanics of the movie-making process. Whether it’s the thrill of being behind the camera, the struggles of artists chasing perfection, or the bittersweet love letters to the silver screen, films about films offer a unique, self-reflective experience that resonates with both cinephiles and casual viewers alike.

In this list, we’ve curated the top 20 best films that celebrate, critique, and deconstruct the art of cinema. These movies don’t just tell stories – they peel back the curtain, revealing the passion, chaos, and beauty that exists both in front of and behind the camera. Get ready to dive into worlds where movies are more than just entertainment – they’re the very subject of the story.