Where to watch
Each link opens a search on that service. Checked 13 October 2026.
Streaming data from JustWatch
L.A. Confidential
1997
· Movie
· 138 min
A
MEANRANK
85/100
Where it ranks
- Mean Score #99
- IMDb #136
- Google retired #719
- Rotten Tomatoes #28
- Metacritic #93
- Letterboxd #385
+9 more
- Rotten Tomatoes Critics #57
- Rotten Tomatoes Audience #148
- Metacritic Critics #158
- Metacritic Audience #123
- Criticker #216
- Douban #96
- Kinopoisk #391
- AlloCiné #357
- Trakt #335
Every rating
70–99
out of 100
Mostly agreed
Lowest is Criticker on 70, highest is Rotten Tomatoes critics on 99.
See the most agreed on films →In 1950s Los Angeles, three very different policemen are investigating a series of murders at an all-night diner. Their separate investigations begin to converge, uncovering a web of corruption, prostitution, and conspiracy that reaches the highest levels of the city's power structure. Their conflicting methods and personal ambitions put them at odds as they get closer to the truth.
Details
- Director
- Curtis Hanson
- Writers
- Brian Helgeland, Curtis Hanson
- Based on
- L.A. Confidential by James Ellroy
- Released
- 19 September 1997
- Country
- United States
- Language
- English
- Runtime
- 138 min
- Rated
- R
- Budget
- $35.0M
- Box office
- $126.2M
- Awards
- 81 wins, 64 nominations
This title elsewhere
Cast
Full cast (95) →
Awards & nominations
See all 145 →7 major awards won · 81 wins from 145 nominations across 55 ceremonies
| Academy Awards 1997 | Best Supporting Actress | Kim Basinger | Winner |
| Academy Awards 1997 | Best Screenplay – Based on Material Previously Produced or Published | Brian Helgeland and Curtis Hanson | Winner |
| Critics' Choice Awards 1997 | Best Picture | Winner | |
| Critics' Choice Awards 1997 | Best Screenplay – Adapted | Brian Helgeland and Curtis Hanson | Winner |
| Golden Globe Awards 1997 | Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture | Kim Basinger | Winner |
| Screen Actors Guild Awards 1997 | Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role | Kim Basinger | Winner |
| Writers Guild of America Awards 1997 | Best Screenplay – Based on Material Previously Produced or Published | Brian Helgeland and Curtis Hanson | Winner |
| Academy Awards 1997 | Best Picture | Arnon Milchan, Curtis Hanson, and Michael Nathanson | Nominee |
Awards from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA.
More like this
Beyond the numbers
All lists →
29 October 2026
Why Batman works without superpowers—and when the films forget why
Fear, money, detective work and moral limits: four Batman films test what makes Bruce Wayne worth watching.
29 October 2026
Five great directorial debuts, ranked for what is already on screen
Citizen Kane, The 400 Blows, Get Out, Reservoir Dogs and Following: first features judged without borrowing greatness from the careers that followed.
29 October 2026
TV shows with Black female leads: four series worth arguing about
Insecure, Queen Sugar, Scandal and How to Get Away with Murder, ranked for character writing, dramatic range and the lives they make room for.
8 October 2026
Leonardo DiCaprio's films, ranked—and the performances inside them
Twenty-one selected films, with a closer look at the acting: comic timing, self-invention, wounded authority and the effort that sometimes shows.
8 October 2026
Why The Matrix still works: the action is the argument
How bodies, belief and a world with visible rules make the 1999 film more than a collection of famous effects.
8 October 2026
Batman movies ranked: the films behind the scores
Twelve theatrical films, from Adam West to Robert Pattinson, and the different claims they make for the mask.
Just released
See all →
Coming soon
Trailer — L.A. Confidential
×Full cast — L.A. Confidential
×
145 awards — L.A. Confidential
×
Academy Awards
9 nominations, 2 won
| Best Screenplay – Based on Material Previously Produced or Published | Brian Helgeland and Curtis Hanson | Winner |
| Best Supporting Actress | Kim Basinger | Winner |
| Best Art Direction | Art Direction: Jeannine Oppewall ; Set Decoration: Jay Hart | Nominee |
| Best Cinematography | Dante Spinotti | Nominee |
| Best Director | Curtis Hanson | Nominee |
| Best Film Editing | Peter Honess | Nominee |
| Best Original Dramatic Score | Jerry Goldsmith | Nominee |
| Best Picture | Arnon Milchan, Curtis Hanson, and Michael Nathanson | Nominee |
| Best Sound | Andy Nelson, Anna Behlmer, and Kirk Francis | Nominee |
Critics' Choice Awards
2 nominations, 2 won
| Best Picture | Winner | |
| Best Screenplay – Adapted | Brian Helgeland and Curtis Hanson | Winner |
Golden Globe Awards
5 nominations, 1 won
| Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture | Kim Basinger | Winner |
| Best Director – Motion Picture | Curtis Hanson | Nominee |
| Best Motion Picture – Drama | Nominee | |
| Best Original Score – Motion Picture | Jerry Goldsmith | Nominee |
| Best Screenplay – Motion Picture | Brian Helgeland and Curtis Hanson | Nominee |
Screen Actors Guild Awards
2 nominations, 1 won
| Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role | Kim Basinger | Winner |
| Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture | Kim Basinger, James Cromwell, Russell Crowe, Danny DeVito, Guy Pearce, Kevin Spacey, and David Strathairn | Nominee |
Writers Guild of America Awards
1 nomination, 1 won
| Best Screenplay – Based on Material Previously Produced or Published | Brian Helgeland and Curtis Hanson | Winner |
Art Directors Guild Awards
1 nomination
| Excellence in Production Design – Feature Film | Jeannine Oppewall and Bill Arnold | Nominee |
Cannes Film Festival
1 nomination
| Palme d'Or | Curtis Hanson | Nominee |
Directors Guild of America Awards
1 nomination
| Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures | Curtis Hanson | Nominee |
Producers Guild of America Awards
1 nomination
| Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures | Arnon Milchan, Curtis Hanson, and Michael Nathanson | Nominee |
Chlotrudis Awards
7 nominations, 6 won
| Best Actor | Russell Crowe | Winner |
| Best Cinematography | Dante Spinotti | Winner |
| Best Director | Curtis Hanson | Winner |
| Best Movie | Winner | |
| Best Screenplay | Brian Helgeland and Curtis Hanson | Winner |
| Best Supporting Actor | Kevin Spacey | Winner |
| Best Actor | Guy Pearce | Nominee |
Boston Society of Film Critics Awards
4 nominations, 4 won
| Best Director | Curtis Hanson | Winner |
| Best Film | John Seale | Winner |
| Best Screenplay | Brian Helgeland and Curtis Hanson | Winner |
| Best Supporting Actor | Kevin Spacey | Winner |
Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards
4 nominations, 4 won
| Best Cinematography | Dante Spinotti | Winner |
| Best Director | Curtis Hanson | Winner |
| Best Picture | Winner | |
| Best Screenplay | Brian Helgeland and Curtis Hanson | Winner |
Southeastern Film Critics Association Awards
4 nominations, 4 won
| Best Adapted Screenplay | Brian Helgeland and Curtis Hanson | Winner |
| Best Director | Curtis Hanson | Winner |
| Best Picture | Winner | |
| Best Supporting Actress | Kim Basinger | Winner |
Online Film & Television Association Awards
14 nominations, 3 won
| Best Adapted Screenplay | Brian Helgeland and Curtis Hanson | Winner |
| Best Ensemble | Winner | |
| Hall of Fame – Motion Picture | Winner | |
| Best Cinematography | Dante Spinotti | Nominee |
| Best Costume Design | Ruth Myers | Nominee |
| Best Director | Curtis Hanson | Nominee |
| Best Drama Picture | Arnon Milchan, Curtis Hanson, and Michael Nathanson | Nominee |
| Best Drama Score | Jerry Goldsmith | Nominee |
| Best Film Editing | Peter Honess | Nominee |
| Best Picture | Arnon Milchan, Curtis Hanson, and Michael Nathanson | Nominee |
| Best Production Design | Jeannine Oppewall and Jay Hart | Nominee |
| Best Sound | Nominee | |
| Best Supporting Actress | Kim Basinger | Nominee |
| Best Titles Sequence | Nominee |
Chicago Film Critics Association Awards
7 nominations, 3 won
| Best Director | Curtis Hanson | Winner |
| Best Film | Winner | |
| Best Screenplay | Brian Helgeland and Curtis Hanson | Winner |
| Best Cinematography | Dante Spinotti | Nominee |
| Best Original Score | Jerry Goldsmith | Nominee |
| Best Supporting Actor | Kevin Spacey | Nominee |
| Most Promising Actor | Guy Pearce | Nominee |
Florida Film Critics Circle Awards
3 nominations, 3 won
| Best Cinematography | Dante Spinotti | Winner |
| Best Director | Curtis Hanson | Winner |
| Best Screenplay | Brian Helgeland and Curtis Hanson | Winner |
Kinema Junpo Awards
3 nominations, 3 won
| Best Foreign Language Film | Curtis Hanson | Winner |
| Best Foreign Language Film (Readers' Choice Award) | Curtis Hanson | Winner |
| Best Foreign Language Film Director | Curtis Hanson | Winner |
London Film Critics Circle Awards
3 nominations, 3 won
| Director of the Year | Curtis Hanson | Winner |
| Film of the Year | Winner | |
| Screenwriter of the Year | Brian Helgeland and Curtis Hanson | Winner |
National Board of Review Awards
3 nominations, 3 won
| Best Director | Curtis Hanson | Winner |
| Best Film | Winner | |
| Top Ten Films | Winner |
National Society of Film Critics Awards
3 nominations, 3 won
| Best Director | Curtis Hanson | Winner |
| Best Film | Winner | |
| Best Screenplay | Brian Helgeland and Curtis Hanson | Winner |
New York Film Critics Circle Awards
3 nominations, 3 won
| Best Director | Curtis Hanson | Winner |
| Best Film | Winner | |
| Best Screenplay | Brian Helgeland and Curtis Hanson | Winner |
British Academy Film Awards
12 nominations, 2 won
| Best Editing | Peter Honess | Winner |
| Best Sound | Terry Rodman, Roland N. Thai, Kirk Francis, Andy Nelson, Anna Behlmer, and John Leveque | Winner |
| Best Actor in a Leading Role | Kevin Spacey | Nominee |
| Best Actress in a Leading Role | Kim Basinger | Nominee |
| Best Cinematography | Dante Spinotti | Nominee |
| Best Costume Design | Ruth Myers | Nominee |
| Best Direction | Curtis Hanson | Nominee |
| Best Film | Arnon Milchan, Curtis Hanson, and Michael Nathanson | Nominee |
| Best Make Up/Hair | John M. Elliott, Scott H. Eddo, and Janis Clark | Nominee |
| Best Original Music | Jerry Goldsmith | Nominee |
| Best Production Design | Jeannine Oppewall | Nominee |
| Best Screenplay – Adapted | Brian Helgeland and Curtis Hanson | Nominee |
Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association Awards
3 nominations, 2 won
| Best Picture | Winner | |
| Best Supporting Actress | Kim Basinger | Winner |
| Best Director | Curtis Hanson | Nominee |
Online Film Critics Society Awards
3 nominations, 2 won
| Best Picture | Winner | |
| Best Screenplay | Brian Helgeland and Curtis Hanson | Winner |
| Best Director | Curtis Hanson | Nominee |
San Diego Film Critics Society Awards
3 nominations, 2 won
| Best Picture | Winner | |
| Best Screenplay – Adapted | Brian Helgeland and Curtis Hanson | Winner |
| Best Director | Curtis Hanson | Nominee |
Society of Texas Film Critics Awards
3 nominations, 2 won
| Best Screenplay – Adapted | Brian Helgeland and Curtis Hanson | Winner |
| Best Supporting Actor | Kevin Spacey (Also for Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil ) | Winner |
| Best Supporting Actress | Kim Basinger | Nominee |
Sant Jordi Awards
2 nominations, 2 won
| Best Foreign Film | Curtis Hanson | Winner |
| Best Foreign Film (Audience Award) | Curtis Hanson | Winner |
Satellite Awards
8 nominations, 1 won
| Best Screenplay – Adapted | Brian Helgeland and Curtis Hanson | Winner |
| Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama | Russell Crowe | Nominee |
| Best Art Direction | Jeannine Oppewall | Nominee |
| Best Cinematography | Dante Spinotti | Nominee |
| Best Director | Curtis Hanson | Nominee |
| Best Film Editing | Peter Honess | Nominee |
| Best Motion Picture – Drama | Nominee | |
| Best Original Score | Jerry Goldsmith | Nominee |
Artios Awards
1 nomination, 1 won
| Outstanding Achievement in Feature Film Casting – Drama | Mali Finn | Winner |
Australian Film Institute Awards
1 nomination, 1 won
| Best Foreign Film | Arnon Milchan, Curtis Hanson, and Michael Nathanson | Winner |
BMI Film & TV Awards
1 nomination, 1 won
| BMI Film Music Award | Jerry Goldsmith | Winner |
Blue Ribbon Awards
1 nomination, 1 won
| Best Foreign Film | Curtis Hanson | Winner |
Bodil Awards
1 nomination, 1 won
| Best Non-European Film | Curtis Hanson | Winner |
British Society of Cinematographers Awards
1 nomination, 1 won
| Best Cinematography in a Theatrical Feature Film | Dante Spinotti | Winner |
Cinema Writers Circle Awards
1 nomination, 1 won
| Best Foreign Film | Winner |
Edgar Allan Poe Awards
1 nomination, 1 won
| Best Motion Picture | Brian Helgeland and Curtis Hanson | Winner |
Empire Awards
1 nomination, 1 won
| Best Actor | Kevin Spacey | Winner |
Film Critics Circle of Australia Awards
1 nomination, 1 won
| Best Foreign Film | Winner |
Fotogramas de Plata
1 nomination, 1 won
| Best Foreign Film | Curtis Hanson | Winner |
Japan Academy Film Prize
1 nomination, 1 won
| Outstanding Foreign Language Film | Winner |
Las Vegas Film Critics Society Awards
1 nomination, 1 won
| Best Screenplay | Brian Helgeland and Curtis Hanson | Winner |
Mainichi Film Awards
1 nomination, 1 won
| Best Foreign Language Film | Curtis Hanson | Winner |
National Film Preservation Board
1 nomination, 1 won
| National Film Registry | Winner |
Nikkan Sports Film Awards
1 nomination, 1 won
| Best Foreign Film | Winner |
Saturn Awards (1998)
1 nomination, 1 won
| Best Action/Adventure/Thriller Film | Winner |
Toronto International Film Festival
1 nomination, 1 won
| Metro Media Award | Curtis Hanson | Winner |
USC Scripter Awards
1 nomination, 1 won
| USC Scripter Awards | Brian Helgeland and Curtis Hanson (screenwriters) ; James Ellroy (author) | Winner |
Golden Reel Awards
3 nominations
| Best Sound Editing – Dialogue & ADR | Becky Sullivan, Robert Ulrich, Mildred Iatrou, Catherine M. Speakman, Donald L. Warner Jr., Andrea Horta, Denise Horta, Diane Linn, and Tami Treadwell | Nominee |
| Best Sound Editing – Music (Foreign & Domestic) | Kenneth Hall | Nominee |
| Best Sound Editing – Sound Effects & Foley | Nominee |
Nastro d'Argento
2 nominations
| Best Cinematography | Dante Spinotti | Nominee |
| Best Foreign Director | Curtis Hanson | Nominee |
American Cinema Editors Awards
1 nomination
| Best Edited Feature Film | Peter Honess | Nominee |
American Society of Cinematographers Awards
1 nomination
| Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Theatrical Releases | Dante Spinotti | Nominee |
Argentine Film Critics Association Awards
1 nomination
| Best Foreign Film | Curtis Hanson | Nominee |
Cinema Audio Society Awards
1 nomination
| Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing for Motion Pictures | Andy Nelson, Anna Behlmer, and Kirk Francis | Nominee |
Political Film Society Awards
1 nomination
| Human Rights | Nominee |
Saturn Awards (2009)
1 nomination
| Best DVD Special Edition Release | Nominee |