Damien Chazell's "La La Land" marks a decade since its December 2016 release with an ambitious global concert series featuring Justin Hurwitz's Oscar-winning score performed live by full orchestras and jazz ensembles. The musical romance, which earned six Academy Awards including Best Original Score, will screen during these performances as musicians play the soundtrack in real-time, creating an immersive theatrical experience.
Hurwitz's composition remains one of contemporary cinema's most celebrated film scores. The composer crafted a jazz-inflected soundscape that perfectly complemented Chazell's exploration of ambition, romance, and artistic compromise in Los Angeles. The score earned widespread critical acclaim and contributed significantly to "La La Land's" cultural footprint during awards season.
This concert series approach reflects a growing trend in the film and music industries. Studios increasingly recognize that beloved films with strong musical identities can extend their theatrical and cultural lives through live performance events. These concerts attract both devoted fans and newcomers, transforming how audiences experience cinema.
The series also underscores "La La Land's" enduring legacy in Hollywood discourse. While the film faced some retrospective criticism regarding its portrayal of jazz and race, it cemented itself as a defining work of 2010s cinema. The movie's commercial success (earning over $440 million worldwide) and critical recognition made it a watershed moment for musicals in contemporary filmmaking.
Concert screenings of this scale require significant logistical coordination across multiple cities and international venues. The undertaking demonstrates the film's continuing commercial viability and the appetite among audiences for premium experiences that blend cinema with live music. For Hurwitz, these performances offer expanded platforms to showcase a score that secured him an Academy Award and established him as one of Hollywood's most prominent contemporary composers.