Boogie Nights

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Boogie Nights

R

1997

2h 32m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

91%

Tomatometer

159 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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Peter Bradshaw

Guardian

Jun 11, 2026

5/5

The Scorsese films that are about crime or about high finance contain sexiness and irony that is implicit and seductive; this is not really the case in Boogie Nights. But still, this is a movie of such style and propulsive power.

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Terry Lawson

Detroit Free Press

Sep 24, 2025

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, 2025

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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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Dec 26, 2025

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, 2025

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, 2025

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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Tony

5 days ago

I will always go see this when it shows in a theater for some sort of retro movie event.

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Jenny

5 days ago

One of the greatest films of the ‘90s.

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Bobby

Jun 9, 2026

I’ve seen this movie like a million times and it gets better every single time.

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trevor a

Nov 30, 2024

35mm at the Paris theater! Spectacular showing

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Brandon B

@syncopatedbeet Sep 25, 2026

For a film known for its glorified obscenity, it progresses like an old Scorsese crime drama and keeps you throughly entertained.

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Romas M

@Romas Aug 20, 2026

Greetings from Lithuania. As of 2026, "Boogie Nights" (1997) remains my favorite film that a brilliant writer, director Paul Thomas Anderson has ever made. I have seen all his films, yet none of them striked me as deep as "Boogie Nights". This is a great film were characters are at the center of the story. The world they are in and the things they do for living isn't for everyone, that's for sure. Yet their drama and the fact that these are the good people made me care for them every time I see this film, and I have seen it like 5 times during the years, last time revisiting it in 2026 a newly remastered 4K UHD version of the film. Writing, directing and acting were all Oscar worthy here. Set design, cinematography, sound design, costumes, make up - all are top notch and truly takes a viewer into. Overall, "Boogie Nights" is a great film that once seen can't be forgotten. It is the best film for me that P. T.Anderson has ever made and it is one of the best films of the 90's.

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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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