Hollywoods

Hollywoods is a plural form sometimes used in reference to more than one place named Hollywood, or as a shorthand for the global influence of the Hollywood film industry centered in Los Angeles. In geographic use, it denotes towns or districts bearing the name; in cultural contexts, it stands for the American entertainment industry and its international reach. The term is not commonly used as a formal proper noun, but appears in encyclopedic or descriptive writing to cover both toponyms and the industry’s symbolic role.

The most prominent Hollywood is the district of Los Angeles, California. Located in central Los Angeles and adjacent to the Hollywood Hills, it developed as the heart of the American film industry in the early 20th century. It remains a major media hub and tourist destination, home to landmarks such as the Hollywood Sign, the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and historic studios, and it continues to influence global perceptions of cinema and celebrity culture.

Other places named Hollywood exist in various countries and regions. Notable examples include Hollywood, Florida, a coastal city in Broward County, United States, and Hollywood, Scotland, a village in Fife. The origins of the place names vary and may reflect early marketing choices, local flora, or historical associations rather than direct ties to the Los Angeles district. In popular culture, Hollywood often functions as a metonym for the film and television industries, shaping ideas about fame, production, and media power.