With 10 movies to his name, Paul Thomas Anderson has cemented himself as one of the greatest filmmakers working right now. With the release of his latest movie, One Battle After Another, Anderson further proves this point with an extraordinary cinematic achievement that adds to his amazing career thus far.
We're taking a look at all of Anderson's movies ranked from worst to best. See if you agree with us!
Inherent Vice (2014)
While One Battle After Another is loosely based on Thomas Pynchon’s Vineland, Inherent Vice is a more direct adaptation, showing the filmmakers' love for the author. Joaquin Phoenix stars in the movie as a stoner private detective searching for his missing ex-girlfriend in 1970s Los Angeles.
The fact that Inherent Vice ranks last out of all of Anderson’s movies is a testament to how incredible his career has been. It is a hard movie to get into, as the meandering story always feels like it is going to kick into gear, but never quite does. It is a movie that is all about the vibe, and if you do not connect with the vibe, it is hard to really enjoy.
Hard Eight (1996)
Anderson’s debut movie, Hard Eight, is predictably smaller in scale compared to what would come later, but it is still a fantastic little crime drama. Acclaimed character actor Philip Baker Hall leads the movie as a gambler who takes a young man (John C. Reilly) under his wing while hiding the secret meaning of why he is being so charitable to this amateur.
The movie may feel slight and less ambitious compared to what Anderson would later achieve, but it still makes for a terrific crime movie. The amazing cast also elevates it. Hall shines in a rare lead role, while he is backed by a stunning supporting cast that also includes Gwyneth Paltrow, Samuel L. Jackson, and Philip Seymour Hoffman in a single standout scene.
Licorice Pizza (2021)
Anderson touched on the coming-of-age genre with some autobiographical elements in Licorice Pizza. The period comedy stars Cooper Hoffman as a young actor who begins a relationship with an older girl, played by Alana Haim, while living in the 1970s San Fernando Valley. The movie follows the imperfect couple as they make their way through various misadventures.
The problematic romance at the center of the movie has turned some viewers off, but Anderson is not really asking the audience to root for these two people to get together. Instead, it is an immersive and nostalgic look at the era and this time in young people’s lives. It is filled with charm and fun, even if the story doesn’t always click.
Punch-Drunk Love (2002)
Along with working with such acclaimed actors as Daniel Day-Lewis and Philip Seymour Hoffman, Anderson also helped show the world that Adam Sandler is actually a very talented dramatic actor. At a time when Sandler was exclusively known for his silly comedies, Anderson cast him in Punch-Drunk Love as an anger-prone and lonely man who falls for his sister’s gentle and kind friend (Emily Watson).
Like Hard Eight, Punch-Drunk Love can seem somewhat out of place among Anderson’s more sweeping efforts. However, that approach leads to an intimate and tender rom-com unlike any other. It is quirky and even surreal, but also so sweet in its strangeness. Sandler is superb, playing off the audience’s perception of him and delivering an incredible, layered performance.
Phantom Thread (2017)
Anderson teamed for the second time with Daniel Day-Lewis in a movie that was drastically different from There Will Be Blood. Set in 1950s London, Phantom Thread stars Day-Lewis as a successful fashion designer who begins a romance with a younger waitress. However, his demanding artistic personality conflicts with her desire for a more intimate relationship, taking their romance to dangerous places.
Anderson makes a gothic romance filled with an engrossing mood and carried along by Jonny Greenwood’s classical score. Day-Lewis is predictably excellent in the role, playing the frustrating selfishness of the character while also infusing the role with humor and heart. However, Vicky Krieps proves a match for his legendary talents.
The Master (2012)
Anderson’s movies are known for the incredible performances featured in them, and The Master is one of the finest examples of this. Set in post-war America, Joaquin Phoenix stars as a troubled veteran struggling to find his place in this new world. He seems to find purpose when he is taken in by a charismatic yet controversial religious leader (Philip Seymour Hoffman).
Seeing Phoenix and Hoffman, two of the greatest actors of their generation, sparring with Anderson’s amazing dialogue makes The Master a spell-binding movie on its own. It is not the most accessible of Anderson’s movies, but with multiple viewings, the rich subtext and themes of the movie make it even better.
Magnolia (1999)
Boogie Nights was an exhilarating and vivid ride, but Anderson proved with his next movie that he was willing to push audiences to some challenging places. Magnolia is a movie about people, but told in such a way that it feels like a grand epic. It centers around various people in Los Angeles, pulled together through some strange occurrences.
The movie features a massive cast, including Anderson regulars like John C. Reilly and Philip Seymour Hoffman, as well as Tom Cruise in one of his greatest performances. While the individual stories work on their own as funny, moving, and wild tales, they all come together to create something truly special and a sign of Anderson’s impressive filmmaking ambition.
Boogie Nights (1997)
Following his directorial debut with Hard Eight, Anderson wasted no time in showing how ambitious he was as a filmmaker. Boogie Nights is set in the adult film world of the 1970s, starring Mark Wahlberg as a young man who is brought into this intoxicating business by a veteran producer (Burt Reynolds).
The movie is a lively and hilarious ride through the first act as we are introduced to this pseudo-family of actors and filmmakers. The movie then becomes a harrowing and dark look at the party coming to an end, with drugs, ego, and crime warping it all. Anderson delivers a sprawling and hugely entertaining ride that announces Anderson as an exciting new filmmaking voice.
One Battle After Another (2025)
Anderson’s latest movie is a bit of a departure for the director as he tackles the action genre for the first time. However, it is not surprising that Anderson’s take on an action movie elevates the entire genre and delivers something completely original. Leonardo DiCaprio stars in the movie as an ex-revolutionary who is forced to rejoin the fight when an old enemy threatens him and his daughter.
One Battle After Another is a fast-paced and relentless adventure with a runtime of nearly three hours that just flies by. The grounded action sequences are outstanding, but the movie is filled with humor and heart that make the story all the more compelling. Along with being one of Anderson’s greatest achievements as a director, it is also his best screenplay, speaking brilliantly to the current society.
There Will Be Blood (2007)
Hailed as one of the greatest movies of the 21st century, There Will Be Blood remains Anderson’s masterpiece and cemented him as one of the defining filmmakers of his generation. Daniel Day-Lewis stars in the epic movie as a ruthless and dedicated oilman who settles in a small community to set up his ambitious drilling operation.
It is hard to discuss There Will Be Blood without talking about the performance from Day-Lewis. It is a towering and commanding achievement that shines through the entire movie. However, Anderson’s grand vision for the movie matches the brilliance of his lead actor’s work. It is an incredible tale of greed and obsession that speaks as effectively to the oil boom of its period as it does to modern times.
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