Sunset Boulevard (1950): cast, story & where to watch
1950 · Film · ★ 8.3
Released in 1950, Sunset Boulevard is a drama film directed by Billy Wilder, running about 110 minutes. “A Hollywood Story.” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. A hack screenwriter writes a screenplay for a former silent film star who has faded into Hollywood obscurity.
Who’s in it. Sunset Boulevard stars William Holden as Joe Gillis, Gloria Swanson as Norma Desmond, Erich von Stroheim as Max von Mayerling and Nancy Olson as Betty Schaefer, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 8.3/10, Sunset Boulevard sits among the best-reviewed titles in the catalogue. It went on to earn $5M at the box office.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on Kanopy and rent or buy it from JustWatch TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Google Play Movies. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Sunset Boulevard page.
If you liked it. Fans of Sunset Boulevard tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Sunset Boulevard (1950)?
- In US, Sunset Boulevard is available to stream on Kanopy, and rent or buy from JustWatch TV, Amazon Video and Apple TV Store. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is Sunset Boulevard worth watching?
- Sunset Boulevard holds an audience score of 8.3 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama. Most viewers rate it highly.
- Who stars in Sunset Boulevard?
- Sunset Boulevard stars William Holden, Gloria Swanson, Erich von Stroheim, Nancy Olson and Fred Clark.
- When was Sunset Boulevard released?
- Sunset Boulevard was released in 1950, with a runtime of about 110 minutes.