6 Best Hollywood Scandal and Tragedy Movies

By Vlad Zakh · May 13, 2026

The dark underbelly of scandal and tragedy behind the glittering Hollywood dream has powered some of cinema’s most compelling exposés of its own industry. In The Bad and the Beautiful (1952): A ruthless Hollywood producer’s manipulative rise to power leaves a trail of betrayed collaborators behind him. Another standout is The Aviator (2004): Eccentric billionaire filmmaker Howard Hughes’s ambition and innovation are undermined by his worsening mental illness.

The Aviator (2004)

TMDB ★ 7.5

Eccentric billionaire filmmaker Howard Hughes's ambition and innovation are undermined by his worsening mental illness.

Directed by Martin Scorsese · 2h 50m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

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

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Hollywoodland (2006)

TMDB ★ 6.7

A private investigator digs into the suspicious death of the actor who played television's Superman.

Directed by Allen Coulter · 2h 06m · Rated R

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Auto Focus (2002)

TMDB ★ 6.6

A beloved television star's secret obsession with sex and pornography leads to his mysterious murder.

Directed by Paul Schrader · 1h 44m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: Howdy 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

The Cat's Meow (2001)

TMDB ★ 6.4

A star-studded yacht party for a media mogul turns deadly, sparking a Hollywood cover-up.

Directed by Peter Bogdanovich · 1h 54m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Stream: Lionsgate+ Amazon Channel, Starz Apple TV channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Bad and the Beautiful (1952)

TMDB ★ 7.6

A ruthless Hollywood producer's manipulative rise to power leaves a trail of betrayed collaborators behind him.

Directed by Vincente Minnelli · 1h 58m · Rated NR

Where to watch

Rent or 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, built to fix a specific annoyance: most recommendation sites are just algorithm-driven noise. Our lists are researched and organized by who's in a film, where it's from, and the mood you're actually in tonight.

6 Best Hollywood Scandal and Tragedy Movies

The Aviator (2004)

Hollywoodland (2006)

Auto Focus (2002)

Mommie Dearest (1981)

The Cat's Meow (2001)

The Bad and the Beautiful (1952)

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