Topzle Topzle

Mulholland Drive (film)

Updated: 12/20/2025, 2:38:55 PM Wikipedia source

Mulholland Drive is a 2001 surrealist neo-noir mystery film written and directed by David Lynch. Its plot follows an aspiring actress (Naomi Watts) who arrives in Los Angeles, where she befriends a woman (Laura Harring) who is suffering from amnesia after a car accident. The film follows several other vignettes and characters, including a Hollywood director (Justin Theroux) who must deal with mob interference while casting for his latest film. The film was originally conceived as a television pilot for ABC, with footage shot and edited in 1999 as an open-ended mystery. After viewing Lynch's cut, however, television executives cancelled the proposed television series. Lynch then secured funding from French production company StudioCanal to make the material into a feature film, writing an ending to the project and filming new material. The resulting surrealist narrative has left the film's events open to interpretation. Lynch declined to offer an explanation, leaving audiences, critics, and even the film's own cast to speculate on its meaning. Mulholland Drive earned Lynch the 2001 Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Director, as well as a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Director for the film. The film boosted Watts' Hollywood profile considerably, and was the last feature film to star veteran Hollywood actress Ann Miller. The film has received enduring critical acclaim and has been frequently ranked as one of the best films of the 2000's and the 21st century, and often listed as one of the greatest films of all time. The 2022 Sight and Sound Greatest Films of All Time critics' poll ranked it at No. 8, while the director's poll ranked it at No. 22. The BBC and IndieWire ranked it the best film of the 21st century, and the LA Film Critics Association ranked it the best film of the 2000s. In 2025, The New York Times ranked it at number 2 in their list of the 100 Best Movies of the 21st Century, while media outlet The Ringer ranked Watts's performance as the greatest of the 21st century.

Infobox

Directed by
David Lynch
Written by
David Lynch
Produced by
mw- Mary Sweeney Alain Sarde Neal Edelstein Michael Polaire Tony Krantz
Starring
Naomi Watts Laura Harring Justin Theroux Ann Miller Robert Forster
Cinematography
Peter Deming
Edited by
Mary Sweeney
Music by
Angelo Badalamenti
Productioncompanies
Les Films Alain Sarde Asymmetrical Productions Babbo Inc. Le Studio Canal The Picture Factory
Distributed by
Universal Pictures via Universal Focus (United States)[a] BAC Distribution (France)
Release dates
May 16, 2001 (2001-05-16) (Cannes) October 12, 2001 (2001-10-12) (United States) November 21, 2001 (2001-11-21) (France)
Running time
147 minutes
Countries
United StatesFrance
Language
English
Budget
$15 million
Box office
$20.1 million

Tables

Accolades for Mulholland Drive · Release and reception › Awards and honors
AFI Awards
AFI Awards
Award
AFI Awards
Category
Composer of the Year
Recipient
Angelo Badalamenti
Result
Nominated
César Awards
César Awards
Award
César Awards
Category
Best Foreign Film
Recipient
David Lynch
Result
Won
ALMA Awards
ALMA Awards
Award
ALMA Awards
Category
Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture
Recipient
Laura Harring
Result
Won
Chicago Film Critics Awards
Chicago Film Critics Awards
Award
Chicago Film Critics Awards
Category
Best Actress
Recipient
Naomi Watts
Result
Won
Independent Spirit Awards
Independent Spirit Awards
Award
Independent Spirit Awards
Category
Best Cinematography
Recipient
Peter Deming
Result
Won
Los Angeles Film Critics Association
Los Angeles Film Critics Association
Award
Los Angeles Film Critics Association
Category
Best Director
Recipient
David Lynch
Result
Won
National Society of Film Critics
National Society of Film Critics
Award
National Society of Film Critics
Category
Best Actress
Recipient
Naomi Watts
Result
Won
Award
Category
Recipient
Result
AFI Awards
Composer of the Year
Angelo Badalamenti
Nominated
César Awards
Best Foreign Film
David Lynch
Won
ALMA Awards
Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture
Laura Harring
Won
Chicago Film Critics Awards
Best Actress
Naomi Watts
Won
Independent Spirit Awards
Best Cinematography
Peter Deming
Won
Los Angeles Film Critics Association
Best Director
David Lynch
Won
National Society of Film Critics
Best Actress
Naomi Watts
Won

References

  1. Some sources contradict each other as to whether Universal released Mulholland Drive on its own or through an arthouse d
  2. Stylized as Mulholland Dr. on the theatrical poster
  3. "Mulholland Dr. (2001)"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20160208210132/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b8379038e
  4. Variety
    https://variety.com/2001/film/news/u-gets-into-focus-with-mulholland-1117802301/
  5. Tampa Bay Times
    https://www.tampabay.com/archive/2002/01/19/the-twists-turns-of-mulholland-drive/?outputType=amp
  6. Screen International
    https://www.screendaily.com/film-clean-out-begins-at-vivendi-universal/408719.article
  7. The New York Times
    https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9901E2DA143CF935A35753C1A9679C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all
  8. "Mulholland Dr. (2001)"
    https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/moviedetails/53917
  9. www.alamy.com
    https://www.alamy.com/mulholland-dr-us-poster-2001-universal-pictures-file-reference-32509-260tha-image219047821.html
  10. www.alamy.com
    https://www.alamy.com/mulholland-drive-original-movie-poster-image227019418.html
  11. Lynchnet.com
    http://www.lynchnet.com/mdrive/pics/mdad.jpg
  12. mulholland-drive.com
    https://web.archive.org/web/20100924154115/http://mulholland-drive.com/mdbroadband.mov
  13. Mulholland Drive
  14. MULHOLLAND DRIVE
    https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/mulholland-drive-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc0zndmyoda
  15. The Numbers
    https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Mulholland-Drive#tab=summary
  16. Box Office Mojo
    https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=mulhollanddrive.htm
  17. The Ringer
    https://www.theringer.com/2025/08/25/movies/101-best-movie-acting-performances-since-2000-21st-century
  18. FilmMaker
  19. The Christian Science Monitor
    https://www.csmonitor.com/2001/1012/p15s1-almo.html
  20. The Washington Times
  21. The Philosophy of TV Noir
    https://books.google.com/books?id=WqDm82G3co0C&pg=PA3
  22. Film Noir: The Encyclopaedia
  23. Postfeminism and the Fatale Figure in Neo-Noir Cinema
    https://doi.org/10.1057%2F9781137503596
  24. Rotten Tomatoes
    https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/mulholland_dr/
  25. Salon
    https://web.archive.org/web/20081229232151/http://archive.salon.com/ent/movies/feature/2001/11/07/mulholland_dream/
  26. Interview
  27. The Sunday Times
  28. Chicago Tribune
    https://web.archive.org/web/20200617031746/https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2001-10-12-0110120366-story.html
  29. Mulholland Drive
    https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2002/jan/17/artsfeatures.davidlynch
  30. Mulholland Drive
  31. "Moving Beyond the Dream Theory: A New Approach to 'Mulholland Drive'"
    https://www.popmatters.com/feature/moving-beyond-the-dream-theory-a-new-approach-to-mulholland-drive/
  32. Mulholland Drive
  33. Phillip Lopate, "Welcome to L. A. Archived October 4, 2013, at the Wayback Machine", Film Comment 5, no. 37 (September/O
    http://www.lynchnet.com/mdrive/filmc1.html
  34. Quarterly Review of Film and Video
    https://doi.org/10.1080%2F10509200590461837
  35. Dreaming
    https://doi.org/10.1023%2Fa%3A1022190318612
  36. Mulholland Drive
    http://www.film-philosophy.com/vol9-2005/n34sinnerbrink
  37. Mulholland Drive
    http://www.scope.nottingham.ac.uk/article.php?issue=11&id=1022
  38. Lost Highway
    http://erea.revues.org/index432.html
  39. The Village Voice
    https://web.archive.org/web/20080719172617/http://www.villagevoice.com/film/0140%2Choberman%2C28631%2C20.html
  40. Sheen & Davison 2004, p. 170.
  41. Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me
  42. Mulholland Drive
    https://doi.org/10.1525%2Ffq.2002.56.1.37
  43. Los Angeles Times
  44. Film & History
  45. Dillon 2006, p. 94.
  46. New York Times Syndicate
    https://web.archive.org/web/20120209180613/http://www.davidlynch.de/harringnyle.html
  47. Thierry Jousse, "L'amour à mort," in Pendant les travaux, le cinéma reste ouvert, by Cahiers du cinéma (2003): 200.
  48. Stephanie Zacharek, "David Lynch's latest tour de force. Archived November 15, 2013, at the Wayback Machine", Salon, Oct
    http://www.salon.com/2001/10/12/mulholland_drive/
  49. "The Naughts: The Romantic Pair of the '00s – IFC"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20120729151921/http://www.ifc.com/fix/2009/12/naughts-romantic-pair
  50. Lesbianism, Cinema, Space
  51. Filippo (2013), 74.
  52. Mulholland Drive
    https://doi.org/10.1353%2Fnlh.2004.0021
  53. Journal of Bisexuality
    https://doi.org/10.1300%2FJ159v07n01_03
  54. Dennis Hensley, "Lust Highway," in Total Film 61 (February 2002): 72–74.
  55. Lawrence Ferber, "Sapphic Strangeness," in Watermark, October 11, 2001, p. 31.
  56. Amy Taubin, "In Dreams. Archived September 21, 2013, at the Wayback Machine," Film Comment 5, no. 37 (September 2001): 5
    http://www.lynchnet.com/mdrive/filmc2.html
  57. Roger Ebert, "Mulholland Drive Archived October 1, 2013, at the Wayback Machine," Chicago Sun-Times, June 2001.
    https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/mulholland-drive-2001
  58. Johnson 2004, p. 155.
  59. iofilm
    https://iofilm.com/filmmaking/acting/2001-10-16-741-naomi-watts-driven-to-tears
  60. Film Quarterly
    https://doi.org/10.1525%2Ffq.2004.58.1.2
  61. McGowan 2007, p. 198.
  62. McGowan 2007, p. 199.
  63. Dillon 2006, p. 95.
  64. Post Script: Essays in Film and the Humanities
  65. Johnson 2004, p. 137.
  66. Johnson 2004, pp. 137–138.
  67. Sight & Sound
  68. Salon
    https://web.archive.org/web/20090522071207/http://archive.salon.com/ent/movies/feature/2001/10/23/mulholland_drive_analysis/index.html
  69. Woods 2000, p. 208.
  70. Richmond Times Dispatch
  71. McGowan 2007, pp. 205–206.
  72. XIX. Solar Sphinx. Memories of Vamp Iris Atma Ra. Woman & Romance
    https://www.amazon.com/-/es/Raal-Ki-Victorieux-ebook/dp/B07ZFZ3GLM
  73. Sheen & Davison 2004, p. 171.
  74. Johnson 2004, p. 6.
  75. McGowan 2007, p. 2.
  76. Woods 2000, p. 209.
  77. Dillon 2006, p. 100.
  78. The Journal of Moving Image Studies
  79. Mulholland Drive
    https://web.archive.org/web/20081219094651/http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117798101.html?categoryid=31&cs=1&query=Mulholland+Drive
  80. Cinema Journal
    https://doi.org/10.1353%2Fcj.2004.0008
  81. Wider Screen
    http://www.widerscreen.fi/2004/1/psychological_horror_in_the_films_of_lynch.htm
  82. Creative Screenwriting
  83. DVD.net.au
    https://web.archive.org/web/20200804083633/http://www.dvd.net.au/review.cgi?review_id=1526
  84. Woods 2000, p. 206.
  85. The New Yorker
    https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1999/09/06/creative-differences
  86. Woods 2000, pp. 205–214.
  87. David Lynch In Conversation
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGd6lnYTTY8&t=1905s
  88. Twin Peaks
    https://www.avclub.com/article/sherilyn-fenn-talks-david-lynch-and-how-twin-peaks-200898
  89. Premiere
  90. U-T San Diego
  91. Woods 2000, pp. 213–214.
  92. The Independent
  93. Woods 2000, p. 214.
  94. Indie Wire
    https://www.indiewire.com/gallery/david-lynch-mulholland-drive-things-you-didnt-know/paris-photo-2017-grand-palais-france-10-nov-2017/
  95. The Washington Times
    https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2001/oct/12/20011012-025934-6983r/
  96. www.hollywoodreporter.com
    https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/walk-like-a-kitty-cat-laura-how-david-lynch-directed-mulholland-drive-1200594/
  97. Film Score Daily
    http://www.filmscoremonthly.com/daily/article.cfm?articleID=3690
  98. Total Film
  99. "AFI AWARDS 2001: Movies of the Year"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20110605093838/http://www.afi.com/tvevents/afiawards01/mpawards.aspx
  100. "The 2001 Anthony Asquith Award for the achievement in Film Music – Search Results for Badalamenti"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20120320102220/http://www.bafta.org/search.html?q=angelo%20badalamenti&w=true
  101. Sound Scripts
  102. McGowan 2007, p. 197.
  103. Film Score
    http://www.filmscoremonthly.com/daily/article.cfm?articleID=3498
  104. American Music
    https://doi.org/10.2307%2F4153071
  105. anthropoetics.ucla.edu
    https://web.archive.org/web/20120313125129/http://www.anthropoetics.ucla.edu/views/vw269.htm
  106. "Rebekah Del Rio – The story behind Llorando"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20120914201524/http://www.rebekahdelrio.com/llorando.html
  107. Odell & Le Blanc 2007, p. 162.
  108. festival-cannes.fr
    https://web.archive.org/web/20130514140251/http://www.festival-cannes.fr/en/archives/2001/awardCompetition.html
  109. American Imago
    https://doi.org/10.1353%2Faim.2005.0016
  110. Mulholland Drive
    https://www.metacritic.com/movie/mulholland-dr
  111. San Francisco Chronicle
    http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2001/10/12/DD230587.DTL
  112. Rolling Stone
    https://web.archive.org/web/20071104172013/http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/movie/5947635/review/5947636/mulholland_drive
  113. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/2001/05/17/movies/critic-s-notebook-shoving-through-the-crowd-to-taste-lyrical-nostalgia.html
  114. The New York Observer
    https://web.archive.org/web/20100830121443/http://www.observer.com/node/45088
  115. New York
    https://nymag.com/nymetro/movies/reviews/5277/
  116. The Washington Post
    https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2001/10/12/AR2005033117622.html
  117. "Mulholland Drive"
    http://preview.reelviews.net/movies/m/mulholland_drive.html
  118. "Mulholland Drive and "puzzle films""
    http://people.bu.edu/rcarney/newsevents/movsked.shtml
  119. Screen International
    http://www.screendaily.com/awards/other-awards/la-critics-name-mulholland-dr-film-of-the-decade/5009576.article
  120. "Palmares 2000"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20120426001455/http://www.cahiersducinema.net/PALMARES-2000.html
  121. ""Summer Hours" Wins indieWIRE '09 Critics Poll; "Mulholland Dr." is Best of Decade"
    https://www.indiewire.com/2009/12/summer-hours-wins-indiewire-09-critics-poll-mulholland-dr-is-best-of-decade-246094/
  122. Slant Magazine
    https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/feature/best-of-the-aughts-film/216/page_10
  123. "Best of the Decade #1: Mulholland Drive"
    http://www.reverseshot.com/article/1_mulholland_drive
  124. The Village Voice
    https://web.archive.org/web/20121020161911/http://www.villagevoice.com/filmpoll/index/best_of_decade/2009/
  125. Time Out New York
    http://newyork.timeout.com/articles/film/80947/the-tony-top-50-movies-of-the-decade/6.html
  126. Film Comment
    https://web.archive.org/web/20120608121039/http://www.filmlinc.com/fcm/jf10/best00s.htm
  127. Film Comment
    https://web.archive.org/web/20120306014815/http://www.filmlinc.com/fcm/ma10/readersbest09.htm
  128. The Guardian
    https://www.theguardian.com/film/filmblog/2009/dec/30/best-films-noughties-mulholland-drive
  129. Rolling Stone
    https://web.archive.org/web/20101208160024/http://www.rollingstone.com/movies/lists/8602/49002/49030
  130. "'Memento,' 'Mulholland Drive' among Canadian Press film favourites of 2000"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20110713122449/http://www.journalpioneer.com/Living/Technologies/2009-12-21/article-1395020/Memento,-Mulholland-Drive-among-Canadian-Press-film-favourites-of-2000s/1
  131. "MovieMantz: Best Movies Of The Decade"
    http://www.accesshollywood.com/moviemantz-best-movies-of-the-decade_article_27327
  132. bventertainment.go.com
    https://archive.today/20100414062922/http://bventertainment.go.com/tv/buenavista/atm/specials/bestofthedecade/
  133. The Guardian
    https://www.theguardian.com/film/2010/oct/20/drama-arthouse-25?intcmp=239
  134. Los Angeles Times
    https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/movies/la-ca-25films31-2008aug31,0,70218.htmlstory
  135. Empire
    https://www.empireonline.com/500/21.asp
  136. "Film4's 50 Films To See Before You Die"
    http://www.channel4.com/film/reviews/feature.jsp?id=161521&page=2
  137. Slate
    http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/new_classics/2011/10/the_new_classics_the_most_enduring_books_shows_movies_and_ideas_since_2000_.single.html
  138. Roger Ebert, "Mulholland Dr. Movie Review & Film Summary (2001) Archived February 25, 2020, at the Wayback Machine," Rog
    https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/great-movie-mulholland-dr-2001
  139. "The Top 50 Greatest Films of All Time"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20170301135739/http://www.bfi.org.uk/news/50-greatest-films-all-time
  140. bfi.org.uk
    https://web.archive.org/web/20131026034922/http://explore.bfi.org.uk/sightandsoundpolls/2012/critics
  141. "The 100 greatest American films"
    https://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20150720-the-100-greatest-american-films
  142. "Mulholland Drive tops BBC Culture greatest film poll"
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-37164880
  143. The Film Stage
    https://thefilmstage.com/2021-cannes-classic-lineup-includes-orson-welles-powell-and-pressburger-tilda-swinton-more/
  144. Festival de Cannes
    https://www.festival-cannes.com/en/2021/restoring-mulholland-drive-a-glimpse-behind-the-scenes-of-a-stunning-makeover/
  145. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/movies/best-movies-21st-century.html
  146. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/movies/readers-movies-21st-century.html
  147. Rolling Stone
    https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-lists/best-movies-of-the-21st-century-1235200512/
  148. hive4media.com
    http://www.hive4media.com/news/html/Product_article.cfm?article_id=2603
  149. The New York Times
    https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C00E5D9133DF937A35756C0A9659C8B63&pagewanted=4
  150. Eccentric Cinema
    https://web.archive.org/web/20130324022356/http://www.eccentric-cinema.com/cult_movies2008/mulholland_dr.htm
  151. "StudioCanal Collection – Mulholland Drive"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20121015054647/http://www.studiocanalcollection.com/en/collection/show/19-Mulholland_Drive
  152. TheaterByte
    http://www.blu-raydefinition.com/reviews/mulholland-drive-studiocanal-collectionuk-blu-ray-review.html
  153. "StudioCanal Collection – The Elephant Man"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20120726003100/http://www.studiocanalcollection.com/en/collection/show/8-The_Elephant_Man
  154. "Criterion Announces October Titles"
    http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=17183
  155. The Criterion Collection
    https://www.criterion.com/films/28050-mulholland-dr
  156. "Eraserhead (1997) – The Criterion Collection"
    https://www.criterion.com/films/28382-eraserhead
  157. Ars Technica
    https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2021/08/criterion-announces-support-for-4k-uhd-blu-ray-beginning-with-citizen-kane/
  158. criterionforum.org
    https://www.criterionforum.org/img/packaging/mulhollanddrblu2.jpg
  159. CriterionForum.org
    https://www.criterionforum.org/Review/mulholland-dr-the-criterion-collection-blu-ray
  160. "Mulholland Dr"
    https://www.janusfilms.com/films/1839
  161. "Nominees & Winners for the 74th Academy Awards: Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20140907043052/http://www.oscars.org/awards/academyawards/oscarlegacy/2000-present/74nominees.html
  162. "The 59th Annual Golden Globe Awards"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20120226043245/http://thegoldenglobes.com/welcome.html?yearz%2FG-2001.html
  163. David Lynch: Interviews
    https://books.google.com/books?id=9dTCkwmvEyIC&q=Mulholland+Drive+C%C3%A9sar+Award&pg=PR18
  164. Los Angeles Times
  165. "Chicago Film Critics Awards – 1998–2007"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20120515203059/http://www.chicagofilmcritics.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=48&Itemid=58
  166. Los Angeles Times
    https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-mar-24-me-indie24-story.html
  167. "LAFCA"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20120303101337/http://www.lafca.net/years/2001.html
  168. Salon
    http://www.salon.com/2002/01/07/nsfc_awards/
Image
Source: —
Tip: Wheel or +/− to zoom, drag to pan, Esc to close.