Bryan McAllister’s personal reference notebook
September 12, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
A quiet encyclopedia with a personal desk
Screen & Stage • Film

La La Land

La La Land is a 2016 American musical romantic comedy-drama film written and directed by Damien Chazelle.

Updated September 12, 20261 min readCited sources

La La Land is a 2016 American musical romantic comedy-drama written and directed by Damien Chazelle. The film stars Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone as two aspiring artists in Los Angeles whose relationship develops alongside their careers and ambitions.

What it is

La La Land is a contemporary musical set in Los Angeles, following Sebastian, a jazz pianist, and Mia, an aspiring actress, as they fall in love while pursuing their artistic dreams. The film draws heavily on classic Hollywood musical influences in its choreography, songs, and visual style.

Why it matters

The film was a major critical and commercial success, earning 14 Academy Award nominations and winning six Oscars, including Best Director for Chazelle. It also set a record with seven Golden Globe wins. Its ending became especially noted after the Best Picture announcement error at the 89th Academy Awards.

Key details

The title refers to Los Angeles, nicknamed 'La La Land,' and evokes a dreamlike state detached from reality. The story explores themes of dreams, compromise, and the cost of artistic success. The film premiered at the Venice International Film Festival before its U.S. theatrical release on December 9, 2016.

In short

  • Won six Academy Awards from 14 nominations
  • Set a record with seven Golden Globe wins
  • Widely associated with Los Angeles and classic Hollywood musicals
  • Its ending became famous after the 2017 Oscars mix-up
Canadian angle

The film was widely released and discussed in Canada, including Canadian media coverage of its awards season attention and the 2017 Academy Awards Best Picture mix-up.

Quick questions

Who directed La La Land?
La La Land was written and directed by Damien Chazelle.
Who stars in La La Land?
The film stars Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone in the lead roles.
How many Oscars did La La Land win?
It won six Academy Awards from 14 nominations.

Sources

  1. Encyclopaedia Britannicahttps://www.britannica.com/topic/La-La-Land
    Supports: Identifies the film as a 2016 musical romantic comedy-drama directed by Damien Chazelle.
  2. Rotten Tomatoeshttps://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/la_la_land
    Supports: Lists the director, genre, cast, distributor, runtime, and release information.
  3. Wikipediahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_La_Land
    Supports: Provides premiere date, theatrical release date, box office, and major awards results including Oscar and Golden Globe wins.
  4. CBChttps://www.cbc.ca/radio/q/blog/oscars-5-things-you-didn-t-know-about-la-la-land-1.3996124
    Supports: Confirms the film’s 14 Oscar nominations and Canadian media coverage of its awards-season prominence.