Sunset Boulevard (1950): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
Sunset Boulevard is a 1950 film noir drama directed by Billy Wilder, starring William Holden, Fred Clark and Nancy Olson. It runs 1 hour 50 minutes and earned $310,112 worldwide. Critics gave it 94 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 8.4/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 50m (110 min)
- Director
- Billy Wilder
- Studio
- Paramount Pictures
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Sunset Boulevard About?
The premise of Sunset Boulevard without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
A fading silent film star, Norma Desmond, lives in seclusion on Sunset Boulevard, clinging to dreams of a comeback. When a struggling screenwriter stumbles into her orbit, he becomes entangled in her illusions and desperate schemes. The story explores themes of ambition, decay, and the dark side of Hollywood, revealing a portrait of a woman trapped by the past and desperate for recognition.
Sunset Boulevard Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- silent film star
- butler
- narrated from the grave
- hollywood california
- jealousy
- recluse
- delusion
- actress
- told in flashback
- film industry
- comeback
- beverly hills california
+38 more Show fewer
- murder
- place in title
- egocentric woman
- debt
- hiding place
- vintage car
- love triangle
- national film registry
- typewriter
- gigolo
- monkey
- party
- movie star
- funeral
- corpse
- dead body in a swimming pool
- shooting
- mansion
- hitchhiking
- famous score
- pet funeral
- pipe organ
- suicide
- car repossession
- los angeles california
- silent movie star
- gossip columnist
- isotta fraschini automobile
- movie studio
- voice over narration
- cult film
- emotionally unstable woman
- card playing
- fictional celebrity
- narcissistic woman
- former actress
- narcissist
- rich woman
Sunset Boulevard Cast
William Holden leads the cast, with Fred Clark and Nancy Olson. Directed by Billy Wilder; 20 actors are credited in all.
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Director Billy Wilder
Also Starring in Sunset Boulevard
· 16 moreMore from Billy Wilder
More films directed by Billy Wilder, best-rated first: Some Like It Hot, Double Indemnity, The Apartment and Stalag 17.
Sunset Boulevard Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Sunset Boulevard 94 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 8.4/10.
-
IMDb 8.4 /10
See on IMDb -
Metacritic 94 Metascore
User score 8.6
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 83% User score
See on TMDB
Sunset Boulevard Plot Summary
What happens in Sunset Boulevard from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
The film begins with a striking scene as the camera tracks along Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles, where police cars rush towards a lavish mansion. Within its pool lies the lifeless body of the young man, Joe Gillis (William Holden). As law enforcement gathers, Joe’s voice narrates the tale leading to his own demise, unfolding through flashbacks.
Full summary
The whole story of Sunset Boulevard, scene by scene
Sunset Boulevard Box Office
Sunset Boulevard grossed $310,112 worldwide. $299,645 came from the US and Canada and $428 (0%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$310.1K
- US & Canada
- $299.6K
- International
- $428
Sunset Boulevard Trailers & Videos
9 videos: 2 trailers, 1 teaser, 3 clips and 3 featurettes.
- Trailer 75th Anniversary Trailer
- Teaser 75th Anniversary Spot
- Clip Norma Desmond At Paramount Clip
- Clip “Mr. DeMille, I m Ready for My Close Up” Official Film Clip
How Well Do You Know Sunset Boulevard?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Who is the main character that narrates the story of 'Sunset Boulevard'?
Cars in Sunset Boulevard
16 cars on screen, including the 1929 Isotta Fraschini Tipo 8A and the 1948 De Soto Custom.
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1929 Isotta Fraschini Tipo 8A Main role -
1948 De Soto Custom Important role -
1946 Plymouth Special De Luxe Important role -
1941 Chevrolet Special De Luxe Minor role
Sunset Boulevard Also Known As
30 alternative titles, including “Sunset Blvd.” and “红楼金粉”.
- Also known as
-
- Sunset Blvd.
- 红楼金粉
- Η Λεωφόρος της Δύσης
- Бульвар Сансет
- 선셋 대로
- 선셋 블러바드
- غروب یک ستاره
- Bulwar Zachodzącego Słońca
- Սանսեթ Բուլվար
- بلوار سانست
- Sunset Blvd
- Boulevard der Dämmerung
+18 more Show fewer
- Boulevard du crépuscule
- Auringonlaskun katu
- Viale del tramonto
- El crepúsculo de los dioses
- Crepúsculo dos Deuses
- Сансет бульвар
- Sunset Bulvarı
- 日落大道
- Alkony sugárút
- Булевардът на залеза
- שדרות סאנסט
- Bulevardul amurgului
- 紅樓金粉
- El ocaso de una vida
- Saulėlydžio bulvaras
- サンセット大通り
- سانست بلوار
- El crepuscle dels déus
Seen Sunset Boulevard?
Movies Like Sunset Boulevard
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Sunset Strip, Sunset Murder Case and Desire and Hell at Sunset Motel.
Sunset Boulevard FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of Sunset Boulevard, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Sunset Boulevard?
Sunset Boulevard runs 1 hour 50 minutes (110 minutes).
When was Sunset Boulevard released?
Sunset Boulevard was released on August 10, 1950.
Who directed Sunset Boulevard?
Sunset Boulevard was directed by Billy Wilder.
More films by Billy Wilder Who is in the cast of Sunset Boulevard?
Sunset Boulevard stars William Holden, Fred Clark and Nancy Olson, among 20 credited actors.
How much did Sunset Boulevard make at the box office?
Sunset Boulevard grossed $310,112 worldwide ($299,645 domestic, $428 international).
How is Sunset Boulevard rated?
Sunset Boulevard has 8.4/10 on IMDb, 94 on Metacritic and 83% on TMDB.
Does Sunset Boulevard have a post-credit scene?
No. Sunset Boulevard has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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