10 Movies and Shows Similar to Rules Don’t Apply (2016)

Description: Both 'Sunset Boulevard' and 'Rules Don't Apply' offer darkly romantic visions of Hollywood's golden age, exploring the price of fame and the industry's treatment of aging stars. They share themes of illusion versus reality in Tinseltown, and both feature complex relationships between young newcomers and established industry figures. The films' noirish tones similarly critique Hollywood's dream factory.

Fact: Gloria Swanson was a real silent film star playing a fictional version of herself. The famous line 'I am big! It's the pictures that got small' was voted the 7th greatest movie quote by AFI. The film's swimming pool scene was revolutionary for its time.

Description: Like 'Rules Don't Apply', this classic musical explores Hollywood's transition from silent films to talkies, focusing on the challenges faced by performers during this period. Both films blend romance with behind-the-scenes drama about the film industry, and both feature charismatic young performers navigating the complexities of fame and artistic expression.

Fact: Debbie Reynolds had no dance experience before being cast and trained intensely for the role. Gene Kelly performed the iconic title number while suffering from a 103-degree fever. The film was not a huge hit initially but grew in reputation over decades.

Description: Like 'Rules Don't Apply', 'Ed Wood' is a loving tribute to Hollywood outsiders, though from a very different era. Both films explore the passion behind filmmaking, celebrating their protagonists' eccentric visions despite commercial failures. They share themes of artistic integrity and the struggle to create art within (or against) the studio system. Both films use black-and-white cinematography to evoke their respective periods.

Fact: Johnny Depp considered this his favorite role. Martin Landau won an Oscar for his portrayal of Bela Lugosi. Tim Burton considers this his most personal film.

Description: Like 'Rules Don't Apply', 'The Aviator' explores the golden age of Hollywood through the lens of a eccentric billionaire (Howard Hughes in both films). Both movies examine the intersection of aviation, filmmaking, and mental health, with Hughes as a central figure. The period production design and focus on 20th century American ambition create strong thematic parallels.

Fact: Leonardo DiCaprio spent years developing the project with director Martin Scorsese. Cate Blanchett's portrayal of Katharine Hepburn won her an Academy Award. The film used digital technology to recreate 1930s Technicolor.

Description: Both 'Hail, Caesar!' and 'Rules Don't Apply' are comedic dramas set during Hollywood's golden age, offering satirical yet affectionate portrayals of the studio system. They share themes of artistic integrity versus commercial demands, and both feature ensemble casts playing fictionalized versions of real Hollywood figures. The films' visual styles similarly recreate the glamour of 1950s Hollywood.

Fact: The film's musical number was choreographed by Christopher Gattelli, who worked on Broadway's 'Spamalot'. George Clooney's character is based on real-life actor Aldo Ray. The Coen brothers wrote the script in the 1990s but waited 20 years to make it.

Description: 'The Artist' shares with 'Rules Don't Apply' a deep reverence for Hollywood's past, particularly the transition from silent films to talkies. Both films are love letters to a bygone era of cinema, featuring protagonists navigating the changing landscape of the film industry. The black-and-white cinematography and silent film style of 'The Artist' mirror the nostalgic tone of 'Rules Don't Apply'.

Fact: 'The Artist' is the first silent film to win Best Picture at the Oscars since

Description: Both 'Bohemian Rhapsody' and 'Rules Don't Apply' are biographical dramas about unconventional artists navigating fame and personal demons. They share themes of creative genius clashing with industry expectations, and both feature meticulous recreations of their respective eras. The films similarly balance spectacle with intimate character study.

Fact: Rami Malek wore prosthetic teeth to mimic Freddie Mercury's distinctive overbite. The Live Aid concert recreation took 10 days to film. Sacha Baron Cohen was originally attached to play Mercury.

Description: Like 'Rules Don't Apply', 'Rocketman' is a musical biopic that blends fantasy sequences with real-life drama, creating a heightened reality of its subject's life. Both films explore the tension between public persona and private self, and both use their period settings to comment on the entertainment industry's treatment of artists. The films share a vibrant visual style that mirrors their protagonists' creative spirits.

Fact: Taron Egerton performed all the songs himself. Elton John was heavily involved in production. The film's fantasy sequences were inspired by 'The Wizard of Oz'.

Description: Both 'The Disaster Artist' and 'Rules Don't Apply' explore the absurdities and passions of filmmaking, though from very different angles. They share themes of artistic ambition colliding with reality, and both offer behind-the-scenes looks at the movie business. While 'Rules Don't Apply' focuses on old Hollywood, 'The Disaster Artist' examines contemporary outsider cinema, but both celebrate the madness of movie-making.

Fact: James Franco directed and starred as Tommy Wiseau. The film recreates 'The Room' scenes with identical camera angles. Tommy Wiseau had a cameo in the film.

Description: Like 'Rules Don't Apply', 'La La Land' is a romantic drama set against the backdrop of Hollywood's golden age, blending nostalgia with contemporary storytelling. Both films explore themes of ambition, love, and the sacrifices required to achieve dreams in the entertainment industry. The visual aesthetics of both films are vibrant and dreamlike, paying homage to classic cinema while maintaining a modern sensibility.

Fact: 'La La Land' won 6 Academy Awards, including Best Director for Damien Chazelle. The film's opening sequence was shot in one take on a closed freeway in Los Angeles. Ryan Gosling learned to play piano for his role in the film.