Carlos Jimenez

Although the post-irony poison in our 2026 water may make us inclined to giggle at the prospect of an isolated group of crewmates being picked off by a mysterious “imposter” identical to themselves, John Carpenter’s 1982 masterpiece The Thing remains heralded as one of the greatest (horror) movies of all time–while the same cannot quite be said for its 2011 prequel. Taking a retrospective glance at both films, it’s evident what makes the classic so untouchable.

Across thirty years, Paul Thomas Anderson has built a technically masterful, emotionally rich filmography of ten strikingly distinct works. From morally ambiguous romances to portraits of lost men adrift in post-war America, his films probe the human condition through flawed, magnetic characters. With One Battle After Another newly released, it’s the right moment to revisit and rank PTA’s remarkable body of work.