Boogie Nights

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Boogie Nights

R

Released Oct 10, 1997

2h 32m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

94%

Tomatometer

78 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

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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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Wesley Lovell

Cinema Sight

...Paul Thomas Anderson showed the world that he was a world class filmmaker who knew how to take well worn tropes and turn them on their heads...

Rated: 4/4

Jul 6, 2025

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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

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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

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trevor a

35mm at the Paris theater! Spectacular showing

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/30/24

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bob c

Totally gross, sleazy and unattractive history of the early porn movie industry, with a John Holmes type character (MW) at the forefront. And very entertaining for all that. Burt Reynolds gets the prize for grossest, tho Hoffman runs him close.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

08/17/25

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Jed I

5.0/10 — "Poor"/"Inferior"/"Amateurish" -(Seen on 7/19/25)

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

07/25/25

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Sara S

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.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/07/25

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Jerod S

It's porno themed, so not necessarily edifying, but it does show the harsh underbelly of loose living.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

06/12/25

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Rami A

Great cast, great atmosphere, great acting, great development, and great film overall. Paul Thomas Anderson has shown that he can write and direct, as he created a classic that sticks with many no matter how much time passes.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

05/14/25

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

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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, Paul Thomas Anderson
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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