Magnolia

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Magnolia

R

Released Jan 7, 2000

3h 8m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

82%

Tomatometer

217 Reviews

89%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

On one random day in the San Fernando Valley, a dying father, a young wife, a male caretaker, a famous lost son, a police officer in love, a boy genius, an ex-boy genius, a game show host and an estranged daughter will each become part of a dazzling multiplicity of plots, but one story.

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Critics Consensus

An eruption of feeling that's as overwhelming as it is overwrought, Paul Thomas Anderson's Magnolia reaches a fevered crescendo and sustains it thanks to its fearlessly committed ensemble.

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Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

Magnolia is operatic in its ambition, a great, joyous leap into melodrama and coincidence, with ragged emotions, crimes and punishments, deathbed scenes, romantic dreams, generational turmoil and celestial intervention, all scored to insistent music.

Rated: 4/4

Jul 15, 2023

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Ann Hornaday

Baltimore Sun

While not as fully realized as Anderson's last movie, Boogie Nights, Magnolia is filmed with the same skillful abandon, and takes many more artistic risks... The result is a movie as fascinating for its flaws as for its considerable successes.

Rated: 3/4

Jul 15, 2023

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Rita Kempley

Washington Post

Magnolia, Paul Thomas Anderson's frenzied follow-up to Boogie Nights, can be as intoxicating as the flower it's named for, and its characters, most of them as flawed and fascinating as the film itself, seem intoxicated by the overpowering scent.

Jul 15, 2023

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Philip Bagnall

Loud and Clear Reviews

Magnolia is an extraordinary film about ordinary lives.

Sep 19, 2024

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Robert Denerstein

Denver Rocky Mountain News

Anderson has dared to make a movie that refuses to conceal its excesses, an amazing abundance of strong emotion, technical verve and pure performance power.

Rated: A-

Jul 15, 2023

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George M. Thomas

Akron Beacon Journal

It's a film of power, substance and superlative performances that challenges audiences. Hopefully, audiences will be up to taking that challenge.

Rated: 3.5/4

Jul 15, 2023

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Laurian D

A masterpiece. Not one wasted line, not one unnecessary scene. Words are futile. Don't miss this one.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/24/25

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Paul E

confusing and lots of bad characters

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/23/25

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Jodie T

One of my favorite films of all time. I’m not sure everyone will understand it, but if you get it, it’s amazing and so completely original. Excellent cast, amazing acting!! This is worth it

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/17/25

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Gabriel E. B

La vida misma. Es perfecta.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/14/25

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Yossam I

The perfect ensemble film

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/12/25

Full Review

Kyle C

Magnolia is a deeply thoughtful exploration of loneliness, generational trauma, pain, and regret all wrapped up in a ball of coincidences and parallels. It’s also long. It uses its runtime well, but it’s hard not to get a little bored as minute number 300 ticks around. This is a movie that needs to marinate for a day or two to fully understand and appreciate (a great example of why I never write a review the same day I watch a movie). And even then, there’s so much in this movie and so much of it is up to interpretation that a rewatch is certainly not going to hurt. The performances are all really good, but some standouts for me are Philip Baker Hall, Philip Seymour Hoffman (there are a lot of Philips here - coincidence? 😉), and Tom Cruise. In fact, Tom Cruise is so good at being a sleazebag that I wonder how much of it is ironic and how much is just him as a person. Kind of a gross thought. It’s not always an immediately appealing movie, but it’s so thought-provoking and transcendental that I really grew to love it. Go in with an open mind and experience it.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/26/25

Full Review

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Paul Thomas Anderson

Director

Jason Robards

Earl Partridge

Julianne Moore

Linda Partridge

Tom Cruise

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Synopsis

On one random day in the San Fernando Valley, a dying father, a young wife, a male caretaker, a famous lost son, a police officer in love, a boy genius, an ex-boy genius, a game show host and an estranged daughter will each become part of a dazzling multiplicity of plots, but one story.

Director: Paul Thomas Anderson
Producer: Paul Thomas Anderson, JoAnne Sellar
Screenwriter: Paul Thomas Anderson
Distributor: New Line Cinema
Production Co: Ghoulardi Film Company, New Line Cinema, Magnolia Project
Rating: R (Language|Drug Use|Sexuality|Violence)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 7, 2000, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 6, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $22.5M
Runtime: 3h 8m
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby Digital, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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