Mulholland Drive (2001)
Film · Thriller, Drama, Mystery
Stream itif you enjoy surrealist puzzles that prioritise atmosphere and psychological dread over a linear narrative structure.
A dreamlike, hallucinatory puzzle that blurs the lines between fantasy and reality in Hollywood. It is unsettling and intellectually demanding, rewarding multiple viewings for those who enjoy surrealism and psychological dread.
What it is about
Blonde Betty Elms has only just arrived in Hollywood to become a movie star when she meets an enigmatic brunette with amnesia. Meanwhile, as the two set off to solve the second woman's identity, filmmaker Adam Kesher runs into ominous trouble while casting his latest project.
Trailer
What Mulholland Drive is like, and who it is for
What it is like to watch
Watching this is akin to experiencing a lucid dream that slowly curdles into a nightmare. The pacing is deliberate, moving from sun-drenched Hollywood optimism to shadowy, nocturnal dread. It possesses a singular intensity that stems from its uncanny atmosphere, where mundane conversations feel charged with hidden significance and the logic of the world feels perpetually off-kilter. The transitions between scenes are fluid yet disorienting, designed to keep you in a state of hyper-vigilant uncertainty.
Who it is for, and who should skip it
This is essential viewing for fans of experimental cinema and those who appreciate being treated like a detective. It is not for anyone seeking a straightforward mystery or a tidy resolution to every plot thread. You must be prepared for sequences that feel disconnected and a shift in reality that can be profoundly frustrating if you demand narrative clarity. The caveat is that the film purposefully abandons its own internal rules, requiring total surrender to its strange, internal rhythm.
The right evening for it
It suits a quiet night alone when you are prepared to be fully immersed and unsettled. Expect to spend time afterwards mentally reassembling the pieces of what you have just witnessed.
Written by our AI from the facts on this page. It has opinions; it has not watched it.
Another trailer
Trailer · Trailer
How Mulholland Drive leaves you
One line on the mood it ends on, with no plot. Some people count that as a spoiler, so it stays hidden until you ask.
It leaves you feeling profoundly haunted and intellectually restless. You will likely come away with a lingering sense of melancholy and the distinct impression that you have seen behind a forbidden curtain.
How Mulholland Drive ends
Spoilers. The whole ending, in a few lines. Nothing shows until you ask and then confirm.
Diane Selwyn, a struggling actress, hires a hitman named Joe to murder her former lover Camilla Rhodes, who is a successful actress. After receiving a blue key as confirmation of the deed, Diane is haunted by her actions. She experiences hallucinations of a tiny elderly couple who emerge from a blue box held by a homeless person. In a state of terror, Diane flees to her bedroom and shoots herself, leaving her body in the same position as the decomposing corpse discovered earlier.
The ending confirms that the earlier events involving Betty and Rita were a transformation of Diane's reality. As Diane dies, the images of Betty and Rita appear smiling at each other, while a woman at Club Silencio whispers a final command for silence. This settles the fate of Diane while leaving the nature of the blue box and the homeless figure open to the viewer's interpretation.
Summarised by our AI from the plot section of the Wikipedia article, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. This summary is shared under the same licence.
Stills
Images from TMDB.
If you like this, try
Enemy (2013)
the same sense of identity crisis and pervasive, dreamlike anxiety
Persona (1966)
the blurring of two female identities through psychological mirroring
Perfect Blue (1997)
the breakdown of the line between a performer's reality and their dark fantasies
Suggested by our AI for what they share with this one. Linked titles have a page here; the rest are worth a search on the browse page.
More clips
Trailer · Official StudioCanal Trailer
Clip · Illusion
Clip · Hand-picked by MUBI
Mulholland Drive soundtrack
Music by Angelo Badalamenti
Awards
Mulholland Drive won Cannes Best Director Award at Cannes. It was nominated at the Oscars.
Oscars
- Nominated: Best Director · David Lynch · 2002
Cannes Film Festival
- Won: Cannes Best Director Award · David Lynch · 2001
9 other awards and nominationsShow
- Won: Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Breakthrough Performance · 2001
- Won: César Award for Best Foreign Film
- Won: Saturn Award for Best Actress · Naomi Watts · 2005
- Won: Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress · Naomi Watts · 2001
- Won: National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Actress · Naomi Watts · 2001
- Won: Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Actress · Naomi Watts · 2001
- Won: San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actress · Naomi Watts · 2001
- Won: Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Original Score · 2001
- Won: National Board of Review: Top Ten Films
From Wikidata, which can miss some.
Questions people ask
- Is Mulholland Drive a mind-bending film?
- Yes. On Watchlist Boosted it is tagged Mind-Bending, with a tense streak. A dreamlike, hallucinatory puzzle that blurs the lines between fantasy and reality in Hollywood. It is unsettling and intellectually demanding, rewarding multiple viewings for those who enjoy surrealism and psychological dread.
- How long is Mulholland Drive?
- Mulholland Drive runs 147 min and was released in 2001.
- Where can I watch Mulholland Drive in Canada?
- In Canada it is not included with any subscription service at the moment. JustWatch lists rental and purchase options.
- What awards did Mulholland Drive win?
- Mulholland Drive won Cannes Best Director Award at Cannes. It was nominated at the Oscars.
- Who composed the music for Mulholland Drive?
- The music for Mulholland Drive is by Angelo Badalamenti.
- Is Mulholland Drive worth watching?
- Stream it: if you enjoy surrealist puzzles that prioritise atmosphere and psychological dread over a linear narrative structure. IMDb users rate it 7.9 out of 10 from 415,244 votes, Rotten Tomatoes gives it 83%, Metacritic 87 and TMDB users 7.8.
More mind-bending titles
Same mood, saved by people here. See all mind-bending titles.
Dark (2017)
series · Mind-Bending · IMDb 8.7 · In German
A dense and meticulously plotted puzzle box that demands total concentration across its three-season timeline. It is rewarding but intellectually taxing, perfect for those who want to lose themselves in complex paradoxes and dark mysteries.
In the Hand of Dante (2026)
film · Mind-Bending · TMDB 5.3 · In English, Spanish and Italian
An ambitious and dense exploration of art and obsession that weaves together disparate timelines through a shared literary ghost. It promises a cerebral, high-art atmosphere that will likely challenge the viewer with its complex structure and philosophical weight rather than providing simple genre thrills.
Brand New Cherry Flavor (2021)
series · Mind-Bending · IMDb 7.1
A surreal and hallucinatory journey into the dark side of Hollywood that is as bizarre as it is visually creative. This is for viewers who enjoy weird, transgressive storytelling and don't mind feeling deeply uncomfortable or confused.
The Future Of (2022)
documentary · Mind-Bending · IMDb 5.5
A sleek and speculative look at how technology might reshape human existence, from pets to plants, in the near future. It is visually stimulating and intellectually curious, perfect for those who enjoy wondering "what if" about the coming decades.
Black Mirror (2011)
series · Mind-Bending · IMDb 8.7
A cynical and often terrifying anthology exploring the dark side of technology and human nature. Each episode is a standalone gut-punch designed to leave you questioning your relationship with the digital world.
A Trip to Infinity (2022)
documentary · Mind-Bending · IMDb 7.0 · In English and Japanese
A visually stunning exploration of a concept that defies human comprehension, using vibrant animation to make complex math feel like a psychedelic journey. It is intellectually stimulating and awe-inspiring, perfect for those who want to feel small against the scale of the universe.