Highest-Rated Movies about 'Southern California'

Straight Outta Compton (2015), Bukowski: Born Into This (2003), Short Cuts (1993), Blow (2001), Five Easy Pieces (1970), Behind the Candelabra (2013), Up in Smoke (1978), Inland Empire (2006) ... Let's take a look at the ranked list of the best Southern California movies.

#1. Straight Outta Compton (2015)

Storyline: In 1987, five young men, using brutally honest rhymes and hardcore beats, put their frustration and anger about life in the most dangerous place in America into the most powerful weapon they had: their music. Taking us back to where it all began, Straight Outta Compton tells the true story of how these cultural rebels-armed only with their lyrics, swagger, bravado and raw talent-stood up to the authorities that meant to keep them down and formed the world's most dangerous group, N.W.A. And as they spoke the truth that no one had before and exposed life in the hood, their voice ignited a social revolution that is still reverberating today.

Plot Keywords: hip hop, n word, based on true story, gangsta, rap music, 1990s, year 1990 ...

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#3. Short Cuts (1993)

Storyline: While helicopters overhead spray against a Medfly infestation a group of Los Angeles lives intersect, some casually, some to more lasting effect. Whilst they go out to concerts and jazz clubs and even have their pools cleaned, they also lie, drink, and cheat. Death itself seems never to be far away, even on a fishing trip.—Jeremy Perkins {J-26}

Plot Keywords: female removes her clothes, female pubic hair, female full frontal nudity, no panties, skinny dipping, panties pulled down, labia ...

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#4. Blow (2001)

Storyline: A boy named George Jung grows up in a struggling family in the 1950's. His mother nags at her husband as he is trying to make a living for the family. It is finally revealed that George's father cannot make a living and the family goes bankrupt. George does not want the same thing to happen to him, and his friend Tuna, in the 1960's, suggests that he deal marijuana. He is a big hit in California in the 1960's, yet he goes to jail, where he finds out about the wonders of cocaine. As a result, when released, he gets rich by bringing cocaine to America. However, he soon pays the price.

Plot Keywords: miami florida, los angeles california, husband wife relationship, drug trafficking, drug overdose, drug deal, drug dealer ...

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#5. Five Easy Pieces (1970)

Storyline: Robert Dupea has given up his promising career as a concert pianist and is now working in oil fields. He lives together with Rayette, who's a waitress in a diner. When Robert hears from his sister that his father isn't well, he drives up to Washington to see him, taking Rayette with him. There he gets confronted with his rich, cultured family that he had left behind.

Plot Keywords: road movie, pianist, alienation, on the road, drifter, infidelity, pregnancy ...

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#6. Behind the Candelabra (2013)

Storyline: Scott Thorson, a young bisexual man raised in foster homes, is introduced to flamboyant entertainment giant Liberace and quickly finds himself in a romantic relationship with the legendary pianist. Swaddled in wealth and excess, Scott and Liberace have a long affair, one that Scott eventually begins to find suffocating. Kept away from the outside world by his flashily effeminate yet deeply closeted partner, and submitting to extreme makeovers and even plastic surgery at the behest of his lover, Scott eventually rebels. When Liberace finds himself a new lover, Scott is tossed onto the street. He then seeks legal redress for what he feels he has lost. But throughout, the bond between the young man and the star never completely tears.

Plot Keywords: pianist, gay relationship, 1970s, based on autobiography, piano, glamour, candelabra ...

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#7. Up in Smoke (1978)

Storyline: Cheech and Chong meet up by chance on the highway somewhere in California. They go in search of some dope and are accidentally deported to Mexico where in their desperation to get home they agree to drive a van back to the States so they can get back in time for a gig they are due to play. Unaware of the properties from which the van is constructed they make their way back having aquired a couple of female hitch-hikers whilst all the time avoiding the cops whom they are not even aware are following them.

Plot Keywords: mexican american, tijuana mexico, los angeles california, weed, grindhouse film, lowrider, on the road ...

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#8. Inland Empire (2006)

Storyline: A blonde actress is preparing for her biggest role yet, but when she finds herself falling for her co-star, she realizes that her life is beginning to mimic the fictional film that they're shooting. Adding to her confusion is the revelation that the current film is a remake of a doomed Polish production, 47, which was never finished due to an unspeakable tragedy.

Plot Keywords: stabbing, experimental film, stabbed in the chest, shot in the face, gore, violence, mysterious woman ...

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#9. Inherent Vice (2014)

Storyline: During the psychedelic 60s and 70s Larry "Doc" Sportello is surprised by his former girlfriend and her plot for her billionaire boyfriend, his wife, and her boyfriend. A plan for kidnapping gets shaken up by the oddball characters entangled in this groovy kidnapping romp based upon the novel by Thomas Pynchon.

Plot Keywords: ex boyfriend ex girlfriend relationship, drug trade, female nudity, spanking, female pubic hair, title spoken by character, sex scene ...

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#10. Crossing Over (2009)

Storyline: Crossing Over is a multi-character canvas about immigrants of different nationalities struggling to achieve legal status in Los Angeles. The film deals with the border, document fraud, the asylum and green card process, work-site enforcement, naturalization, the office of counter terrorism and the clash of cultures.

Plot Keywords: doggystyle sex, illegal immigrant, mini skirt, breasts, extramarital affair, unfaithfulness, lingerie ...

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#11. Christine (1983)

Storyline: In 1957, in Detroit, a red Plymouth Fury is built and is the cause of two accidents, one of them fatal, still in the assembly line. Twenty-one years later, the outcast and bullied nerd Arnold "Arnie" Cunningham is getting a ride with his best and only friend Dennis Guilder and he sees the wrecked car for sale in a garden. Arnie immediately falls in love with the car. The car was given the name Christine by its first owner. He brings the car to a repair shop of the despicable Will Darnell and works hard to restore the classic car. While he works in the restoration, he changes his personality to a cocky teenager and he dates the most beautiful girl in the high-school, Leigh Cabot. Soon Arnie becomes selfish and jealous of the supernatural Christine that kills everyone that is a threat to them.

Plot Keywords: friendship, year 1978, year 1957, villain, death of friend, automobile, obsession ...

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#12. Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry (1974)

Storyline: Larry Rayder is an aspiring NASCAR driver; Deke Sommers is mechanic. As they feel they collectively are the best, the only thing that is holding them back is money to build the best vehicle possible. As such, they decide to rob a supermarket's office of the money in its safe to pursue their dream. On the most part, their robbery is successful, although their plan breaks down in its end phase, which doesn't allow them as much getaway time as they wanted. Another problem they face is an unexpected third person in their getaway, Larry's one-night stand Mary Coombs, who doesn't like the fact that Larry ran off on her, although she eventually also says that she doesn't want any of the money. With a police scanner and two-way radio in their souped-up Dodge Charger, they try to outrun the police, who have an identification of their vehicle, and a general description of the three. The police pursuit is led by the tenacious Sheriff Everett Franklin, who knows he and his team can catch them, but also knows that the three may be able to get out of the state to "freedom" through a grove of walnut trees, which Larry, Deke and Mary may or may not know. At every literal and figurative turn, Larry needs to show his superiority as a driver, while trying to ditch Mary, who is a little more resourceful in staying with them than he anticipates.—Huggo

Plot Keywords: helicopter, robbery, carsploitation, bar, exploding car, road movie, escape ...

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#13. Lifeguard (1976)

Storyline: Rick is in his 30s, but still works full-time as a lifeguard on the beaches of Los Angeles, California. He enjoys the fun of it, but even more, the silent moments. However, when he meets his divorced high school girlfriend and her five-year-old son at their fifteen year class reunion, he considers switching to a more "serious" job.—Tom Zoerner <Tom.Zoerner@informatik.uni-erlangen.de>

Plot Keywords: lifeguard, speedo, rescue from drowning, car dealership, art gallery, beefcake, summer ...

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#15. Dark Blue (2002)

Storyline: Set in the Los Angeles Police Department in April 1992, Dark Blue is a dramatic thriller that takes place just days before the acquittal of four white officers in the beating of black motorist Rodney King and the subsequent L.A. riots. In this racially-charged climate,the LAPD's elite Special Investigations Squad (SIS) is assigned a high-profile quadruple homicide. As they work the case, veteran detective Eldon Perry, known for his tough street tactics and fiery temper, tutors SIS rookie Bobby Keough in the grim realities of police intimidation and corruption. Meanwhile, Assistant Chief Holland, the only man in the department willing to stand up to the SIS, threatens to end Perry's brand of singlehanded "justice" on the Los Angeles streets. While navigating through the tumultuous neighborhoods of South Central L.A., Perry and Keough must track down cold-blooded killers and face their own demons, which prove to be more ruthless than the criminals they pursue.

Plot Keywords: year 1992, neo noir, corrupt cop, police officer, police detective, telephone, telephone call ...

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