Wild, Chaotic, and Unapologetically Cinematic: 10 Movies Like Babylon
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| A collage featuring stills from movies like Babylon |
Damien Chazelle’s Babylon (2022) was a lot of things—divisive, excessive, stunning, exhausting—but above all, it was an uncompromising love letter to the beautiful mess that is Hollywood.
Set during the chaotic transition from silent films to talkies in the 1920s, Babylon explores ambition, addiction, downfall, and the price of immortality in an industry that chews people up and spits them out. If you were captivated by its whirlwind storytelling, explosive characters, or emotionally raw themes, you’re probably searching for more movies that hit that same chaotic sweet spot.
Here are 10 must-watch films like Babylon that explore the madness of fame, the sacrifices of stardom, and the cost of chasing dreams. Some are raucous and wild, others haunting and poetic. But all of them will remind you why the stories behind the screen are just as gripping as the ones on it.
Director: Paul Thomas Anderson
IMDb Rating: 7.9/10
Why It Resonates: Boogie Nights is arguably Babylon’s closest cinematic cousin. It follows the rise and fall of Dirk Diggler in the 1970s adult film industry, charting the same highs of newfound fame and lows of self-destruction. PTA’s camera glides through chaos with a rhythmic energy that mirrors Chazelle’s jazz-infused approach.
Standout Themes: Fame, found family, excess, the shift in cultural eras.
Watch it on: Amazon Prime Video
Director: Martin Scorsese
IMDb Rating: 8.2/10
Why It Resonates: Though set in the world of finance, Scorsese’s fast-talking epic is all about the addictive pursuit of more—more power, more fame, more madness. Leonardo DiCaprio’s portrayal of Jordan Belfort is the business-world counterpart to Manny: both get sucked into a world that’s intoxicating and ultimately soul-crushing.
Standout Themes: Addiction to success, moral decay, charisma vs corruption.
Watch it on: Amazon Prime Video
Director: Quentin Tarantino
IMDb Rating: 7.6/10
Why It Resonates: Tarantino’s 1969 Hollywood fantasy explores a changing industry through the eyes of fading star Rick Dalton and his stuntman. It’s a more reflective counterpoint to Babylon’s chaos.
Standout Themes: End of eras, loyalty, reinvention, Hollywood mythology.
Watch it on: Prime Video
Director: Billy Wilder
IMDb Rating: 8.4/10
Why It Resonates: A noir classic, this tale of faded silent star Norma Desmond is a chilling reminder of fame’s fleeting nature. Her obsession with stardom parallels Nellie’s arc in Babylon.
Standout Themes: Obsession, decline, delusion, fading fame.
Watch it on: Amazon Prime Video
Director: David Fincher
IMDb Rating: 6.8/10
Why It Resonates: Mank focuses on Herman J. Mankiewicz and the script of Citizen Kane. A critique of Hollywood's studio system and its ghosts, it’s more subdued but no less biting than Babylon.
Standout Themes: Integrity in art, studio power plays, legacy.
Watch it on: Netflix
Director: Baz Luhrmann
IMDb Rating: 7.2/10
Why It Resonates: Explosive ambition, doomed love, and glittering illusions of the American Dream make The Great Gatsby a stylish match for Babylon’s spirit.
Standout Themes: Illusion, identity, wealth, the cost of dreaming.
Watch it on: Amazon Prime Video
Director: Damien Chazelle
IMDb Rating: 8.0/10
Why It Resonates: La La Land is a romantic, musical lens on the dreams and sacrifices of artists. It’s Chazelle’s gentler counterpart to Babylon.
Standout Themes: Passion vs practicality, love, artistic sacrifice.
Watch it on: Netflix / Prime Video
Director: Alejandro G. Iñárritu
IMDb Rating: 7.7/10
Why It Resonates: A surreal, continuous-shot exploration of an actor’s crumbling psyche and obsession with relevance. It's internal chaos that mirrors Babylon’s external madness.
Standout Themes: Ego, meta-Hollywood, identity crisis.
Watch it on: Amazon Prime Video
Director: Darren Aronofsky
IMDb Rating: 8.0/10
Why It Resonates: A psychological thriller about obsession and artistic perfection. Ballet replaces cinema, but the mental toll is universally cinematic.
Standout Themes: Duality, madness, pressure of performance.
Watch it on: Disney+ Hotstar
Director: Michel Hazanavicius
IMDb Rating: 7.9/10
Why It Resonates: This silent black-and-white gem is set during the exact same period as Babylon, offering a gentler, heartfelt tribute to the transition from silent films to sound.
Standout Themes: Change, resilience, cinematic evolution.
Watch it on: Amazon Prime Video
🎞️ Final Thoughts: A Love-Hate Letter to Fame
Each of these films, like Babylon, pulls back the curtain on the cost of chasing greatness. They show us that while the spotlight can be warm and glorious, it can also blind you—and burn you out.
If Babylon reminded you why you love movies, these titles will keep the flame alive. From dizzying highs to devastating lows, they capture the magic and madness of entertainment like no others.
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💬 Join the Conversation!
Which film from this list is your favorite? Have you watched Babylon more than once? Share your thoughts in the comments!
👉 Don’t forget to read: Cinemas Around the World: A Journey Through Global Film Styles
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Disclaimer:All images used in this content are sourced from IMDb, and are used for informational and illustrative purposes only. All video trailers are embedded from their respective official YouTube channels. We do not claim ownership of any third-party content.
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