Boogie Nights was released in 1997. Written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, it went on to be nominated for three Oscars: Best Original Screenplay, Best Supporting Actress and Best Supporting Actor. The film chronicles the story of Eddie Adams as he becomes a pornographic actor in the 1970s through his downfall in the 1980s. Anderson wrote the screenplay based upon his mockumentary short film he made in high school entitled, The Dirk Diggler Story, which was about the life of porn actor John Holmes. The film was initially offered to Leonardo DiCaprio and then Joaquin Phoenix who both turned it down. Mark Wahlberg would go on to get the role.
The film's budget was an estimated $15,000,000 and turned in over $43 million at the box office. Reynolds would go on to win a Golden Globe for his performance. Boogie Nights was released by New Line Cinema and produced by Anderson, Lloyd Levin, John S. Lyons and JoAnne Sellar.
