Published: November 9, 2026 · Last updated: November 9, 2026 · 2 min read
These two films explore different facets of the Hollywood film industry. Both movies are categorized within the drama genre.
Spoiler-free comparison using public data.
Sunset Boulevard vs The Day of the Locust: Side by Side
| Sunset Boulevard (1950) | The Day of the Locust (1975) | |
|---|---|---|
| Genres | Drama | Drama |
| Runtime | 110 min | 145 min |
| Directed by | Billy Wilder | John Schlesinger |
| Top cast | William Holden, Gloria Swanson, Erich von Stroheim | Donald Sutherland, Karen Black, Burgess Meredith |
| US rating | NR | R |
| IMDb | — | — |
| Rotten Tomatoes | — | — |
| Metacritic | — | — |
| TMDB score | 8.3/10 | 6.4/10 |
How They Compare on the Numbers
- The Day of the Locust is the longer film by 35 minutes (145 vs 110).
- Sunset Boulevard has the higher TMDB score (8.3 vs 6.4).
- Sunset Boulevard came out first (1950-08-10).
- Shared genres: Drama.
What Each Movie Is About
Sunset Boulevard
A hack screenwriter writes a screenplay for a former silent film star who has faded into Hollywood obscurity.
The Day of the Locust
Hollywood, 1930s. Tod Hackett, a young painter who tries to make his way as an art director in the lurid world of film industry, gets infatuated with his neighbor Faye Greener, an aspiring actress who prefers the life that Homer Simpson, a lone accountant, can offer her.
Which Should You Watch First?
Start with Sunset Boulevard if:
- A screenwriter creates a script for a silent film star.
- This 1950 drama features a runtime of 110 minutes.
Start with The Day of the Locust if:
- A painter navigates the 1930s film industry in Hollywood.
- This 1975 drama has a runtime of 145 minutes.
Sunset Boulevard has a higher score of 8.3 compared to the 6.4 score of The Day of the Locust. Sunset Boulevard is the shorter drama at 110 minutes, while The Day of the Locust runs for 145 minutes.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which is longer, Sunset Boulevard or The Day of the Locust?
The Day of the Locust is longer by 35 minutes, according to TMDB.
Where do the ratings come from?
From TMDB and, where shown, OMDb (IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes, Metacritic). They were checked on November 9, 2026 and change over time.
Data checked on November 9, 2026. Movie and TV data from TMDB. This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB. Ratings via OMDb (IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes, Metacritic) where shown. Scores change over time; check the source for the latest numbers.
Related: movies like Back to the Future.
About this guide. Published by Morfeli on November 9, 2026. Facts come from public data sources (TMDB, OMDb, Deezer) and are summarized with AI assistance. This page is a data summary, not a critic’s review or a personal opinion; nobody here claims to have rated the title. Scores and details change over time. See our Editorial Policy.
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