LA LA LAND (2016) — RELEASE DATE, CAST, MUSIC & SOUNDTRACK

La La Land, the modern musical written and directed by Damien Chazelle, is nearing its 10th anniversary — the film first opened in US theaters on December 9, 2016, and the milestone arrives on December 9, 2026. Starring Ryan Gosling as jazz musician Sebastian and Emma Stone as aspiring actress Mia, it is an original musical about two dreamers pursuing their ambitions in modern-day Los Angeles.

The film's heartbeat is its music: an original score by Justin Hurwitz, with songs co-written by Hurwitz and lyrics by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. From "City of Stars" to "Another Day of Sun," the La La Land soundtrack became a phenomenon of its own. For more on the film's stars, see our Ryan Gosling biography and Emma Stone biography.

Image: Lionsgate Movies

Movie Facts

Movie Name: La La Land

Release Year: 2016

US Release: December 9, 2016 (limited — Los Angeles and New York City)

Wide Release: December 16, 2016

Director & Writer: Damien Chazelle

Cast: Ryan Gosling (Sebastian), Emma Stone (Mia), John Legend, Rosemarie DeWitt, J.K. Simmons, Finn Wittrock, Callie Hernandez, Sonoya Mizuno, Jessica Rothe

Distributor: Lionsgate (Summit Entertainment)

Runtime: 128 minutes

Genre: Musical

Soundtrack & Music

Music Director: Justin Hurwitz composed the film's original score.

Songs & Lyrics: The original songs were co-written by Justin Hurwitz, with lyrics by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul.

Soundtrack Album: The official soundtrack features 15 tracks and was released on December 9, 2016 by Interscope Records.

Notable Songs: "Another Day of Sun," "Someone in the Crowd," "Mia & Sebastian's Theme," "A Lovely Night," "City of Stars," "Start a Fire" (performed by John Legend; co-written by Legend, Hurwitz, Marius de Vries and Angelique Cinelu), "Engagement Party," "Audition (The Fools Who Dream)," plus score cues "Planetarium," "Epilogue," "Herman's Habit" and "The End."

Awards for the Music: Justin Hurwitz won the Academy Award for Best Original Score, and "City of Stars" won Best Original Song at the 89th Academy Awards. If you enjoy film music, also see our features on A Star Is Born (2018) movie music and A Minecraft Movie (2025) film music.

Watch the Official Trailer

Frequently Asked Questions

When was La La Land released?

La La Land premiered at the 73rd Venice International Film Festival on August 31, 2016. It opened in limited US release on December 9, 2016 in Los Angeles and New York City, followed by a wide release on December 16, 2016.

Who directed La La Land and who composed the music?

Damien Chazelle wrote and directed the film. The music was composed by Justin Hurwitz, with original songs co-written by Hurwitz and lyrics by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul.

What are the famous songs from La La Land?

The best-known songs are "City of Stars," "Another Day of Sun," "A Lovely Night," "Audition (The Fools Who Dream)" and John Legend's "Start a Fire," alongside score cues such as "Mia & Sebastian's Theme" and "Epilogue."

How many Oscars did La La Land win?

La La Land won 6 Academy Awards from a record-tying 14 nominations, including Best Director, Best Actress (Emma Stone), Best Original Score and Best Original Song ("City of Stars"). It also won all 7 of its Golden Globe nominations, a record.