commercial filmmaking

His films like 'Sunset Boulevard' and 'The Apartment' dissect the machinery of Hollywood and commercial success with dark wit and emotional complexity.

He systematically explores corporate ambition, consumer culture, and the commodification of identity in films like 'The Social Network' and 'Gone Girl.'

His film 'Day for Night' is a masterwork about the commercial film industry itself, examining the compromises and creative tensions of professional filmmaking.