BOOGIE NIGHTS (1997)

Paul Thomas Anderson’s breakout BOOGIE NIGHTS is a sprawling, dazzling portrait of the 1970s and 1980s adult film industry, told through the rise and fall of Dirk Diggler, a naïve but ambitious young star played by Mark Wahlberg.

With its hypnotic tracking shots, an unforgettable disco-era soundtrack, and a sprawling ensemble cast including Julianne Moore, Burt Reynolds, and Philip Seymour Hoffman, the film captures both the glamour and darkness of fame. Anderson channels Scorsese-esque energy, but his layered character work and empathetic tone make this a uniquely moving, stylish, and explosive American epic.