Paul Thomas Anderson films are scattered across streaming platforms like puzzle pieces, and honestly, tracking down the complete filmography of cinema’s most obsessive perfectionist requires more detective work than his characters usually do. But if you loved One Battle After Another and want to dive deep into PTA’s catalog, here’s your complete roadmap to streaming brilliance.
What’s Available Where
Netflix currently hosts Phantom Thread, Anderson’s 2017 masterpiece about a obsessive fashion designer and his toxic muse relationship. It’s probably the most accessible entry point for newcomers, featuring Daniel Day-Lewis in his final role alongside Vicky Krieps in a sinister romance that’ll make you never trust mushroom omelets again.
Prime Video streams Inherent Vice, the stoner detective story that marked Anderson’s first collaboration with Joaquin Phoenix and featured his partner Maya Rudolph’s MCU debut. This Thomas Pynchon adaptation is divisive but essential for understanding PTA’s evolution toward more experimental storytelling approaches.
The Rental Situation
Most Paul Thomas Anderson films require rental or purchase through video-on-demand services, which honestly reflects their status as prestige cinema that streaming services can’t afford to license permanently. Hard Eight, Boogie Nights, Magnolia, Punch-Drunk Love, There Will Be Blood, The Master, and Licorice Pizza all cost $3.99 to rent or $14.99 to purchase.
Fubo and Paramount+ both stream Boogie Nights, Mark Wahlberg’s breakout performance as Dirk Diggler in the adult entertainment industry. This 1997 masterpiece established Anderson’s signature style of ensemble storytelling and period detail that defines his career.
Here’s The Complete Guide
There Will Be Blood (2007) remains Anderson’s most acclaimed work, featuring Day-Lewis as oil baron Daniel Plainview in a decade-spanning character study about American capitalism and greed. The film’s “I drink your milkshake” scene became iconic, but the entire film deserves your attention for Jonny Greenwood’s haunting score alone.
The Master (2012) pairs Philip Seymour Hoffman and Joaquin Phoenix in Anderson’s most challenging film about post-WWII trauma and cult psychology. Amy Adams delivers career-best work as Peggy Dodd, the cult leader’s manipulative wife who sees through Phoenix’s damaged veteran character immediately.
Why These Matter Now
Paul Thomas Anderson films consistently explore American themes of ambition, family dysfunction, and societal decay that feel increasingly relevant. Licorice Pizza (2021) introduced Alana Haim and Cooper Hoffman (Philip Seymour’s son) in a nostalgic look at 1970s San Fernando Valley that launched both actors’ careers.
The filmmaker’s partnership with Jonny Greenwood produces some of cinema’s most innovative scores, from There Will Be Blood’s percussive intensity to Phantom Thread’s romantic orchestrations. Their collaboration elevates already exceptional filmmaking to transcendent artistic experiences.
What Makes Him Special
Anderson’s obsessive attention to period detail, complex character relationships, and technical mastery creates films that reward multiple viewings. His Paul Thomas Anderson films feature recurring themes of father figures, surrogate families, and individuals struggling against systems designed to crush their spirits.
One Battle After Another (2025) brings Leonardo DiCaprio, Teyana Taylor, and Chase Infiniti together for Anderson’s latest exploration of character and place. The film’s success proves audiences still hunger for challenging, character-driven cinema that trusts viewers’ intelligence.
The Bottom Line
Streaming Paul Thomas Anderson films requires commitment and multiple platform subscriptions, but the investment pays dividends in cinematic education. Start with Boogie Nights or Phantom Thread for accessibility, then work chronologically through his evolution as America’s most uncompromising filmmaker.
Each film represents Anderson’s growth from promising newcomer to established master, with themes and techniques that build upon previous work while exploring new creative territories. His collaboration with Maya Rudolph and their four children provides stability that allows artistic risk-taking few directors attempt.