Maps to the Stars

Maps to the Stars

Year: 2015

Runtime: 111 min

Language: English

Director: David Cronenberg

DramaComedy

Amidst the glamour of Hollywood, the Weiss family strives to maintain their wealth and status, but beneath the surface lies a world of secrets and desperation. Stafford, a popular self-help author, and Cristina, her daughter’s ambitious manager, work to elevate their son’s career. Simultaneously, Agatha, a mysterious woman with a hidden past, forms unexpected connections with a limo driver and Havana Segrand, an actress struggling with personal turmoil and professional decline. Their intertwined lives reveal the dark side of fame and the lengths people will go to protect their reputations.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Maps to the Stars (2015)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Maps to the Stars (2015). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

The film captures contemporary issues facing individuals in the entertainment industry. It explores themes of trauma, addiction, and the complexities of familial relationships in a modern setting, reflecting societal attitudes toward fame and mental health.

Location

Los Angeles

Los Angeles is known as the entertainment capital of the world, renowned for its film and television industry. The city is a melting pot of diverse cultures and influences, attracting aspiring artists and celebrities. It plays a crucial role in the narrative of many stories intertwined with fame, family drama, and personal struggles.

🌇 City 🎬 Film Industry

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 22:02

Main Characters – Maps to the Stars (2015)

Meet the key characters of Maps to the Stars (2015), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Agatha Weiss

Agatha Weiss is a complex character marked by her traumatic past and physical scars. Her return to Los Angeles is driven by a need for connection, yet she faces rejection from her family. As the story unfolds, her struggles for acceptance and identity reveal her resilience, but also lead her towards dark decisions as she navigates her troubled family history.

👩‍👧‍👦 Family 🥴 Trauma 💊 Struggle

Benjie Weiss

Benjie Weiss is a former child star grappling with the challenges of adolescence and addiction. While he attempts to revive his career post-rehabilitation, his journey is turbulent, marked by hallucinations and violent outbursts. His interactions with Agatha reveal a deep familial bond, yet also a shared burden of their family's dysfunction.

🌟 Fame 😔 Addiction 💔 Brother

Havana Segrand

Havana Segrand is an aging actress struggling to reclaim her former glory while grappling with the traumas of her past, particularly her relationship with her mother. Her character embodies the pressures of Hollywood and the toll it takes on individuals. She often finds herself lost in hallucinations, struggling to cope with the fading of her star power.

🎭 Acting 😟 Trauma 🌆 Fame

Dr. Stafford Weiss

Dr. Stafford Weiss is a television psychologist who embodies the contradictions of being a professional in mental health while failing to address his own family's turmoil. His authoritarian demeanor conceals his insecurities, and his confrontations with Agatha reveal the flaws within his own parenting. Stafford's character is central to the themes of manipulation and control.

🧠 Psychology ❌ Control 👨‍👦 Family

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 22:02

Major Themes – Maps to the Stars (2015)

Explore the central themes of Maps to the Stars (2015), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🌪️ Dysfunction

Dysfunction permeates the relationships portrayed within the film, highlighting the impact of trauma on family dynamics. The characters' struggles with mental health and substance abuse reveal deep-seated issues stemming from their upbringing and personal experiences. This theme is evident in the volatile interactions and tragic outcomes that unfold as a result.

💔 Tragedy

The film is steeped in tragedy, examining the devastating consequences of personal choices and familial bonds. Each character’s journey is marked by loss, betrayal, and emotional scars that shape their actions. The tragic endings serve as a poignant reminder of the fragility of life and relationships within a high-pressure environment.

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 22:02

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Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Movies about the dark side of Hollywood like Maps to the Stars

Stories that expose the corrosive, hidden side of fame and ambition.If you liked the unflinching critique of fame in Maps to the Stars, explore more movies like it that expose the dark underbelly of Hollywood. These films reveal the psychological toll, moral decay, and desperate acts hidden behind the glamour of celebrity life.

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Narrative Summary

Narratives in this thread typically follow interconnected characters whose lives are consumed by the industry. The plots unravel through secrets, betrayals, and a gradual descent into madness or violence, often culminating in tragic outcomes that underscore the hollowness of the world they inhabit.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped together for their shared, cynical perspective on fame and fortune. They create a specific, oppressive mood by focusing on themes of mental illness, addiction, and familial dysfunction within a high-stakes, insular environment, delivering a consistently dark and heavy viewing experience.

Psychological family dramas with dark secrets like Maps to the Stars

Haunted families confront traumatic pasts and psychological collapse.For viewers who appreciated the heavy family secrets and psychological unraveling in Maps to the Stars, this collection features similar dramas. Discover movies about dysfunctional families haunted by trauma, mental illness, and supernatural visions, leading to bleak and tragic conclusions.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves a central, troubled family unit whose members are haunted—literally or figuratively—by a repressed traumatic event. The story's progression is less about solving a mystery and more about the inevitable, destructive confrontation with this truth, which collapses the characters' fragile realities.

Why These Movies?

Movies in this thread share a specific blend of high-stakes family drama, psychological horror, and a gothic sensibility. They are united by a heavy, oppressive mood, complex character webs, and a focus on how buried trauma violently resurfaces, ensuring a consistently intense and bleak experience.

Unlock the Full Story of Maps to the Stars

Don't stop at just watching — explore Maps to the Stars in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Maps to the Stars is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Maps to the Stars Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Maps to the Stars, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Maps to the Stars Summary

Maps to the Stars Timeline

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Maps to the Stars Timeline

Maps to the Stars Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Maps to the Stars that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

Maps to the Stars Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Maps to the Stars

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Maps to the Stars: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About Maps to the Stars