Featured Audience Ratings

• Spencer S

  
  This film is huge, in every way possible. There really hadn't been a film so explicit and yet so humane to the porn industry, and though this film is a fictionalized portrayal of the seventies porn industry, many characters are actually based on a lot of accounts of past porn… More
  This film is huge, in every way possible. There really hadn't been a film so explicit and yet so humane to the porn industry, and though this film is a fictionalized portrayal of the seventies porn industry, many characters are actually based on a lot of accounts of past porn actors and actresses of that time period. This film is long in runtime, covers seven years in the life of a porn star, and does not coddle the audience into thinking it's about anything else but the true lives of those involved. There is very little on the actual screen that shows sex scenes, nudity, or remains explicit. Instead we watch the varied and extremely depressing lives of the performers in the "Golden Age of Porn". New to the scene, kid Eddie (Wahlberg) is discovered by legendary producer Jack Horner (Reynolds) at a club, where he works, while doing some dastardly deeds in the back room for a couple bucks here and there. Eddie is newly christened Dirk Diggler, and after meeting a slew of other performers of the time, he begins his reign as the king of porn thanks to an enormous conciliatory prize he gained at birth. He gains fame in the small scope of the porn industry, and finds himself spiraling out of control thanks to a newfound addiction to cocaine in the early eighties. Other characters find their allusions of grandeur to be unclean, including Amber Waves (Moore) as a mother trying to reconnect with her son after her divorce, though she is barred thanks to her profession and addiction. Rollergirl (Graham) finds that her new identity does not necessarily negate her past, Buck Swope (Cheadle) can't escape porn's indelible mark, and Little Bill (Macy) is too jealous and grieved to look past his wife's incomparable promiscuity. Jack is the head of this strange family of pornographers, and as their father, and Amber their mother, keeps them in check and looks after them as they break down time and again. Dirk leaves the fold briefly but remains the prodigal son by the end, commoditized thanks to the seediness of their business and dehumanization that occurs in their work. Director and screenwriter Anderson weaves together these narratives easily enough, and doesn't give away that the opulence that the performers experience won't last long, and doesn't speak negatively about them as people. Anderson only wants to relate the hardships and desensitization of performers and the lasting horror many of them go through after their careers end. The fact that many of their stories are taken from the real accounts of Veronica Hart, John Holmes, and John Dough makes it authentic, but doesn't make the film itself any less legitimate and telling of the industry. Every performance lends to that as well, especially Julianne Moore, who mothers the group of actors but herself is not allowed to mother her own son. Her story as well as everyone else's spans a long period of time, and includes scenes that tell even more about the characters: Buck is involved in an accidental three way murder during a robbery, Dirk Diggler is involved in a botched cocaine deal gone bad, and Rollergirl beats down a former high school classmate on the streets of Los Angeles. This tapestry is so complex and yet understandable, and even in the end, it becomes clear that sex is not love, and onscreen it's diluted of feeling even further. This film does not condemn, only looks to understand and appreciate those afflicted with the judgment of those who don't give any chances after you're tainted by pornography, and in doing so gives understanding to its audience.

• KJ P

  
  "Boogie Nights" is a film that you can very easily become invested in, and I was enthralled for, most of the film. The story of Dirk Diggler going from a bus boy/dish washer to a famous porn star was a great story to watch, and it was written wonderfully well, but there are… More
  "Boogie Nights" is a film that you can very easily become invested in, and I was enthralled for, most of the film. The story of Dirk Diggler going from a bus boy/dish washer to a famous porn star was a great story to watch, and it was written wonderfully well, but there are some portions of the film when I felt like they were trying too hard, because it started to drag on a bit, showing too much porn scenes, and I know that was the point of the film, but the end of the film suggests otherwise. I just wish the contrast of porn and drugs was a little more balanced out. The film is impeccably shot and the acting is terrific. I highly enjoyed watching "Boogie Nights," and even though it is definitely not a film for everyone, a film fan will be drooling over the images and how well it is shot. Great film!

• Lucas M

  
  Boogie Nights presents a criative screenplay with a powerful representation of Golden Years of Porn in the 70's. P.T. Anderson's direction, just like the actings make this classic in a interesting study of the other side of movie pictures, the stories of the people behind… More
  Boogie Nights presents a criative screenplay with a powerful representation of Golden Years of Porn in the 70's. P.T. Anderson's direction, just like the actings make this classic in a interesting study of the other side of movie pictures, the stories of the people behind and in front the camera. With a mix of Pulp Fiction, Boogie Nights is one of the best films of the 90's.

• Jens S

  
  Director P.T. Anderson's close, unaltered look at late 70s porn industry is a cinematic grab bag: a terrific cast, flawless direction, great and fitting soundtrack and costumes take you right back to the early stages of an industry that took itself a little too seriously. While… More
  Director P.T. Anderson's close, unaltered look at late 70s porn industry is a cinematic grab bag: a terrific cast, flawless direction, great and fitting soundtrack and costumes take you right back to the early stages of an industry that took itself a little too seriously. While the first half of the film is mostly amusing in a showing a couple of character's attempts to become super stars, the second part of the film follows them further down the spiral as their dreams get shattered and, like so often, drugs ruin everything. The result is ugly, naughty, funny, realistic and violent. Even though the film is two and a half hours long, consists of several long party sequences and combines a lot of characters, it never fails in its attempt to portray their miserable lives realistically. Even though we laugh and shake our heads at some of their lousy decisions, we still wish them well. And the very last scene is so surprising and blunt, the film leaves you with your jaw on the floor.

• Dan S

  
  A well-done if slightly derivative "Goodfellas"-esque take on the porn industry during its heyday and a young, naive man (Mark Wahlberg) with a special "talent" who goes from waiter to star after being plucked by a wealthy titan (Burt Reynolds) of the business.… More
  A well-done if slightly derivative "Goodfellas"-esque take on the porn industry during its heyday and a young, naive man (Mark Wahlberg) with a special "talent" who goes from waiter to star after being plucked by a wealthy titan (Burt Reynolds) of the business. This movie is over-rated a tad, but it is still a really, really well done piece of work that gets better and better with repeat viewings. Not only is it a serious, saddening take on those involved in the industry who wreck their lives seemingly without trying, it is also a successful satire on whose dark sense of humor is much needed to a film full of such despair, loneliness, and depravity. It does suffer from over-population from a character standpoint (especially William H. Macy in a thankless, pointless role that does not utilize his talents properly), but its ability to possess a certain sweetness is a phenomenal feat for director Paul Thomas Anderson (the next Kubrick? We shall see...) to pull off. It has style, laughs, a riveting lead performance from Wahlberg, some excellent supporting turns, memorable scenes (hello Alfred Molina cameo!), and an ending that doesn't leave you as depressed as many of its characters become. Not a film for everyone, certainly a graphic portrayal of a seedy business, but still a fascinating take on those involved in it.

• Mark W

  
  Director Paul Thomas Anderson made his debut in 1996 with âHard Eightâ? but it was with this film, a year later, that he exploded onto the film scene and raised a few eyebrows with this daring and mainstream film about the californian porn industry. Eddie Adams (Mark Wahlberg) is a… More
  Director Paul Thomas Anderson made his debut in 1996 with âHard Eightâ? but it was with this film, a year later, that he exploded onto the film scene and raised a few eyebrows with this daring and mainstream film about the californian porn industry. Eddie Adams (Mark Wahlberg) is a young kitchen porter working in a vibrant nightclub. He's trying to escape his mundane life at home with his parents and make a better life for himself. Itâ(TM)s here that he meets Jack Horner (Burt Reynolds), a succesful and well known director in the porn industry. Horner immediately sees the potential in Eddie and takes him under his wing. It is rumoured that Eddie has a âgiftâ? which could make them all very rich indeed. The appeal and glamour of Horner and his cohorts - the sexy Amber Waves (Julianne Moore) and Rollergirl (Heather Graham) are too much for Eddie to resist, so he agrees to become involved. First, he needs a porn name, deciding on âDirk Digglerâ? and it's at this point that the glamourous and exhilarating adventure begins. Set during the 70â²s & 80â²s, this captures the period brilliantly (with marvellously evocative cinematography by Robert Elswit) and is reminiscent of director Robert Altman's "Nashville" or John Badham's "Saturday Night Fever". It shares the same elaborate structure of the former and the bold vibrancy of the latter. Being only 26 years old at the time, it was an ambitious project for such a young director at this point in his career to tackle. Anderson could easily have crumbled under the pressure but instead, pulls off (excuse the pun) an intricate and expertly structured film in the style of the aforementioned Altman, in handling numerous characters and narrative strands or Martin Scorsese, in his long and impressive tracking shots. Anderson's talents are not only apparent in his writing or directing though. He also has an eye for performers and amasses a highly impressive ensemble of actors; Mark Wahlberg has never really convinced me over the years but here he is absolutely perfect (in a role originally offered to Leonardo DiCaprio) and shows fine range as the naive Eddie growing more confident as Dirk; John C. Reilly adds a nice comic role as his bumbling, endearing friend Reed Rothchild; Julianne Moore and Heather Graham excel in their roles as the female leads; William H. Macy as Little Bill is at his tragic best - knowing that his wife is having sex with every other man, except him; Philip Seymour Hoffman, no matter how small a role always manages to add depth and pathos as Scotty J, the homosexual cameraman who can't resist his urges towards Dirk and Burt Reynolds has never been better as the patriarchal Horner. In fact, there are so many marvellous performances itâ(TM)s difficult too mention them all here. It's testament to Anderson's skills that despite his large cast, he affords them all adequate time to become their characters and never judges them for their shortcomings. An extraordinary and provocative film, with an abundance of talent throughout. It works both as an expose of the porn industry and a deeply involving character study that's not without moments of intensity and well tuned humour.

• Kase V

  
  Paul Thomas Anderson's 'Boogie Nights' is an impressive study on the rise and fall of a fictitious star. Aside from handling the camera well and assembling a perfect cast, the film is extremely well written all the way through its three-hour run time. This is where… More
  Paul Thomas Anderson's 'Boogie Nights' is an impressive study on the rise and fall of a fictitious star. Aside from handling the camera well and assembling a perfect cast, the film is extremely well written all the way through its three-hour run time. This is where Anderson solidifies himself as a filmmaker to watch for.

• Graham J

  
  Paul Thomas Anderson busted onto the scene with this Altman-esque ensemble piece about the porn business of the 1970's.

• Melvin W

  
  Jack Horner: I got a feeling that behind those jeans is something wonderful just waiting to get out.  "Everyone has one special thing" Paul Thomas Anderson's second film, Boogie Nights, is what put him on the map . It's appeal is hard to describe. It's story… More
  Jack Horner: I got a feeling that behind those jeans is something wonderful just waiting to get out.  "Everyone has one special thing" Paul Thomas Anderson's second film, Boogie Nights, is what put him on the map . It's appeal is hard to describe. It's story is about a teenager who meets a porn director and soon finds himself wrapped up in the porn business. Sounds cheap and trashy, but in reality it isn't. It's a fantastic movie that shows of the talent of Anderson more than any movie he has ever done. This may not be my favorite movie Anderson has done, but it definitely is my most appreciated.  The cast here is no less than amazing. The names are endless and they all give special performances. Mark Wahlberg, Burt Reynolds and Julianne Moore give the best performances I have ever seen from them. Then there is a supporting cast that includes Philip Baker Hall, Don Cheadle, John C. Reilly, William H. Macy, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Heather Graham and Luis Guzman. Casts just don't come much better or bigger than that. They all work so well with a tough topic and are all very believable in a film that could have easily came off as overly silly. The story will obviously turn a lot of people off and has caused a lot of people to not even give it a chance. It's a lot deeper and more emotional than the topic of pornography would lead us to believe. It's one of those movies that isn't really about what the characters are doing, but more about what they are feeling. Boogie Nights is a movie of epic proportions.

• AJ V

  
  It's hard to decide whether or not I liked this movie. It's realistic and harsh sometimes and then funny and raunchy other times. The cast is good, though, and maybe the subject matter calls for those extremes, but overall it's just okay.

• Universal D

  
  Not merely a look at he world of 70's porno, California style, but a cautionary commentary on life in the fast lane. Great performances bring the message home.

• Liam G

  
  Boogie Nights is an exhilarating piece of filmmaking from Paul Thomas Anderson that delves deep into themes such as sex and greed. It's a commentary on how twisted and delusional stars in Hollywood are nowadays and the group of lost souls the film follows who try to make it big… More
  Boogie Nights is an exhilarating piece of filmmaking from Paul Thomas Anderson that delves deep into themes such as sex and greed. It's a commentary on how twisted and delusional stars in Hollywood are nowadays and the group of lost souls the film follows who try to make it big in the porn industry show this. Not only does ''Boogie Nights'' feature one of the best ensemble casts in a film, boasting excellent performances from everyone including Burt Reynolds and Mark Wahlberg, but shows just how terrific of a director Paul Thomas Anderson is. The techiniques he uses with the camera in certain scenes, for example the opening set in a club, are quite astonishing. The script is terrific and the film never loses any of the energy it has right from the beginning. You never feel unengaged from ''Boogie Nights'' for all of its 155 minute length.

• Jennifer X

  
  All of PTA's works feel like epics, and for once I think the style works in favor for him. It's unexpected (since he's tackling the substantial porn industry), but it makes sense.

• Christopher A

  
  Who knew a film set in the 1970s about the porn industry would be so epic. Dark and funny at the same time, Boogie Nights is deeply interesting to watch and really connected as it portrays the struggle we have with those moments in life that we'd choose to forget. Mark Wahlberg… More
  Who knew a film set in the 1970s about the porn industry would be so epic. Dark and funny at the same time, Boogie Nights is deeply interesting to watch and really connected as it portrays the struggle we have with those moments in life that we'd choose to forget. Mark Wahlberg is exceptional as Dirk Diggler, a young man who's huge asset give him a lift up into the porn industry. A joy to watch and probably my favourite performance as we watch the transformation from a young kid to a porn superstar. Although Wahlberg is the standout, this film works because of a group effort from the entire cast as we are shown the industry from each glamourous and shameful angle. Ive recently read that following Boogie Nights, Wahlberg has a problem with men peaking over the urinals to confirm or deny if the end scene was true to the man. For the sake of my pride, I know what I'm choosing to believe. Dont be put off by its content, you may be surprised. A classic. "Hey. I know how it is. I've been there. We've all done bad things. We've all had those guilty feelings in our heart. I'm going to take your brain out of your head and wash it and scrub it and make it clean. I don't know. But I'm going to have to settle this. "

• paul o

  
  Paul Anderson creates one of the best films of the 90's with his dramedy about porn stars and the change in the industry. Through young teenager, Dirk Diggler(Mark Wahlberg), he enters a world that he has imagined his whole life, wanting to express his "talent" to the… More
  Paul Anderson creates one of the best films of the 90's with his dramedy about porn stars and the change in the industry. Through young teenager, Dirk Diggler(Mark Wahlberg), he enters a world that he has imagined his whole life, wanting to express his "talent" to the world. From a great cast ranging from Julianne Moore to Don Cheadle, Boogie Nights is well worth watching.

• Conner R

  
  A great 70's period film that has always been able to separate itself from normal storytelling for film. The idea to make a semi-biopic of John Holmes is just too priceless, but when it's Mark Wahlberg giving this really earnest performance it's even better. The acting… More
  A great 70's period film that has always been able to separate itself from normal storytelling for film. The idea to make a semi-biopic of John Holmes is just too priceless, but when it's Mark Wahlberg giving this really earnest performance it's even better. The acting is above and beyond what anyone might expect. The idea that it is a comedy, but also a great dramatic piece is what makes it unique. The story has such a great atmosphere and powerful message that you can't help but love the characters. Paul Thomas Anderson delivers an epic that won't soon be forgotten.

• Jeff "

  
  Boogie Nights is a spectacular drama film about the rise of fictional porn actor Dirk Diggler during the golden age of porn in the 1970's. Paul Thomas Anderson has crafted a unique drama film with style. There is a tremendous ensemble of gifted actors here, and even the now… More
  Boogie Nights is a spectacular drama film about the rise of fictional porn actor Dirk Diggler during the golden age of porn in the 1970's. Paul Thomas Anderson has crafted a unique drama film with style. There is a tremendous ensemble of gifted actors here, and even the now washed out actors ( John C Reilly, Burt Reynolds) shine here. Boogie Nights definitely captures the feel of the 1970's porn boom. Anderson has tremendous talent, and his directing abilities help to create something truly unique on screen. Anderson knows how to use this impressive cast of actors and all of them deliver great performances. Boogie Nights overall is a one of a kind drama film, and one of the best drama films of the 90's. Paul Thomas Anderson's second feature film is an impressive work and it's a more polished film than Anderson's first film. Boogie Nights is Anderson's best film, and he would later direct the equally impressive There Will Be Blood. However this film stands alone as an in your face type of movie because it touches on a sensitive non Hollywood friendly issue: Porn. Anderson's film is terrific and it rips across the screen and considering it's subject matter, it's able to be a smart, well written film without being too incorrect for a mainstream audience. Boogie Night is a film that tells the story of the porn industry, the good times and the bad, and as a major Hollywood production, it's very interesting to see a film like this bring to light a subject that usually isn't your typical idea for a film. This is Paul Thomas Anderson's best film, and Boogie Nights cemented his name as a top notch director. A very enjoyable, yet at times disturbing ride.

• Cynthia S

  
  Funny, entertaining movie.

• ♥Robyn

  
  Boogie Nights tells the story of the 70's pornstar Dirk Diggler, porn is the industry in which his talents truely lie and with this, Dirk becomes the biggest star in the business. Such a good thing can't last forever and soon he finds that the lives of him and his colleagues… More
  Boogie Nights tells the story of the 70's pornstar Dirk Diggler, porn is the industry in which his talents truely lie and with this, Dirk becomes the biggest star in the business. Such a good thing can't last forever and soon he finds that the lives of him and his colleagues begin to plummet into turmoil with the dawn of the 80's. a good cast (altho have to admit im not a huge fan of burt reynolds)...

• Fernando Rafael Q

  
  Unflinching portrait of the 70's and 80's porn industry. Hardcore (no pun intended), violent and depressing, with a bit of humor thrown into the mix. Strong ensemble cast portrays converging lives filled with sex and drugs, not so much rock and roll.

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