Paul Thomas Anderson movies, ranked
By Matthew Pyne
Paul Thomas Anderson has one of the most unique directorial styles, but there seems to be three common themes among his movies: ambition, love, or identity.
With the release of Licorice Pizza, PTA is once again proving his prowess as a director. In my review, I marvel at Licorice Pizza‘s authenticity, music selections, and overall vibe. PTA is at his best when he’s relying on the themes that make his movies work so well. PTA now has nine feature films spanning four decades, all of which have garnered critical acclaim.
PTA notoriously doesn’t make much at the box office. Among his nine feature films, PTA’s movies have grossed just over $300 million combined, while for reference, Spiderman: No Way Home grossed that much in less than a week’s time. But, die hard PTA fans couldn’t care less about how much money his movies make, they go his superior film-making abilities and unique voice.
Paul Thomas Anderson is in my top three favorite directors. His themes of ambition, love, and identity, are relatable ones, but his insertion of humor into the most serious of circumstances are what makes PTA stand out to me. While I think Licorice Pizza is only middle-tiered PTA, it still reminds audiences that master directors deserve appreciation. I thought this might be a good time to take a look back in appreciation of the nine feature films Anderson has made so far and see where they stack up to Licorice Pizza, especially.