6 Best Hollywood Scandal and Tragedy Movies

By Vlad Zakh · May 13, 2026

Hollywood’s glamour hides a lot of scandal and tragedy, and these films expose it. The Aviator follows Howard Hughes undone by his own mind, Hollywoodland digs into the suspicious death of the actor who played TV’s Superman, and Auto Focus tracks a beloved TV star’s secret obsessions. Mommie Dearest, The Cat’s Meow and The Bad and the Beautiful round out the six.

The Aviator (2004)

TMDB ★ 7.5

Howard Hughes's aviation ambitions and Hollywood career are gradually eaten away by his own 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 and sparks 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.

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. 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 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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