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 NEW)
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) -- Sinematurk - Trailer (Flash)
Boogie Nights (1997) -- MyMovieScripts.com - Trailer (Flash)
Boogie Nights (1997) -- Moviesbox.us - Trailer (Flash)

Overview

User Rating:
7.8/10   64,889 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 12% 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:
Crime | Drama more
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:
more
Awards:
Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 21 wins & 19 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(56 articles)
Graham Has The Magic Touch - Literally
 (From WENN. 4 June 2009, 6:35 PM, PDT)

Graham's Parents Still Upset About Boogie Nights Bare-All
 (From WENN. 4 June 2009, 1:05 AM, PDT)

User Comments:
A modern masterpiece. more (476 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:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Dolby Digital | SDDS
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:
Marisa Tomei was offered the role of Amber Waves. more
Goofs:
Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): During the filming of the first love scene between Eddie and Amber waves, Eddie says to her (just before she tells him she's fixed and he can cum inside her), "you feel so good inside me." more
Quotes:
Little Bill: My wife has an ass in her cock in the drive way, all right? I'm sorry if my thoughts are not on the photography of the film we're shooting tomorrow. more
Movie Connections:
References Sweet Smell of Success (1957) more
Soundtrack:
O Little Town of Bethlehem more

FAQ

Were any of the characters based on real life people?
What was the inspiration for this story?
What is the song that plays during the intense scene with the drug dealer, it's near the end?
more
109 out of 129 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 (476 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Boogie Nights (1997)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
John C. Reily and Marky Mark patton_69
Should I see this? WarriorPoet1988
Other movies like this one? 02simond
Kim Basinger vs. Julianne Moore impossibledreamer
Movie Previewed on the VHS release... dundermifflinite
Dirk's Rock Bottom jamically
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.