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La La Land Quiz Guide

Test your knowledge of Damien Chazelle's 2016 musical romance, where aspiring actress Mia and jazz pianist Sebastian fall in love while chasing their dreams in Los Angeles, only to face the bittersweet reality of ambition and sacrifice.

Test your knowledge of La La Land with the quiz above, then explore more related topics below.

La La Land is a 2016 musical romance film written and directed by Damien Chazelle, starring Ryan Gosling as Sebastian, a jazz pianist, and Emma Stone as Mia, an aspiring actress. Set in Los Angeles, the story follows their whirlwind romance as they chase their dreams in a city that often crushes hope. The film is known for its vibrant cinematography, original songs, and a bittersweet ending that subverts the traditional musical romance. It pays homage to classic Hollywood musicals while telling a modern story about ambition, love, and the cost of success.

Released on December 9, 2016, the movie runs about 2 hours and 8 minutes and stars Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, John Legend, Rosemarie DeWitt, and J.K. Simmons. The film was shot on a $30 million budget and grossed over $446 million worldwide. It was nominated for a record-tying 14 Academy Awards and won six, including Best Director for Chazelle and Best Actress for Stone. At the Golden Globes, it won a record seven awards. That makes it an excellent trivia subject because the movie is packed with iconic songs, memorable scenes, and award-winning achievements.

What makes La La Land especially strong for a quiz page is that it is both a love letter to classic musicals and a modern story about dreams and sacrifice. Mia and Sebastian's journey from hopeful dreamers to successful but separated adults gives the film emotional weight, while the constant references to jazz, Hollywood, and the magic of Los Angeles keep it engaging. That gives trivia writers plenty to work with, from the opening freeway number and the Griffith Observatory planetarium scene to the final montage and the Oscar mix-up.

La La Land visual

Structurally, the film opens with Another Day of Sun, a vibrant freeway musical number that establishes the tone and introduces the theme of dreaming in Los Angeles. This opening sets up the stakes and introduces the tension between hope and reality. For trivia, that is a clear and important starting point because it explains why Mia and Sebastian are so driven.

The story then shifts to Mia and Sebastian's meet-cute, their romance, and their individual struggles. The middle of the film focuses on their relationship, Sebastian's jazz club dream, and Mia's one-woman show. That gives the movie a strong structure for trivia questions about the characters, the songs, and the emotional journey.

The final act brings the story to the epilogue, where Mia and Sebastian are successful but no longer together. The climax combines emotion, character choices, and the bittersweet realization of what could have been. That gives the film a clear narrative shape that works well for trivia.

The cast is one of the film's biggest trivia strengths. Ryan Gosling plays Sebastian, delivering a performance that captures both Sebastian's passion for jazz and his vulnerability. Emma Stone plays Mia, the aspiring actress who falls in love with Sebastian.

John Legend plays Keith, Sebastian's friend who offers him a spot in his band. Rosemarie DeWitt plays Laura, Mia's roommate. J.K. Simmons plays Bill, the diner owner. That ensemble gives trivia writers a wide range of names, roles, and relationships to ask about.

A good trivia page can ask who plays Sebastian, who is Mia, who is Keith, who is Laura, and who is Bill. It can also ask about the songs, the jazz club, the one-woman show, and the final montage. Because the film is so dependent on character dynamics, the cast is central to its trivia value.

The action in La La Land is built around musical numbers, romantic moments, and the constant tension between dreams and reality. The movie includes the freeway opening, the planetarium dance, the jazz club scenes, the one-woman show, and the final montage. Each scene is designed to highlight the magic of Los Angeles and the cost of ambition.

Several scenes stand out as especially memorable, including Another Day of Sun, City of Stars, the planetarium dance, the audition scenes, and the final montage. The film uses its Los Angeles setting to create a vibrant, colorful atmosphere that feels both nostalgic and fresh. For trivia, these moments matter because they are the movie's most recognizable and important scenes.

The action works because it is tied to the stakes of the story. Mia and Sebastian are not just dreaming; they are fighting for their own futures and the love they share. That makes the action feel urgent and emotionally grounded.

Thematically, La La Land is about dreams, love, sacrifice, and the cost of success. Mia and Sebastian spend much of the film chasing their ambitions, only to find that their journey comes at the expense of their relationship. The film explores the idea that success is not always compatible with love, and that sometimes the people who inspire us are not meant to stay. That gives the movie a strong moral and emotional core.

Another major theme is the magic of Los Angeles. The city is both a land of opportunity and a place that crushes dreams, and the film uses its setting to explore the tension between hope and reality. The film also explores the idea that art and music can transcend time and memory, as seen in the final montage. That makes the story feel personal and grounded despite the stylized musical numbers.

The movie also matters because it became a cultural phenomenon and set a new standard for modern musicals. For trivia, La La Land offers a rich mix of cast facts, character origins, song details, and iconic scenes that make it a high-quality quiz subject.

Facts About This Topic

Written and directed by Damien Chazelle.

Released on December 9, 2016.

Runs about 2 hours and 8 minutes.

Ryan Gosling stars as Sebastian.

Emma Stone plays Mia.

John Legend plays Keith.

Rosemarie DeWitt plays Laura.

J.K. Simmons plays Bill.

The film was shot on a $30 million budget.

It grossed over $446 million worldwide.

It was nominated for 14 Academy Awards.

It won six Academy Awards.

Damien Chazelle won Best Director.

Emma Stone won Best Actress.

It won a record seven Golden Globe Awards.

The opening number is Another Day of Sun.

City of Stars won Best Original Song.

The film was shot in eight weeks.

Ryan Gosling learned piano for the role.

The ending is a bittersweet alternate reality montage.

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Full answer key — all 60 La La Land quiz questions and answers
  1. 1. Who plays Mia Dolan in La La Land?

    • ✓ Emma Stone
    • Rosemarie DeWitt
    • Sonoya Mizuno
    • Jessica Rothe

    Hint: She portrays the aspiring actress pursuing a career in Hollywood.

  2. 2. Who plays Sebastian Wilder?

    • ✓ Ryan Gosling
    • John Legend
    • Finn Wittrock
    • J.K. Simmons

    Hint: He portrays the jazz pianist who dreams of opening his own club.

  3. 3. Who directed La La Land?

    • ✓ Damien Chazelle
    • Wes Anderson
    • Richard Linklater
    • Chazelle’s fictional mentor

    Hint: He also wrote the screenplay and had previously directed Whiplash.

  4. 4. What year was La La Land released?

    • ✓ 2016
    • 2015
    • 2017
    • 2014

    Hint: The film became one of the most celebrated musicals of the decade.

  5. 5. What kind of film is La La Land?

    • ✓ Musical romantic comedy-drama
    • Science-fiction musical
    • Historical war drama
    • Crime thriller

    Hint: It combines songs, dancing, romance, and the pursuit of artistic dreams.

  6. 6. What is Mia’s occupation at the beginning of the film?

    • ✓ Barista
    • Dance instructor
    • Theater manager
    • Costume designer

    Hint: She works at a coffee shop on a Hollywood studio lot.

  7. 7. What is Sebastian’s profession?

    • ✓ Jazz pianist
    • Film director
    • Record producer
    • Music teacher

    Hint: He performs in restaurants and clubs while hoping to open his own venue.

  8. 8. What does Sebastian want to open?

    • ✓ A traditional jazz club
    • A dance academy
    • A movie theater
    • A recording studio

    Hint: He wants a place where musicians can play the music he loves.

  9. 9. What city serves as the main setting of La La Land?

    • ✓ Los Angeles
    • New York
    • Chicago
    • San Francisco

    Hint: The film follows two artists trying to succeed in the entertainment capital of California.

  10. 10. What song opens the film?

    • ✓ Another Day of Sun
    • City of Stars
    • Someone in the Crowd
    • A Lovely Night

    Hint: The number takes place during a traffic jam on a Los Angeles freeway.

  11. 11. Where does the opening musical number take place?

    • ✓ On a Los Angeles freeway
    • At the Griffith Observatory
    • Inside a jazz club
    • At a Hollywood audition

    Hint: Drivers leave their cars and dance among the stopped traffic.

  12. 12. What causes Mia and Sebastian’s first hostile interaction?

    • ✓ A traffic-jam confrontation
    • A disagreement at the Griffith Observatory
    • A failed audition
    • A dispute over a piano

    Hint: Their first exchange begins with an angry gesture behind the wheel.

  13. 13. Where does Mia work as a barista?

    • ✓ On the Warner Bros. studio lot
    • At a downtown café
    • Inside the Lighthouse Café
    • At Sebastian’s jazz club

    Hint: Her job allows her to remain close to the film industry.

  14. 14. What career does Mia hope to pursue?

    • ✓ Acting
    • Jazz singing
    • Screenwriting
    • Directing

    Hint: She attends repeated auditions while working as a barista.

  15. 15. What does Mia write when Sebastian encourages her to create her own opportunity?

    • ✓ A one-woman play
    • A jazz album
    • A screenplay about Paris
    • A dance performance

    Hint: The play is based on her own life and experiences.

  16. 16. What is the title of Mia’s one-woman play?

    • ✓ So Long, Boulder City
    • Someone in the Crowd
    • The Fools Who Dream
    • A Lovely Night

    Hint: The title reflects her memories of growing up in Nevada.

  17. 17. Where does Mia perform her one-woman play?

    • ✓ In a small theater
    • At the Griffith Observatory
    • In Sebastian’s club
    • On the Warner Bros. lot

    Hint: She rents a modest venue and invites people to see her performance.

  18. 18. What inspires Mia to pursue acting?

    • ✓ Her aunt’s love of performance and her own childhood dreams
    • Sebastian’s success as a pianist
    • A producer’s offer
    • Her parents’ careers in Hollywood

    Hint: She recalls an aunt who encouraged her to follow her artistic ambitions.

  19. 19. Where does Sebastian first perform the song 'City of Stars'?

    • ✓ On a pier
    • At the Lighthouse Café
    • In Mia’s apartment
    • At a film studio

    Hint: He sings the song while thinking about his growing relationship with Mia.

  20. 20. What song do Mia and Sebastian sing during their walk through the hills?

    • ✓ A Lovely Night
    • City of Stars
    • Another Day of Sun
    • Audition

    Hint: They insist that their evening together is not romantic while dancing under the stars.

  21. 21. What song do Mia and Sebastian sing together at the piano?

    • ✓ City of Stars
    • Someone in the Crowd
    • Start a Fire
    • Mia and Sebastian’s Theme

    Hint: The song becomes one of the film’s central romantic motifs.

  22. 22. Who plays Keith?

    • ✓ John Legend
    • Ryan Gosling
    • Finn Wittrock
    • Tom Everett Scott

    Hint: He is Sebastian’s musician friend who offers him a job in his band.

  23. 23. What does Keith invite Sebastian to do?

    • ✓ Join his successful touring band
    • Open a jazz club
    • Act in a musical film
    • Teach piano at a conservatory

    Hint: The offer gives Sebastian financial stability but creates tension with his jazz ideals.

  24. 24. What type of music does Keith’s band perform?

    • ✓ Contemporary pop-influenced music
    • Traditional Dixieland jazz
    • Classical piano music
    • Country and western music

    Hint: Sebastian worries that the band’s style is too commercial.

  25. 25. Why does Sebastian initially reject Keith’s musical approach?

    • ✓ He believes it sacrifices jazz’s tradition for commercial success
    • He dislikes performing with a band
    • He wants to focus only on acting
    • He cannot read the music

    Hint: Sebastian wants jazz to remain authentic while Keith wants it to evolve.

  26. 26. What does Sebastian eventually do with Keith’s offer?

    • ✓ He joins the band
    • He refuses it permanently
    • He asks Mia to join instead
    • He uses it to fund a theater

    Hint: The job helps him earn money but keeps him away from Mia.

  27. 27. Where do Mia and Sebastian go for their first official date?

    • ✓ The Griffith Observatory
    • The Lighthouse Café
    • A movie studio
    • The Rialto Theatre

    Hint: Their dance appears to defy gravity inside the planetarium.

  28. 28. What happens during the planetarium sequence?

    • ✓ Mia and Sebastian dance among the stars
    • Sebastian performs with Keith
    • Mia auditions for a director
    • They watch Rebel Without a Cause

    Hint: The scene shifts from realistic romance into a magical musical fantasy.

  29. 29. Which classic film do Mia and Sebastian watch together?

    • ✓ Rebel Without a Cause
    • Casablanca
    • Singin’ in the Rain
    • The Umbrellas of Cherbourg

    Hint: They watch it at the Rialto Theatre before visiting the Griffith Observatory.

  30. 30. What does Sebastian tell Mia about jazz?

    • ✓ It is about conflict, change, and individual expression
    • It should never include improvisation
    • It is only suitable for wealthy audiences
    • It was invented in Europe

    Hint: He explains why the music remains alive despite its history.

  31. 31. Where does Sebastian work when he is fired early in the film?

    • ✓ A restaurant
    • A record store
    • A theater
    • A hotel lounge

    Hint: He is ordered to play seasonal songs instead of jazz.

  32. 32. Why is Sebastian fired from the restaurant?

    • ✓ He plays an improvised jazz piece instead of following the owner’s instructions
    • He arrives late for work
    • He insults a customer
    • He refuses to play the piano

    Hint: His improvisation impresses Mia but costs him his job.

  33. 33. Who plays Bill, the restaurant manager?

    • ✓ J.K. Simmons
    • John Legend
    • Ryan Gosling
    • Tom Everett Scott

    Hint: He fires Sebastian after the pianist ignores the set list.

  34. 34. What instrument does Sebastian play?

    • ✓ Piano
    • Trumpet
    • Saxophone
    • Drums

    Hint: His performances and improvisations are central to his character.

  35. 35. What does Mia’s boyfriend do for a living?

    • ✓ He works in the entertainment industry
    • He is a jazz pianist
    • He is a restaurant manager
    • He is a film director

    Hint: Mia attends a dinner with him before leaving to meet Sebastian.

  36. 36. What causes the major argument between Mia and Sebastian?

    • ✓ Sebastian misses an important dinner because of his band’s photo shoot
    • Mia refuses to attend Sebastian’s concerts
    • Sebastian sells the piano
    • Mia rejects his proposal

    Hint: Mia feels that Sebastian is becoming absorbed in a career he once criticized.

  37. 37. What does Sebastian accuse Mia of during their argument?

    • ✓ Not believing in him
    • Stealing his music
    • Leaving Los Angeles
    • Choosing Greg over jazz

    Hint: Their argument reflects the tension between ambition and romance.

  38. 38. What opportunity does Mia receive after her one-woman play?

    • ✓ An invitation to audition for a film
    • A recording contract
    • A job at the jazz club
    • A role in Keith’s band

    Hint: The casting director hears about her performance and asks her to read.

  39. 39. What does Sebastian tell Mia to do for the audition?

    • ✓ Tell a personal story rather than perform a conventional scene
    • Sing 'City of Stars'
    • Wear a yellow dress
    • Improvise a jazz solo

    Hint: He reminds her that the casting team wants to see her genuine personality.

  40. 40. What song does Mia perform during her crucial audition?

    • ✓ The Fools Who Dream
    • Someone in the Crowd
    • Audition
    • A Lovely Night

    Hint: She sings about her aunt and the courage to pursue a dream.

  41. 41. What happens to Mia after her final audition?

    • ✓ She receives the film role
    • She is rejected again
    • She becomes Sebastian’s manager
    • She joins Keith’s band

    Hint: The opportunity takes her away to begin filming.

  42. 42. Where does Mia move to film her movie?

    • ✓ Paris
    • New York
    • London
    • Chicago

    Hint: Her career takes her away from Los Angeles and Sebastian.

  43. 43. What happens to Mia and Sebastian five years later?

    • ✓ They are both successful but no longer together
    • They are married and raising children
    • They have abandoned their careers
    • They still live together in Los Angeles

    Hint: Their dreams come true, but their relationship does not survive.

  44. 44. What is Mia’s career five years later?

    • ✓ Successful actress
    • Jazz singer
    • Film director
    • Talent agent

    Hint: She has achieved the Hollywood career she once imagined.

  45. 45. What has Sebastian achieved five years later?

    • ✓ He owns his own jazz club
    • He has become a film star
    • He is a touring drummer
    • He teaches at a university

    Hint: The club’s name is connected to a promise he made to Mia.

  46. 46. What is the name of Sebastian’s jazz club?

    • ✓ Seb’s
    • City of Stars
    • The Lighthouse
    • Mia’s

    Hint: The club fulfills his dream of creating a home for traditional jazz.

  47. 47. What does Mia discover when she enters Sebastian’s club years later?

    • ✓ Sebastian has kept the club’s name and musical dream
    • Sebastian has sold the piano
    • Sebastian has closed the club
    • Sebastian has married her roommate

    Hint: She recognizes the promise connected to the club’s identity.

  48. 48. What happens when Sebastian sees Mia at his club?

    • ✓ He silently acknowledges her and plays their old theme
    • He asks her to leave
    • He proposes to her
    • He introduces her as his wife

    Hint: Their final reunion is emotional but mostly communicated through music.

  49. 49. What does the final fantasy sequence show?

    • ✓ An alternate life in which Mia and Sebastian remain together
    • Mia returning to her old apartment
    • Sebastian closing his jazz club
    • The couple moving to Paris together

    Hint: The montage imagines what might have happened if their relationship had continued.

  50. 50. What do Mia and Sebastian do at the end of the film?

    • ✓ They exchange a silent smile before leaving separately
    • They reunite romantically
    • They announce a new musical project
    • They leave Los Angeles together

    Hint: Their final look acknowledges both their love and the lives they chose.

  51. 51. Who composed the music for La La Land?

    • ✓ Justin Hurwitz
    • John Legend
    • Damien Chazelle
    • Marius de Vries

    Hint: He also collaborated with Damien Chazelle on Whiplash.

  52. 52. Which song from La La Land won the Academy Award for Best Original Song?

    • ✓ City of Stars
    • Another Day of Sun
    • Audition
    • Someone in the Crowd

    Hint: The song is performed by Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone in the film.

  53. 53. Who wrote the lyrics for 'City of Stars'?

    • ✓ Benj Pasek and Justin Paul
    • Damien Chazelle and Justin Hurwitz
    • John Legend and Ryan Gosling
    • Emma Stone and Justin Hurwitz

    Hint: They also wrote lyrics for several other songs in the film.

  54. 54. How many Academy Awards did La La Land win?

    • ✓ Six
    • Four
    • Seven
    • Nine

    Hint: Its wins included Best Director, Best Actress, and Best Original Song.

  55. 55. Which Academy Award did Damien Chazelle win for La La Land?

    • ✓ Best Director
    • Best Actor
    • Best Original Screenplay
    • Best Cinematography

    Hint: He became the youngest winner of the award at that time.

  56. 56. Which Academy Award did Emma Stone win for La La Land?

    • ✓ Best Actress
    • Best Supporting Actress
    • Best Original Song
    • Best Director

    Hint: Her performance as Mia earned her first acting Oscar.

  57. 57. Which Academy Award did Justin Hurwitz win for La La Land?

    • ✓ Best Original Score
    • Best Original Song
    • Best Film Editing
    • Best Cinematography

    Hint: His music gives the film its recurring themes and motifs.

  58. 58. What rating did La La Land receive in the United States?

    • ✓ PG-13
    • PG
    • R
    • G

    Hint: The rating reflects some language and mature romantic themes.

  59. 59. What does the title La La Land refer to?

    • ✓ Los Angeles and a state of dreamy unreality
    • A fictional jazz club
    • Mia’s one-woman play
    • Sebastian’s favorite song

    Hint: The title connects the city with the film’s blend of ambition, fantasy, and romance.

  60. 60. What is the central conflict of La La Land?

    • ✓ Mia and Sebastian must balance love with their artistic ambitions
    • Mia must choose between acting and singing
    • Sebastian must choose between jazz and classical music
    • The couple must save the Warner Bros. studio

    Hint: Their dreams eventually pull them toward different futures.

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