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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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Boogie Nights

Boogie Nights

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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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Critics Reviews

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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 Full Review 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 Full Review 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 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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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 Full Review 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 Full Review 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 Read all reviews
Boogie Nights

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Cast & Crew

One Night Stand 33% 39% One Night Stand American History X 84% 96% American History X Menace II Society 84% 93% Menace II Society TRAILER for Menace II Society Body Shots 11% 28% Body Shots The Rapture 65% 62% The Rapture Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Movie Info

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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