Paul Thomas Anderson: Movies, Awards & Box Office
- films
- 28
- on screen
- 1988–2025
- box office
- $535M
- award wins
- 9
- average score
- 84
- Born
- June 26, 1970 (age 56)
- Birthplace
- Los Angeles, California, U.S.
- Citizenship
- American
- Occupations
- Filmmaker
- Years active
- 1988-present
- Spouses
- Maya Rudolph
- Children
- 4
The Best Paul Thomas Anderson Movies
The highest-rated films Paul Thomas Anderson is credited on, by the Movie Echo Score that blends critic reviews, audience ratings and lasting impact. Phantom Thread (2017) scores highest, at 88. The full ranking adds the biggest box office hits and the most awarded films.
Paul Thomas Anderson's Career in Numbers
Paul Thomas Anderson's films in numbers — as a director, not counting appearances as themselves: when they were made, the genres Paul Thomas Anderson works in most and the milestones along the way. The filmography runs from The Dirk Diggler Story (1988) to One Battle After Another (2025), and the 2010s were the busiest decade.
Paul Thomas Anderson Movies by Decade
- 1980s 1
- 1990s 5
- 2000s 5
- 2010s 9
- 2020s 2
The 2010s were Paul Thomas Anderson's busiest decade, with 9 films.
Paul Thomas Anderson Movies by Genre
- Drama 14
- Music 2
- Comedy 2
- Action 1
- Documentary 1
- Mystery 1
Drama is the genre Paul Thomas Anderson has worked in most, with 14 films, ahead of music (2).
Paul Thomas Anderson Career Milestones
- First film
- The Dirk Diggler Story 1988
- Biggest box office hit
- One Battle After Another $213M worldwide
- Best-rated film
- Phantom Thread Movie Echo Score 88
- Newest film
- One Battle After Another 2025
Paul Thomas Anderson Filmography: Every Movie
Every film Paul Thomas Anderson is credited on, newest first, with the role, the box office and the Movie Echo Score. Rated films average a score of 84. Re-order the list to see the best-rated films or the biggest hits first.
Movies Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson
22- 2025
One Battle After Another Action Worldwide box office: $213M Movie Echo Score: 80 - 2021
Licorice Pizza Drama Worldwide box office: $33.3M Movie Echo Score: 83 - 2019
Anima Music Movie Echo Score: 84 - 2018
For the Hungry Boy - 2017
Phantom Thread Drama Worldwide box office: $52.2M Movie Echo Score: 88 - 2017
HAIM / Valentine Music - 2015
Junun Documentary - 2015
Everything in This Dream Mystery - 2014
Inherent Vice Drama Worldwide box office: $14.8M - 2013
Back Beyond Drama - 2012
The Master Drama Worldwide box office: $28.7M - 2007
There Will Be Blood Drama Worldwide box office: $76.4M - 2003
Mattress Man Commercial Comedy - 2003
Blossoms & Blood Drama - 2002
Ballchewer Drama - 2002
Punch-Drunk Love Drama Worldwide box office: $24.7M - 1999
Magnolia Drama Worldwide box office: $48.5M - 1998
Flagpole Special Comedy - 1997
Boogie Nights Drama Worldwide box office: $43.1M - 1997
Hard Eight Drama Worldwide box office: $224K - 1993
Cigarettes & Coffee Drama - 1988
The Dirk Diggler Story Drama
Paul Thomas Anderson in Documentaries & Specials
6- 2015
A Christmas Eve Conversation With Quentin Tarantino & Paul Thomas Anderson as Self · Documentary - 2015
Chryskylodon Blues as Self · Documentary - 2014
Altman as Self · Documentary Worldwide box office: $996 - 2000
That Moment: Magnolia Diary as Self · Documentary - 1999
Wadd: The Life & Times of John C. Holmes as Self · Documentary - 1992
Production Assistant as Himself
Paul Thomas Anderson: Awards & Nominations
9 wins from 29 nominations across 7 award bodies, from 1997 to 2026. That includes 2 Oscars: Best Adapted Screenplay for One Battle After Another and Best Director for One Battle After Another. Every ceremony is listed newest first, with the category and the film.
-
Oscars 2 wins from 8 nominations -
BAFTA 2 wins from 8 nominations -
Critics' Choice 2 wins from 6 nominations -
DGA Awards 1 win from 3 nominations -
Golden Globes 1 win from 2 nominations -
TIFF 1 win from 1 nomination -
Spirit Awards 1 nomination
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98th Academy Awards- Paul Thomas Anderson: Win Best Adapted Screenplay One Battle After Another
- Paul Thomas Anderson: Win Best Director One Battle After Another
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79th British Academy Film Awards- Paul Thomas Anderson: Win Best Director One Battle After Another
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78th Directors Guild of America Awards- Paul Thomas Anderson: Win Outstanding Directing – Feature Film One Battle After Another
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83rd Golden Globe Awards- Paul Thomas Anderson: Win Best Director One Battle After Another
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31st Critics' Choice Awards- Paul Thomas Anderson: Win Best Adapted Screenplay One Battle After Another
- Paul Thomas Anderson: Win Best Director One Battle After Another
-
27th Critics' Choice Awards- Paul Thomas Anderson: Nominated Best Director Licorice Pizza
- Paul Thomas Anderson: Nominated Best Original Screenplay Licorice Pizza
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79th Golden Globe Awards- Paul Thomas Anderson: Nominated Best Director Licorice Pizza
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74th Directors Guild of America Awards- Paul Thomas Anderson: Nominated Outstanding Directing – Feature Film Licorice Pizza
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94th Academy Awards- Paul Thomas Anderson: Nominated Best Director Licorice Pizza
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75th British Academy Film Awards- Paul Thomas Anderson: Nominated Best Film Licorice Pizza
- Paul Thomas Anderson: Nominated Best Director Licorice Pizza
- Paul Thomas Anderson: Win Best Original Screenplay Licorice Pizza
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90th Academy Awards- Paul Thomas Anderson: Nominated Best Director Phantom Thread
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20th Critics' Choice Awards- Paul Thomas Anderson: Nominated Best Adapted Screenplay Inherent Vice
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18th Critics' Choice Awards- Paul Thomas Anderson: Nominated Best Original Screenplay The Master
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66th British Academy Film Awards- Paul Thomas Anderson: Nominated Best Original Screenplay The Master
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60th Directors Guild of America Awards- Paul Thomas Anderson: Nominated Outstanding Directing – Feature Film There Will Be Blood
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61st British Academy Film Awards- Paul Thomas Anderson: Nominated Best Director There Will Be Blood
- Paul Thomas Anderson: Nominated Best Adapted Screenplay There Will Be Blood
-
80th Academy Awards- Paul Thomas Anderson: Nominated Best Adapted Screenplay There Will Be Blood
- Paul Thomas Anderson: Nominated Best Director There Will Be Blood
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72nd Academy Awards- Paul Thomas Anderson: Nominated Best Writing (Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen) Magnolia
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13th Independent Spirit Awards- Paul Thomas Anderson: Nominated Best First Screenplay Hard Eight
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70th Academy Awards- Paul Thomas Anderson: Nominated Best Writing (Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen) Boogie Nights
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51st British Academy Film Awards- Paul Thomas Anderson: Nominated Best Original Screenplay Boogie Nights
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22nd Toronto International Film Festival Awards- Paul Thomas Anderson: Win Metro Media Award Boogie Nights
Who Is Paul Thomas Anderson?
Paul Thomas Anderson was born in Los Angeles, California, U.S. in 1970 and is 56 years old. Credited on films since 1988, as a director. The background, training and the roles that shaped the career.
Paul Thomas Anderson (born June 26, 1970), also known by his initials PTA, is an American filmmaker. His accolades include a BAFTA Award, and nominations for eleven Academy Awards and three Golden Globe Awards. He has also won Best Director at the Cannes Film Festival, the Silver Lion at the Venice Film Festival, and both the Silver and Golden Bear at the Berlin Film Festival. Anderson's films are often psychological dramas characterized by depictions of flawed, desperate characters; explorations of dysfunctional families, alienation, loneliness, and redemption; and a bold visual style that uses constantly-moving camera shots and long takes. After his directorial debut, Hard Eight (1996), he had critical and commercial success with Boogie Nights (1997), and received further accolades with Magnolia (1999) and Punch-Drunk Love (2002). His fifth and sixth films, There Will Be Blood (2007), and The Master (2012), are often cited among the greatest of the 21st century. They were followed by Inherent Vice (2014), Phantom Thread (2017) and Licorice Pizza (2021). Anderson is noted for his collaborations with the cinematographer Robert Elswit, the costume designer Mark Bridges, the composers Jon Brion and Jonny Greenwood, and several actors. He has directed music videos for artists such as Brion, Fiona Apple, Haim, Aimee Mann, Joanna Newsom, Michael Penn, Radiohead and the Smile. He also directed the documentary Junun (2015) and the short music film Anima (2019).
Who Paul Thomas Anderson Makes Movies With
The actors and directors Paul Thomas Anderson shares the most films with. Joaquin Phoenix comes first, with 5 films together, followed by Philip Seymour Hoffman (5).
Paul Thomas Anderson: Questions & Answers
How many movies Paul Thomas Anderson has made, the biggest hit, the best-rated film, the award record and more, answered from the filmography above.
How many movies has Paul Thomas Anderson been in?
Paul Thomas Anderson is credited on 28 films, from 1988 to 2025. All of them as a director. The filmography on this page lists every one of them, newest first, with the role and the Movie Echo Score.
What is Paul Thomas Anderson's highest-grossing movie?
One Battle After Another (2025) is Paul Thomas Anderson's biggest box office hit, with $213M worldwide, ahead of There Will Be Blood (2007) ($76.4M). Across every film with box office figures, Paul Thomas Anderson's movies have made $535M.
Paul Thomas Anderson's biggest hits What is the best Paul Thomas Anderson movie?
By the Movie Echo Score, which blends critic reviews, audience ratings and lasting impact, Paul Thomas Anderson's best-rated film is Phantom Thread (2017) with a score of 88, followed by Anima (2019) (84).
Best Paul Thomas Anderson movies, ranked Has Paul Thomas Anderson won an Oscar?
Paul Thomas Anderson has won 2 Oscars: Best Adapted Screenplay for One Battle After Another at the 2026 ceremony and Best Director for One Battle After Another at the 2026 ceremony. Across every ceremony in the awards database, Paul Thomas Anderson has 9 wins from 29 nominations.
How old is Paul Thomas Anderson?
Paul Thomas Anderson is 56 years old, born on June 26, 1970 in Los Angeles, California, U.S..
What is Paul Thomas Anderson's newest movie?
The most recent film on Paul Thomas Anderson's filmography is One Battle After Another (2025), which Paul Thomas Anderson directed.
Who does Paul Thomas Anderson work with most often?
Paul Thomas Anderson shares the most films with Joaquin Phoenix (5 films), Philip Seymour Hoffman (5 films) and Philip Baker Hall (5 films).
The Best Paul Thomas Anderson Movies, Ranked
Top rated, most awarded and biggest box office hits from 28 directing credits.
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