In 1911, a Broadway playwright wrote a snarky letter about a teenage actor who had recently train-tripped from New York to Los Angeles. Part of what defines a Los Angeles movie is our city’s willingness to turn the camera on itself, to prioritize a riveting tale over our own reputation. AdvertisementMovies Tell us: What are the best Los Angeles movies? We picked “Chinatown” as the best movie set in Los Angeles. These movies are a permanent reminder that Los Angeles is a place where fiction and reality are fused.

Source: Los Angeles Times January 16, 2026 06:29 UTC