His masterpieces like 'Sunset Boulevard' and 'The Apartment' dissect the moral compromises and desperation inherent in climbing Hollywood and corporate hierarchies.

Films like 'The Leopard' and 'The Innocent' explore social ambition against the backdrop of class collapse, examining how individuals navigate crumbling aristocratic orders.

His works such as 'Abigail's Party' and 'Career Girls' dissect aspirational working and middle-class characters with unflinching social realism and psychological depth.