Entertainment • Film

Hollywood

Hollywood is a district in Los Angeles, California, best known as the historic center of the American film and entertainment industries.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Hollywood is a district in Los Angeles, California, best known as the historic centre of the American film and entertainment industries. The name is also used as a metonym for the U.S. film industry more broadly. Hollywood is associated with major studios, film history, and landmarks such as the Hollywood Sign and the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

History

Hollywood was laid out as a subdivision in 1887 and became a municipality in 1903 before being annexed by Los Angeles in 1910. Its growth accelerated as film companies moved west in the early 20th century.

Film industry significance

Hollywood became the symbolic and practical centre of the U.S. film industry. The name later came to stand for American cinema as a whole, especially during the studio era and the Golden Age of Hollywood.

Landmarks and tourism

Hollywood is widely known for tourist attractions linked to film culture, including the Hollywood Sign and the Hollywood Walk of Fame. These landmarks have helped make the district internationally recognizable.

Cultural meaning

Beyond the place itself, Hollywood can mean the broader commercial film industry of the United States. It is also sometimes used to describe a glamorous or stylized image associated with movies and celebrity culture.

Key facts

Hollywood is a neighbourhood in Los Angeles and one of the best-known place names in the global film industry.
The word "Hollywood" is often used as a metonym for the American motion-picture industry.
Hollywood became a municipality in 1903 and was incorporated into Los Angeles in 1910.
The area is historically associated with film studios, movie production, and celebrity culture.
Common landmarks include the Hollywood Sign and the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

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Canadian context

Hollywood has a strong Canadian relevance because films, television, and streaming content made by Hollywood studios are widely consumed in Canada, and Canadian locations and crews are often used in Hollywood productions.

Frequently asked questions

What is Hollywood?

Hollywood is a district in Los Angeles, California, strongly associated with the American film industry.

Why is Hollywood famous?

It is famous as a historic centre of film production and for landmarks such as the Hollywood Sign and the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

What does "Hollywood" mean outside the place name?

It is often used as a metonym for the U.S. film industry and, more broadly, American commercial cinema.

When did Hollywood become part of Los Angeles?

Hollywood was incorporated in 1903 and annexed by the city of Los Angeles in 1910.

Is Hollywood still an important film centre today?

Yes. Hollywood remains a major symbolic centre of the film industry, although film production is now spread across many locations.

References

Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/place/Hollywood-California
Supports: Hollywood as a district in Los Angeles; its association with the American film industry; incorporation and annexation dates; major studio presence.
Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hollywood
Supports: Hollywood as the center of the U.S. film industry and use as a metonym.
Simple English Wikipedia — https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hollywood
Supports: Hollywood as a district in Los Angeles; metonymic use; Hollywood Walk of Fame and Hollywood Sign.
History.com — https://www.history.com/articles/hollywood
Supports: Early development of Hollywood, incorporation, annexation, and the movement of film production to the area.
Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinema_of_the_United_States
Supports: Hollywood as the principal U.S. film hub and the meaning of Classical/Golden Age Hollywood.