10 Movies and TV Shows Similar to Under the Silver Lake (2018)

Description: Robert Altman's revisionist noir directly influenced 'Under the Silver Lake', both featuring a laid-back protagonist investigating a disappearance in Los Angeles. They share a similar sun-drenched aesthetic and critique of Hollywood culture, updating classic noir for their respective eras.

Fact: Elliott Gould's Philip Marlowe was the first to smoke marijuana in a noir film. The film was a commercial failure but is now considered a classic. Altman instructed the actors to talk over each other to create naturalistic dialogue.

Description: Roman Polanski's masterpiece shares with 'Under the Silver Lake' a vision of Los Angeles as a city built on corruption and hidden truths. Both films feature detectives uncovering dark conspiracies that reveal the rotten core beneath California's sunny facade.

Fact: The famous 'Forget it Jake, it's Chinatown' line was almost cut. Jack Nicholson got his nose slit for real in the knife scene. The film's water conspiracy was based on real LA history.

Description: Robert Altman's Hollywood satire shares with 'Under the Silver Lake' a cynical view of the entertainment industry and its hidden machinations. Both films feature protagonists navigating a world where reality and fiction blur in dangerous ways.

Fact: The film features 65 celebrity cameos. The famous 7-minute opening shot took 15 takes. It was Altman's comeback after a decade of box office failures.

Description: Like 'Under the Silver Lake', 'The Big Lebowski' is a neo-noir comedy that blends absurdity with a detective story. Both films feature protagonists who are drawn into mysterious, convoluted plots that they don't fully understand, set against the backdrop of Los Angeles. The films share a similar offbeat humor and a critique of modern society.

Fact: The Dude's character was inspired by real-life Vietnam War activist Jeff Dowd. The film initially underperformed at the box office but became a cult classic. The Coen brothers wrote the script in just three months.

Description: This Coen brothers noir shares with 'Under the Silver Lake' a black-and-white aesthetic (though Silver Lake uses color) and themes of existential dread. Both films feature ordinary men drawn into extraordinary circumstances, with a focus on fate and coincidence.

Fact: Shot in color then converted to black and white. Billy Bob Thornton didn't blink during his performance. The UFO subplot was inspired by real 1940s sightings.

Description: This Shane Black film shares with 'Under the Silver Lake' a self-aware take on noir tropes, combining mystery with dark comedy. Both feature protagonists out of their depth in Hollywood's seedy underbelly, with meta-commentary on detective fiction and film culture.

Fact: The title comes from a famous Italian film critic's description of James Bond movies. Robert Downey Jr.'s performance here helped revive his career. The film was shot in just 35 days.

Description: Paul Thomas Anderson's 'Inherent Vice' shares with 'Under the Silver Lake' a stoner detective protagonist navigating a labyrinthine conspiracy in 1970s Los Angeles. Both films have a dreamlike quality, blending noir elements with surreal humor and a nostalgic yet critical look at California culture.

Fact: It's the first film adaptation of a Thomas Pynchon novel. Joaquin Phoenix based his character on real-life private investigator Anthony Pellicano. The film's complex plot led to the creation of an official 'cheat sheet' for viewers.

Description: Nicolas Winding Refn's film shares with 'Under the Silver Lake' a surreal, stylized vision of Los Angeles as a place of dark glamour and hidden horrors. Both films critique superficial beauty and feature protagonists descending into madness.

Fact: Elle Fanning was only 16 during filming. The mirror scene took 50 takes. Refn was colorblind during production, affecting the visuals.

Description: While darker in tone, 'Nightcrawler' shares with 'Under the Silver Lake' a critique of Los Angeles media culture and the pursuit of hidden truths. Both films feature protagonists who become obsessed with uncovering the city's dark underbelly.

Fact: Jake Gyllenhaal lost 30 pounds for the role. The film was inspired by the rise of reality TV. Director Dan Gilroy wrote the script in six weeks.

Description: Another Shane Black film that pairs well with 'Under the Silver Lake', featuring a mismatched duo investigating a mystery in 1970s Los Angeles. Both blend comedy with noir elements and feature protagonists stumbling through a web of conspiracy.

Fact: Russell Crowe gained 40 pounds for his role. The film was originally set in modern times but changed to the 70s. It was inspired by 70s detective shows like 'The Rockford Files'.