Paul Thomas Anderson

Short Biography:

Paul Thomas Anderson (born June 26, 1970), also known by his initials PTA, is an American filmmaker. He developed an interest in filmmaking from a young age. He made his feature-film debut with Hard Eight (1996). He found critical and commercial success with Boogie Nights (1997) and received further accolades with Magnolia (1999) and Punch-Drunk Love (2002), a romantic comedy-drama film.

Anderson’s films are often psychological dramas and characterized by depictions of flawed and desperate characters, explorations of themes such as dysfunctional families, alienation, loneliness and redemption, and a bold visual style that uses moving camera and long takes. He is noted for his frequent collaborations with actors Philip Baker Hall, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Melora Walters and John C. Reilly, cinematographer Robert Elswit, costume designer Mark Bridges, and composers Jon Brion and Jonny Greenwood.
His films have consistently garnered critical acclaim. Anderson has been nominated for eleven Academy Awards, three Golden Globe Awards, and eight BAFTA Awards (winning one), and has won a Best Director Award at Cannes, both a Golden and a Silver Bear at Berlin, and a Silver Lion at Venice.

Here is a rundown of his movies, with the score based on the average from IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes (public votes only) and Letterboxd, from lowest ranked to highest:

NUMBER OF QUALIFYING MOVIES:

CAREER AVERAGE SCORE:

TOTAL WORLDWIDE BOX OFFICE:

TOTAL BUDGETS COMBINED:

TOTAL PROFIT OR LOSS:

CAREER RETURN ON EVERY $1 SPENT:

7.61

$ 316,527,407

$ 232,000,000

$ 84,527,407

$ 1.34

9 – Inherent Vice (2014)

Under the paving stones, the beach!

6.31 /10

Drama | Mystery | Comedy

Directed by: Paul Thomas Anderson

Top Billed Cast:

SYNOPSIS:

In a California beach community, private detective Larry “Doc” Sportello (Joaquin Phoenix) tends to work his cases through a smoky haze of marijuana. One day, Shasta, a former lover, arrives out of the blue to plead for Doc’s help; it seems that Shasta’s current beau, rich real-estate tycoon Mickey Wolfmann, has a wife who may be plotting to commit him to a mental hospital. When Mickey and Shasta both disappear, Doc navigates a psychedelic world of surfers, stoners and cops to solve the case.

Critics response: Mostly Positive

258 Critic reviews: 190 positive (73.6%); 68 negative (26.4%)

(Source: Rotten Tomatoes)

FINANCIAL DATA:

WORLDWIDE BOX OFFICE GROSS:

$ 14,710,975

PRODUCTION BUDGET:

$ 20,000,000

PROFIT OR (LOSS):

$ (5,289,025)

PROFIT RETURN (OR LOSS IF FIGURE IS UNDER 1):

$ 0.74

8 – The Master (2012)

Every man needs a guide.

7.08 /10

Drama

Directed by: Paul Thomas Anderson

Top Billed Cast:

Joaquin Phoenix

Philip Seymour Hoffman

SYNOPSIS:

Freddie, a volatile, heavy-drinking veteran who suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, finds some semblance of a family when he stumbles onto the ship of Lancaster Dodd, the charismatic leader of a new “religion” he forms after World War II.

Critics response: Extremely Positive

255 Critic reviews: 215 positive (84.3%); 40 negative (15.7%)

(Source: Rotten Tomatoes)

FINANCIAL DATA:

WORLDWIDE BOX OFFICE GROSS:

$ 28,258,060

PRODUCTION BUDGET:

$ 32,000,000

PROFIT OR (LOSS):

$ (3,741,940)

PROFIT RETURN (OR LOSS IF FIGURE IS UNDER 1):

$ 0.88

7 – Licorice Pizza (2021)

The treacherous navigation of first love

7.08 /10

Drama | Comedy

Directed by: Paul Thomas Anderson

Top Billed Cast:

SYNOPSIS:

Renowned dressmaker Reynolds Woodcock and his sister Cyril are at the center of British fashion in 1950s London — dressing royalty, movie stars, heiresses, socialites and debutantes. Women come and go in Woodcock’s life, providing the confirmed bachelor with inspiration and companionship. His carefully tailored existence soon gets disrupted by Alma, a young and strong-willed woman who becomes his muse and lover.

Critics response: Overwhelmingly Positive

310 Critic reviews: 282 positive (91%); 28 negative (9%)

(Source: Rotten Tomatoes)

FINANCIAL DATA:

WORLDWIDE BOX OFFICE GROSS:

$ 33,133,112

PRODUCTION BUDGET:

$ 40,000,000

PROFIT OR (LOSS):

$ (6,866,888)

PROFIT RETURN (OR LOSS IF FIGURE IS UNDER 1):

$ 0.83

6 – Phantom Thread (2017)

Whatever you do, do it carefully.

7.54 /10

Drama | Romance

Directed by: Paul Thomas Anderson

Top Billed Cast:

SYNOPSIS:

The story of Alana Kane and Gary Valentine running around and falling in love in the San Fernando Valley, 1973.

Critics response: Overwhelmingly Positive

357 Critic reviews: 325 positive (91%); 32 negative (9%)

(Source: Rotten Tomatoes)

FINANCIAL DATA:

WORLDWIDE BOX OFFICE GROSS:

$ 47,775,493

PRODUCTION BUDGET:

$ 35,000,000

PROFIT OR (LOSS):

$ 12,775,493

PROFIT RETURN (OR LOSS IF FIGURE IS UNDER 1):

$ 1.37

5 – Hard Eight (1996)

When good luck is a long shot, you have to hedge your bets.

7.55 /10

Drama | Crime

Directed by: Paul Thomas Anderson

Top Billed Cast:

Philip Seymour Hoffman

SYNOPSIS:

Sydney Brown, a well-dressed senior gambler, finds John Finnegan, a homeless man, forlornly sitting outside a diner in Sparks, Nevada. He offers him a cigarette and buys him a cup of coffee. John tells Sydney that he lost his money in Las Vegas and he needs $6,000 for his mother’s funeral.

Critics response: Highly Positive

48 Critic reviews: 39 positive (81.3%); 9 negative (18.7%)

(Source: Rotten Tomatoes)

FINANCIAL DATA:

WORLDWIDE BOX OFFICE GROSS:

$ 222,559

PRODUCTION BUDGET:

$ 3,000,000

PROFIT OR (LOSS):

$ (2,777,441)

PROFIT RETURN (OR LOSS IF FIGURE IS UNDER 1):

$ 0.07

4 – Punch-Drunk Love (2002)

You can go to places in the world with pudding.

7.65 /10

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Directed by: Paul Thomas Anderson

Top Billed Cast:

Adam Sandler

Emily Watson

Philip Seymour Hoffman

Luis Guzmán

Mary Lynn Rajskub

Robert Smigel

SYNOPSIS:

Although susceptible to violent outbursts, bathroom supply business owner Barry Egan (Adam Sandler) is a timid and shy man by disposition, leading a lonely, uneventful life — partly due to the constant berating he suffers from his seven sisters. However, several events transpire that shake up Egan’s mundane existence, one of which is falling in love with one sister’s co-worker, Lena Leonard (Emily Watson). But the romance is threatened when Egan falls victim to an extortionist.

Critics response: Highly Positive

197 Critic reviews: 155 positive (78.7%); 42 negative (21.3%)

(Source: Rotten Tomatoes)

FINANCIAL DATA:

WORLDWIDE BOX OFFICE GROSS:

$ 24,675,714

PRODUCTION BUDGET:

$ 25,000,000

PROFIT OR (LOSS):

$ (324,286)

PROFIT RETURN (OR LOSS IF FIGURE IS UNDER 1):

$ 0.99

3 – Boogie Nights (1997)

The life of a dreamer, the days of a business, and the nights in between.

8.37 /10

Drama

Directed by: Paul Thomas Anderson

Top Billed Cast:

SYNOPSIS:

Set in 1977, back when sex was safe, pleasure was a business and business was booming, idealistic porn producer Jack Horner aspires to elevate his craft to an art form. Horner discovers Eddie Adams, a hot young talent working as a busboy in a nightclub, and welcomes him into the extended family of movie-makers, misfits and hangers-on that are always around. Adams’ rise from nobody to a celebrity adult entertainer is meteoric, and soon the whole world seems to know his porn alter ego, “Dirk Diggler”. Now, when disco and drugs are in vogue, fashion is in flux and the party never seems to stop, Adams’ dreams of turning sex into stardom are about to collide with cold, hard reality.

Critics response: Overwhelmingly Positive

73 Critic reviews: 68 positive (93.2%); 5 negative (6.8%)

(Source: Rotten Tomatoes)

FINANCIAL DATA:

WORLDWIDE BOX OFFICE GROSS:

$ 43,117,303

PRODUCTION BUDGET:

$ 15,000,000

PROFIT OR (LOSS):

$ 28,117,303

PROFIT RETURN (OR LOSS IF FIGURE IS UNDER 1):

$ 2.87

2 – Magnolia (1999)

Things fall down. People look up. And when it rains, it pours.

8.39 /10

Drama

Directed by: Paul Thomas Anderson

Top Billed Cast:

Tom Cruise

Julianne Moore

Jason Robards

Philip Seymour Hoffman

Philip Baker Hall

William H. Macy

SYNOPSIS:

On one random day in the San Fernando Valley, a dying father, a young wife, a male caretaker, a famous lost son, a police officer in love, a boy genius, an ex-boy genius, a game show host and an estranged daughter will each become part of a dazzling multiplicity of plots, but one story.

Critics response: Highly Positive

149 Critic reviews: 124 positive (83.2%); 25 negative (16.8%)

(Source: Rotten Tomatoes)

FINANCIAL DATA:

WORLDWIDE BOX OFFICE GROSS:

$ 48,451,803

PRODUCTION BUDGET:

$ 37,000,000

PROFIT OR (LOSS):

$ 11,451,803

PROFIT RETURN (OR LOSS IF FIGURE IS UNDER 1):

$ 1.31

1 – There Will Be Blood (2007)

There Will Be Greed. There Will Be Vengeance.

8.53 /10

Drama

Directed by: Paul Thomas Anderson

Top Billed Cast:

SYNOPSIS:

Ruthless silver miner, turned oil prospector, Daniel Plainview, moves to oil-rich California. Using his son to project a trustworthy, family-man image, Plainview cons local landowners into selling him their valuable properties for a pittance. However, local preacher Eli Sunday suspects Plainview’s motives and intentions, starting a slow-burning feud that threatens both their lives.

Critics response: Overwhemingly Positive

243 Critic reviews: 222 positive (91.4%); 21 negative (8.6%)

(Source: Rotten Tomatoes)

FINANCIAL DATA:

WORLDWIDE BOX OFFICE GROSS:

$ 76,182,388

PRODUCTION BUDGET:

$ 25,000,000

PROFIT OR (LOSS):

$ 51,182,388

PROFIT RETURN (OR LOSS IF FIGURE IS UNDER 1):

$ 3.05

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