Ranker FilmList RulesThe drama movie must be primarily set in Los Angeles.
L.A. is a city with wealthy areas, impoverished sections, and a whole lot of notable landmarks. That makes it a great location for films. Drama movies based in Los Angeles take place in all parts of the city and focus on all kinds of its citizens. Some all-time classic dramas are set in Los Angeles, showing that it's a place ripe for engaging stories. Some of these films are a collection of vignettes while others a more straight forward narrative but they are some of the best dramas about L.A.
It's time to vote on the best drama movies set in Los Angeles. Vote up the ones you think are the most entertaining or powerful, and vote down the ones you're not as fond of. If one of your favorites isn't here, add it to the list and see how other film fans rate your choices.
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70Pulp Fiction
John Travolta, Bruce WillisReleased: 1994
Directed by: Quentin Tarantino
Pulp Fiction is a 1994 American crime film directed by Quentin Tarantino. The lives of two mob... more2
105Chinatown
Jack Nicholson, Faye DunawayReleased: 1974
Directed by: Roman Polanski
Chinatown is a 1974 American neo-noir mystery film, directed by Roman Polanski from a... more3
82Mulholland Drive
Naomi Watts, Billy Ray CyrusReleased: 2001
Directed by: David Lynch
Mulholland Drive is a 2001 American neo-noir mystery film written and directed by David Lynch... more4
84The Day of the Locust
Donald Sutherland, Burgess MeredithReleased: 1975
Directed by: John Schlesinger
The Day of the Locust is a 1975 American drama film directed by John Schlesinger, and starring... more5
84L.A. Confidential
Kevin Spacey, Russell CroweReleased: 1997
Directed by: Curtis Hanson
L.A. Confidential is a 1997 neo-noir film based on James Ellroy's 1990 novel of the same... more6
62Boyz n the Hood
Ice Cube, Angela BassettReleased: 1991
Directed by: John Singleton
Boyz n the Hood is a 1991 American hood drama film directed by John Singleton. Three young men... more7
65Sunset Boulevard
William Holden, Buster KeatonReleased: 1950
Directed by: Billy Wilder
Sunset Boulevard—stylized onscreen as SUNSET BLVD.—is a 1950 American film noir directed and... more8
55Dark Blue
Kurt Russell, Brendan GleesonReleased: 2002
Directed by: Ron Shelton
Dark Blue is a 2002 film directed by Ron Shelton and starring Kurt Russell. The film is based... more9
55Less Than Zero
Brad Pitt, Robert Downey Jr.Released: 1987
Directed by: Marek Kanievska
Less Than Zero is a 1987 American drama film very loosely based on Bret Easton Ellis' novel of... more10
55Short Cuts
Robert Downey Jr., Julianne MooreReleased: 1993
Directed by: Robert Altman
Short Cuts is a 1993 American drama film directed by Robert Altman. Filmed from a screenplay... more11
24Falling Down
Robert Duvall, Michael DouglasReleased: 1993
Directed by: Joel Schumacher
Falling Down is a 1993 drama film directed by Joel Schumacher and written by Ebbe Roe Smith.... more12
58Nightcrawler
Jake Gyllenhaal, Rene RussoReleased: 2014
Directed by: Dan Gilroy
Nightcrawler is a 2014 American neo-noir thriller film written and directed by Dan Gilroy in... more13
25The Big Sleep
Lauren Bacall, Humphrey BogartReleased: 1946
Directed by: Howard Hawks
The Big Sleep is a 1946 film noir directed by Howard Hawks, the first film version of Raymond... more14
20Colors
Sean Penn, Robert DuvallReleased: 1988
Directed by: Dennis Hopper
Colors is a 1988 American police procedural action film starring Sean Penn and Robert Duvall,... more15
24Mi Vida Loca
Salma Hayek, Jacob VargasReleased: 1993
Directed by: Allison Anders
Mi Vida Loca is a 1994 American drama film directed and written by Allison Anders. It centers... more16
52American Gigolo
Richard Gere, Lauren HuttonReleased: 1980
Directed by: Paul Schrader
American Gigolo is a 1980 American crime drama film starring Richard Gere, written and... more17
52Crash
Sandra Bullock, Brendan FraserReleased: 2004
Directed by: Paul Haggis
This movie is a 2004 ensemble drama film co-written, produced, and directed by Paul Haggis.... more18
26Devil in a Blue Dress
Denzel Washington, Poppy MontgomeryReleased: 1995
Directed by: Carl Franklin
Devil in a Blue Dress is a 1995 American neo-noir mystery film directed by Carl Franklin and... more19
24Grand Canyon
Steve Martin, Kevin KlineReleased: 1991
Directed by: Lawrence Kasdan
Grand Canyon is a 1991 American drama film directed and produced by Lawrence Kasdan, and... more20
22Harsh Times
Eva Longoria, Christian BaleReleased: 2005
Directed by: David Ayer
Harsh Times is a 2005 American crime film set in South Los Angeles. The film stars Christian... more21
20Heat
Natalie Portman, Al PacinoReleased: 1995
Directed by: Michael Mann
Heat is a 1995 American crime thriller film written, produced and directed by Michael Mann,... more22
22Laurel Canyon
Kate Beckinsale, Christian BaleReleased: 2002
Directed by: Lisa Cholodenko
Laurel Canyon is a 2002 American drama film written and directed by Lisa Cholodenko. The film... more23
05Mulholland Falls
Jennifer Connelly, Nick NolteReleased: 1996
Directed by: Lee Tamahori
Mulholland Falls is a 1996 American neo-noir thriller film directed by Lee Tamahori and... more24
24Rebel Without a Cause
Natalie Wood, James DeanReleased: 1955
Directed by: Nicholas Ray
Rebel Without a Cause is a 1955 American drama film about emotionally confused suburban,... more25
20South Central
Glenn Plummer, Carl LumblyReleased: 1992
Directed by: Stephen Milburn Anderson
South Central is a 1992 American crime drama film, written and directed by Stephen Milburn... more
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