Boogie Nights

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Boogie Nights

R

1997

2h 32m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

91%

Tomatometer

158 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.

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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Terry Lawson

Detroit Free Press

Sep 24

4/4

Boogie Nights is the bomb, that jolt of energy that keeps you going to last call, then sends you prowling for something to sustain the rush. Don't bother. Nearly any other movie after this is certain to seem limply soft-core.

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David Ansen

Newsweek

Sep 24

One of those breakthrough movies that leaves no doubt you are in the presence of a natural-born filmmaker. Like Spielberg's Sugarland Express or Scorsese's Mean Streets, Anderson's mesmerizing movie announces the arrival of a major career.

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Richard Williams

Guardian

Sep 24

Hugely entertaining, full of surprises, critical of its subject but never lacking in humanity, this is a real epic of small lives.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Dec 26

4/4

Boogie Nights stands not only as Paul Thomas Anderson's finest picture but also one of the great movies of the 1990s.

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Allison Rose

FlickDirect

Dec 20

4/5

Boogie Nights humanizes its characters with empathy and precision, turning a risky subject into a compelling, character-driven story.

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Kieron Moore

Starburst

Dec 17

4/5

It’s a meandering tale, but there’s so much going on at every point, and each scene is so meticulously crafted, that it never loses the attention

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trevor a

11/30/2024

35mm at the Paris theater! Spectacular showing

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Joe C.

@Wests1deGunn Feb 28

A1 cast, overrated movie. Must see classic thcugh

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Jonathan O

@RT41230270 Feb 1

A cinematic experience of 70's and 80's porn experience and really great fantastic cast, great writing and directing by 25 year old Paul Thomas Anderson and amazing songs and the style of Tarantino and Scorsese and those who remember step brothers quote there's line in boogie nights until step brothers borrow the line.

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David F

@dfulmer Dec 24

Set against the backdrop of the porn industry’s transition from shooting on film to video tape, this period epic with an enormous cast is an ambitious, sprawling masterpiece. Inspired by the rumours, gossip and anecdotes of the world of porn it’s a great history of the decline and fall of that culture which occupied the San Fernando Valley and a few of its notable inhabitants. It’s also informed by the brilliant and learned style and well-researched background of porn-aficionado and film geek PT Anderson whose multi-film portrait of Los Angeles this constitutes one part of.

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George S.

@GPSPROUD1 Dec 19

Excellent story full of interesting characters from beginning to end.

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Stephen C

@bob25009 Nov 21

Success in 02 hours, 35 minutes, and 45 seconds!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Or 3.5 hours with commercials!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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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, Paul Thomas Anderson
Screenwriter: Paul Thomas Anderson
Distributor: New Line Cinema, Criterion Collection
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)