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Paul Thomas Anderson, director
Director

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
Known for

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.

Full ranking
Career at a glance

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

  1. 1980s 1
  2. 1990s 5
  3. 2000s 5
  4. 2010s 9
  5. 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

Biggest box office hit
One Battle After Another $213M worldwide
Best-rated film
Phantom Thread Movie Echo Score 88
28 credits

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.

9 wins · 29 nominations

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.

All movie awards
  • Oscars logo Oscars 2 wins from 8 nominations
  • BAFTA logo BAFTA 2 wins from 8 nominations
  • Critics' Choice logo Critics' Choice 2 wins from 6 nominations
  • DGA Awards logo DGA Awards 1 win from 3 nominations
  • Golden Globes logo Golden Globes 1 win from 2 nominations
  • TIFF logo TIFF 1 win from 1 nomination
  • Spirit Awards logo Spirit Awards 1 nomination
Biography

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).

Works with

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).

FAQ

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.

See the ranking

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