La La Land (2016)
Kernel Score: 90% · 17,895 ratings · Rated PG-13
Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Released: 2016-12-01
Runtime: 129 minutes
Is La La Land worth watching?
Must-watch. A struggling actress and a jazz pianist fall in love in Los Angeles, and the film asks what they'll give up for their dreams. It is bright and romantic, with a bittersweet ending that sticks.
Watch it if you
- love old-fashioned musicals
- enjoy romances that don't take the easy ending
- like jazz and bold colour
Skip it if you
- dislike musicals
- want a happy-ever-after romance
Best for: Date night
Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.
Where to watch La La Land
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-10-22.
Overview
Mia, an aspiring actress, serves lattes to movie stars in between auditions and Sebastian, a jazz musician, scrapes by playing cocktail party gigs in dingy bars, but as success mounts they are faced with decisions that begin to fray the fragile fabric of their love affair, and the dreams they worked so hard to maintain in each other threaten to rip them apart.
La La Land parents' guide: ages 11+
Parents need to know that La La Land is a PG-13 musical romance about the tension between love and ambition.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official PG-13 rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like La La Land
If you liked La La Land, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- Whiplash (2014) — 96%: Same director's intense story of ambition and music
- (500) Days of Summer (2009) — 83%: Romance that doesn't follow the usual script
- Sing Street (2016) — 87%: Music-driven, sweet coming-of-age romance
- Annie Hall (1977) — 86%: Smart romance about how love fades and changes
- Roman Holiday (1953) — 87%: Classic romance with a bittersweet ending
- The Apartment (1960) — 91%: Bittersweet romance with a sharp view of ambition
Director
Cast
- Ryan Gosling as Sebastian
- Emma Stone as Mia
- John Legend as Keith
- Rosemarie DeWitt as Laura
- Finn Wittrock as Greg
- Callie Hernandez as Tracy
- Sonoya Mizuno as Caitlin
- Jessica Rothe as Alexis
- Tom Everett Scott as David
- Josh Pence as Josh
La La Land FAQ
Is La La Land worth watching?
Must-watch. A struggling actress and a jazz pianist fall in love in Los Angeles, and the film asks what they'll give up for their dreams. It is bright and romantic, with a bittersweet ending that sticks.
Where can I watch La La Land?
In the US you can rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.
Is La La Land OK for kids?
La La Land is rated PG-13. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 11+. Parents need to know that La La Land is a PG-13 musical romance about the tension between love and ambition.
What movies are like La La Land?
If you liked La La Land, try Whiplash, (500) Days of Summer, Sing Street and Annie Hall.