Blonde Betty Elms (played by Naomi Watts) is a wide-eyed aspiring actress who arrives in Los Angeles with dreams of stardom. She is quickly drawn into a mystery when she meets a beautiful brunette woman (Laura Harring) who is suffering from amnesia, and who takes on the name Rita after seeing a poster for Rita Hayworth.
Betty and Rita team up to try and unravel the mystery of Rita's identity, following clues and encountering strange and surreal visions along the way. As they delve deeper into the mystery, their relationship becomes more intimate, leading to a complex and emotional connection.
Meanwhile, filmmaker Adam Kesher (played by Justin Theroux) is trying to get his latest project off the ground, but finds himself tangled up in a web of intrigue and danger. He is pressured by mysterious figures to cast a particular actress in his film, and his attempts to resist their demands only make the situation more dangerous.
As the two storylines intertwine, the truth about Rita's past and the forces threatening Kesher's film are revealed in a stunning and surreal climax that challenges everything that has come before. Mulholland Drive is a complex and visually dazzling film that explores themes of identity, desire, and the dark underbelly of Hollywood.