View source for Paul Thomas Anderson

{{For|the similarly-named director|Paul W. S. Anderson}}
{{Short description|American filmmaker (born 1970)}}
{{Use American English|date=December 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2025}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Paul Thomas Anderson
| image              = Paul Thomas Anderson - BFI Southbank.jpg
| caption            = Anderson at BFI Southbank in 2025
| birth_date         = {{Birth date and age|1970|6|26}}
| birth_place        = [[Los Angeles]], California, U.S.
| occupation         = {{hlist|Film director|screenwriter|producer|cinematographer}}
| years_active       = 1988–present
| father             = [[Ernie Anderson]]
| partner            = [[Maya Rudolph]]
| children           = 4
| works              = [[Paul Thomas Anderson filmography|Full list]]
| awards             = [[List of awards and nominations received by Paul Thomas Anderson|Full list]]
}}

'''Paul Thomas Anderson''' (born June 26, 1970), also known by his initials '''PTA''', is an American filmmaker. Often described as one of the preeminent filmmakers of his generation,{{efn|1=Attributed to multiple sources:<ref name=nytimes>{{cite news |first=Rebecca |last=Flint Marx |title=Paul Thomas Anderson – Biography – Movies & TV |url=https://movies.nytimes.com/person/231996/Paul-Thomas-Anderson/biography |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071115041515/http://movies.nytimes.com/person/231996/Paul-Thomas-Anderson/biography |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 15, 2007 |department=Movies & TV Dept. |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=2007 |access-date=February 10, 2010}}</ref><ref name=bfi>{{cite journal |url=http://www.bfi.org.uk/sightandsound/pdf/films-of-2008.pdf |title=Sight & Sound – The Best Films of 2008 |date=January 2009 |website=BFI.org |publisher=[[British Film Institute]] |access-date=September 17, 2010|page=64|volume=19|issue=1 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111220051201/http://www.bfi.org.uk/sightandsound/pdf/films-of-2008.pdf |archive-date=December 20, 2011}}</ref><ref name=bbc>{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2003/01/28/paul_thomas_anderson_punch_drunk_love_interview.shtml |title=BBC – Films – interview – Paul Thomas Anderson |last=Laurent |first=Joseph |date=January 28, 2003 |website=[[BBC Online]] |publisher=BBC |access-date=April 28, 2012 |archive-date=May 31, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120531061419/http://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2003/01/28/paul_thomas_anderson_punch_drunk_love_interview.shtml |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=guardian5>{{cite newspaper |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2012/sep/01/best-film-directors-world-2012 |title=The 23 best film directors in the world today |first1=Ali |last1=Catterall |first2=Charlie |last2=Lyne |first3=Gwilym |last3=Mumford |first4=Damon |last4=Wise |date=August 31, 2012 |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=January 2, 2013 |archive-date=October 26, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171026194355/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2012/sep/01/best-film-directors-world-2012 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/features/page/0,11456,1082823,00.html |title=40 best directors {{!}} Features {{!}} guardian.co.uk Film |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=January 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190629200059/https://www.theguardian.com/film/features/page/0,11456,1082823,00.html |archive-date=June 29, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=ew>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.firstshowing.net/2011/entertainment-weeklys-list-of-the-25-greatest-working-directors/ |title=25 Greatest Working Directors |last=Stack |first=Tom |date=February 22, 2011 |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |access-date=February 26, 2011 |archive-date=August 29, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170829204325/http://www.firstshowing.net/2011/entertainment-weeklys-list-of-the-25-greatest-working-directors/ |url-status=live}}</ref>}} [[List of awards and nominations received by Paul Thomas Anderson|his accolades]] include a [[British Academy Film Awards|BAFTA Award]] and nominations for eleven [[Academy Awards]], three [[Golden Globe Awards]], and a [[Grammy Awards|Grammy]]. He is the only person to have won [[Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Director|Best Director]] at the [[Cannes Film Festival]], the [[Silver Lion]] at the [[Venice Film Festival]], and the [[Silver Bear for Best Director|Silver]] and [[Golden Bear]] at the [[Berlin International Film Festival|Berlin Film Festival]].

Many of [[Paul Thomas Anderson filmography|Anderson's films]] are [[psychological drama]]s characterized by depictions of desperate characters and explorations of dysfunctional families, alienation, loneliness, and redemption, alongside a bold visual style that uses constantly moving cameras and [[long take]]s. After his directorial debut, ''[[Hard Eight (film)|Hard Eight]]'' (1996), Anderson had critical and commercial success with ''[[Boogie Nights]]'' (1997), and received further accolades with ''[[Magnolia (film)|Magnolia]]'' (1999) and ''[[Punch-Drunk Love]]'' (2002).

''[[There Will Be Blood]]'' (2007), Anderson's fifth film, is regarded as [[BBC's 100 Greatest Films of the 21st Century (August 2016)|one of]] [[NYT's 100 Best Movies of the 21st Century (June 2025)|the greatest]] films of the 21st century. It was followed by ''[[The Master (2012 film)|The Master]]'' (2012) and ''[[Inherent Vice (film)|Inherent Vice]]'' (2014), an adaptation of [[Inherent Vice|the 2009 novel]] by [[Thomas Pynchon]]. Anderson's next two films, ''[[Phantom Thread]]'' (2017) and ''[[Licorice Pizza]]'' (2021), were both nominated for the [[Academy Award for Best Picture]]. His tenth film, ''[[One Battle After Another]]'', was released in 2025, and became Anderson's highest-grossing film.<ref name=wwrd>{{cite web |title=Worldwide release dates |url=https://www.onebattleafteranothermovie.com/ticketing/ |website=One Battle After Another |publisher=[[Warner Bros.]] |access-date=September 27, 2025}}</ref>

Anderson is noted for his collaborations with the cinematographer [[Robert Elswit]], the costume designer [[Mark Bridges (costume designer)|Mark Bridges]], the composers [[Jon Brion]] and [[Jonny Greenwood]], and actors including [[Philip Seymour Hoffman]], [[Daniel Day-Lewis]], [[John C. Reilly]], and [[Joaquin Phoenix]]. He has directed music videos for artists including [[Fiona Apple]], [[Haim (band)|Haim]], [[Aimee Mann]], [[Joanna Newsom]], [[Michael Penn]], [[Radiohead]], and [[The Smile (band)|the Smile]]. He also directed a [[Junun (film)|2015 documentary]] about Greenwood's album ''[[Junun (album)|Junun]]'', and the short music film ''[[Anima (Thom Yorke album)#Film|Anima]]'' (2019) for the Radiohead singer [[Thom Yorke]].

==Early life==
Paul Thomas Anderson was born in [[Studio City, Los Angeles]], on June 26, 1970,<ref>{{cite news|last1=Ehrlich|first1=David|title=Paul Thomas Anderson Movies Ranked from Worst to Best|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2017/12/paul-thomas-anderson-movies-ranked-worst-best-boogie-nights-there-will-be-blood-phantom-thread-1201910078/|access-date=April 7, 2018|work=[[IndieWire]]|date=December 21, 2017|archive-date=August 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200818031824/https://www.indiewire.com/feature/paul-thomas-anderson-movies-ranked-worst-best-boogie-nights-there-will-be-blood-phantom-thread-1201910078/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Silman|first1=Anna|title=Paul Thomas Anderson and Maya Rudolph Are the Greatest Celebrity Couple|url=https://www.thecut.com/2018/02/pta-and-maya-rudolph-are-our-greatest-celebrity-couple.html|access-date=April 7, 2018|work=[[The Cut (publication)|The Cut]]|publisher=New York Media, LLC|date=February 7, 2018|archive-date=August 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806050619/https://www.thecut.com/2018/02/pta-and-maya-rudolph-are-our-greatest-celebrity-couple.html|url-status=live}}</ref> to Edwina (née Gough) and actor [[Ernie Anderson]].{{sfn|Waxman|2005|page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=aQRM1yBVkjAC&pg=PA84 84]}}<ref name=ghoulardi/> His father was the voice of [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] and played a [[Cleveland]] late-night [[horror host]] known as [[Ghoulardi]], after whom Anderson later named his production company.{{sfn|Waxman|2005|page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=aQRM1yBVkjAC&pg=PA84 84]}}<ref name=ghoulardi>{{cite web|last=Luttermoser|first=John|title='There Will Be Blood' comes out on video Tuesday|publisher=Cleveland Live, Inc.|work=Cleveland.com|date=April 5, 2008|url=http://www.cleveland.com/movies/index.ssf/2008/04/there_will_be_blood_comes_out.html|access-date=September 28, 2010|archive-date=January 24, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120124050310/http://www.cleveland.com/movies/index.ssf/2008/04/there_will_be_blood_comes_out.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Anderson has three siblings and five half-siblings from his father's first marriage.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ech.case.edu/cgi/article.pl?id=AE1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150116110752/http://ech.case.edu/cgi/article.pl?id=AE1 |title=Anderson, Ernie |website=The Encyclopedia of Cleveland History |archive-date=January 16, 2015 |access-date=December 9, 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=portmagazine/><ref name=esquire/> He grew up in the [[San Fernando Valley]]{{sfn|Waxman|2005|pages=[https://books.google.com/books?id=aQRM1yBVkjAC&pg=PR12 xii, xiii]}} and was raised as a [[Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Hirschberg|first1=Lynn|title=His Way|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/12/19/magazine/his-way.html|access-date=February 17, 2024|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=December 19, 1999|archive-date=July 22, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230722091828/https://www.nytimes.com/1999/12/19/magazine/his-way.html|url-status=live}}</ref> He had a troubled relationship with his mother, but was close with his father, who encouraged him to become a writer or director.<ref name=nytimes2/> He attended [[private school]]s, including [[Buckley School (California)|the Buckley School]], [[John Thomas Dye School]], [[Campbell Hall School]], [[Cushing Academy]] and [[Montclair College Preparatory School]].<ref name=esquire>{{cite web |last=Richardson |first=John H. |title=The Secret History of Paul Thomas Anderson |work=[[Esquire (magazine)|Esquire]] |publisher=[[Hearst Communications|Hearst Communications Inc.]] |date=September 22, 2008 |url=http://www.esquire.com/news-politics/a4973/paul-thomas-anderson-1008/ |access-date=July 29, 2010 |archive-date=February 19, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150219043906/http://www.esquire.com/news-politics/a4973/paul-thomas-anderson-1008/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

Anderson was involved in filmmaking from an early age,<ref name=time1/><ref name=nytimes3/> and never had an alternative plan to directing films.<ref name=beauty73/> He made his first film when he was eight years old,<ref name=portmagazine>{{cite news |first=Lynn |last=Hirschberg |title=The Master Director: Paul Thomas Anderson |work=Port Magazine |date=June 5, 2013 |url=http://www.port-magazine.com/film/the-master-director-paul-thomas-anderson/ |access-date=June 8, 2013 |archive-date=June 9, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130609094224/http://www.port-magazine.com/film/the-master-director-paul-thomas-anderson/ |url-status=live}}</ref> and started making films on a [[Betamax]] videocamera his father bought in 1982.<ref name=nytimes3/> He later started using [[8 mm film]], but realized that video was easier.<ref name=time1/> As a teenager, he began writing and experimenting with a [[Bolex]] [[16 mm film|16 mm camera]].<ref name=time1/><ref name=latimes>{{cite web|last=McKenna|first=Kristine|title=Knows It When He Sees It|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=October 12, 1997|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-oct-12-ca-41788-story.html|access-date=May 21, 2011|archive-date=October 29, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141029215858/http://articles.latimes.com/print/1997/oct/12/entertainment/ca-41788|url-status=live}}</ref> After years of experimenting with "standard fare", Anderson wrote and filmed his first real production as a senior at Montclair Prep, using money he earned cleaning cages at a pet store.<ref name=nytimes3/><ref name=slate2>{{Cite web|title=The Minor Works of Paul Thomas Anderson|work=[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]]|publisher=[[Graham Holdings]]|date=September 13, 2012 |url=http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2012/09/13/paul_thomas_anderson_s_short_films_and_music_videos_the_dirk_diggler_story_cigarettes_coffee_couch_and_more_video_.html |access-date=May 28, 2014|archive-date=March 22, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140322211914/http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2012/09/13/paul_thomas_anderson_s_short_films_and_music_videos_the_dirk_diggler_story_cigarettes_coffee_couch_and_more_video_.html}}</ref> The film was a 30-minute [[mockumentary]] about a porn star, ''[[The Dirk Diggler Story]]'' (1988), with a story inspired by [[John Holmes (actor)|John Holmes]], who also inspired ''[[Boogie Nights]]'' (1997), the feature-length adaptation of ''The Dirk Diggler Story''.<ref name=esquire/><ref name=nytimes2>{{cite news |last=Hirshberg |first=Lynn |title=His Way |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=December 19, 1999 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/12/19/magazine/his-way.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm |access-date=February 10, 2010 |archive-date=September 15, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120915051746/http://www.nytimes.com/1999/12/19/magazine/his-way.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=time1/><ref name=latimes/>

==Career==
===1990s===
Anderson attended [[Santa Monica College]]<ref>{{Cite podcast |url=http://www.wtfpod.com/podcast/episodes/episode_565_-_paul_thomas_anderson |title=Episode 565 - Paul Thomas Anderson |work=[[WTF with Marc Maron]] |host=[[Marc Maron]] |date=January 5, 2015 |time=37:12 |access-date=May 10, 2017 |archive-date=May 2, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170502181619/http://www.wtfpod.com/podcast/episodes/episode_565_-_paul_thomas_anderson |url-status=live}}</ref> before spending two semesters as an English major at [[Emerson College]], where he was taught by [[David Foster Wallace]]. Anderson attended [[New York University]] for two days before he began his career as a [[production assistant]] on television, films, music videos, and game shows in Los Angeles and New York City.<ref name=esquire/><ref name=ebertqa/>{{sfn|Waxman|2005|page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=aQRM1yBVkjAC&pg=PA86 86]}} Feeling that film school turned the material into "homework or a chore",<ref name=melbourne>{{cite AV media |date=November 14, 2012 |title=Paul Thomas Anderson Q&A – The Master |medium=YouTube |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_A4pqo5WE8#t=20m34s |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211028/-_A4pqo5WE8| archive-date=October 28, 2021|location=[[Astor Theatre, Melbourne]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Anderson decided to make a 20-minute film as his "college".<ref name=ebertqa>{{cite web|last=Ebert|first=Roger|title=Director's talent makes 'Boogie' fever infectious|publisher=[[Chicago Sun-Times]]|work=rogerebert.com|date=October 19, 1997|url=http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19971019/PEOPLE/10010341|access-date=May 21, 2011|archive-date=January 11, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120111203117/http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F19971019%2FPEOPLE%2F10010341|url-status=live}}</ref>

On a budget of $10,000 (which came from gambling winnings, his girlfriend's credit card, and money his father had set aside for him for college),<ref name=ebertqa/> Anderson made ''[[Cigarettes & Coffee]]'' (1993), a short film connecting multiple storylines with a [[United States twenty-dollar bill|$20 bill]].<ref name=esquire/><ref name=latimes/>{{sfn|Waxman|2005|page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=aQRM1yBVkjAC&pg=PA87 87]}} It screened at the 1993 [[Sundance Festival]] Shorts Program.<ref name=latimes/> He planned to expand it to feature-length, and was invited to the 1994 [[Sundance Institute#Sundance Feature Film Program|Sundance Feature Film Program]].<ref name=esquire/><ref name=latimes/>{{sfn|Waxman|2005|page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=aQRM1yBVkjAC&pg=PA87 87]}} [[Michael Caton-Jones]] served as Anderson's mentor. He saw him as someone with "talent and a fully formed creative voice, but not much hands-on experience", and gave him some hard and practical lessons.<ref name=nytimes3/>

While at Sundance, Anderson had a deal with [[Rysher Entertainment]] to direct his first full-length feature film, ''Sydney'', which was retitled ''[[Hard Eight (film)|Hard Eight]]''.<ref name=nytimes2/><ref name=nytimes3>{{cite news |last=Rochlin |first=Margy |title=FILM; The Innocent Approach to an Adult Opus |work=[[The New York Times|NYTimes.com]] |date=October 12, 1997 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/10/12/movies/film-the-innocent-approach-to-an-adult-opus.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm |access-date=April 7, 2011 |archive-date=May 15, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130515175301/http://www.nytimes.com/1997/10/12/movies/film-the-innocent-approach-to-an-adult-opus.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm |url-status=live}}</ref> After he finished the film, Rysher reedited it.<ref name=nytimes3/> He had the [[workprint]] of the original cut and submitted the film to the [[1996 Cannes Film Festival]],<ref name=latimes/> where it was shown at the [[Un Certain Regard]] section.{{sfn|Waxman|2005|page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=aQRM1yBVkjAC&pg=PA91 91]}}<ref name=1996cannes>{{cite web |url=http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/ficheFilm/id/4724/year/1996.html |title=Festival de Cannes: Hard Eight |access-date=September 20, 2009 |work=Festival-Cannes.com |archive-date=January 19, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120119014946/http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/ficheFilm/id/4724/year/1996.html |url-status=live}}</ref> He had the version released, but only after he retitled the film, and raised the $200,000 necessary to finish it. Anderson, [[Philip Baker Hall]], [[John C. Reilly]], and [[Gwyneth Paltrow]] contributed to the final funding.<ref name=nytimes3/><ref name=latimes/> The version that was released was Anderson's and the acclaim it received launched his career.<ref name=latimes/><ref name=esquire/> The film follows the life of a senior gambler and a homeless man. In his review, ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]'' critic [[Roger Ebert]] wrote, "Movies like ''Hard Eight'' remind me of what original, compelling characters the movies can sometimes give us."<ref>{{cite web|last1=Ebert|first1=Roger|title=Hard Eight|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/hard-eight-1997|website=[[Chicago Sun-Times]]|access-date=March 14, 2018|date=February 27, 1997|archive-date=July 14, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160714094637/http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/hard-eight-1997|url-status=live|ref=CITEREFEbert19970227}}</ref>

Anderson worked on the script for his second film while working on the first one,<ref name=nytimes3/> and completed it in 1995.<ref name=latimes/> The result was his breakout film ''[[Boogie Nights]]'' (1997),<ref name=slate/><ref name=guardian3>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2008/jan/04/awardsandprizes |title=Tell the story! Tell the story! |last1=Pilkington |first1=Ed |work=[[The Guardian|guardian.co.uk]] |date=January 4, 2008 |access-date=March 9, 2011 |archive-date=November 10, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131110014604/http://www.theguardian.com/culture/2008/jan/04/awardsandprizes |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=book1/> which is based on his short film ''The Dirk Diggler Story'' and is set in the [[Golden Age of Porn]]. The film follows a [[nightclub]] dishwasher who becomes a pornographic actor.<ref name=esquire/><ref name=latimes/>{{sfn|Waxman|2005|page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=aQRM1yBVkjAC&pg=PA115 115]}} The script was noticed by [[New Line Cinema]] president [[Michael De Luca]], who felt "totally gaga" reading it.<ref name=nytimes3/> It was released on October 10, 1997, and was a critical and commercial success.<ref name=nytimes2/> It revived the career of [[Burt Reynolds]],<ref name=nydaily>{{cite web|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/news/1998/01/19/1998-01-19__titanic__floats_their_boats.html|title='TITANIC' FLOATS THEIR BOATS WINS GOLDEN GLOBES FOR DRAMA, DIRECTOR|last=Kennedy|first=Helen|work=[[Daily News (New York)|NYDailyNews.com]]|date=January 19, 1998|access-date=August 23, 2010|archive-date=July 30, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120730223413/http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/news/1998/01/19/1998-01-19__titanic__floats_their_boats.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=time3>{{cite news|last=Corliss|first=Richard|title=Burt Reynolds, Boogie Nights|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time.com]]|date=December 17, 2008|url=http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1866678_1866677_1866631,00.html|access-date=February 26, 2011|archive-date=February 6, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110206133106/http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1866678_1866677_1866631,00.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> and provided [[breakthrough role|breakout roles]] for [[Mark Wahlberg]] and [[Julianne Moore]].<ref name=rollingstone1>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/reviews/boogie-nights-19971010 |title=Boogie Nights |first=Peter |last=Travers |date=October 10, 1997 |magazine=[[Rolling Stone|RollingStone.com]] |access-date=February 26, 2011 |archive-date=June 28, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628203057/http://www.rollingstone.com/movies/reviews/boogie-nights-19971010 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=moore1>{{cite web |url=http://sn.soapnet.go.com/news/article/julianne-moore-returning-to-as-the-world-turns |title=Julianne Moore Returning to As the World Turns |first=Joe |last=Reid |date=March 1, 2010 |work=[[SOAPnet]].com |publisher=[[SOAPnet]] |access-date=February 26, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120324212027/http://sn.soapnet.go.com/news/article/julianne-moore-returning-to-as-the-world-turns |archive-date=March 24, 2012}}</ref><ref name=moore2>{{cite web |url=http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20100328/ENT01/303289984/1162 |title=Moore searches for motives in marriage |first=Rick |last=Warner |date=March 28, 2010 |work=[[The Journal Gazette]] |access-date=February 26, 2011 |archive-date=August 11, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811025338/http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20100328/ENT01/303289984/1162 |url-status=live}}</ref> At the [[70th Academy Awards]], the film was nominated for three awards, including [[Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor|Best Supporting Actor]] (Reynolds), [[Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress|Best Supporting Actress]] (Moore), and [[Academy Award for Writing Original Screenplay|Best Original Screenplay]].<ref name=nom70aa>{{cite web |url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1998 |title=Oscars Ceremonies 1998 |access-date=February 12, 2015 |work=[[Academy Award|Oscars.org]] |date=October 5, 2014 |publisher=[[Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences]] |archive-date=April 2, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402004523/http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1998 |url-status=live}}</ref>

After the success of ''Boogie Nights'', New Line told Anderson he could do whatever he wanted for his next film and granted him creative control.<ref name=nytimes2/> Anderson initially wanted to make a film that was "intimate and small-scale", but the script "kept blossoming". The result was the ensemble piece ''[[Magnolia (film)|Magnolia]]'' (1999), which tells the story of the peculiar interaction of several people in San Fernando Valley.<ref name="patterson"/><ref name=time2>{{cite news|last=Schickel|first=Richard|title=Cinema: Magnolia|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time.com]]|date=December 27, 1999|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,992979,00.html|access-date=February 26, 2011|archive-date=February 21, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110221035103/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,992979,00.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> It was inspired by the music of the singer-songwriter [[Aimee Mann]],<ref name="bessman">{{cite news |last=Bessman |first=Jim |title=Music blossomed into film; Magnolia director was inspired by Aimee Mann's work |newspaper=[[Toronto Star]] |date=December 16, 1999 |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/thestar/access/428118611.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Dec+16%2C+1999&author=Jim+Bessman&pub=Toronto+Star&desc=Music+blossomed+into+film+%3B+Magnolia+director+was+inspired+by+Aimee+Mann%27s+work&pqatl=google |access-date=May 26, 2011 |archive-date=January 11, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120111222638/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/thestar/access/428118611.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Dec+16%2C+1999&author=Jim+Bessman&pub=Toronto+Star&desc=Music+blossomed+into+film+%3B+Magnolia+director+was+inspired+by+Aimee+Mann%27s+work&pqatl=google |url-status=dead}}</ref> who wrote songs for [[Magnolia (soundtrack)|its soundtrack]].<ref name="lamag">{{cite magazine|last=Nichols |first=Natalie |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lV8EAAAAMBAJ&q=%22paul+thomas+anderson%22&pg=PA22 |title=The Mann Act |date=January 2000 |magazine=[[Los Angeles Magazine]] |publisher=Hour Media Group|page=22 |access-date=January 22, 2012|archive-date=April 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220407103428/https://books.google.com/books?id=lV8EAAAAMBAJ&q=%22paul+thomas+anderson%22&pg=PA22|url-status=live}}</ref> At the [[72nd Academy Awards]], ''Magnolia'' was nominated for three awards, including Best Supporting Actor ([[Tom Cruise]]), [[Academy Award for Best Original Song|Best Original Song]] ("[[Save Me (Aimee Mann song)|Save Me]]"), and Best Original Screenplay.<ref name=nom72aa>{{cite web |url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2000 |title=Oscars Ceremonies 2000 |access-date=February 12, 2015 |work=[[Academy Award|Oscars.org]] |publisher=[[Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences]] |archive-date=April 2, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402003006/http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2000 |url-status=live}}</ref> After its release, Anderson said, "''Magnolia'' is, for better or worse, the best movie I'll ever make".<ref name=guardian1>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2003/feb/01/features.johnpatterson |title=Boogie knight |last1=Patterson |first1=John |date=February 1, 2003 |work=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=February 17, 2011 |archive-date=September 10, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140910171139/http://www.theguardian.com/film/2003/feb/01/features.johnpatterson |url-status=live}}</ref>

===2000s===
[[File:Sandler-Anderson-Watson-Hoffman(Cannes2002).jpg|thumb|right|[[Adam Sandler]], Anderson, [[Emily Watson]], and [[Philip Seymour Hoffman]] at the [[2002 Cannes Film Festival]].]]

After the success of ''Magnolia'', Anderson said he would make his next film around 90 minutes and would work with [[Adam Sandler]].<ref name=guardian3/><ref name="patterson">{{cite web |last=Patterson |first=John |title=''Magnolia'' Maniac |work=[[The Guardian|guardian.co.uk]] |date=March 10, 2000 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2000/mar/10/culture.features |access-date=April 12, 2010 |archive-date=August 27, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120827044550/http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2000/mar/10/culture.features |url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[Punch-Drunk Love]]'' (2002)<ref name=usatoday2>{{cite web|last=Puig|first=Claudia|title=The proof of 'Punch-Drunk Love' is in the pudding|work=[[USA Today]]|publisher=[[Gannett Company|Gannett Co. Inc.]]|date=October 7, 2002|url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2002-10-07-pudding_x.htm|access-date=February 26, 2011|archive-date=May 11, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120511190905/http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2002-10-07-pudding_x.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> follows a beleaguered entrepreneur in love with his sister's co-worker. A subplot was inspired by civil engineer [[David Phillips (entrepreneur)|David Phillips]].<ref name=usatoday2/> Sandler received critical praise for his first dramatic role in the film.<ref name=nydaily2>{{cite web|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/2007/03/11/2007-03-11_comic_takes_on_911.html|title=Comic takes on 9/11|last=Rovzar|first=Chris|work=[[Daily News (New York)|NYDailyNews.com]]|date=March 11, 2007|access-date=February 26, 2011|archive-date=May 25, 2024|archive-url=https://archive.today/20240525185127/https://www.webcitation.org/662qR44gX?url=http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/comic-takes-9-11-article-1.216337|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=sfgate>{{cite web|url=https://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/Hey-it-s-Adam-Sandler-But-what-s-this-A-drama-2568756.php|title=Hey, it's Adam Sandler! But what's this? A drama?|last=Hartlaub|first=Peter|work=[[San Francisco Chronicle|SFGate.com]]|publisher=[[Hearst Corporation]]|date=March 12, 2007|access-date=February 26, 2011|archive-date=March 28, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070328172752/http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/03/21/DDGRTOO2MJ1.DTL|url-status=live}}</ref> At the [[2002 Cannes Film Festival]], Anderson won the [[Best Director Award (Cannes Film Festival)|Best Director Award]] and was nominated for the [[Palme d'Or]].<ref name=2002cannes>{{cite web| title=Festival de Cannes: Punch-Drunk Love| publisher=[[Cannes Film Festival]]| work=Festival-Cannes.com| url=http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/ficheFilm/id/3124026/year/2002.html| access-date=October 25, 2009| archive-date=January 18, 2012| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120118145737/http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/ficheFilm/id/3124026/year/2002.html| url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[Time Out (magazine)|Time Out]]'' included it among the best films of the 21st century. [[Karina Longworth]] wrote, "Anderson's cracked ode to the transformative power of love in a world that actively mocks sensitivity is perhaps his most original work".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.timeout.com/film/the-100-best-movies-of-the-21st-century-so-far|title=The 100 best movies of the 21st century so far|website=Time Out|date=February 6, 2022|access-date=August 20, 2023|archive-date=February 11, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220211100409/https://www.timeout.com/film/the-100-best-movies-of-the-21st-century-so-far|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Paul Thomas Anderson & Daniel Day-Lewis-2.jpg|thumb|left|Anderson with [[Daniel Day-Lewis]] in 2007.]]

''[[There Will Be Blood]]'' (2007), Anderson's fifth film, is loosely based on [[Upton Sinclair]]'s 1927 novel ''[[Oil!]]''<ref name=goodwin>{{cite web |last=Goodwin |first=Christopher |title=Daniel Day-Lewis Gives Blood, Sweat and Tears |work=[[The Sunday Times]] |date=November 25, 2007 |url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/film/article2922563.ece |access-date=December 21, 2009 |archive-date=May 17, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110517072924/http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/film/article2922563.ece |url-status=dead}}</ref> It follows a ruthless [[Hydrocarbon exploration|oil prospector]] exploiting the [[History of oil in California through 1930|Southern California oil boom]] in the early 20th century.<ref>{{cite web |title='Oil!' and the History of Southern California|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/22/timestopics/topics_uptonsinclair_oil.html|website=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=October 25, 2017|date=February 22, 2008|archive-date=October 26, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171026110434/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/22/timestopics/topics_uptonsinclair_oil.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Against a $25 million budget, the film earned $76.1 million worldwide.<ref name=twbbboxoffice>{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=therewillbeblood.htm |title=There Will Be Blood (2007)&nbsp;— Box Office Mojo |access-date=April 8, 2008 |work=Box Office Mojo |publisher=[[Internet Movie Database]] |archive-date=December 4, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081204071106/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=therewillbeblood.htm |url-status=live}}</ref> At the [[80th Academy Awards]], it was nominated for eight awards, tying with ''[[No Country for Old Men (film)|No Country for Old Men]]''.<ref name=nytimesnom>{{cite news |last1=Barnes |first1=Brooks |last2=Carr |first2=David |title='No Country' and 'Blood' Lead Oscar Nominations |work=[[The New York Times|NYTimes.com]] |date=January 23, 2008 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/23/movies/awardsseason/23osca.html |access-date=February 17, 2011 |archive-date=June 25, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180625000120/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/23/movies/awardsseason/23osca.html?_r=1 |url-status=live}}</ref> Anderson was nominated for [[Academy Award for Best Picture|Best Picture]], [[Academy Award for Best Director|Best Director]] and [[Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay|Best Adapted Screenplay]], losing all three to [[Coen brothers|the Coen Brothers]] for ''No Country for Old Men''.<ref name=nom80aa/> [[Daniel Day-Lewis]] won [[Academy Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]] and [[Robert Elswit]] won [[Academy Award for Best Cinematography|Best Cinematography]].<ref name=nom80aa>{{cite web |url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2008 |title=Oscars Ceremonies 2008 |access-date=February 12, 2015 |work=[[Academy Award|Oscars.org]] |date=October 7, 2014 |publisher=[[Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences]] |archive-date=April 2, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402004725/http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2008 |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Paul Dano]] received a nomination for the [[BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role|BAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actor]].<ref name=baftas>{{cite web |url=http://www.bafta.org/awards/film/film-awards-nominees-in-2008,224,BA.html |title=BAFTA Film Award Winners in 2008 |access-date=February 19, 2008 |publisher=[[British Academy of Film and Television Arts]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120213005604/http://www.bafta.org/film/awards/2008,2380,BA.html |archive-date=February 13, 2012}}</ref> Anderson was nominated for the [[Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directing – Feature Film]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Directors Guild announces nominations |work=Rope of Silicon |publisher=RopeofSilicon.com LLC. |date=December 20, 2007 |url=http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/article/directors_guild_announces_their_2008_nominees |access-date=December 31, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120213213833/http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/directors_guild_announces_their_2008_nominees/ |archive-date=February 13, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

''There Will Be Blood'' was regarded by some critics as one of the greatest films of the decade, with some further declaring it one of the most accomplished [[Cinema of the United States|American films]] of the modern era.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stone |first=Rolling |date=2025-07-01 |title=100 Best Movies of the 21st Century |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-lists/best-movies-of-the-21st-century-1235200512/ |access-date=2025-11-17 |website=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Times |first=The New York |date=2025-06-23 |title=The 100 Best Movies of the 21st Century |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/movies/best-movies-21st-century.html |access-date=2025-11-17 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-08-23 |title=The 21st Century's 100 greatest films |url=https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20160819-the-21st-centurys-100-greatest-films |access-date=2025-11-17 |publisher=[[BBC]] |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Times |first=The New York |date=2025-06-23 |title=The Best Movies of the 21st Century: How Actors, Directors and Other Film Lovers Voted |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/movies/votes-movies-21st-century.html |access-date=2025-11-17 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> [[David Denby (film critic)|David Denby]] of ''[[The New Yorker]]'' wrote, "Anderson has now done work that bears comparison to the greatest achievements of [[D. W. Griffith|Griffith]] and [[John Ford|Ford]]", while [[Richard Schickel]] proclaimed it "one of the most wholly original American movies ever made."<ref name="gawker">{{cite web |url=http://gawker.com/5428998/there-will-be-blood-wins-the-decade |title=There Will Be Blood Wins the Decade— there will be blood |work=[[Gawker]].com |publisher=Gawker Media |date=December 18, 2009 |access-date=February 7, 2010 |archive-date=May 21, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120521172242/http://gawker.com/5428998/there-will-be-blood-wins-the-decade |url-status=live}}</ref> In 2017, ''[[The New York Times|New York Times]]'' film critics [[A. O. Scott]] and [[Manohla Dargis]] named it the "Best Film of the 21st Century So Far".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/06/09/movies/the-25-best-films-of-the-21st-century.html|title=The 25 Best Films of the 21st Century So Far.|date=June 9, 2017|work=The New York Times|access-date=June 12, 2017|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=July 20, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180720175622/https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/06/09/movies/the-25-best-films-of-the-21st-century.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

===2010s===
In December 2009, Anderson worked on a new film about a "charismatic intellectual" starting a new religion in the 1950s.<ref name=variety>{{cite web|last=Fleming|first=Michael|title=Anderson working on 'Master'|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|publisher=[[Reed Business Information]]|date=December 2, 2009|url=https://variety.com/2009/film/markets-festivals/anderson-working-on-master-1118012101/|access-date=December 2, 2009|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108043403/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118012101?refCatId=13|archive-date=November 8, 2012}}</ref> An associate of Anderson's stated that the idea for the film had been in his mind for twelve years.<ref name="masternyt">{{cite news |first=Michael |last=Cieply |title=Filmmaker's Newest Work Is About ... Something |work=[[The New York Times|NYTimes.com]] |date=April 18, 2012 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/22/movies/paul-thomas-anderson-film-may-be-about-scientology.html?_r=2&pagewanted=all |access-date=April 18, 2012 |archive-date=December 20, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131220114458/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/22/movies/paul-thomas-anderson-film-may-be-about-scientology.html?_r=2&pagewanted=all |url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[The Master (2012 film)|The Master]]'' was released on September 14, 2012, in North America,<ref name="Releasedate">{{cite web |last=Sneider |first=Jeff |url=https://variety.com/2012/film/news/paul-thomas-anderson-s-master-moved-to-sept-14-1118057163/ |title=Plemons joins P.T. Anderson drama |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=July 27, 2012 |access-date=July 29, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120730050733/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118057163 |archive-date=July 30, 2012}}</ref> and received critical acclaim.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_master_2011 |title=The Master |work=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |publisher=Flixster |access-date=September 24, 2012 |archive-date=March 28, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150328011854/http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_master_2011/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/the-master |title=The Master |work=Metacritic |publisher=CBS Interactive |access-date=September 24, 2012 |archive-date=September 20, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120920065032/http://www.metacritic.com/movie/the-master |url-status=live}}</ref> The film follows an alcoholic [[World War II]] veteran, who meets the leader of a religious organization. Though the film makes no reference to the movement, it has "long been widely assumed to be based on [[Scientology]]."<ref name=guardian4>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/apr/26/scientology-hollywood-film-studio |title=Church of Scientology snaps up Hollywood film studio |last1=Pilkington |first1=Ed |work=[[The Guardian|guardian.co.uk]] |date=April 26, 2011 |access-date=March 9, 2011 |archive-date=May 12, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190512100455/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/apr/26/scientology-hollywood-film-studio |url-status=live}}</ref> At the [[85th Academy Awards]], the film was nominated for three awards, including for [[Academy Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]] ([[Joaquin Phoenix]]), Best Supporting Actor (Hoffman) and [[Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress|Best Supporting Actress]] ([[Amy Adams]]).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2013|title=Oscars Ceremonies 2013|date=October 7, 2014 |publisher=Oscars|access-date=February 12, 2015|archive-date=October 14, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141014074656/http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2013|url-status=live}}</ref>

Production of the [[Inherent Vice (film)|film adaptation]] for [[Thomas Pynchon]]'s novel ''[[Inherent Vice]]'' began in May and ended in August 2013.<ref name="shooting">{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2013/film/news/joaquin-phoenixs-inherent-vice-starting-to-boost-l-a-production-1200495678/ |title=Joaquin Phoenix's 'Inherent Vice' Starting to Boost L.A. Production |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |publisher=[[Penske Media Corporation]] |date=June 11, 2013 |access-date=September 21, 2014 |last=McNary |first=Dave |archive-date=August 9, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140809080133/http://variety.com/2013/film/news/joaquin-phoenixs-inherent-vice-starting-to-boost-l-a-production-1200495678/ |url-status=live}}</ref> The film marked the first time that Pynchon allowed his work to be adapted for the screen,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vulture.com/2011/02/paul_thomas_anderson.html|title=Paul Thomas Anderson's Scientology Movie and ''Inherent Vice'' Adaptation Close to Finding Financing|work=Vulture|last=Brodesser-Akner|first=Claude|date=February 10, 2011|access-date=August 21, 2012|archive-date=September 5, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120905021944/http://www.vulture.com/2011/02/paul_thomas_anderson.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Pynchon">{{cite web|author=Foundas, Scott|url=https://www.villagevoice.com/2012/09/05/paul-thomas-anderson-the-masters-master/|title=Paul Thomas Anderson, The Master's Master|work=Village Voice|date=September 5, 2012|access-date=December 6, 2018|archive-date=December 6, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181206235307/https://www.villagevoice.com/2012/09/05/paul-thomas-anderson-the-masters-master/|url-status=dead}}</ref> and had Anderson work with Phoenix for a second time.<ref name="NYTimes2">{{cite web |first=Dennis |last=Lim |title=A Director Continues His Quest |work=[[The New York Times|NYTimes.com]] |date=December 27, 2012 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/30/movies/awardsseason/paul-thomas-anderson-on-preparing-for-and-following-up-the-master.html?pagewanted=all&_r=1& |access-date=September 21, 2014 |archive-date=October 6, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006183107/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/30/movies/awardsseason/paul-thomas-anderson-on-preparing-for-and-following-up-the-master.html?pagewanted=all&_r=1& |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="ew preview">{{cite web |author=Brooks, Brian |url=http://www.filmlinc.com/nyff2014/blog/new-york-film-festival-2014-main-slate-lineup |title=New York Film Festival to Debut 30 Features in 2014 Main Slate |publisher=[[Film Society of Lincoln Center]] |date=August 24, 2014 |access-date=September 7, 2014 |archive-date=September 8, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140908043139/http://www.filmlinc.com/nyff2014/blog/new-york-film-festival-2014-main-slate-lineup |url-status=live}}</ref> The supporting cast includes [[Owen Wilson]], [[Reese Witherspoon]], [[Jena Malone]], [[Martin Short]], [[Benicio Del Toro]], [[Katherine Waterston]] and [[Josh Brolin]]. Following its release in December 2014, the film was nominated for two awards at the [[87th Academy Awards]], including for [[Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay|Best Adapted Screenplay]] and Best Costume Design.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2015|title=Oscars Ceremonies 2015|publisher=Oscars|access-date=February 12, 2015|archive-date=March 10, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150310051043/http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2015|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Mehrangarh Fort.jpg|thumb|[[Mehrangarh Fort]] in [[Jodhpur]], Rajasthan, where ''Junun'' was filmed.]]

Anderson directed ''[[Junun (film)|Junun]]'', a 2015 documentary about the making of [[Junun (album)|the album]] by the composer and Radiohead guitarist [[Jonny Greenwood]], the Radiohead producer [[Nigel Godrich]], the Israeli composer [[Shye Ben Tzur]], and a group of Indian musicians.<ref>{{cite web |last=Perez |first=Rodrigo |title=NYFF Review: Paul Thomas Anderson's Doc 'Junun' Featuring Shye Ben Tzur, Jonny Greenwood & The Rajasthan Express |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2015/10/nyff-review-paul-thomas-andersons-doc-junun-featuring-shye-ben-tzur-jonny-greenwood-the-rajasthan-express-113384/ |work=[[IndieWire]] |access-date=June 4, 2016 |date=October 2015 |archive-date=June 1, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160601131341/http://www.indiewire.com/2015/10/nyff-review-paul-thomas-andersons-doc-junun-featuring-shye-ben-tzur-jonny-greenwood-the-rajasthan-express-113384/ |url-status=live}}</ref> Most of the performances were recorded at the 15th-century [[Mehrangarh Fort]] in [[Rajasthan]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Plaugic |first=Lizzie |title=Paul Thomas Anderson is making a documentary about Radiohead's Jonny Greenwood |url=https://www.theverge.com/2015/8/21/9187767/paul-thomas-anderson-jonny-greenwood-radiohead-documentary |work=[[The Verge]] |access-date=June 4, 2016 |date=August 21, 2015 |archive-date=June 22, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160622070635/http://www.theverge.com/2015/8/21/9187767/paul-thomas-anderson-jonny-greenwood-radiohead-documentary |url-status=live}}</ref> ''Junun'' premiered at the [[2015 New York Film Festival]] to a generally favorable reception.<ref>{{cite web |title=Junun |url=http://www.filmlinc.org/nyff2015/films/junun/ |website=[[Film Society of Lincoln Center]] |access-date=June 4, 2016 |archive-date=May 29, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160529105338/http://www.filmlinc.org/nyff2015/films/junun/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=''Junun'': NYFF Review |url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/paul-thomas-andersons-junun-nyff-830826 |access-date=October 9, 2015 |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|date=October 8, 2015 |archive-date=October 11, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151011034445/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/paul-thomas-andersons-junun-nyff-830826|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/secret-new-documentary-directed-by-paul-thomas-anderson-more-added-to-new-york-film-festival-line-up-20150821|title=Secret New Documentary Directed By Paul Thomas Anderson, More Added To New York Film Festival Line Up|last1=Lyttelton|first1=Oliver|department=The Playlist|website=[[IndieWire]]|access-date=February 9, 2016|archive-date=August 23, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150823185944/http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/secret-new-documentary-directed-by-paul-thomas-anderson-more-added-to-new-york-film-festival-line-up-20150821|url-status=live}}</ref>

Anderson's eighth film, ''[[Phantom Thread]]'', set in the London fashion industry, was released in December 2017.<ref name="Phantom Thread">{{cite web|last1=Sharf|first1=Zack|title=Paul Thomas Anderson and Daniel Day-Lewis' Fashion Drama Sets Christmas Release Date|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2017/03/paul-thomas-anderson-daniel-day-lewis-fashion-drama-release-date-christmas-1201798649/|website=[[IndieWire]]|access-date=October 25, 2017|date=March 30, 2017|archive-date=October 26, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171026054136/http://www.indiewire.com/2017/03/paul-thomas-anderson-daniel-day-lewis-fashion-drama-release-date-christmas-1201798649/|url-status=live}}</ref> Day-Lewis starred, after his previous film ''[[Lincoln (2012 film)|Lincoln]]''.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Vincent|first1=Alice|title=Phantom Thread: everything you need to know about Daniel Day-Lewis's final film|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/2017/02/01/daniel-day-lewis-spotted-whitby-paul-thomas-anderson-filming/|website=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|access-date=October 25, 2017|date=June 21, 2017|archive-date=June 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180623212345/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/2017/02/01/daniel-day-lewis-spotted-whitby-paul-thomas-anderson-filming/|url-status=live}}</ref> The cast includes [[Lesley Manville]] and [[Vicky Krieps]].<ref name="Phantom Thread"/> [[Focus Features]] distributed the film in the United States, with [[Universal Pictures]] handling international distribution.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Fleming|first1=Mike Jr.|title=Focus Wins WW Rights Auction for Paul Thomas Anderson Pic; Daniel Day-Lewis Stars|url=https://deadline.com/2016/09/paul-thomas-anderson-daniel-day-lewis-focus-features-universal-toronto-film-festival-1201814870/|access-date=September 9, 2016|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|date=September 8, 2016|archive-date=November 16, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181116083247/https://deadline.com/2016/09/paul-thomas-anderson-daniel-day-lewis-focus-features-universal-toronto-film-festival-1201814870/|url-status=live}}</ref> Principal photography began in January 2017. Elswit was absent during production,<ref>{{cite web|last1=Chitwood|first1=Adam|title=Yes, Paul Thomas Anderson Is Serving as His Own Cinematographer on 'Phantom Thread'|url=https://collider.com/new-paul-thomas-anderson-movie-cinematographer/|website=[[Collider (website)|Collider]]|access-date=October 2, 2017|date=June 29, 2017|archive-date=October 16, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181016055644/http://collider.com/new-paul-thomas-anderson-movie-cinematographer/|url-status=live}}</ref> and despite claims of Anderson acting as a cinematographer on the film, no official credit was given.<ref>{{cite magazine|last1=Sullivan|first1=Kevin P.|title=Paul Thomas Anderson opens up about Phantom Thread for the first time|url=https://ew.com/movies/2017/11/02/phantom-thread-paul-thomas-anderson-interview/|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|access-date=November 27, 2017|date=November 2, 2017|archive-date=July 15, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180715045139/http://ew.com/movies/2017/11/02/phantom-thread-paul-thomas-anderson-interview/|url-status=live}}</ref> On February 16, 2019, Elswit said he would not work with Anderson on his next films.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nordine |first=Michael |date=February 16, 2019 |title=Paul Thomas Anderson's Longtime Cinematographer Says They Probably Won't Work Together Again |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2019/02/robert-elswit-paul-thomas-anderson-cinematographer-1202044674/ |access-date=October 8, 2021 |website=IndieWire |archive-date=May 12, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190512053326/https://www.indiewire.com/2019/02/robert-elswit-paul-thomas-anderson-cinematographer-1202044674/|url-status=live}}</ref> ''Phantom Thread'' was nominated for six awards at the [[90th Academy Awards]], winning one for [[Academy Award for Best Costume Design|Best Costume Design]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2018|title=Oscars Ceremonies 2018|publisher=Oscars|access-date=March 13, 2020|archive-date=March 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180305111625/http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2018|url-status=live}}</ref> and the [[National Board of Review]] chose it as one of the [[National Board of Review Awards 2017#Top 10 Films|top ten films of 2017]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=nbr_admin |date=November 28, 2017 |title=NATIONAL BOARD OF REVIEW ANNOUNCES 2017 AWARD WINNERS |url=https://nationalboardofreview.org/2017/11/national-board-review-announces-2017-award-winners/ |access-date=July 30, 2025 |website=National Board of Review |archive-date=November 29, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171129092703/https://nationalboardofreview.org/2017/11/national-board-review-announces-2017-award-winners/|url-status=live}}</ref> It has since been considered to be one of the best films of the 2010s.<ref>{{Cite magazine |first1=David |last1=Fear |first2=Peter |last2=Travers |first3=Katie |last3=Walsh |first4=Amy |last4=Nicholson |first5=Tim |last5=Grierson |first6=Jessica |last6=Kiang |date=December 18, 2019 |title=The 50 Best Movies of the 2010s |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-lists/best-movies-decade-2010s-910770/ |access-date=July 30, 2025 |magazine=Rolling Stone |archive-date=August 15, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220815101825/https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-lists/best-movies-decade-2010s-910770/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=November 3, 2019 |title=The Best Films of the 2010s {{!}} Features {{!}} Roger Ebert |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/features/the-best-films-of-the-2010s |access-date=July 30, 2025 |website=www.rogerebert.com |archive-date=April 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200421041728/https://www.rogerebert.com/features/the-best-films-of-the-2010s|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2019, Anderson directed the short music film ''[[Anima (2019 film)|Anima]],'' starring the Radiohead singer, [[Thom Yorke]], and featuring music from Yorke's album ''Anima''.<ref name="Amina">{{Cite magazine |last=Blistein |first=Jon |date=June 20, 2019 |title=Thom Yorke Details New Solo Album 'Anima' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/thom-yorke-new-solo-album-anima-850433/ |url-status=live |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190629040949/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/thom-yorke-new-solo-album-anima-850433/ |archive-date=June 29, 2019 |access-date=June 21, 2019}}</ref> It was screened in select [[IMAX]] theatres on June 26 and released on [[Netflix]] on June 27.<ref name="Amina"/> It was nominated for [[Grammy Award for Best Music Film|Best Music Film]] at the [[62nd Annual Grammy Awards|2020 Grammy Awards]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 20, 2019 |title=Grammy Nominations 2020: See the Full List of Nominees Here |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/grammy-nominations-2020-see-full-list-of-nominees-here/ |access-date=November 20, 2019 |website=Pitchfork |archive-date=November 20, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191120143449/https://pitchfork.com/news/grammy-nominations-2020-see-full-list-of-nominees-here/|url-status=live}}</ref>

===2020s===
Anderson's ninth film, ''[[Licorice Pizza]]'', was released in December 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Raup |first=Jordan |date=April 20, 2021 |title=Paul Thomas Anderson's Next Film Set for Fall 2021 Release |url=https://thefilmstage.com/paul-thomas-andersons-next-film-set-for-christmas-day-release/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420195526/https://thefilmstage.com/paul-thomas-andersons-next-film-set-for-christmas-day-release/ |archive-date=April 20, 2021 |access-date=April 21, 2021 |website=The Film Stage |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="Bubp">{{cite news |last=Bubp |first=Ashley |date=April 20, 2021 |title=Paul Thomas Anderson's Latest Film Announces Holiday Release Date |work=[[Collider (website)|Collider]] |url=https://collider.com/paul-thomas-anderson-new-movie-release-date-2/ |url-status=live |access-date=April 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210421073809/https://collider.com/paul-thomas-anderson-new-movie-release-date-2/ |archive-date=April 21, 2021}}</ref> It was nominated for Best Picture, Best Director and Best Original Screenplay at the [[94th Academy Awards]]. It follows a teenage actor ([[Cooper Hoffman]]) in love with a photography assistant ([[Alana Haim]]).<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 12, 2019 |title=Paul Thomas Anderson Sets 1970s High School Movie for 2020 Production |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/paul-thomas-anderson-sets-1970s-high-school-movie-2020-production-1254077 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200827234958/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/paul-thomas-anderson-sets-1970s-high-school-movie-2020-production-1254077 |archive-date=August 27, 2020 |access-date=July 19, 2020 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en}}</ref> In 2022, Anderson rewrote portions of [[Ridley Scott]]'s 2023 film ''[[Napoleon (2023 film)|Napoleon]]'' after its lead actor, Joaquin Phoenix, who had worked with Anderson, threatened to leave the project.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/joaquin-phoenix-drops-out-movie-1235973446/|title=Joaquin Phoenix's Last-Minute Exit Sparks "Huge Amount of Outrage" Among Hollywood Producers|website=The Hollywood Reporter|first1=Kim|last1=Masters|first2=Mia|last2=Galuppo|first3=Borys|last3=Kit|date=August 13, 2024|access-date=August 17, 2024|archive-date=August 14, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240814012837/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/joaquin-phoenix-drops-out-movie-1235973446/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.indiewire.com/news/general-news/ridley-scott-paul-thomas-anderson-rewrote-napoleon-1235063592/|title=Ridley Scott Confirms Paul Thomas Anderson Was Brought in to Re-Write 'Napoleon'|website=[[IndieWire]]date=November 7, 2024|access-date=November 8, 2024|archive-date=November 7, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241107224008/https://www.indiewire.com/news/general-news/ridley-scott-paul-thomas-anderson-rewrote-napoleon-1235063592/|url-status=live}}</ref>

On January 10, 2024, it was announced that [[Leonardo DiCaprio]], [[Regina Hall]], and [[Sean Penn]] were cast in Anderson's upcoming film ''[[One Battle After Another]]'', based at [[Warner Bros. Pictures]]. The film is a loose adaption of Thomas Pynchon's novel, ''[[Vineland]]'', with only a few narrative similarities; as Anderson described it, "with [Pynchon's] blessing" he "stole the parts that really resonated with me and started putting all these ideas together."<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 13, 2025 |title=Paul Thomas Anderson on Getting Thomas Pynchon's Blessing to Radically Adapt Vineland: "I Stole the Parts That Really Resonated with Me" |url=https://thefilmstage.com/paul-thomas-anderson-on-getting-thomas-pynchons-blessing-to-radically-adapt-vineland-i-stole-the-parts-that-really-resonated-with-me/ |access-date=September 16, 2025 |language=en-US}}</ref> Anderson first expressed a desire to adapt the novel around the release of ''Inherent Vice''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Erickson |first=Steve |date=January 26, 2015 |title=Paul Thomas Anderson & the Cinema of Outcasts |url=https://lamag.com/film/paul-thomas-anderson-cinema-outcasts |access-date=April 11, 2024 |website=Los Angeles Magazine |quote=''Vineland'' is really near the top for me.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=December 11, 2014 |title=Paul Thomas Anderson interview: 'It was like getting the keys to your dad's car' |url=https://www.timeout.com/film/paul-thomas-anderson-interview-it-was-like-getting-the-keys-to-your-dads-car |access-date=April 11, 2024 |website=Time Out |quote=I'd wanted to adapt ''Vineland'', but I never had the courage.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Kermode |first=Mark |date=December 28, 2014 |title=Paul Thomas Anderson: 'Inherent Vice is like a sweet, dripping aching for the past' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/dec/28/paul-thomas-anderson-intereview-inherent-vice-mark-kermode |access-date=April 11, 2024 |website=The Guardian |quote=I am a gigantic Pynchon fan and I'd long had this dance in my mind where I'd be thinking about doing ''Vineland'' or ''Mason & Dixon''. But those would have been impossible tasks.}}</ref> Production began in California that month with a reported $100{{nbsp}}million budget.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2024/film/news/leonardo-dicaprio-regina-hall-sean-penn-paul-thomas-anderson-next-movie-1235867634/|date=January 10, 2024|last=Lang|first=Brett|title=Leonardo DiCaprio, Regina Hall, Sean Penn Starring in Paul Thomas Anderson's Next Movie|access-date=January 11, 2024|website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|archive-date=January 10, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240110173246/https://variety.com/2024/film/news/leonardo-dicaprio-regina-hall-sean-penn-paul-thomas-anderson-next-movie-1235867634/|url-status=live}}</ref> In the following February, ''Licorice Pizza'' actress Alana Haim and singer [[Teyana Taylor]] had joined the cast.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Galuppo |first=Mia |date=February 2, 2024 |title=Teyana Taylor, Alana Haim to Star in Paul Thomas Anderson's Latest Movie (Exclusive) |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/paul-thomas-anderson-alana-haim-teyana-taylor-1235813631/ |access-date=February 23, 2024 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |archive-date=February 2, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240202202012/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/paul-thomas-anderson-alana-haim-teyana-taylor-1235813631/|url-status=live}}</ref> ''One Battle After Another'' was released on September 26, 2025, to critical acclaim.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McClintock |first=Pamela |date=March 20, 2025 |title=Maggie Gyllenhaal's 'The Bride' Moves Out of 2025, Paul Thomas Anderson's Next Movie Pushed to Late September |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/maggie-gyllenhaal-the-bride-moves-out-of-2025-1236168657/ |access-date=July 30, 2025 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |archive-date=March 20, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250320013330/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/maggie-gyllenhaal-the-bride-moves-out-of-2025-1236168657/ |url-status=live}}</ref> It grossed $22 million at the box office in its opening weekend and achieved a $200 million total gross,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rubin |first=Rebecca |date=September 28, 2025 |title=Box Office: Leonardo DiCaprio's 'One Battle After Another' Kicks Off With $22 Million |url=https://variety.com/2025/film/box-office/box-office-one-battle-after-another-opening-weekend-leonardo-dicaprio-1236533304/ |access-date=September 30, 2025 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref> and became Anderson's highest-grossing film.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Awasthi |first=Pranshu |date=October 14, 2025 |title=One Battle After Another Worldwide Box Office: Leonardo DiCaprio Actioner On The Verge Of Surpassing A James Bond Director's Action-Adventure |url=https://www.koimoi.com/box-office/one-battle-after-another-worldwide-box-office-leonardo-dicaprio-actioner-on-the-verge-of-surpassing-a-james-bond-directors-action-adventure/ |access-date=October 15, 2025 |website=Koimoi |language=en-US}}</ref>

===Other work===
In 2000, Anderson wrote and directed a segment for ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' with [[Ben Affleck]], "SNL FANatic", based on the [[MTV]] series ''[[FANatic]]''.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Hollwedel|first1=Zach|title=Watch: 'Saturday Night Live' Sketch 'Fanatic' Written & Directed By Paul Thomas Anderson and Starring Ben Affleck|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2015/01/watch-saturday-night-live-sketch-fanatic-written-directed-by-paul-thomas-anderson-and-starring-ben-affleck-267962/|website=[[IndieWire]]|publisher=([[Penske Media Corporation]])|access-date=June 21, 2016|date=January 22, 2015|archive-date=August 14, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160814040338/http://www.indiewire.com/2015/01/watch-saturday-night-live-sketch-fanatic-written-directed-by-paul-thomas-anderson-and-starring-ben-affleck-267962/|url-status=live}}</ref> He was a standby director during the 2005 filming of [[Robert Altman]]'s ''[[A Prairie Home Companion (film)|A Prairie Home Companion]]'' for insurance purposes, as Altman was 80 years old at the time.<ref>{{cite news |last=Carr |first=David |title=Lake Wobegon Goes Hollywood (or Is It Vice Versa?), With a Pretty Good Cast |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/23/movies/MoviesFeatures/lake-wobegon-goes-hollywood-or-is-it-vice-versa-with.html |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=July 23, 2005 |access-date=May 18, 2017 |archive-date=August 21, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170821172755/http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/23/movies/MoviesFeatures/lake-wobegon-goes-hollywood-or-is-it-vice-versa-with.html |url-status=live}}</ref> In 2008, Anderson co-wrote and directed a 70-minute play at the [[Coronet Theatre (Los Angeles)|Largo Theatre]], comprising a series of vignettes starring [[Maya Rudolph]] and [[Fred Armisen]], with a live score by [[Jon Brion]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Paul Thomas Anderson's Top-Secret Play Revealed |url=https://www.vulture.com/2008/08/paul_thomas_andersons_topsecre.html |work=Vulture |date=August 8, 2008 |access-date=May 18, 2017 |archive-date=October 4, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171004035553/http://www.vulture.com/2008/08/paul_thomas_andersons_topsecre.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

Anderson has directed music videos for acts including [[Fiona Apple]], Radiohead, [[Haim (band)|Haim]], [[Joanna Newsom]], [[Aimee Mann]], Jon Brion and [[Michael Penn]].<ref name="Music-Videos">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/7358055/radiohead-daydreaming-director-paul-thomas-anderson-other-music-videos|title=Paul Thomas Anderson's Music Videos: 11 Clips From Radiohead, Fiona Apple, Joanna Newsom & More|last1=Kaufman|first1=Gil|date=May 9, 2012|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|publisher=([[Prometheus Global Media]])|access-date=June 21, 2016|archive-date=June 12, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160612092842/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/7358055/radiohead-daydreaming-director-paul-thomas-anderson-other-music-videos|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Winfrey|first1=Graham|title=Paul Thomas Anderson's New Short Film 'Valentine' Is an Exquisite Rock Opera|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2017/07/paul-thomas-anderson-short-film-valentine-haim-1201856323/|website=[[IndieWire]]|access-date=July 19, 2017|date=July 18, 2017|archive-date=July 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170718211646/http://www.indiewire.com/2017/07/paul-thomas-anderson-short-film-valentine-haim-1201856323/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|last1=Reed|first1=Ryan|title=Watch Haim Lead Exuberant Dance in 'Little of Your Love' Video|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/watch-haim-lead-line-dance-in-little-of-your-love-video-w506528|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|access-date=October 3, 2017|date=October 2, 2017|archive-date=October 3, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171003210748/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/watch-haim-lead-line-dance-in-little-of-your-love-video-w506528|url-status=live}}</ref> He directed a short film for Haim in 2017, ''Valentine'', featuring three musical performances.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Sharf|first1=Zack|title=Paul Thomas Anderson and Haim's 'Valentine' Short Film is 14 Minutes of 35mm Heaven — Watch|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2017/09/valentine-paul-thomas-anderson-haim-short-film-watch-online-1201879881/|website=[[IndieWire]]|access-date=September 27, 2017|date=September 25, 2017|archive-date=September 27, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170927202423/http://www.indiewire.com/2017/09/valentine-paul-thomas-anderson-haim-short-film-watch-online-1201879881/|url-status=live|ref=CITEREFSharf20170925}}</ref> In 2023, Anderson collaborated with Yorke and Greenwood again on the videos for "[[Wall of Eyes]]" and "[[Friend of a Friend (The Smile song)|Friend of a Friend]]", by their band [[The Smile (band)|the Smile]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Lindert |first=Hattie |date=November 13, 2023 |title=The Smile Announce New Album ''Wall of Eyes'', Share Video for New Song Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/the-smile-announce-new-album-wall-of-eyes-share-video-for-new-song-directed-by-paul-thomas-anderson/ |access-date=November 13, 2023 |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]|archive-date=November 13, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231113124018/https://pitchfork.com/news/the-smile-announce-new-album-wall-of-eyes-share-video-for-new-song-directed-by-paul-thomas-anderson/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Influences and style==
===Influences===
Anderson attended film school for two days, preferring instead to learn by watching the films of directors he liked along with the accompanying director's [[audio commentary]].{{sfn|Waxman|2005|pages=[https://books.google.com/books?id=aQRM1yBVkjAC&pg=PR12 xii, xiii]}}<ref name=beauty73>{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/uselessbeautyecc0000john|url-access=registration|quote=paul thomas anderson close encounters.|last=Johnston |first=Robert K. |pages=[https://archive.org/details/uselessbeautyecc0000john/page/73 73]–74|title=Useless Beauty: Ecclesiastes Through The Lens Of Contemporary Film |publisher=[[Baker Academic]] |year=2004 |isbn=978-0-8010-2785-7}}</ref><ref name=latimes/> He has cited [[Robert Altman]], [[Martin Brest]], [[Jonathan Demme]], [[Robert Downey, Sr.]], [[Alfred Hitchcock]], [[John Huston]], [[Alex Cox]], [[Stanley Kubrick]], [[Akira Kurosawa]], [[Mike Leigh]], [[David Mamet]], [[Anthony Mann]], [[Vincente Minnelli]], [[Max Ophüls]], [[Martin Scorsese]], [[Steven Spielberg]], [[Frank Tashlin]], [[François Truffaut]], [[Orson Welles]], and [[Billy Wilder]] as influences.<ref name=time1>{{cite news |title=Transcript: Paul Thomas Anderson 12/16/99 |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time.com]] |date=December 16, 1999 |url=http://www.time.com/time/community/transcripts/1999/121699anderson.html |access-date=February 26, 2011 |archive-date=June 29, 2011 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629014158/http://www.time.com/time/community/transcripts/1999/121699anderson.html}}</ref><ref name=book1/><ref>{{cite web|last=Maron|first=Marc|date=January 5, 2015|title=Episode 565 - Paul Thomas Anderson|url=http://www.wtfpod.com/podcast/episodes/episode_565_-_paul_thomas_anderson|url-status=live|access-date=April 21, 2021|website=WTF with Marc Maron Podcast|archive-date=May 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170502181619/http://www.wtfpod.com/podcast/episodes/episode_565_-_paul_thomas_anderson}}</ref><ref name="sense2">{{cite magazine|last=King|first=Cubie|year=2005|title=Punch Drunk Love: The Budding of an Auteur|url=http://sensesofcinema.com/2005/feature-articles/pt_anderson/|magazine=[[Senses of Cinema]]|issue=35|access-date=September 24, 2010|archive-date=April 11, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110411174531/http://www.sensesofcinema.com/2005/feature-articles/pt_anderson/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Jagernauth |first1=Kevin |title=Paul Thomas Anderson Says 'Call Me by Your Name' is His Favorite Film of 2017 & More |url=https://theplaylist.net/paul-thomas-anderson-ferrell-last-jedi-20180118/ |website=The Playlist |date=January 18, 2018 |access-date=January 18, 2018 |archive-date=November 13, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201113023906/https://theplaylist.net/paul-thomas-anderson-ferrell-last-jedi-20180118/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Nigel M. |date=October 6, 2014 |title=11 Things We Learned About Paul Thomas Anderson at the New York Film Festival |url=https://www.indiewire.com/news/general-news/11-things-we-learned-about-paul-thomas-anderson-at-the-new-york-film-festival-69372/ |access-date=November 8, 2025 |website=[[IndieWire]] |quote=He loves Alex Cox.}}</ref>

===Themes and style===
Anderson is known for films set in the [[San Fernando Valley]] with realistically [[Character flaw|flawed]] and desperate characters.<ref name=beauty73/><ref name=dispatch>{{cite web|last=Coyle|first=Jake|title=Director ignored instinct in 'Blood'|work=Dispatch.com|publisher=[[The Columbus Dispatch]]|date=February 2, 2008|url=http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/life/stories/2008/02/02/2_BLOOD_DIRECT.ART_ART_02-02-08_D3_OB97O7I.html?sid=101|access-date=September 22, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021130427/http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/life_and_entertainment/2008/02/02/2_BLOOD_DIRECT.ART_ART_02-02-08_D3_OB97O7I.html|archive-date=October 21, 2012}}</ref> Among the themes dealt with in the films are dysfunctional families,<ref name=book1/><ref name=sense2/><ref name=faithinfilm>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ojkd9trbERQC&q=%22paul%20thomas%20anderson%22%20and%20theme&pg=PA29|last1=Deacy|first1=Christopher |title=Faith in film: religious themes in contemporary cinema|publisher=[[Ashgate Publishing]] |year=2005 |isbn=0-7546-5158-4|page=29|archive-date=April 18, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220418160230/https://books.google.com/books?id=Ojkd9trbERQC&q=%22paul%20thomas%20anderson%22%20and%20theme&pg=PA29|url-status=live}}</ref> alienation,<ref name=sense2/> surrogate families,<ref name=directory>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oWC1tWKRbqwC&q=%22paul%20thomas%20anderson%22%20and%20theme&pg=PA92|last1=Berra|first1=John |title=Directory of World Cinema: American Independent|publisher=[[Intellect Books]] |year=2010 |isbn=978-1-84150-368-4|pages=92–93|archive-date=February 12, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220212163622/https://books.google.com/books?id=oWC1tWKRbqwC&q=%22paul%20thomas%20anderson%22%20and%20theme&pg=PA92|url-status=live}}</ref> regret,<ref name=sense2/> loneliness,<ref name=book1/> destiny,<ref name=esquire/> the power of forgiveness,<ref name=portmagazine/> and ghosts of the past.<ref name=book1>{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/contemporarynort00yora|url-access=registration|quote=Contemporary North American Film Directors.|last1=Allon|first1=Yoram |last2=Cullen |first2=Del |last3=Patterson |first3=Hannah |title=Contemporary North American film directors: a Wallflower critical guide|publisher=Wallflower Press |year=2002 |isbn=1-903364-52-3|pages=[https://archive.org/details/contemporarynort00yora/page/14 14]–15}}</ref> Anderson makes frequent use of [[Repetition (rhetorical device)|repetition]] to build emphasis and thematic consistency. In ''Boogie Nights'', ''Magnolia'', ''Punch Drunk Love'', and ''The Master'', the phrase "I didn't do anything" is used at least once, developing themes of [[Moral responsibility|responsibility]] and [[Denial#Denial of cycle|denial]].<ref name="tmaster">{{cite web|url=https://www.imsdb.com/scripts/Master,-The.html|title=Master, The Script at IMSDb.|access-date=January 11, 2017|archive-date=March 22, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170322023444/http://www.imsdb.com/scripts/Master,-The.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="mgnla">{{cite web|url=https://www.imsdb.com/scripts/Magnolia.html|title=Magnolia Script at IMSDb.|access-date=January 11, 2017|archive-date=November 30, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161130090835/http://www.imsdb.com/scripts/Magnolia.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="pflove">{{cite web|url=http://www.dailyscript.com/scripts/Punch-Drunk_Love.html|title=PUNCH-DRUNK LOVE by Paul Thomas Anderson|access-date=January 11, 2017|archive-date=September 26, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160926180145/http://www.dailyscript.com/scripts/Punch-Drunk_Love.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="bnights">{{cite web|url=https://www.imsdb.com/scripts/Boogie-Nights.html|title=Boogie Nights Script at IMSDb.|access-date=January 11, 2017|archive-date=November 29, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161129132838/http://www.imsdb.com/scripts/Boogie-Nights.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Anderson's films are known for their bold visual style<ref name=dispatch/> which includes stylistic trademarks, such as constantly moving camera shots,<ref name=guardian1/><ref name=dispatch/> [[steadicam|steadicam-based]] [[long take]]s,<ref name=slate/><ref name=book1/><ref name=sense>{{cite journal|last=Crous|first=André|title=Paul Thomas Anderson: Tracking through a Fantastic Reality|publisher=[[Senses of Cinema]]|website=SensesofCinema.com|issue=45|date=November 25, 2007|url=http://www.sensesofcinema.com/2007/45/paul-thomas-anderson/|access-date=September 21, 2010|archive-date=October 27, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111027001906/http://www.sensesofcinema.com/2007/45/paul-thomas-anderson/|url-status=live}}</ref> memorable use of music,<ref name=slate>{{cite web|url=http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/culturebox/2007/12/bigger_louder_more_frogs.single.html|title=Bigger, Louder, More Frogs|last=Lim|first=Dennis|work=[[Slate (magazine)|Slate.com]]|publisher=[[Washingtonpost.Newsweek Interactive|Washington Post.Newsweek Interactive Co. LLC]]|date=December 24, 2007|access-date=February 26, 2011|archive-date=February 20, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120220040915/http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/culturebox/2007/12/bigger_louder_more_frogs.single.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=guardian1/><ref name=dispatch/> and multilayered audiovisual imagery.<ref name=slate/><ref name=sense/> Anderson tends to reference the [[Book of Exodus]], either explicitly or subtly, such as in recurring references to Exodus 8:2 in ''Magnolia'',<ref>[http://miamiherald.typepad.com/reeling/2008/01/the-number-82-i.html Reeling |The number 82 in "Magnolia"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170530165001/http://miamiherald.typepad.com/reeling/2008/01/the-number-82-i.html |date=May 30, 2017}}. Miamiherald.typepad.com (January 12, 2008). Retrieved on May 22, 2014.</ref> which chronicles the [[plague of frogs]], culminating with the literal raining of frogs in the film's climax, or the title and themes in ''There Will Be Blood'', a phrase in Exodus 7:19, which details the [[Plagues of Egypt#1. Turning water to blood: Ex. 7:14–24|plague of blood]].<ref name=slate719>{{Cite web|title=What's Wrong With There Will Be Blood|work=[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]]|publisher=[[Graham Holdings Company]]|last=Noah |first=Timothy|date=January 3, 2008|url=http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/chatterbox/2008/01/whats_wrong_with_there_will_be_blood.html|access-date=February 18, 2015|archive-date=February 4, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120204091700/http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/chatterbox/2008/01/whats_wrong_with_there_will_be_blood.html}}</ref><ref name=AFItwwb>{{cite web|title=There Will Be Blood|work=AFI.com|publisher=[[American Film Institute]]|url=http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/DetailView.aspx?s=&Movie=55177|access-date=February 18, 2014|archive-date=April 2, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140402180713/http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/DetailView.aspx?s=&Movie=55177|url-status=live}}</ref>

Within his first three films, ''Hard Eight'', ''Boogie Nights'', and ''Magnolia'', Anderson explored themes of dysfunctional families, alienation, and loneliness.<ref name="book1"/><ref name=sense2/> ''Boogie Nights'' and ''Magnolia'' were noted for their large [[ensemble cast]]s,<ref name=guardian3/><ref name=dispatch/> which Anderson returned to in ''Inherent Vice''.<ref name="ensemble1">{{cite web|last=Jagernauth|first=Kevin|title=Josh Brolin Joins Growing Ensemble Cast of Paul Thomas Anderson's 'Inherent Vice'|url=http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/josh-brolin-joins-growing-ensemble-cast-of-paul-thomas-andersons-inherent-vice-20130528|work=[[IndieWire]]|publisher=[[SnagFilms]]|access-date=May 30, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130922114743/http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/josh-brolin-joins-growing-ensemble-cast-of-paul-thomas-andersons-inherent-vice-20130528|archive-date=September 22, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=ensemble2>{{cite web |last=Jagernauth |first=Kevin |url=http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/josh-brolin-says-inherent-vice-goes-in-a-direction-that-the-book-doesnt-necessarily-go-20140329 |title=Josh Brolin Says 'Inherent Vice' Goes "In A Direction That The Book Doesn't Necessarily Go" |work=[[IndieWire]] |publisher=[[SnagFilms]] |date=March 29, 2014 |access-date=October 11, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141018005519/http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/josh-brolin-says-inherent-vice-goes-in-a-direction-that-the-book-doesnt-necessarily-go-20140329 |archive-date=October 18, 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In ''Punch-Drunk Love'', Anderson explored similar themes, but expressed a different visual style, shedding the influences and references of his earlier films, being more [[Surrealist cinema|surreal]] and having a heightened sense of reality.<ref name=sense2/><ref name=sense/> It was also short, compared to his previous two films, at 90 minutes.<ref name=guardian3/>

''There Will Be Blood'' stood apart from his first four films, but shared similar themes and style, such as flawed characters, moving camera, memorable music, and a lengthy running time.<ref name=dispatch/> The film was more overtly engaged with politics than his previous films had been,<ref name=guardian3/> examining capitalism and themes such as greed, savagery, optimism and obsession.<ref name=AFI>{{cite web|title=AFI AWARDS 2007|work=AFI.com|publisher=[[American Film Institute]]|url=http://www.afi.com/afiawards/AFIAwards07.aspx|access-date=April 21, 2012|archive-date=January 19, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130119103353/http://afi.com/afiawards/AFIAwards07.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref> ''The Master'' dealt with "ideas about American personality, success, rootlessness, master-disciple dynamics, and father-son mutually assured destruction."<ref name="Schwarzbaum">{{cite magazine |author=Schwarzbaum, Lisa |url=https://ew.com/article/2012/10/19/master-2/ |title='The Master' Review |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=September 19, 2012 |access-date=September 20, 2012 |archive-date=October 16, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121016030723/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20620111,00.html |url-status=live}}</ref> All of his films deal with [[American eccentric cinema|American themes]], with business versus art in ''Boogie Nights'', ambition in ''There Will Be Blood'', and self-reinvention in ''The Master''.<ref name=guardianthemes>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/dec/12/what-inherent-vice-tells-us-about-modern-america |title=What Inherent Vice tells us about modern America |work=[[The Guardian|guardian.co.uk]] |date=December 12, 2014 |access-date=February 12, 2015 |archive-date=February 14, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150214013341/http://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/dec/12/what-inherent-vice-tells-us-about-modern-america |url-status=live}}</ref>

===Collaborators===
[[File:Philip Seymour Hoffman 2011.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Philip Seymour Hoffman]] appeared in five of Anderson's films.]]

Anderson frequently collaborates with many actors and crew, carrying them over on each film.<ref name=postpop>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QlKh3XzdQ-UC&q=Post-Pop%20Cinema%3A%20The%20Search%20for%20Meaning%20in%20New%20American%20Film&pg=PA70|last=Mayshark |first=Jesse Fox |page=70 |title=Post-pop cinema: the search for meaning in new American film |publisher=[[Greenwood Publishing Group]] |year=2007 |isbn=978-0-275-99080-0 |archive-date=August 14, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250814041344/https://books.google.com/books?id=QlKh3XzdQ-UC|url-status=live}}</ref> He has referred to regular actors as "my little rep company", including [[John C. Reilly]], [[Philip Baker Hall]], [[Julianne Moore]], [[William H. Macy]], [[Melora Walters]], and [[Philip Seymour Hoffman]].<ref name=actors>{{cite web |last=Butler |first=Robert W. |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=hwQzAAAAIBAJ&pg=6617%2C2554835 |title='Magnolia' director still aiming high |work=[[Knight Ridder Newspapers|Knight Ridder]] |publisher=[[The Free Lance–Star|The Free Lance-Star Publishing Co.]] |date=January 10, 2000 |access-date=June 7, 2011|archive-date=April 18, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220418160019/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=hwQzAAAAIBAJ&pg=6617%2C2554835|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Luis Guzmán]] is also considered an Anderson regular.<ref name=guzman>{{cite web |last=Fuchs |first=Cynthia |url=https://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/punch-drunk-love |title=Punch-Drunk Love (2002) |work=PopMatters.com |publisher=[[PopMatters]] |date=January 10, 2000 |access-date=June 7, 2011 |archive-date=February 11, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110211235735/http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/punch-drunk-love |url-status=live}}</ref> Hoffman acted in Anderson's first four films<ref name=beauty73/> as well as ''The Master''.<ref name=masternyt/> Except for [[Paul F. Tompkins]], Kevin Breznahan, and [[Jim Meskimen]], who all had equally minor roles in ''Magnolia'',<ref name=avclub>{{cite web |last1=Heisler |first1=Steve |last2=Wolinsky |first2=David |title=Who the hell is Paul F. Tompkins? |work=[[The A.V. Club]] |date=March 12, 2009 |url=https://www.avclub.com/chicago/articles/who-the-hell-is-paul-f-tompkins,24941/ |access-date=April 21, 2012 |archive-date=January 12, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110112223604/http://www.avclub.com/chicago/articles/who-the-hell-is-paul-f-tompkins,24941/ |url-status=live}}</ref> ''There Will Be Blood'' had an entirely new cast. Anderson is one of three directors – the others being [[Jim Sheridan]] and [[Martin Scorsese]] – with whom Daniel Day-Lewis has collaborated more than once.<ref>{{cite web |last=Ledford |first=Colton |url=https://filmschoolrejects.com/paul-thomas-anderson-daniel-day-lewis-will-be-reunited-and-it-feels-so-good-19c3e725a0e4#.p5t2v22pd |title=Paul Thomas Anderson & Daniel Day-Lewis Will Be Reunited and It Feels So Good |publisher=[[Film School Rejects]] |date=September 19, 2016 |access-date=February 8, 2017 |archive-date=October 3, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171003030207/https://filmschoolrejects.com/paul-thomas-anderson-daniel-day-lewis-will-be-reunited-and-it-feels-so-good-19c3e725a0e4/#.p5t2v22pd |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Robert Elswit]] served as cinematographer for Anderson's films through ''Inherent Vice'', except for ''The Master'' which was shot by [[Mihai Mălaimare Jr.]]<ref name=Elswit>{{cite web |last=Jagernauth |first=Kevin |url=http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/paul-thomas-andersons-inherent-vice-starts-shoot-this-month-wb-backing-picture-robert-elswit-to-lens-20130501 |title=Paul Thomas Anderson's 'Inherent Vice' Starts Shooting This Month, WB Backing Picture & Robert Elswit To Lens |work=[[IndieWire]] |publisher=[[SnagFilms]] |date=May 1, 2013 |access-date=October 5, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006083312/http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/paul-thomas-andersons-inherent-vice-starts-shoot-this-month-wb-backing-picture-robert-elswit-to-lens-20130501 |archive-date=October 6, 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Jon Brion]] served as a composer for ''Hard Eight'', ''Magnolia'' and ''Punch-Drunk Love,''<ref name=brion>{{cite web |url=http://focusfeatures.com/eternal_sunshine_of_the_spotless_mind/castncrew?member=jon_brion |title=Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind: A Focus Features Film: Jon Brion Bio |publisher=[[Focus Features|FocusFeatures.com]] |work=[[NBCUniversal]] |access-date=May 18, 2012 |archive-date=May 19, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120519023613/http://focusfeatures.com/focusfeatures/film/eternal_sunshine_of_the_spotless_mind/castncrew?member=jon_brion}}</ref> and [[Jonny Greenwood]] of [[Radiohead]] for every film since.<ref>{{cite web |last=Kreps |first=Daniel |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/news/jonny-greenwood-to-score-new-paul-thomas-anderson-film-w464400 |title=Jonny Greenwood to Score New Paul Thomas Anderson Film |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=February 1, 2017 |access-date=February 8, 2017 |archive-date=February 6, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170206182655/http://www.rollingstone.com/movies/news/jonny-greenwood-to-score-new-paul-thomas-anderson-film-w464400 |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Dylan Tichenor]] edited ''Boogie Nights'', ''Magnolia'', ''There Will Be Blood'', and ''Phantom Thread''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Dylan Tichenor profile|url=https://www.allmovie.com/artist/dylan-tichenor-p214582|publisher=[[AllMovie]]|access-date=October 2, 2017|archive-date=April 21, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170421064517/http://www.allmovie.com/artist/dylan-tichenor-p214582|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Morrison|first1=Angela|title=Together Again: Jonny Greenwood, Paul Thomas Anderson, and Daniel Day-Lewis|url=https://filmschoolrejects.com/together-again-jonny-greenwood-paul-thomas-anderson-and-daniel-day-lewis-5d2f34e18f16/|website=[[Film School Rejects]]|access-date=October 2, 2017|date=February 3, 2017|archive-date=October 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171002215744/https://filmschoolrejects.com/together-again-jonny-greenwood-paul-thomas-anderson-and-daniel-day-lewis-5d2f34e18f16/|url-status=live}}</ref> Anderson regularly works with producers, [[JoAnne Sellar]], [[Scott Rudin]], Michael De Luca, and [[Daniel Lupi]],<ref name=indiewire>{{cite web|last=Hernandez|first=Eugene|title=Decade: Paul Thomas Anderson on "There Will Be Blood"|work=[[IndieWire]].com|date=December 24, 2009|url=https://www.indiewire.com/article/decade_paul_thomas_anderson_on_there_will_be_blood/|access-date=September 24, 2010|archive-date=February 11, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120211012010/http://www.indiewire.com/article/decade_paul_thomas_anderson_on_there_will_be_blood|url-status=live}}</ref> and casting director Cassandra Kulukundis.<ref name=masternyt/>

<div class="center">
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ Frequent collaborators with Paul Thomas Anderson<!--Do not list actors and actresses who have appeared in fewer than three films.-->
|-
! scope="col"| Collaborator
! scope="col"| Role
! scope="col"| ''[[Hard Eight (film)|Hard Eight]]''
! scope="col"| ''[[Boogie Nights]]''
! scope="col"| ''[[Magnolia (film)|Magnolia]]''
! scope="col"| ''[[Punch-Drunk Love]]''
! scope="col"| ''[[There Will Be Blood]]''
! scope="col"| ''[[The Master (2012 film)|The Master]]''
! scope="col"| ''[[Inherent Vice (film)|Inherent Vice]]''
! scope="col"| ''[[Phantom Thread]]''
! scope="col"| ''[[Licorice Pizza]]''
! scope="col"| ''[[One Battle After Another]]''
! scope="col"| Total
|-
! scope="row"| [[Michael Bauman (cinematographer)|Michael Bauman]]
| Cinematographer & Lighting Technician
|
|
|
|
|
| {{Check mark-n}}
| {{Check mark-n}}
| {{Check mark-n}}
| {{Check mark-n}}
| {{Check mark-n}}
| 5
|-
! scope="row"| [[Jon Brion]]
| Composer
| {{Check mark-n}}
|
| {{Check mark-n}}
| {{Check mark-n}}
|
|
|
|
|
| {{Check mark-n}}
| 4
|-
! scope="row"| [[Mark Bridges (costume designer)|Mark Bridges]]
| Costume designer
| {{Check mark-n}}
| {{Check mark-n}}
| {{Check mark-n}}
| {{Check mark-n}}
| {{Check mark-n}}
| {{Check mark-n}}
| {{Check mark-n}}
| {{Check mark-n}}
| {{Check mark-n}}
|
| 9
|-
! scope="row"| [[Robert Elswit]]
| Cinematographer
| {{Check mark-n}}
| {{Check mark-n}}
| {{Check mark-n}}
| {{Check mark-n}}
| {{Check mark-n}}
|
| {{Check mark-n}}
|
|
|
| 6
|-
! scope="row"| [[Jonny Greenwood]]
| Composer
|
|
|
|
| {{Check mark-n}}
| {{Check mark-n}}
| {{Check mark-n}}
| {{Check mark-n}}
| {{Check mark-n}}
| {{Check mark-n}}
| 6
|-
! scope="row"| [[Luis Guzmán]]
| Actor
|
| {{Check mark-n}}
| {{Check mark-n}}
| {{Check mark-n}}
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 3
|-
! scope="row"| [[Philip Baker Hall]]
| Actor
| {{Check mark-n}}
| {{Check mark-n}}
| {{Check mark-n}}
|
|
|
|
|
|
| colspan="1" style="background:#C0C0C0;color:black;" |
| 3
|-
! scope="row"| [[Philip Seymour Hoffman]]
| Actor
| {{Check mark-n}}
| {{Check mark-n}}
| {{Check mark-n}}
| {{Check mark-n}}
|
| {{Check mark-n}}
|
| colspan="3" style="background:#C0C0C0;color:black;" |
| 5
|-
! scope="row"| [[Leslie Jones (film editor)|Leslie Jones]]
| Editor
|
|
|
| {{Check mark-n}}
|
| {{Check mark-n}}
| {{Check mark-n}}
|
|
|
| 3
|-
! scope="row"| Andy Jurgensen
| Editor & Assistant Editor
|
|
|
|
|
|
| {{Check mark-n}}
| {{Check mark-n}}
| {{Check mark-n}}
| {{Check mark-n}}
| 4
|-
! scope="row"| Cassandra Kulukundis
| Casting
|
| {{Check mark-n}}
| {{Check mark-n}}
| {{Check mark-n}}
| {{Check mark-n}}
| {{Check mark-n}}
| {{Check mark-n}}
| {{Check mark-n}}
| {{Check mark-n}}
| {{Check mark-n}}
| 9
|-
! scope="row"| [[Daniel Lupi]]
| Producer
| {{Check mark-n}}
| {{Check mark-n}}
| {{Check mark-n}}
| {{Check mark-n}}
| {{Check mark-n}}
| {{Check mark-n}}
| {{Check mark-n}}
| {{Check mark-n}}
| {{Check mark-n}}
|
| 9
|-
! scope="row"| [[John C. Reilly]]
| Actor
| {{Check mark-n}}
| {{Check mark-n}}
| {{Check mark-n}}
|
|
|
|
|
| {{Check mark-n}}
|
| 4
|-
! scope="row"| [[JoAnne Sellar]]
| Producer
|
| {{Check mark-n}}
| {{Check mark-n}}
| {{Check mark-n}}
| {{Check mark-n}}
| {{Check mark-n}}
| {{Check mark-n}}
| {{Check mark-n}}
| {{Check mark-n}}
|
| 8
|-
! scope="row"| [[Adam Somner]]
| Producer & Assistant Director
|
|
|
|
| {{Check mark-n}}
| {{Check mark-n}}
| {{Check mark-n}}
| {{Check mark-n}}
| {{Check mark-n}}
| {{Check mark-n}}
| 6
|-
! scope="row"| [[Dylan Tichenor]]
| Editor
| {{Check mark-n}}
| {{Check mark-n}}
| {{Check mark-n}}
|
| {{Check mark-n}}
|
|
| {{Check mark-n}}
|
|
| 5
|-
! scope="row"| [[Melora Walters]]
| Actress
| {{Check mark-n}}
| {{Check mark-n}}
| {{Check mark-n}}
|
|
| {{Check mark-n}}
|
|
|
|
| 4
|}
</div>

==Filmography==
{{Main|Paul Thomas Anderson filmography}}
{|class="wikitable"
|+ Directed features
|-
! Year
! Title
! Distributor
|-
| 1996
| ''[[Hard Eight (film)|Hard Eight]]''
| [[Rysher Entertainment]] / [[The Samuel Goldwyn Company]]
|-
| 1997
| ''[[Boogie Nights]]''
| rowspan="2"| [[New Line Cinema]]
|-
| 1999
| ''[[Magnolia (film)|Magnolia]]''
|-
| 2002
| ''[[Punch-Drunk Love]]''
| [[Columbia Pictures]] (through [[Sony Pictures Releasing]])
|-
| 2007
| ''[[There Will Be Blood]]''
| [[Paramount Vantage]] / [[Miramax|Miramax Films]]
|-
| 2012
| ''[[The Master (2012 film)|The Master]]''
| [[The Weinstein Company]]
|-
| 2014
| ''[[Inherent Vice (film)|Inherent Vice]]''
| [[Warner Bros. Pictures]]
|-
| 2017
| ''[[Phantom Thread]]''
| [[Focus Features]] / [[Universal Pictures]]
|-
| 2021
| ''[[Licorice Pizza]]''
| [[United Artists Releasing]] / Universal Pictures
|-
| 2025
| ''[[One Battle After Another]]''
| Warner Bros. Pictures
|}

==Personal life==
Anderson is in a relationship with actress and comedian [[Maya Rudolph]], with whom he shares four children.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=LeBeau |first1=Ariel |date=September 23, 2025 |title=One Battle After Another Is Paul Thomas Anderson's Most Personal Film |url=https://www.gq.com/story/one-battle-after-another-is-paul-thomas-andersons-most-personal-film |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251006070802/https://www.gq.com/story/one-battle-after-another-is-paul-thomas-andersons-most-personal-film |archive-date=October 6, 2025 |access-date=October 19, 2025 |magazine=GQ}}</ref>

From 1997 to 2002, Anderson dated singer-songwriter [[Fiona Apple]].<ref>{{cite web |date=September 26, 2005 |title=Re-emerging After a Strange Silence |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/26/arts/music/reemerging-after-a-strange-silence.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240112223254/https://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/26/arts/music/reemerging-after-a-strange-silence.html |archive-date=January 12, 2024 |access-date=May 31, 2025 |website=The New York Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=March 23, 2020 |title=Fiona Apple's Art of Radical Sensitivity |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2020/03/23/fiona-apples-art-of-radical-sensitivity |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250228001250/https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2020/03/23/fiona-apples-art-of-radical-sensitivity |archive-date=February 28, 2025 |access-date=May 31, 2025 |website=New Yorker}}</ref>

Anderson is [[vegan]].<ref>{{cite AV media |last=Anderson |first=Paul Thomas |title=Paul Thomas Anderson Red Carpet Interview for Outstanding Directors of the Year Award {{!}} SBIFF |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Piu7ofXyTU |via=[[YouTube]] |publisher=LRM Online |date=March 4, 2022 |archive-date=March 29, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220329025627/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Piu7ofXyTU |url-status=live}}</ref>

==Awards and recognition==
{{Main|List of awards and nominations received by Paul Thomas Anderson}}

Anderson has been called "one of the most exciting talents to come along in years"<ref name=nytimes/> and "among the supreme talents of today."<ref name=bfi/> After the release of ''Boogie Nights'' and ''Magnolia'', Anderson was praised as a "[[wikt:wunderkind|wunderkind]]".<ref name=bbc/> In 2007, the [[American Film Institute]] regarded him as "one of American film's modern masters."<ref name=AFI/> In 2012, ''The Guardian'' ranked him number one on its list of "The 23 Best Film Directors in the World," writing "his dedication to his craft has intensified, with his disdain for PR and celebrity marking him out as the most devout filmmaker of his generation."<ref name=guardian5/> In 2013, ''Entertainment Weekly'' named him the eighth-greatest working director, calling him "one of the most dynamic directors to emerge in the last 20 years."<ref name=ew/> Peter Travers of ''Rolling Stone'' wrote that "''The Master'', the sixth film from the 42-year-old writer-director, affirms his position as the foremost filmmaking talent of his generation. Anderson is a rock star, the artist who knows no limits."<ref name="Travers">{{cite web |author=Travers, Peter |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/reviews/the-master-20120910 |title=The Master |work=RollingStone.com |date=September 10, 2012 |access-date=September 20, 2012}}</ref>

Other directors have also praised him. In an interview with Jan Aghed, [[Ingmar Bergman]] referenced ''Magnolia'' as an example of the strength of American cinema.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://m.imdb.com/name/nm0000005/quotes|title=Sydsvenska Dagbladet Interview|website=[[IMDb]]|date=May 2002|access-date=July 1, 2018|archive-date=August 5, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200805000045/https://m.imdb.com/name/nm0000005/quotes|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Sam Mendes]] referred to Anderson as "a true auteur – and there are very few of those who I would classify as geniuses".<ref>{{cite podcast |url=http://www.kcrw.com/news-culture/shows/the-treatment/sam-mendes-skyfall |title=Sam Mendes: Skyfall |website=KCRW.com |publisher=[[KCRW]] |host=[[Andrew Noakes]] |date=November 28, 2012 |time=20:24 |access-date=July 27, 2014 |archive-date=August 10, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140810182554/http://www.kcrw.com/news-culture/shows/the-treatment/sam-mendes-skyfall |url-status=live}}</ref> In his [[70th Golden Globe Awards|2013]] acceptance speech for the [[Golden Globe Award for Best Director]], [[Ben Affleck]] compared Anderson to [[Orson Welles]].<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOSeHda3deg Best Director - Motion Picture: Ben Affleck - Golden Globe Awards] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190801013216/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOSeHda3deg |date=August 1, 2019}}. YouTube (January 13, 2013). Retrieved on May 22, 2014.</ref> Anderson is the [[List of Big Three film festivals winners#Directing prizes|only person to win all three director prizes from the three major international film festivals]] ([[Silver Bear for Best Director|Berlin]], [[Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Director|Cannes]], and [[Silver Lion|Venice]]).<ref>{{Cite web|title=Day-Lewis's final cut is the deepest|url=http://www.henleystandard.co.uk/news/cinema/121415/day-lewis-s-final-cut-is-the-deepest.html |work=[[Henley Standard]] |date=February 5, 2018 |access-date=February 10, 2022|archive-date=February 6, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180206000552/http://www.henleystandard.co.uk/news/cinema/121415/day-lewis-s-final-cut-is-the-deepest.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

<!--Table is for nominations & wins received only by films directed by Anderson.-->
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Awards and nominations received by Anderson's films
|-
! rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Title
! colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" width="160"| [[Academy Awards]]
! colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" width="160"| [[BAFTA Awards]]
! colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" width="160"| [[Golden Globe Awards]]
|-
! Nominations
! Wins
! Nominations
! Wins
! Nominations
! Wins
|-
| 1997
| ''[[Boogie Nights]]''
| style="text-align:center"| 3
| style="text-align:center"|
| style="text-align:center"| 2
| style="text-align:center"|
| style="text-align:center"| 2
| style="text-align:center"| 1
|-
| 1999
| ''[[Magnolia (film)|Magnolia]]''
| style="text-align:center"| 3
| style="text-align:center"|
| style="text-align:center"|
| style="text-align:center"|
| style="text-align:center"| 2
| style="text-align:center"| 1
|-
| 2002
| ''[[Punch-Drunk Love]]''
| style="text-align:center"|
| style="text-align:center"|
| style="text-align:center"|
| style="text-align:center"|
| style="text-align:center"| 1
| style="text-align:center"|
|-
| 2007
| ''[[There Will Be Blood]]''
| style="text-align:center"| 8
| style="text-align:center"| 2
| style="text-align:center"| 9
| style="text-align:center"| 1
| style="text-align:center"| 2
| style="text-align:center"| 1
|-
| 2012
| ''[[The Master (2012 film)|The Master]]''
| style="text-align:center"| 3
| style="text-align:center"|
| style="text-align:center"| 4
| style="text-align:center"|
| style="text-align:center"| 3
| style="text-align:center"|
|-
| 2014
| ''[[Inherent Vice (film)|Inherent Vice]]''
| style="text-align:center"| 2
| style="text-align:center"|
| style="text-align:center"|
| style="text-align:center"|
| style="text-align:center"| 1
| style="text-align:center"|
|-
| 2017
| ''[[Phantom Thread]]''
| style="text-align:center"| 6
| style="text-align:center"| 1
| style="text-align:center"| 4
| style="text-align:center"| 2
| style="text-align:center"| 2
| style="text-align:center"|
|-
| 2021
| ''[[Licorice Pizza]]''
| style="text-align:center"| 3
| style="text-align:center"|
| style="text-align:center"| 5
| style="text-align:center"| 1
| style="text-align:center"| 4
| style="text-align:center"|
|-
| 2025
| ''[[One Battle After Another]]''
| style="text-align:center"|
| style="text-align:center"|
| style="text-align:center"|
| style="text-align:center"|
| style="text-align:center"| 9
| style="text-align:center"|
|-
! colspan="2"| Total
! style="text-align:center"| 28
! style="text-align:center"| 3
! style="text-align:center"| 24
! style="text-align:center"| 4
! style="text-align:center"| 26
! style="text-align:center"| 3
|}

;Directed Academy Award performances<br>
Under Anderson's direction, these actors have received [[Academy Awards|Academy Award]] nominations and wins for their performances in their respective roles.
{| class="wikitable"
|+
! Year
! Performer
! Film
! Result
|-
! colspan="4"| [[Academy Award for Best Actor]]
|-
| [[80th Academy Awards|2007]]
| [[Daniel Day-Lewis]]
| ''[[There Will Be Blood]]''
| {{won}}
|-
| [[85th Academy Awards|2012]]
| [[Joaquin Phoenix]]
| ''[[The Master (2012 film)|The Master]]''
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[90th Academy Awards|2017]]
| Daniel Day-Lewis
| ''[[Phantom Thread]]''
| {{nom}}
|-
! colspan="4"| [[Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor]]
|-
| [[70th Academy Awards|1997]]
| [[Burt Reynolds]]
| ''[[Boogie Nights]]''
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[72nd Academy Awards|1999]]
| [[Tom Cruise]]
| ''[[Magnolia (film)|Magnolia]]''
| {{nom}}
|-
| 2012
| [[Philip Seymour Hoffman]]
| ''The Master''
| {{nom}}
|-
! colspan="4"| [[Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress]]
|-
| 1997
| [[Julianne Moore]]
| ''Boogie Nights''
| {{nom}}
|-
| 2012
| [[Amy Adams]]
| ''The Master''
| {{nom}}
|-
| 2017
| [[Lesley Manville]]
| ''Phantom Thread''
| {{nom}}
|}

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
* {{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aQRM1yBVkjAC |last=Waxman |first=Sharon R. |title=Rebels on the backlot: six maverick directors and how they conquered the Hollywood studio system |publisher=[[HarperCollins]] |year=2005 |isbn=978-0-06-054017-3 |access-date=November 7, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250815231712/https://books.google.com/books?id=aQRM1yBVkjAC |archive-date=August 15, 2025 |url-status=live}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* {{IMDb name|0000759}}
* [http://cigsandredvines.blogspot.com/ Cigarettes & Red Vines – The Definitive Paul Thomas Anderson Resource]
* [http://www.esquire.com/features/75-most-influential/paul-thomas-anderson-1008 ''Esquire'' magazine profile]

{{Paul Thomas Anderson}}
{{Navboxes
|title = [[List of awards and nominations received by Paul Thomas Anderson|Awards for Paul Thomas Anderson]]
|list =
{{Austin Film Critics Association Award for Best Director}}
{{Austin Film Critics Association Award for Best Adapted Screenplay}}
{{BAFTA Award for Best Original Screenplay}}
{{Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Director}}
{{Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Screenplay}}
{{Prix de la mise en scene 2000-2019}}
{{Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Director}}
{{Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Adapted Screenplay}}
{{Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Original Screenplay}}
{{Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Director}}
{{Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Screenplay}}
{{Florida Film Critics Circle Award for Best Screenplay}}
{{London Film Critics Circle Award for Director of the Year}}
{{Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Director}}
{{National Board of Review Award for Best Director}}
{{National Board of Review Award for Best Adapted Screenplay}}
{{National Board of Review Award for Best Original Screenplay}}
{{National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Director}}
{{New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Screenplay}}
{{Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Director}}
{{Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Original Screenplay}}
{{San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Director}}
{{San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Adapted Screenplay}}
{{San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Original Screenplay}}
{{San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle Award for Best Adapted Screenplay}}
{{Seattle Film Critics Society Award for Best Director}}
{{Seattle Film Critics Society Award for Best Screenplay}}
{{Silver Bear for Best Director}}
{{Silver Lion for Best Director}}
{{St. Louis Film Critics Association Award for Best Director}}
{{St. Louis Film Critics Association Award for Best Adapted Screenplay}}
{{TFCA Award for Best Director}}
{{TFCA Award for Best Screenplay}}
{{Vancouver Film Critics Circle Award for Best Director}}
{{Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Award for Best Adapted Screenplay}}
}}

{{Authority control}}

{{Good article}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Anderson, Paul Thomas}}
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