The quest for a pitch-perfect filmography is something that movie fans have seen countless directors strive for. Quentin Tarantino is the most infamous example, as his refusal to make more than 10 films dominated the headlines and enraged audiences. He isn't the only perfectionist of the bunch, however, as many modern directors (who aren't named Steven Spielberg, Luca Guadagnino, or Steven Soderbergh) are notoriously picky and methodical about the projects they choose. One notable member of this slow and savvy club is the great Paul Thomas Anderson, who has only released nine feature films across his 29-year directorial career.

Regardless of his snail's pace output, Anderson consistently delivers immersive, sprawling experiences that please audiences and critics alike. Whether he's making epic dramas, dense romantic comedies, crime films, or scathing pseudo-westerns, his releases never seem to disappoint. The teaser for Anderson's latest Leonardo DiCaprio-led film dropped this past week, and it has already made waves, with many fans saying it looks like it could be his best. With the full trailer for Paul Thomas Anderson's One Battle After Another on the horizon, it is high time to revisit and re-evaluate the legendary auteur's catalog, to see the fierce competition his new entry will be up against.

Anderson started off his career hot with a highly impressive crime drama featuring a horde of legitimate film stars. Fresh off of his hit short film, Cigarettes & Coffee, PTA had tons of momentum and a substantial budget of $3 million to work with. Hard Eight saw Anderson team back up with Philip Baker Hall, and the dynamic duo did not disappoint. The film follows the relationship between a veteran gambling champion, the young homeless man he’s befriended and taken on as a mentee, and his prostitute significant other. The project is an acting showcase, even more so than films like The Master and There Will Be Blood, with the performances of Gwyneth Paltrow, John C. Reilly, and Philip Baker Hall absolutely stealing the spotlight.

Hard Eight impresses audiences to this day with the flashes of style and meticulous attention to detail that has come to define Anderson’s filmography. His style at this point was clearly not fully formed, as he may have lacked a bit of confidence, but the exciting base story will keep any fan glued to their seat. Hard Eight might be Anderson's worst film, but in any other director's filmography, it would undoubtedly rank near the top.

Inherent Vice is without a doubt the strangest film in Paul Thomas Anderson's catalog. The film, like Anderson's upcoming One Battle After Another, is an adaptation of a Thomas Pynchon novel. Pynchon is known in the literary sphere for his post-modern flair and his infatuation with parody, both things that might work better on the page than on the screen.

While Hard Eight is unexciting, but unanimously thought of as a good film, Inherent Vice has a subset of haters that claim it's Anderson's worst by a mile. The film is a detective story with eccentric performances, extreme tonal shifts, and an all-over-the-map plot, but it has a beautiful beating heart at its core. Inherent Vice is likely to alienate certain audience members, but with stark tone changes every 20 minutes, every fan is going to find something to love.

Magnolia might be the most frustrating film in Paul Thomas Anderson’s catalog. With a 189-minute runtime and tons of intersecting stories, there is a lot to love, but unfortunately for some fans, there’s also a lot to hate. The film was highly inspired by Robert Altman's mosaic epic drama, Short Cuts, and it makes a bold attempt to match the intense finale of that film's unifying earthquake. Whether or not it succeeds at that, however, highly depends on the audience member. Regardless, Magnolia is best entered completely blind, because the polarizing ending is still shocking 26 years later.

Magnolia marks the beginning of PTA’s love affair with the San Fernando Valley, where he grew up. The film features a series of seemingly different stories that thematically connect and occasionally intersect. Characters desperately search to understand their place in the world. The film explores meaning, happiness, acceptance, and seeks to emphasize that everyone is in the same boat. While the entire film doesn't succeed at gearing up the tear ducts, performances like Julianne Moore's and Philip Seymour Hoffman's offer insane emotional catharsis that cannot be found anywhere else.

Phantom Thread is a slow, methodical, and brilliantly crafted melancholic experience. The film features Anderson's most nuanced and unique exploration of love and relationships, while offering a different take on the theme of co-dependency that he's explored throughout his entire career. The film features a tight screenplay, beautiful cinematography (that was done by PTA himself), and a pair of dominating performances at the center. Vicky Krieps brings her A-game, but Phantom Thread is truly held together by three-time Academy Award winner Daniel Day-Lewis.

While they've only worked together twice, there might be no greater cinematic duo than Paul Thomas Anderson and Daniel Day-Lewis. Day-Lewis previously took home his second Oscar for his powerhouse performance in the to-be-mentioned There Will Be Blood, but might have deserved it even more for his performance here. Voter fatigue may have played a factor, with the academy desperate to award someone different (Gary Oldman), but true fans recognize the subtle brilliance of his Reynolds Woodcock.

If critics and filmmakers were to make this ranking, There Will Be Blood would undoubtedly rank number one. In the latest BFI Sight & Sound poll, There Will Be Blood received the most votes out of any PTA film with 30. While Magnolia might be Paul Thomas Anderson's epic in terms of length and construction, There Will Be Blood is undoubtedly his largest scale project from a visual standpoint.

Daniel Plainview is an insane prospector and "oil man" who seeks to take advantage of landowners in oil-rich California. There Will Be Blood is a stinging analysis of greed, religion, oil, and family, and it remains relevant to this day. One Battle After Another might take the crown of PTA's most intense and exciting film, but for now, it belongs to There Will Be Blood. The film is Anderson's take on human nature, the negative impacts of capitalism, and the faults of the religious establishment in the states. With the help of Daniel Day-Lewis, Paul Dano, and more, Anderson crafts a moving drama that will make even the most stoic cower in fear.

Licorice Pizza was highly controversial upon release. An online subset of fans rallied against the project, dubbing it "problematic" and "gross", but the vocal minority seems to have died off in recent years. The film follows the offbeat coming-of-age story of Gary Valentine (Cooper Hoffman) and Alana Kane (Alana Haim). Gary and Alana are at incredibly different points in their lives, with one seeking to speed up the aging process, and the other desperate to slow it down. While the central romance between the two proves controversial for some, the balance that this duo brings to each other is undeniably beautiful and well-crafted.

The film that once went by the working title of "Soggy Bottom" is exactly how it sounds. It's a silly romantic comedy that refuses to take itself too seriously even when deathly serious circumstances arise. Licorice Pizza is pure distilled nostalgia for the 1970s. With this nostalgic quality and a pair of gentle lead performances, the film feels like a warm hug and a return home even for those who weren't alive at the time. While Phantom Thread may be Anderson's most intense treatise on love, Licorice Pizza is surely his most personal.

The Master is Phillip Seymour Hoffman’s shining moment. Without question, the best performance in a career filled with brilliant performances, and the film he should have brought home the Academy Award for. Hoffman had been a regular in PTA’s films for years, but never got the chance to shine in a lead role until this time. With Anderson's perfect screenplay in tow, Hoffman dukes it out with fellow Oscar-winner Joaquin Phoenix, and the result is absolute magic. Scenes like Freddie's processing and their interaction in the jail rank among the best scenes in recent cinematic memory, and PTA's steady hand is to thank.

A story of a cult leader and his inexplicable, but strong connection with a new member. The Master is a bleak and unflinchingly honest dive into a world that is completely foreign to most viewers. The film once again explores Anderson's favorite theme, intense co-dependency. Two men, friends, mentors, mentees, who are drawn to each other in an inexplicable way that ignores all rational thinking. They want to be together, will never be happy if they are, but are willing to do anything to keep things unchanged. Like the Oppenheimer quote, it's paradoxical, but it works. The Master manages to make an offbeat situation highly relatable, and for that, it deserves all the praise.

In an alternate universe, Paul Thomas Anderson is the premier romantic comedy director. While the average Adam Sandler romantic comedy features low-hanging fruit and toilet humor, Punch-Drunk Love manages to be intensely relatable, highly emotional, exciting, thrilling, and oh-so romantic, all while being uniquely hilarious.

The film is led by Adam Sandler in what is undoubtedly his best performance outside of Uncut Gems. Punch-Drunk Love's Barry Egan is the best depiction of anxiety ever put to screen, and most of the credit goes to Paul Thomas Anderson's steady directorial hand. Aside from Barry's outwardly expressed anxious behavior, there is a constant melancholy feeling in his eyes and in his small actions. Barry is a unique character because he shows the type of reflective behavior that fans never really see translated to the silver screen, because it usually can't be. Sandler and Anderson manage to outwardly show the type of feelings that take place entirely in one's mind, and the film is all the more impressive for it.

Paul Thomas Anderson's Boogie Nights will enrapture any audience member from its very first scene. The film is a free-flowing, raw, and eccentric exploration of a bygone industry, and it has to be seen to be believed. The film is notable for its stunning ensemble cast that features a horde of legendary performers. From Burt Reynolds to Julianne Moore to John C. Reilly and Mark Wahlberg, every single cast member brings their absolute best.

Boogie Nights primarily follows Mark Wahlberg's Eddie Adams, as he slowly morphs into a legend of the porn industry under the name Dirk Diggler. The film effortlessly captures the life of excess that Eddie and his found family live. From the epic and luxurious rise to the harsh and brutal downfall, every moment is tuned to perfection. The film is Anderson's best mix of comedy and drama, and will continue to blow the pants off of fans for years to come.