By Thomas Smith Paul Thomas Anderson has been nominated 11 times at the Academy Awards. He’s one of the most celebrated contemporary filmmakers of his time and is a man of many talents, known for directing and writing sharp screenplays.
Even if he hasn’t brought the award home, he’s made a great name for himself from movies like Boogie Nights, Magnolia, There Will Be Blood, Phantom Thread, and Licorice Pizza. With Leonardo DiCaprio starrer One Battle After Another, Anderson is once again generating early Oscar buzz, and we’re hoping he wins this time around!
Now, let’s break down and rank all the Academy Award nominations he’s received so far within their respective categories.
Best Adapted Screenplay
Paul Thomas Anderson has been nominated twice in the Best Adapted Screenplay category, which shows how he has the vision to transform a piece of literature into a powerful movie.
1. There Will Be Blood (2007)
There Will Be Blood is adapted loosely from Upton Sinclair’s novel, Oil! Penning the screenplay earned Anderson his first nomination in the category, and it was well-deserved for the way he captured Daniel Plainview’s persona.
The movie presents us with one of the best anti-heroes, who is greedy and has no end goal but success and victory. Daniel Day-Lewis, who won the Oscar in the Best Actor category for playing the lead, elevated this film alongside Paul Dano.
There Will Be Blood is currently streaming on Kanopy (USA).
2. Inherent Vice (2014)
Somehow, Anderson was able to adapt Thomas Pynchon’s complex book into a noir-like stoner comedy. Some critics complained about the film’s logic, but the screenplay was still a bold attempt at bringing Pynchon’s world to life. Anderson certainly deserved a nomination for being innovative, showing how the Academy could still appreciate daring stories.
Inherent Vice is currently streaming on Prime Video (USA).
Best Original Screenplay
Only a few screenwriters can write dialogue and characters with the same nuance and electricity as Paul Thomas Anderson. The words feel natural, but there’s a certain flair of theatrics to it, which makes it perfect for an entertaining yet thought-provoking movie.
1. Magnolia (1999)
In Magnolia, Anderson showed us interconnected lives in Los Angeles, where there’s fate, chance, and frogs falling from the sky. His screenplay was so ambitious that it still inspires filmmakers of today, such as Zach Cregger’s who admitted that Weapons
Magnolia is currently streaming on The Criterion Channel (USA).
2. Boogie Nights (1997)
Boogie Nights was Anderson and Mark Wahlberg’s breakthrough film and put them on the Hollywood scene. It explored the rise and fall of the p*rn industry in the ‘70s and ‘80s. The screenplay and movie’s aesthetic truly felt like it captured a bygone era, and Anderson became one of the boldest voices in cinema.
Boogie Nights is currently streaming on Paramount+ (USA).
3. Licorice Pizza (2021)
Licorice Pizza marks his most recent nomination and features a coming-of-age story that is set in the San Fernando Valley. The movie thrives on Anderson’s ability to craft interesting encounters, sharp humor, and nostalgia. Some might believe that it isn’t as wild as his earlier work, but it still managed to get the Academy’s attention.
Licorice Pizza is currently streaming on Prime Video.
Best Picture
Paul Thomas Anderson has been nominated as a producer three times, and his films have stood among the year’s best. This isn’t surprising at all, considering his attention to detail and the ability to bring several elements together, such as background score, dialogue, and aesthetics, to create a thrilling viewer experience.
1. There Will Be Blood (2007)
There Will Be Blood has remained his career-defining masterpiece and cemented Anderson as one of the greatest living directors of our time. The way he explored greed and power had never been done before, and though it lost to No Country for Old Men, we still remember the movie for just how epic it is.
2. Phantom Thread (2017)
A quieter but just as mesmerizing nominee is Phantom Thread, where Anderson dived into the world of haute couture. He teamed up with Daniel Day-Lewis again, and the actor played Reynolds Woodcock, an obsessive yet highly skilled dressmaker for the elites. Phantom Thread deserved a nod by the Academy for its artistic quality, strong performances, and Day-Lewis’s screen presence.
Phantom Thread is currently streaming on Netflix (USA).
3. Licorice Pizza (2021)
Licorice Pizza had beautiful details, such as its set design and depiction of the local culture, which made you feel like it was truly a lived-in world. Much of the film was full of playful and comedic moments, but also emotional ones. Licorice Pizza was honest about the confusion of youth and how communication can be messy at times. Out of all Anderson movies, this one carried the most warmth and heart.
Best Director
Paul Thomas Anderson’s directing style is admired by many for a reason. He doesn’t conform to common tropes and has never feared to lay out the naked truth in a way that doesn’t feel too on the nose or preachy. Anerson has been recognized by the Oscars as a Best Director nominee three times.
1. There Will Be Blood (2007)
All directors have their magnum opus, and many would believe that’s There Will Be Blood for Paul Thomas Anderson. In this period drama, the filmmaker was at his best, and the movie is often brought into discussions about the century’s greatest.
He brought out the best in Daniel Day-Lewis and Paul Dano, and the “I have abandoned my child” scene in the church remains the most intense moment in cinema. Moreover, There Will Be Blood is visually striking, and each frame is a poem in itself.
2. Phantom Thread (2017)
Anderson once again proved in Phantom Thread that he’s mastered layered storytelling. He delved into themes of obsession, power, and control, all while there was a complex, simmering romance against the backdrop of detailed costumes and intricate set designs. Phantom Thread was not just an epic visual treat, but also a masterclass in great character work.
3. Licorice Pizza (2021)
Licorice Pizza had newcomers like Alana Haim and Cooper Hoffman, but Anderson still extracted great performances from the two. The movie really makes you feel the aimlessness and spontaneity of adolescence, and what it feels like to be in love for the first time.
Now, that’s one experience that most people cherish, and to have them reminded of it through a movie is a recipe for success, so Anderson’s nomination for this movie didn’t need any second thoughts.
Here’s an overview of the rankings:
And there you have it! Those are all the nominations Anderson has received so far. He’s 55 now, and doesn’t seem to be slowing down at all! The director’s latest, One Battle After Another, is a testimony to his art aging like fine wine.
Have you watched the action thriller yet? And if yes, do you think Anderson might win an Oscar next year?
