Whenever I think about why I love movies, Paul Thomas Anderson’s work always comes rushing to mind. There’s just something about the way he tells stories – big, sprawling, messy stories filled with complicated characters – that makes me feel like I’m not just watching a film, but stepping into a whole living, breathing world. His movies don’t play it safe, and honestly, that’s why we all keep coming back.
Anderson isn’t just a director with a “signature style”; he’s more like an explorer, willing to dive into different eras, genres, and moods without ever losing that sense of raw, emotional truth. One moment he’s dragging us through the oil-soaked greed of early California, the next he’s letting Adam Sandler wander through a surreal rom-com about love and rage. He can zoom in on the delicate stitches of a couture gown or the neon haze of the San Fernando Valley, and somehow both feel equally monumental.
His films balance extremes: beauty and ugliness, love and control, ambition and downfall. They’re never just one thing – and that unpredictability makes them endlessly re-watchable. If you've only just arrived at his catalogue after watching One Battle After Another, then we've got a list of the films from the Paul Thomas Anderson canon to watch next.
1. Boogie Nights (1997)
Paul Thomas Anderson turned the story of the 70s porn industry into a sprawling, neon-lit epic, following Mark Wahlberg’s breakout as the endlessly ambitious Dirk Diggler. It’s messy, brash, and utterly alive – a wild time capsule that proves PTA’s talent for finding humanity in excess.
2. Phantom Thread (2017)
This lush period drama pairs Daniel Day-Lewis (in his final film role, allegedly) with Vicky Krieps in a twisted tale of romance and control within the haute couture world of 1950s London. It’s meticulous and intoxicating, like watching obsession sewn together with the most delicate thread.
3. There Will Be Blood (2007)
Arguably PTA’s masterpiece, this oil-soaked saga follows Daniel Plainview (Daniel Day-Lewis again, ferociously) as he claws his way from prospector to tycoon in early 20th-century California. The film is as brutal and operatic as its title promises, culminating in one of cinema’s most infamous “milkshake” showdowns.
4. Punch Drunk Love (2002)
Adam Sandler shocked everyone by proving he could act the hell out of an offbeat PTA romance, playing a lonely, rage-filled man who discovers unexpected tenderness. With its candy-colored visuals and hypnotic Jon Brion score, it’s weird, tender, and unlike any rom-com you’ve ever seen.
5. Licorice Pizza (2021)
After a decade of making music videos with the Haim sisters, Anderson put Alana Haim front and centre for her film debut, set against the San Fernando Valley in the 70s. It’s a shambling, sun-drenched coming-of-age story about youthful hustling, awkward crushes, and the pure chaos of first love.
6. One Battle After Another (2025)
Since this is a future release, details are scarce, but PTA’s track record suggests we should expect a bold, character-driven drama that bends genre conventions. Given his history, I wouldn’t be surprised if this one's a serious Oscar contender at the 2026 ceremony.
