Although, astoundingly, he still has yet to be recognized by the Academy, Paul Thomas Anderson is one of the most revered and acclaimed filmmakers working today. From Boogie Nights to Punch-Drunk Love to There Will Be Blood to The Master to his most recent directorial effort Licorice Pizza, many of Anderson’s films have been universally praised by critics and audiences alike.
But the true measure of a movie’s success is whether or not it stands the test of time. Some of Anderson’s films, like his rapid-paced porn-industry epic, are more rewatchable than others, like his snail-paced stoner noir Inherent Vice.
Magnolia (1999)
Anderson’s third feature, Magnolia, is too big for its own good. It’s a Robert Altman-style hyperlink epic with a sprawling star-studded ensemble, set in – surprise, surprise – the San Fernando Valley. Magnolia is over three hours long; it feels like binge-watching a miniseries.
Magnolia has the same problem as most hyperlink movies: some of the characters and storylines are a lot more compelling than others, and the uninteresting ones drag the movie down on rewatches.
Inherent Vice (2014)
Based on the novel of the same name by Thomas Pynchon, Inherent Vice is a Big Lebowski-style stoner noir starring Joaquin Phoenix as drug-addled private eye Doc Sportello.
With a gargantuan runtime of two-and-a-half hours, Inherent Vice is way too long for a breezy comedy. The script meanders from plot point to plot point, but it’s redeemed by a hilarious supporting turn by Josh Brolin.
Phantom Thread (2017)
Although it’s masterfully crafted and beautifully shot (with Anderson serving as his own cinematographer), Phantom Thread’s blunt portrayal of a ludicrously toxic relationship is difficult to watch.
The movie is elevated by Daniel Day-Lewis and Vicky Krieps’ incredible acting, but it’s uncomfortable to watch Reynolds constantly snap at a well-meaning Alma, and it’s downright horrifying to watch Alma poison Reynolds and Reynolds accept that poisoning as an expression of love.
Hard Eight (1996)
With his debut feature Hard Eight, Anderson established his exploration of dysfunctional father-son relationships with the story of a seasoned gambler taking a young drifter under his wing.
Hard Eight is much smaller in scale than the rest of Anderson’s filmography (his follow-up movie ended up ballooning into Boogie Nights), but great performances by Philip Baker Hall and John C. Reilly keep it engaging.
The Master (2012)
After scoring the best reviews of his career for There Will Be Blood, Anderson followed it up with a veiled satire of the Church of Scientology. The Master is just as epic as There Will Be Blood, but it’s much more intimate. As far as Anderson’s epics go, his 137-minute-long takedown of cults is on the shorter side.
The Master is anchored by a pair of phenomenal lead performances: Philip Seymour Hoffman is mesmerizing as a charismatic cult leader, while Joaquin Phoenix matches his intensity as a young, aimless war vet that he takes under his wing.
There Will Be Blood (2007)
Eight-time Oscar nominee (and two-time winner) There Will Be Blood is one of Anderson’s longest movies, but it never gets old. It’s a quintessential American saga, just as intense and harrowing and thought-provoking as The Godfather. There Will Be Blood culminates in a very grim ending, but its lifelike cinematography and brooding musical score can be enjoyed over and over again.
Daniel Day-Lewis gives arguably the finest performance of his career as Daniel Plainview, an unscrupulous oil tycoon who builds an empire and amasses a fortune, but alienates everyone who ever cared about him along the way.
Licorice Pizza (2021)
Anderson’s latest feature is a heartwarming coming-of-age romance that gives viewers the kind of warm, fuzzy feeling that’s missing from colder, more cynical movies like There Will Be Blood and Phantom Thread. Alana Haim and Cooper Hoffman’s on-screen dynamic is endlessly watchable.
There’s never a dull moment in Licorice Pizza. The loosely structured script is a series of vignettes, each one wilder than the last. From a William Holden-esque actor doing a motorcycle stunt on a golf course to infamous film producer Jon Peters threatening to burn somebody alive with a gas pump and a lighter, Licorice Pizza is full of unforgettable moments to revisit again and again.
Boogie Nights (1997)
It’s astounding that Boogie Nights was just Anderson’s second movie, because it has the commanding craft of a seasoned filmmaker. Boogie Nights moves at a breakneck speed, bouncing around its ensemble cast with fascinating glimpses into their deeply dysfunctional lives.
A classic rise-and-fall saga chronicling the career of fictitious pornstar Dirk Diggler, Boogie Nights recaptures the manic, fast-paced style of Martin Scorsese’s Goodfellas. Anderson replaces the world of the mafia with the world of the adult film industry.
Punch-Drunk Love (2002)
With its compelling characters, emotionally engaging storytelling, and lean 95-minute runtime, Punch-Drunk Love is easily Anderson’s most rewatchable cinematic gem. It’s a straightforward love story about a loner with serious emotional issues finding true happiness with a woman who falls for him.
This was the first movie that showed off the impeccable dramatic skills that Adam Sandler had been hiding. Its subversive love story doesn’t fall into any of the sappy, schmaltzy pitfalls of Hollywood romances, but it’s still sweet and sincere.