6 Best Aging Actress and Hollywood Decline Movies

By Vlad Zakh · May 12, 2026

Hollywood has never been gentle with its stars as the years go by, and these films say so loudly. Sunset Boulevard and All About Eve are the classics, What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? turns a former child star into a nightmare, and Mommie Dearest exposes the ugly side of a legend’s life at home. Postcards from the Edge and The Country Girl look at comebacks and the people left standing in the wings.

Postcards from the Edge (1990)

TMDB ★ 6.6

A recovering addict actress navigates a complicated relationship with her overbearing, once-famous mother.

Directed by Mike Nichols · 1h 41m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: Sony Pictures Core Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Mommie Dearest (1981)

TMDB ★ 5.6

A legendary actress's public glamour masks the abusive, controlling reality of life with her adopted daughter.

Directed by Frank Perry · 2h 09m · Rated PG

Where to watch

Rent: JustWatch TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962)

TMDB ★ 7.9

A former child star torments her paralysed sister, who was once the bigger Hollywood success.

Directed by Robert Aldrich · 2h 15m

Where to watch

Stream: fuboTV · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Country Girl (1954)

TMDB ★ 7.1

An alcoholic former star's comeback attempt is complicated by his wife's exhaustion and a demanding director.

Directed by George Seaton · 1h 44m · Rated NR

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

All About Eve (1950)

IMDb ★ 8.2 RT 99% Metacritic 98

An ageing Broadway star's life is upended by a seemingly devoted young fan with hidden ambitions.

Directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz · 2h 19m · Rated PG

Won 6 Oscars27 wins & 22 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: BroadwayHD, Broadway HD Amazon Channel, Artiflix · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Sunset Boulevard (1950)

IMDb ★ 8.4 RT 98% Metacritic 94

A struggling screenwriter becomes entangled with a faded, delusional silent-film star clinging to the past.

Directed by Billy Wilder · 1h 50m · Rated NR

Won 3 Oscars21 wins & 20 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Philo, MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel, Kanopy, MGM Plus · Rent: JustWatch TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Streaming availability data from JustWatch, via TMDB. Availability changes often, so check the service before you plan a movie night.

Vlad Zakh

Founder, Movieix

Founder of Movieix. He started the site because most recommendation pages felt like noise. Here, lists are sorted by who's in the film, where it's from and what mood you're in tonight.

6 Best Aging Actress and Hollywood Decline Movies

Postcards from the Edge (1990)

Mommie Dearest (1981)

What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962)

The Country Girl (1954)

All About Eve (1950)

Sunset Boulevard (1950)

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