The Master

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The Master

R,

2012,

2h 16m,

Drama

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Watchlist

85%

256 Reviews

Tomatometer

62%

50,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

85%

Tomatometer

256 Reviews

62%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

Freddie Quell (Joaquin Phoenix) is a troubled, boozy drifter struggling with the trauma of World War II and whatever inner demons ruled his life before that. On a fateful night in 1950, Freddie boards a passing boat and meets Lancaster Dodd (Philip Seymour Hoffman), the charismatic leader of a religious movement called the Cause. Freddie tries hard to adhere to Dodd's weird teachings and forms a close bond with his mentor, even as other members of Dodd's inner circle see him as a threat.

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Critics Consensus

Smart and solidly engrossing, The Master extends Paul Thomas Anderson's winning streak of challenging films for serious audiences.

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J. Hoberman

ARTINFO.com

Feb 25, 2019

The main thing is that The Master is so unlike anything else in its seriousness and so admirable in its vitality that one has to support it.

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Deborah Ross

The Spectator

Sep 1, 2018

It is all so enigmatic and underwritten I felt rather shut out. A 'challenging' film is one thing, but one that actually slams the door in your face is quite another, as well as rude.

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Nick Pinkerton

Sight & Sound

Apr 9, 2018

Towering standalone moments all, they are certainly impressive when first encountered, though they wobble perilously the longer one looks at them...It isn't a great film - but it has a great film rattling around inside it.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Feb 16, 2026

2.5/4

"You are passionate … but you do not persuade." That snatch of dialogue from Amadeus might as well be the slogan for Paul Thomas Anderson’s The Master.

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Fico Cangiano

CineXpress Podcast

Mar 28, 2025

4.5/5

The electricity between actors Joaquin Phoenix and Philip Seymour Hoffman is off the charts in this complex study of power, loyalty and contradictions. [Full review in Spanish]

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Gianmarco Farfán

Cinencuentro

Jul 17, 2024

An intense, thoughtful and harsh film that shows the contradictions between people with a certain degree of power and those who have no power at all. [Full review in Spanish]

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Apr 9, 2019

61% of audience. This tells how much PTA succeded. He did a DEEPLY personal film. The greatest film from this century, and a top 10 ever made in my honest opinion. Please if you gave up the first time, go ahead another try in a few days. I know many people that changed their opinion the second time. It's a complex and hermetic film. Paul Thomas Anderson himself said many times that The Master is his own favourite film, his proudest film. Now, if that doesn't encourage you to see it again, I don't know what will.

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Abraham W

Feb 17, 2019

What a horrible show. Sound levels made every scene a strain to follow, the movie dragged and was disjointed. I have no idea why the high ratings. There is no intellectual presentation here, just a waste.

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Theodore W

Feb 16, 2019

Paul Thomas Anderson doesn't disappoint us in delivering incredibly artistic and captivating scenes with an engaging original soundtrack. The performances of Joaquin Phoenix, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Amy Adams are very impressive. The Master is distinctive and delightful.

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Anakin G

Feb 7, 2019

75% non-story filler, 25% setups without payoffs.

Hagrid P

Feb 6, 2019

Not the most exciting of Anderson's work.

Anakin P

Nov 4, 2018

It's not the movie I was expecting, it's actually a strange movie, almost a sort of art house flick. The subject matter will definitely not appeal to a wide audience, but honestly, this is an interesting and even a bit unnerving film about Scientology. The camera quality fits the 1950s set up, the score is nostalgic and the actors are incredible, both Joaquin Phoenix and Philip Seymour Hoffman give very intense and strong performances. Overall, The Master is an original flick for sure, and it's worth seeing for those mature enough, it's a good examination of mental health and PTSD, and should become a future classic. Recommended!!

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Paul Thomas Anderson

Director

Joaquin Phoenix

Freddie Quell

Philip Seymour Hoffman

Lancaster Dodd

Amy Adams

Peggy Dodd

Laura Dern

Helen Sullivan

Jesse Plemons

Val Dodd

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Synopsis

Freddie Quell (Joaquin Phoenix) is a troubled, boozy drifter struggling with the trauma of World War II and whatever inner demons ruled his life before that. On a fateful night in 1950, Freddie boards a passing boat and meets Lancaster Dodd (Philip Seymour Hoffman), the charismatic leader of a religious movement called the Cause. Freddie tries hard to adhere to Dodd's weird teachings and forms a close bond with his mentor, even as other members of Dodd's inner circle see him as a threat.

Director: Paul Thomas Anderson
Producer: JoAnne Sellar, Daniel Lupi, Paul Thomas Anderson, Megan Ellison
Screenwriter: Paul Thomas Anderson
Distributor: Weinstein Co.
Production Co: Ghoulardi Film Company, Joanne Sellar, Annapurna Pictures
Rating: R (Language|Graphic Nudity|Sexual Content)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 14, 2012, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 12, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $16.2M
Runtime: 2h 16m
Sound Mix: Datasat, Dolby Digital

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