Paul Thomas Anderson has directed eight feature films to date, but which of them rank as his best and worst? Since making his feature film debut with Hard Eight in 1996, Paul Thomas Anderson has become one of the most celebrated filmmakers in America. He’s developed a distinct style over the course of his career, demonstrating a bent for films about flawed characters struggling with issues like alienation, familial dysfunction and denial that are noted for their bold visual style and memorable use of music.
Anderson is also known for his recurring cast and crew which include the late, great Philip Seymour Hoffman and cinematographer Robert Elswit. It’s been said Paul Thomas Anderson has yet to make a bad movie and with his ninth feature film Soggy Bottom set to premiere later this year, it looks like the acclaimed director will have another critical hit under his belt.
In the meantime, here are all of Paul Thomas Anderson’s movies ranked from worst to best – or rather, from least great to greatest.
Hard Eight (1996)
Paul Thomas Anderson made his first feature Hard Eight at the tender age of 26. The neo-noir stars Philip Baker Hall as a professional gambler who takes a young down-and-out (John C. Reilly) under his wing and was adapted from Anderson’s 1993 short Cigarettes & Coffee. It’s a confident debut that sees Anderson developing his signature style, but it’s not his best movie.
Inherent Vice (2014)
Based on Thomas Pynchon’s novel of the same name, Joaquin Phoenix) as he takes on three interrelated cases. Inherent Vice has all the makings of a cult film, but its loopy plot is a little hard to follow and the runtime can be testing.
Magnolia (1999)
Paul Thomas Anderson’s third feature Magnolia is a sprawling epic focusing on a hodgepodge of seemingly unconnected characters as their paths criss-cross over the course of one day in SoCal’s San Fernando Valley. Magnolia boasts an ensemble cast that includes Julianne Moore, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Tom Cruise in a career-best performance, but it’s a tad overlong and melodramatic.
Punch-Drunk Love (2002)
With his off-kilter romantic comedy Paul Thomas Anderson.
Phantom Thread (2017)
Described as Phantom Thread is a period drama that explores the intense relationship between haute couture dressmaker Reynolds Woodcock (Daniel Day-Lewis) and his muse and lover Alma Elson (Vicky Krieps). From its stunning visuals and haunting score to Day-Lewis’ powerhouse performance, Phantom Thread ranks as one of Paul Thomas Anderson’s best movies.
The Master (2012)
Partly inspired by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard, psychological drama Philip Seymour Hoffman). It’s one of Anderson’s most compelling and well-crafted films and boasts amazing, Oscar-nominated performances from its two leads.
Boogie Nights (1997)
Another sprawling, San Fernando Valley-set ensemble drama, Boogie Nights chronicles the rise and fall of dishwasher-turned-porn-star Dirk Diggler (Mark Wahlberg, in his best performance to date) and the pseudo-family he finds in the 1970s porn industry. Boogie Nights is considered Anderson’s breakout movie and it’s just as brilliant more than 20 years after it was first released.
There Will Be Blood (2007)
Set in turn-of-the-century America, Paul Thomas Anderson’s best movie but one of the best movies ever made.
