Animated Film
- Cats Don't Dance: Darla Dimple's Battle Butler Max is based on Max von Mayerling. Darla also dresses similarly to Norma when sabotaging the press conference.
Live-Action Film
- Mulholland Dr. references Sunset Boulevard in its titling (both are famous streets in Hollywood) and, in a broad sense, its premise (an embittered actress trying to claw her way back). There are small nods to Sunset Boulevard throughout David Lynch's CV (see Twin Peaks, below).
- In The Crown (2016) episode "Bubbikins" the Royal Family are poking fun at a documentary about themselves, and the Queen Mother quips, "I'm ready, Mr. DeMille" when a closeup of herself appears on the screen.
- David Lynch's character in Twin Peaks is named for Gordon Cole, who is The Ghost in Sunset Boulevard, and was initially The Ghost in Twin Peaks too. It's likely that character names Norma Jennings and Chet '''Desmond''' are derived from Sunset Boulevard also.
- The Wings episode "Joe Sucks" opens with Joe floating face down in a pool, as he narrates how he got here. The end reveals that he's actually alive and well, having the time of his life in a Mexican resort.
- The Carol Burnett Show spoofed the movie with the Nora Desmond sketches, with Carol as Nora and Harvey Korman as Max.
Pro Wrestling
- In AEW, Toni Storm's gimmick of "Timeless" Toni Storm is heavily inspired by Nora Desmond complete with a butler.
- Tiny Toon Adventures: The episode "Sepulveda Boulevard" is a Whole-Plot Reference to the movie, with Plucky as Joe, Elmyra as Norma, and Hamton as Max.
