10 Movies to Watch If You're Obsessed With La La Land

Before La La Land, writer and director Damien Chazelle made his film debut with the 2009 jazz musical Guy and Madeline on a Park Bench. The film follows the relationship of Guy (Jason Palmer), an up-and-coming trumpeter, and Madeline (Desiree Garcia), a shy girl searching for her passion. After an intense but brief love affair, Guy breaks up with Madeline to pursue a relationship with another woman. Devastated, Madeline uses her heartbreak to fuel a fresh start and finds unexpected love along the way. However, after Guy and Madeline have a chance encounter, they are forced to examine their past . . . and determine whether or not they might have a future.

Not only does the film have incredible jazz performances and dance numbers, but it's also black and white, giving it that dreamy, Old Hollywood touch.

Starring Gene Kelly and the late, great Debbie Reynolds, Singin' in the Rain is La La Land for the '20s. The 1952 classic follows silent-film star Don Lockwood (Kelly), who quickly becomes enamored with spunky, aspiring star Kathy Selden (Reynolds). After his jealous costar, Lina Lamont (Jean Hagen), gets Kathy fired from a gig, Lockwood finds her a job at his Hollywood studio. All is going well until a rival studio releases the first "talkie." After an attempt to produce their own talking film goes hilariously awry, the group pitches a new idea: a musical! The only problem is that his costar Lina can't sing. The solution? Swap in Kathy's voice without Lina's knowledge. Obviously, all hell breaks loose, but in an incredibly charming way.

The film is ranked No. 1 on AFI's Greatest Movie Musicals chart and No. 5 on Greatest Movies of All Time. Still need convincing?

Almost every family has at least one person who's a little obsessed with Barbra Streisand. After watching The Way We Were, it'll probably be you. In this 1973 romantic drama, Streisand plays Katie Morosky, an outspoken activist with a ton of opinions who falls in love with easygoing pretty boy Hubbell Gardiner (Robert Redford). Their relationship has its ups and downs, but Katie follows Hubbell to Los Angeles, where he pursues a screenwriting career. As Hollywood changes them, they begin to wonder if growing up also means growing apart.

It's a classic love story, but (spoilers!) don't forget that it's called The Way We Were . . . not The Way We Are. You may want to keep tissues nearby for this one.

Though she's best known for playing Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, Judy Garland's role as Vicki Lester in A Star Is Born is what earned her a Golden Globe for best actress as well as an Oscar nomination. The 1954 musical tells the story of Esther Blodgett, an aspiring singer. While performing at a small-time gig with her band, she recognizes famous actor Norman Maine (James Mason). Esther saves the drunk Norman from public humiliation, and he promises to repay her by getting her a screen test in Hollywood. Esther up and moves to LA but never hears from Norman. Not to be discouraged, Esther takes odd jobs trying to make it and is finally reconnected with Norman, who gets her an audition as an apology. Esther, now going by Vicki Lester, is a huge success. She and Norman fall in love and get married, but the happily ever after doesn't come as easily as she'd hoped. Norman is now a full-blown alcoholic with a waning career, and Vicki's increasing fame and popularity puts a strain on their relationship.

Another depiction of how love is put to the test in Hollywood, A Star Is Born is such a classic tale that it's been adapted three times, not including the upcoming remake with Lady Gaga.

The 2011 French film The Artist was such a surprise hit. Few thought that a black-and-white silent film would have a place among the CGI blockbusters that dominate the box office. Yet it won five of the 10 Academy Awards for which it was nominated, as well as received numerous accolades from other organizations. Set in the late 1920s, Jean Dujardin plays silent-film star George Valentin, who uses his fame to help aspiring actress Peppy (Bérénice Bejo) pursue a career in Hollywood. When the studio announces that it's ceasing production on all silent films, Peppy's star begins to rise, while Valentin's fades. No longer famous, Valentin loses his wife, home, money, and career. He's firmly planted at rock bottom — until Peppy suggests that they star in a musical together. Perhaps there's hope for him in Hollywood after all . . .

Sunset Boulevard begins with the murder of Joe Gillis (William Holden), an aspiring screenwriter. As his body floats in a pool at a mansion off of Sunset Boulevard, he explains to the audience the events that ultimately led to his death. A series of flashbacks show that after Joe's script was rejected, yet again, he stumbled upon an old house, where the silent-film star Norma Desmond (Gloria Swanson) resides. No longer relevant, as silent films have long since left the screens, Norma clings to her fame and is often depressed, delusional, and desperate. After discovering that Joe is a screenwriter, Norma hires him and he moves into her mansion full-time. As the two both try to find their place in Hollywood, Norma falls in love with Joe, he falls in love with another woman, and shocking secrets are uncovered along the way.

Nominated for 11 Academy Awards, this 1950 film has so many twists and turns that you'll be hanging off the edge of your seat until the very last line is uttered.

La La Land was inspired by many classic films, including the 1953 comedic musical The Band Wagon. The movie stars Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse as Tony Hunter and Gabrielle Gerard, unlikely costars who are at different stages in their careers. Tony is a musical comedian looking to make a comeback, and Gaby is a young, classically trained ballerina hoping to make her mark on Hollywood. The unlikely success of their partnership causes sparks to fly between them. When their creativity clashes with the studio, they take matters into their own hands and create something from the heart. Their love for dance, as well as each other, inspires them to create a Broadway musical for the ages.

The Bad and the Beautiful describes the complicated relationship between studio exec Johnathan Shields and three Hollywood heavyweights: movie star Georgia Morrison (Lana Turner), screenwriter James Barlow (Dick Powell), and director Fred Amiel (Barry Sullivan). While trying to outgrow his father's bad name, Johnathan Shields (Kirk Douglas) helps to create the careers of Morrison, Barlow, and Amiel. However, in the process, he also brutally betrays them. The 1952 drama has a truly iconic cast.

Fun fact: Gloria Grahame only had about nine minutes of screen time in the film and still received an Academy Award for best supporting actress. If watching her performance doesn't inspire you to watch the film, we don't know what will!

The Young Girls of Rochefort is another film said to have inspired breakout hit La La Land. The 1967 French musical follows multitalented twin sisters (Catherine Deneuve and real-life sister Francoise Dorléac) and their mother (Danielle Darrieux) as they each search for love the weekend that a fair comes to their seaside town of Rochefort. During the fair, an old flame returns to town, the identity of the twins' long-lost father is brought into question, and multiple cases of mistaken identity lead to hilarious hijinks. The women do, indeed, find love (one with an American played by Gene Kelly). The question is . . . will it last?

In one of her most iconic roles, Barbra Streisand plays Fanny Brice, an aspiring stage star living in post-WWI New York. After finally getting her big break, she meets the handsome Nicky Arnstein (Omar Sharif). The two share an instant connection, but their lives take them in different directions and they part ways. Now a famous musical comedian, Fanny encounters Nick once again, and this time she's determined not to let him get away. Nick, a professional gambler, wins a big score after a night of poker and uses the money to marry Fanny and start their life together. Fanny quits her job with the famous Ziegfeld Follies to focus on being a wife and starting a family. However, her marital bliss is short-lived as Nick continues to gamble away their livelihood. Fanny comes out of retirement and her star continues to rise, but Nick flounders. When one of Nick's schemes leads to unfortunate results, their relationship is put to the final test.

Funny Girl has both an incredible love story and killer soundtrack, making it an instant must-watch.