L.A. Confidential: 1997 Film Ranks 5th on Rotten Tomatoes' Best Movies List with 99% Score
- L.A. Confidential, a neo-noir crime-thriller released in 1997, was ranked as the 5th best film of all time by Rotten Tomatoes in 2024.
One of the most iconic decades for film is the '90s. From Jurassic Park to Pulp Fiction , filmmakers were breaking boundaries left and right. Some flicks were so groundbreaking that they continue to top major industry lists.
In 2024, movie review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes released its list of the 300 best films of all time, compiling a stacked lineup of Hollywood's greatest creations. Ranked ahead of classics such as Roman Polanski's 1974 film Chinatown at No. 7 and Steven Spielberg's 1993 film Schindler's List at No. 10, Curtis Hanson's 1997 hit L.A. Confidential took the No. 5 spot.
L.A. Confidential made its widespread U.S. release on September 19, 1997, after premiering at the Cannes Film Festival in France on May 14. The neo-noir crime-thriller marked Hanson's eighth feature film and served as his major critical and commercial breakthrough.
James Cromwell, Russell Crowe, Guy Pearce and Kevin Spacey in publicity portrait for the film 'L.A. Confidential', circa 1997. Warner Brothers/Getty Images
Upon its release, L.A. Confidential was an undeniable box office success. The film grossed $126.2 million worldwide against a $35 million budget, turning a substantial profit for Warner Bros.
Alongside box office triumph, the movie garnered significant critical acclaim, earning nine Academy Award nominations at the 70th annual Oscar ceremony. Ultimately, the film won two Oscars: Best Supporting Actress for Kim Basinger and Best Adapted Screenplay for Brian Helgeland and Curtis Hanson.
L.A. Confidential was adapted from the 1990 crime novel of the same name by James Ellroy. The book is the third installment in his L.A. Quartet series and tells the story of three distinct Los Angeles detectives investigating a deadly shooting at a late-night coffee shop called the Nite Owl. Starring Kevin Spacey, Russell Crowe and Guy Pearce, the film targets themes of police corruption and organized crime in 1950s Los Angeles.
Due to the movie's stellar writing—heavily focused on rich character depth—incredible performances and stunning cinematography, critics widely consider L.A. Confidential a masterwork. Even film fans can't deny its charm, as it holds a nearly perfect 99% critic score and a 94% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes —an impressive feat for any film.
This story was originally published by Parade on Sep 5, 2026, where it first appeared in the Movies section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
