Licorice Pizza

2021 2h 13m EN

👍

6.9

SOLID

★6.9TMDB · 2,808

DramaComedyRomance

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

The story of Gary Valentine and Alana Kane growing up, running around and going through the treacherous navigation of first love in the San Fernando Valley, 1973.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Where to watch · US

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Cast

Alana Haim
Alana Kane
Cooper Hoffman
Gary Valentine
Sean Penn
Jack Holden
Tom Waits
Rex Blau
Bradley Cooper
Jon Peters
Benny Safdie
Joel Wachs
Skyler Gisondo
Lance Brannigan
Mary Elizabeth Ellis
Momma Anita

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Paul Thomas Anderson
Writers: Paul Thomas Anderson
Languages: English, Japanese, Spanish
Countries: Canada, United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Earned back only 83% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Released 5 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 3 languages: English, Japanese, Spanish.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 2 countries: Canada, United States of America.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

CAST

Did you know

476+ people credited in cast and crew — a small city's worth of labour.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, shot by Paul Thomas Anderson. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Jonny Greenwood. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Andy Jurgensen shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Paul Thomas Anderson directs. Paul Thomas Anderson behind the camera. Jonny Greenwood scores. Andy Jurgensen cuts. A commercial under-performer on release. Produced in Canada, United States of America. Dialogue in English, Japanese, Spanish.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Earned back only 83% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.
2Released 5 years ago.
3Dialogue crosses 3 languages: English, Japanese, Spanish.
4International production across 2 countries: Canada, United States of America.
5476+ people credited in cast and crew — a small city's worth of labour.
6Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, shot by Paul Thomas Anderson. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
7Original score by Jonny Greenwood. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
8Editor Andy Jurgensen shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
9Alana Haim and Cooper Hoffman and Sean Penn carry the top of the cast.
10IMDB entry: tt11271038 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
11Classified under 24 themes, including "high school", "california", "jealousy", "1970s".

The technical file

Cinematography: Paul Thomas Anderson
Original score: Jonny Greenwood
Editing: Andy Jurgensen
Production design: Florencia Martin
Makeup / hair: Christi Cagle
VFX supervisor: Laura J. Hill
Sound: David Acord
Stunt coordinator: Brian Machleit
Runtime: 133 min · 2h 13m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Budget: $40,000,000
Box office: $33,277,069
Return: 83% of budget
Original language: EN
Certification (US): R
IMDB: Licorice Pizza (2021)

Awards

National Board of Review Award for Best Film

Individual records documented via Wikidata; the summary above may count more.

Also by

Paul Thomas Anderson

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Trailers & featurettes

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Community reviews

What people are saying

garethmb2021-12-20
Set in the San Fernando Valley of 1973; Writer/Director Paul Thomas Anderson has created a loving and nostalgia-filled look at that era with his new film “Licorice Pizza”. The film focuses on a teenaged Gary (Cooper Hoffman) who becomes intrigued by an older photographer assistant named Alana (Alana Haim); during his school photo sessions. Despite their age difference; the two become friends and Gary attempts to impress her with his hustle as he works in the fringes of Hollywood and has become a regular on the audition circuit and various events thanks to his agent. When he is able to get Alana to act as his chaperone on a promotional trip to New York; reality sets in when Alana catches the eye of an older actor and starts dating him; Gary moves his hustle into high gear and begins a successful Waterbed business and even convinces his agent to represent Alana. What follows is a long-winding story as the two move into Hollywood circles and face various challenges associated with their times, confused feelings, and goals. While the film has some great moments and really great performance; especially that of Haim and Bradley Cooper; the two hours and forty-five minute run time seemed overly long and self-indulgent and could easily have lost forty-five minutes or so and not lost much as the film is loaded with scenes that are overly long or do not advance the story or characters in any meaningful way. In many ways, the film plays out like a teenaged boy’s fantasy as there is the alluring older woman and his repeated ways to impress her; some of which stretch credibility. What makes the film work so well is the nostalgic and loving look at the era and the winning performances from the cast. Much like he did with “Boogie Nights”; Anderson is not afraid to take broken or dysfunctional characters and make them sympathetic and relatable. Expect the movie to do well with the Award voters and it will be interesting to see what the cast will do next. 4 stars out of 5
r96sk2022-01-18
★ 7/10
I can't say I enjoyed <em>'Licorice Pizza'</em> as much as most, but this flick from Paul Thomas Anderson is a good one. Alana Haim and Cooper Hoffman are entertaining in the lead roles, with Haim particularly standing out - though Philip Seymour Hoffman's kid definitely improves as the film ticks by. There are some amusing roles for more well known faces, my favourite parts of this 2021 release are in fact with <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bradley_Cooper">one of them</a> - funny stuff! Some parts are amiss, mind; e.g. the strange Japanese wives bits. I did find the dialogue a little pretentious I can't lie, mainly early on as we get to know the characters - once everything is fleshed out and set it's all shipshape, to be fair. The film gets a tad aimless near the end, I'd actually say the pacing is perfectly fine but it does feel as long as it is in terms of the run time - I felt every second of the 130 or so minutes. All in all, I'd recommend it. Major film buffs will lap it up, evidently.
beyondthecineramadome2022-06-20
★ 2/10
Full review: <a>https://www.tinakakadelis.com/beyond-the-cinerama-dome/2021/12/28/sweet-valley-high-licorice-pizza-review<a> There’s a lackadaisical feeling that runs throughout writer/director Paul Thomas Anderson’s Licorice Pizza. It feels like summer, where there’s nothing in the world but time and friends to spend it with. With a loose narrative and a long run time, Licorice Pizza has moments of magic. It’s a perfect snapshot of wasting lazy, hazy, eternal summer days with your best friends and the crazy ideas you cook up together. Getting to see it on 70mm really adds to this dreamy ambiance.