The first film studio opened in Hollywood in 1911. Filmmakers came here because the weather was sunny almost every day, which meant they could film outside year-round. Soon dozens of studios were making short films, then longer ones. By the 1930s, Hollywood was making most of the world's movies.
The famous Hollywood sign is huge - the letters are about 14 metres tall, taller than a four-storey building. It was built in 1923 as an advertisement and only meant to last a year. People loved it so much that it stayed. It now sits on a hillside above the city as a kind of welcome sign for everyone who arrives.
Making one big film can take hundreds of people. There are actors, but also writers, costume designers, set builders, sound recorders, special-effects artists, animators, editors and many more. A modern animated film can take five years to make and involve teams in several countries working together.
The Walk of Fame, near the Hollywood sign, is a stretch of pavement with over 2,700 brass stars set into it. Each star celebrates a person who has done something special in film, TV, music or theatre. Visitors love walking along it and looking for their favourites.