Magnolia

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Magnolia

R

2000

3h 8m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

82%

Tomatometer

219 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 feverish crescendo and sustains it thanks to its fearlessly committed ensemble.

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Kevin Maher

The Times (UK)

05/09/2025

5/5

Anderson made an aching, yearning three-hour epic about lost souls in LA’s San Fernando Valley, culminating in a nutty, biblical-level frog deluge.

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Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

07/15/2023

4/4

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.

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Ann Hornaday

Baltimore Sun

07/15/2023

3/4

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.

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Feb 24

4/4

Its restless camera, onrushing music, heartbreaking monologues, and incomparable ensemble of marvelous performances generate a momentum that feels less plotted than propelled by raw emotion.

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Fico Cangiano

CineXpress Podcast

03/28/2025

5/5

A fever dream of souls crashing, repentance, forgiveness and second chances. Tom Cruise is phenomenal in what could be Paul Thomas Anderson's best offering. [Full review in Spanish]

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Philip Bagnall

Loud and Clear Reviews

09/19/2024

Magnolia is an extraordinary film about ordinary lives.

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Michael D

@RT46803293 Aug 11

I was waiting for 3 hours for the story lines to come together. They never do…

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Christopher M

@RT27122576 Jun 7

This film is amazingly put together. The pacing and cutting between stories is masterful. Unbelievable acting, though I didn't care for all the characters. I found the music a bit overwhelming. Also, I didn't find the intersecting lives part of the plot to unfold as cleanly as it could have and thought the movies slid into a bit of a mess at the end, but I will edit this review after second watch, as I feel that could clean up the story for me.

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David M.

@Dmesuda May 29

My all time favorite film. It’s not for everyone, but to me it is twenty minute too long, self important, self indulgent, Hollywood perfection.

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Thyaagu C

@Thyaagu May 24

Movie is basically 3 hours of pure emotional wreckage across generations - from kids to old men - and somehow every single emotion lands perfectly. The performances? Unreal. Every lead absolutely cooked. I’m genuinely stunned at how beautifully crafted this film is.

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R T

@Snakeyb May 22

Incredible film, period. Only dumb dumbs would disagree. My significant other agrees with me because she is not a dumb dumb

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Patrícia F

@RT55153951 Apr 27

This film boasts a great cast, with everyone delivering excellent performances. Philip Seymour Hoffman is outstanding, but the standout is Tom Cruise. He truly possesses magnificent nuances in his acting, and his character predates today's internet influencers. PTA is undoubtedly one of the greatest of his generation.

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Paul Thomas Anderson

Director

Jason Robards

Earl Partridge

Julianne Moore

Linda Partridge

Tom Cruise

Frank T.J. Mackey

Philip Seymour Hoffman

Phil Parma

John C. Reilly

Jim Kurring

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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: New Line Cinema, Ghoulardi Film Company, 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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