What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedHollywood
Ryan Murphy · Series · 2020
If you loved Hollywood, start with Babylon (Damien Chazelle, 2022) — a film on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 films and 2 podcasts, each matched to Hollywood across media.
What hooked you in Hollywood was the way the pursuit of fame intersects with the harsh realities of systemic social barriers.
Books on the same thread
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
Taylor Jenkins Reid · Book · 2018
Shares a thread with Hollywood: ambition.
Much like the characters in Hollywood, the protagonist of this novel navigates the ruthless machinery of the film industry while balancing personal ambition against the heavy cost of public image.
Masters of the Air
Donald L. Miller · Book
Explores: aerial combat, wartime camaraderie, strategic logistics.
If the wartime backdrop of Hollywood captured your interest, this account of the Eighth Air Force provides a grounded look at the real-life camaraderie and stakes behind that era.
The Love of the Last Tycoon
F. Scott Fitzgerald · Book · 1994
Explores: American Dream, Wealth and Corruption, Disillusionment.
This classic novel mirrors the industry-focused drama of Hollywood, exploring how the dream of cinematic success often clashes with the corrupting influence of wealth and the fragility of legacy.
History
Elsa Morante · Book · 2015
Explores: the plight of the subaltern, history from below, the dehumanizing effects of war.
While Hollywood dramatizes the industry, this epic shifts the focus to the marginalized, showing the dehumanizing effects of war that lurk beneath the surface of mid-century American narratives.
Films on the same thread
Babylon
Damien Chazelle · Film · 2022
Shares a thread with Hollywood: ambition.
If you enjoyed the opulent aesthetic of Hollywood, this film offers a more chaotic and decadent exploration of the industry's transition, focusing on the rise and fall of ambitious personalities.
Oppenheimer
Film · 2023
Explores: Moral ambiguity, Scientific ethics, Cold War paranoia.
This film shares the mid-century historical weight found in Hollywood, focusing on the moral ambiguity and personal guilt that often accompany those who achieve greatness during pivotal American eras.
The Normal Heart
Ryan Murphy · Film · 2014
Shares a thread with Hollywood: Historical Drama.
Ryan Murphy directed both this film and Hollywood, bringing his signature focus on social activism and the struggle for dignity against systemic bias to this unflinching medical drama.
Little Women
Greta Gerwig · Film · 2019
Explores: Sisterhood, Female ambition, Artistic expression.
Like the aspiring creators in Hollywood, the sisters here must balance their personal artistic expression and individual ambition against the restrictive social expectations placed upon them by their era.
Podcasts on the same thread
RADIOSHOW
Podcast
Explores: celebrity interviews, pop culture analysis, behind the scenes.
If the behind-the-scenes allure of Hollywood kept you watching, this podcast delivers the same focus on the artistic process and the industry insights that define the entertainment world.
1619
The New York Times · Podcast · 2019
Explores: systemic racism, national identity, legacy of slavery.
Hollywood highlights the struggle for inclusion within the industry, and this series provides a crucial, deeper look at the systemic racial history that continues to shape our national identity.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Hollywood based on a true story?
Hollywood is a fictional series created by Ryan Murphy that explores the aspirations of actors and filmmakers in post-World War II Los Angeles. While it captures the atmosphere of the era, the show follows an original narrative about characters trying to make their showbiz dreams come true.
What is the setting of Hollywood?
The series Hollywood is set in post-World War II Los Angeles. The plot centers on a group of ambitious aspiring actors and filmmakers who are attempting to navigate the entertainment industry and achieve their professional goals during this specific historical period.
What happens in the show Hollywood?
In Hollywood, an ambitious group of aspiring actors and filmmakers work to make their showbiz dreams a reality. Set in the aftermath of World War II, the characters are willing to do almost anything to succeed in the competitive environment of the entertainment industry.
Who created the series Hollywood?
The series Hollywood was created by Ryan Murphy. The show focuses on the lives of aspiring actors and filmmakers in post-World War II Los Angeles as they strive to achieve success and fulfill their dreams within the entertainment business.