IMDb > Boogie Nights (1997)
Boogie Nights
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotes
Overview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv schedule
Awards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage board
Plot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotes
Fun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQ
Other Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDesk
Promotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo gallery
External Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clips

Boogie Nights (1997) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (see all 84 | slideshow) Videos (see all 6)
Boogie Nights (1997) -- The story of a young man's adventures in the Californian pornography industry of the 1970s and 1980s.
Boogie Nights (1997) -- The story of a young man's adventures in the Californian pornography industry of the 1970s and 1980s.
Boogie Nights (1997) -- CineMagia.ro - Trailer (Flash)

Overview

User Rating:
7.8/10   65,689 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 38% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Writer (WGA):
Paul Thomas Anderson (written by)
Contact:
View company contact information for Boogie Nights on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
10 October 1997 (USA) more
Genre:
Tagline:
Everyone has one special thing more
Plot:
The story of a young man's adventures in the Californian pornography industry of the 1970s and 1980s. full summary | full synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Awards:
Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 21 wins & 19 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(57 articles)
Paul Thomas Anderson Announces Next Film, Starts His Own Religion
 (From Cinematical. 2 December 2009, 8:32 PM, PST)

Graham Has The Magic Touch - Literally
 (From WENN. 4 June 2009, 6:35 PM, PDT)

User Comments:
A modern masterpiece. more (477 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Also Known As:
Pushing Thirteen (USA) (working title)
more
MPAA:
Rated R for strong sex scenes with explicit dialogue, nudity, drug use, language and violence.
Runtime:
155 min
Country:
Language:
Colour:
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Japan:R-15 | Canada:18A (British Columbia) | Canada:R (Alberta/Manitoba/Ontario) | Italy:VM14 | USA:TV-MA (TV rating) | Brazil:18 | Argentina:18 | Australia:R | Canada:16+ (Québec) | Canada:18 (Nova Scotia) | Chile:18 | Finland:K-16 | France:-16 | Germany:16 | Hong Kong:III | Ireland:18 | Malaysia:(Banned) | Mexico:C | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:R18 | Norway:15 | Portugal:M/16 | Singapore:R(A) (original rating) (cut) | Singapore:R21 (re-rating) | South Korea:(Banned) (original rating) | South Korea:18 (re-rating) (cut) | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | UK:18 | USA:R (certificate #34763) | Iceland:16

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Little Bill's promiscuous wife is played by real-life porn star Nina Hartley. more
Goofs:
Crew or equipment visible: When the stereo store customer exits the scene, you can see him make an unusually large step forward. This is because he is stepping over the dolly track. more
Quotes:
Amber Waves: Let me just check on something.
[takes off Dirk's pants]
Amber Waves: That is a giant cock.
more
Movie Connections:
References Saturday Night Fever (1977) more
Soundtrack:
Do Your Thing more

FAQ

Were any of the characters based on real life people?
What is the song that plays during the intense scene with the drug dealer, it's near the end?
What was the inspiration for this story?
more
113 out of 134 people found the following comment useful.
A modern masterpiece., 23 May 2004
10/10
Author: billyacewilliams from Wellington, New Zealand

Paul Thomas Anderson's stylish and compelling take on the 70s porn industry follows Eddie Adams, aka Dirk Diggler (Mark Wahlberg), through six years of sex, drugs and disco. His chance meeting with pornography director Jack Horner (Burt Reynolds) starts his career as one of the greatest adult actors of the time. Dirk's character is based on real-life porn actor John Holmes, who, like Dirk, was renowned for being extremely "well-endowed". This is where Dirk finds initial success.

The main themes in Boogie Nights are the obvious ones relating to a film of this genre; pornography, drugs, sex, betrayal, violence and music. Boogie Nights deals with the pornography theme with some control. It is not overplayed and the sex scenes are surprisingly minimal, but mentally explicit when they take place on screen.

Throughout the film cocaine is abused enormously, and the film's setting, Los Angeles 1977-1983, reflects the popularity of the drug at that time, which the film captures perfectly. However, Boogie Nights does not promote cocaine, as there are some scenes involving addiction and overdoses. For example at Jack's party, they find a girl who has recently, and graphically, overdosed; blood pours from her nose and she begins an unconscious fit. The film, before this scenes, has been fairly upbeat and comic, but from this point it foreshadows the darkness that it will occur.

The music scenes are executed brilliantly, from superbly-staged disco scenes to a down-and-out Dirk singing terribly in his new music career. The soundtrack too is excellent, featuring tunes from The Emotions, ELO, The Beach Boys and the unforgettable Sound Experience. The standout scene in the whole film comes down to the music; Dirk, Redd Rothchild (John C. Reilly) and Todd Parker (Thomas Jane) visit drug dealer Rahad Jackson's (Alfred Molina) house in order to make some quick cash from selling phoney drugs, but Night Ranger's Sister Christian, which is playing in the background, increases the intensity of the scene incredibly, proving that music can bring so much more depth to a scene. Boogie Nights is filled with those kind of scenes, which makes the film even more fantastic.

The standout performance in Boogie Nights is Burt Reynolds as the enigmatic, yet moody, film director. In the scene where he attacks a young guy for slating his movies, it is a complete shock for the audience, because before this point he has been pretty mellow and content. Other notable performances are Julianne Moore, Heather Graham as the beautiful Rollergirl, John C. Reilly, and Mark Wahlberg, who delivers the performance of his career.

Boogie Nights is also a surprisingly original film, using common themes but filmed in its own sharp and realistic way. Anderson's approach has been fully captures these characters in a time when nothing seemed to be going wrong, or at least until the 80s arrive. From then on, things turn very dark indeed, and all signs of the recognisable characters and situations from the first part of the film have gone. This does not, however, reduce the high level of engaging entertainment that this film offers.

Boogie Nights was not a box-office success, earning only £2 million at cinemas in the UK. But this is not the film's, or the director's concern. Anderson recognises quality, not popularity, which is evident in his three other films, Hard Eight, Magnolia and Punch-Drunk Love. I would recommend this film to anyone who enjoys a simple parable filled with excellent and variable situations, because at the end of this film you will realize that Boogie Nights is a simple morality tale, but one which will stay in the mind days after you watch it. Boogie Nights is at once shocking, hilarious, devastating and both visually and audibly outstanding.

Was the above comment useful to you?
more (477 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Boogie Nights (1997)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Checking for bullets and looking for Ringo? construct
ATTN: Help! SONG QUESTION! stackshotBILLY
Eddie/Dirk's stare during the robbery attempt chadjulius
Bluray released next Tues Dec 18th! Best Buy Exclusive! Pewburrito
Your Porno Screen Name-New, Improved Method 2009 skybridge999
Mark's real penis at the end? dare_devil_68
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
Blow Kiss Kiss Bang Bang Babel Valentino El diputado
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
News articles IMDb Crime section IMDb USA section
Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.