Common Sense Media Review
By Li Lai
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Murder, attempted suicide in dark Hollywood tale.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
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Sunset Boulevard
What's the Story?
When struggling screenwriter Joe Gillis (William Holden) stumbles into a decaying SUNSET BOULEVARD mansion, he finds himself face-to-face with Norma Desmond (Gloria Swanson), a silent film star who aches for a chance to return to the silver screen. She's been living in delusion for decades, convinced that her adoring public is eagerly awaiting her comeback, and she hires Joe on the spot to help polish a screenplay she's written for herself. As Joe becomes increasingly dependent on Norma's financial support, he begins secretly collaborating on another script with young studio reader Betty Schaefer (Nancy Olson), threatening to shatter Norma's carefully constructed fantasy world.
Is It Any Good?
Director Billy Wilder's unsettling psychological thriller picked up 11 Academy Award nominations when it came out in 1950 and went on to win three Oscars—for good reason. The movie's dreamlike quality and full voice-over narration spins a seductive yarn that builds to a combustible conclusion, all the while reflecting some of Hollywood's ugliest truths: that actors, especially women, are idolized and then discarded as quickly as yesterday's paper. That Wilder captured this toxicity so long ago, and that the unfortunate practice continues to this day, speaks to both modern ills and the director's powerful storytelling capabilities. Evocative set designs and a haunting score sell the visual narrative, while Swanson's dramatic, borderline campy performance as a tragic, aging star firmly cements the film's place in both cinema history and enduring relevance.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Sunset Boulevard uses the relationship between Joe and Norma to explore themes of power and desperation in Hollywood. How do factors like age, money, and occupation change dynamics between people?
What are some imbalanced relationships in the film? What about equitable relationships? What relationships in your life are balanced or imbalanced? Do power differentials always need to be adjusted? Why, or why not?
How does Sunset Boulevard critique Hollywood's obsession with youth? Does it adequately highlight the impossible standards placed on female actors? What are some other ways to interpret Norma's character?
How does Billy Wilder use the visual language of film noir to tell this story? How might the movie look and feel different if it was a comedy, a straightforward drama, or a romance?
Movie Details
- In theaters : August 10, 1950
- On DVD or streaming : November 26, 2001
- Cast : Gloria Swanson , William Holden , Nancy Olson
- Director : Billy Wilder
- Studio : Paramount Pictures
- Genre : Classic
- Run time : 110 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Awards : Academy Award - Best Picture Nominee , Academy Award - Other Category Winner , Academy Award - Other Category Nominee , Golden Globe - Golden Globe Award Winner , Golden Globe - Golden Globe Award Nominee
- Last updated : August 15, 2025
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