The Canadian Encyclopedia — neutral, cited, updated
July 27, 2026Sources cited
Canadianwire.
Canada’s encyclopedia & explainer
HomeEntertainmentFilmLa La Land
Entertainment • Film

La La Land

La La Land is a 2016 American musical romantic comedy-drama film written and directed by Damien Chazelle.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

La La Land is a 2016 American musical romantic comedy-drama film written and directed by Damien Chazelle. It stars Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone as two aspiring artists in Los Angeles whose relationship develops alongside their careers and ambitions. The film was a major critical and commercial success and won six Academy Awards.

Plot

The story centres on Sebastian, a jazz pianist, and Mia, an aspiring actress, as they fall in love while trying to build careers in Los Angeles. Their relationship is shaped by the tension between artistic ambition and personal commitment.

Production

La La Land was written and directed by Damien Chazelle and features choreography, songs, and visual style inspired by classic Hollywood musicals. It was produced as a contemporary musical set in Los Angeles.

Release and reception

The film premiered in 2016 and was released theatrically in the United States in December of that year. It earned strong critical praise and major awards recognition, including six Oscars and seven Golden Globes. It received 14 Academy Award nominations and won six. The film also won a record seven Golden Globe Awards at the 74th Golden Globe Awards. Its ending became especially noted after the Best Picture announcement error at the 89th Academy Awards. In Canada, the film was widely released and discussed, with Canadian media covering its awards season attention and the 2017 Academy Awards Best Picture mix-up.

Themes and title

The title refers to Los Angeles, a city long nicknamed ‘La La Land,’ and also evokes a dreamlike state detached from reality. The film explores dreams, compromise, and the cost of artistic success. The film is widely associated with Los Angeles and with classic Hollywood musical influences.

Key facts

  • The film follows a jazz pianist and an aspiring actress pursuing careers in Los Angeles.
  • La La Land received 14 Academy Award nominations and won 6.
  • It won a record seven Golden Globe Awards at the 74th Golden Globe Awards.
  • Its ending became especially noted after the Best Picture announcement error at the 89th Academy Awards.
  • The film is widely associated with Los Angeles and with classic Hollywood musical influences.
🍁
Canadian context

The film was widely released and discussed in Canada, including Canadian media coverage of its awards season attention and the 2017 Academy Awards Best Picture mix-up.

Frequently asked questions

Who directed La La Land?
La La Land was written and directed by Damien Chazelle.
Who stars in La La Land?
The film stars Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone in the lead roles.
What is La La Land about?
It follows a jazz pianist and an aspiring actress in Los Angeles as they pursue careers and navigate a romantic relationship.
How many Oscars did La La Land win?
It won six Academy Awards from 14 nominations.
Why is it called La La Land?
The title refers to Los Angeles and also suggests a dreamlike, detached state of mind.

References

  1. Encyclopaedia Britannicahttps://www.britannica.com/topic/La-La-Land
    Supports: Identifies the film as a 2016 musical romantic comedy-drama directed by Damien Chazelle.
  2. Rotten Tomatoeshttps://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/la_la_land
    Supports: Lists the director, genre, cast, distributor, runtime, and release information.
  3. Wikipediahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_La_Land
    Supports: Provides premiere date, theatrical release date, box office, and major awards results including Oscar and Golden Globe wins.
  4. CBChttps://www.cbc.ca/radio/q/blog/oscars-5-things-you-didn-t-know-about-la-la-land-1.3996124
    Supports: Confirms the film’s 14 Oscar nominations and Canadian media coverage of its awards-season prominence.