Boogie Nights

R

Released Oct 10, 1997

2h 32m

Drama

List

94%

Tomatometer

77 Reviews

89%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

In the San Fernando Valley in 1977, teenage busboy Eddie Adams (Mark Wahlberg) gets discovered by porn director Jack Horner (Burt Reynolds), who transforms him into adult-film sensation Dirk Diggler. Brought into a supportive circle of friends, including fellow actors Amber Waves (Julianne Moore), Rollergirl (Heather Graham) and Reed Rothchild (John C. Reilly), Dirk fulfills all his ambitions, but a toxic combination of drugs and egotism threatens to take him back down.

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Critics Consensus

Grounded in strong characters, bold themes, and subtle storytelling, Boogie Nights is a groundbreaking film both for director P.T. Anderson and star Mark Wahlberg.

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Gene Siskel

Chicago Tribune

A beautifully made survey of '70s excess, filtered through the trashy world of the burgeoning porno film industry in southern California.

Rated: 3.5/4

Mar 28, 2019

Full Review

Mike Clark

USA Today

The pop 1970s were typified in part by cheesy fashions, ephemeral music and a regular diet of daring, cutting-edge movies that arguably made that decade Hollywood's richest. Blistering Boogie Nights recaptures the spirit of that time on all three counts.

Rated: 4/4

Jan 10, 2018

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Jason Bailey

Vice

The Tarantino comparison is ultimately less about technique than a shared joyful electricity of the filmmaking, the sense of an artist clearly high on the sheer act of making a movie.

Oct 30, 2017

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Alan Jones

Radio Times

Pornography, drugs and disco are the driving forces of this potent parable of the partying 1970s from director Paul Thomas Anderson.

Rated: 5/5

Jun 7, 2024

Full Review

Erick Estrada

Cinegarage

It's so complex in its apparent simplicity... the film presents the opportunity to be examined from different levels from many sides. If you haven't seen it yet, I'm jealous. [Full review in Spanish]

Apr 6, 2023

Full Review

Dan DiNicola

The Daily Gazette (Schenectady, NY)

A boldly original and superbly entertaining portrait of the porn industry.

Rated: A+

Jan 10, 2023

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Sams K

It's a shame how underrated is this. Great movie!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/27/24

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Wayne B

An absolute triumph. Loosely based on the life of porn star John C Holmes. The main character has a similar troubled path and shows his existence in and out of the industry. The troubled lives of the actors, directors and producers is very believable because this has all loosely happened. Just nailed it.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/27/24

Full Review

mark g

I think one of the greatest films ever made. To this day, my favorite film of all time. Too many people think it is a film about the porn industry. In reality, it's about people in search of some form of happiness, finding it, losing it, and maybe finding it again. Great characters and more than a few iconic scenes. Movie perfection. Get over the porn hang-up, that is merely the backdrop.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/12/24

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Christian S

Well written, directed and acted. Excellent movie.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/12/24

Full Review

Blu B

Brutal, Raw, and Riveting. Everything is a masterclass in film making. The camerawork is one of the most fleunt I have ever seen. It literally feels like the camera is gliding so effortlessly as if shots are and movement is so natural you don't even feel like it's cinematic. It's somewhat a combination of a Altman stlye multiple storylines though clearly Whalberg is the main focus. It comes together ever so often with a scene where all the characters are shared together and really is just an incredible touch and makes it never feel jumpy. I will say Cheadle's story while really good probably could've been cut and not much would be lost to trim the bloated but entirely justified run time down. Reily is amazing here also and Reynolds is a standout as well only second arguably to Mark Whalberg who gives along with everyone else here a incredible performance. This is probably the best thing Whalberg has ever done. If you only grew up seeing him in Transformers, bad comedies, or The Happening it will be jaw dropping for you to see him like this. The subject matter is fasintaing and echoes the likes of Goodfellas at times with a warning against excess, drugs, and inflated egos. As long as everyone understands there is a lot of R Rated nudity in this and can handle that, than everyone should give this a try once. The film making on display here is equisite.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/29/24

Full Review

Phil B

One of my Favorite Movies Definitely Deserved to win a Oscar. This is a Classic and it reminds me of Once Upon A Time In Holywood and Babylon (10/10, 13/10)

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/24/24

Full Review

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Paul Thomas Anderson

Director

Mark Wahlberg

Eddie Adams

Burt Reynolds

Jack Horner

Julianne Moore

Amber Waves

John C. Reilly

Reed Rothchild

Don Cheadle

Buck Swope

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Synopsis

In the San Fernando Valley in 1977, teenage busboy Eddie Adams (Mark Wahlberg) gets discovered by porn director Jack Horner (Burt Reynolds), who transforms him into adult-film sensation Dirk Diggler. Brought into a supportive circle of friends, including fellow actors Amber Waves (Julianne Moore), Rollergirl (Heather Graham) and Reed Rothchild (John C. Reilly), Dirk fulfills all his ambitions, but a toxic combination of drugs and egotism threatens to take him back down.

Director: Paul Thomas Anderson
Producer: Lloyd Levin, John S. Lyons, JoAnne Sellar
Screenwriter: Paul Thomas Anderson
Distributor: Criterion Collection, New Line Cinema
Production Co: New Line Cinema, Lawrence Gordon Productions
Rating: R (Explicit Dialogue|Drug Use|Violence|Language|Nudity|Strong Sex Scenes)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 10, 1997, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): May 19, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $26.4M
Runtime: 2h 32m
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby Digital, SDDS
Aspect Ratio: 35mm, Scope (2.35:1)

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