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Cast
See All Cast

  • Joaquin Phoenix

    Joaquin Phoenix

    Freddie Quell

  • Philip Seymour Hoffman

    Philip Seymour Hoffman

    Lancaster Dodd

  • Amy Adams

    Amy Adams

    Peggy Dodd

  • Laura Dern

    Laura Dern

    Helen Sullivan

  • Jesse Plemons

    Jesse Plemons

    Val Dodd

Credits
See All Credits

  • Paul Thomas Anderson

    Paul Thomas Anderson

    Director / Screenwriter / Producer

  • JoAnne Sellar

    JoAnne Sellar

    Producer

  • Daniel Lupi

    Daniel Lupi

    Producer

  • Megan Ellison

    Megan Ellison

    Producer

  • Albert Chi

    Albert Chi

    Co-Producer

  • Will Weiske

    Will Weiske

    Co-Producer

  • Adam Somner

    Adam Somner

    Executive Producer

  • Ted Schipper

    Ted Schipper

    Executive Producer

Latest News

  1. The Race
    'The Master' Tops 'Sight & Sound' Critics Poll

    'The Master' Tops 'Sight & Sound' Critics Poll

    12:41 pm PST 12/1/2012
    • Gregg Kilday
    Number of comments:

    The magazine's list of the year's best films also includes "Amour," "Beasts of the Southern Wild" and "Moonrise Kingdom." READ MORE

    • 0
  2. The Race
    Revenge of the Box-Office Winners: How Big Movies Are Eclipsing Indies in the Oscar Race

    Revenge of the Box-Office Winners: How Big Movies Are Eclipsing Indies in the Oscar Race

    12:00 pm PST 11/29/2012
    • Pamela McClintock
    Number of comments:

    Suddenly, the box office is playing a key role in boosting -- or diminishing -- some films' awards chances. READ MORE

    • 2
  3. Watch Video THR's Actress Roundtable: 7 Stars on Nightmare Directors, Brutal Auditions and Fights With Paparazzi

    THR's Actress Roundtable: 7 Stars on Nightmare Directors, Brutal Auditions and Fights With Paparazzi

    9:00 am PST 11/19/2012
    • Matthew Belloni
    • Stephen Galloway
    Number of comments:

    Naomi Watts on years of rejection, Sally Field on fighting to play opposite a man 11 years younger and what it feels like to be told you don’t have a "shelf life." READ MORE

    See All Videos

    • 5
  4. The Race
    From 'Lincoln' to 'Skyfall': Why This Year's Best Picture Race Has Something for Everyone

    From 'Lincoln' to 'Skyfall': Why This Year's Best Picture Race Has Something for Everyone

    11:00 am PST 11/15/2012
    • THR Staff
    Number of comments:

    For once, nearly every genre could be represented in the potential 10 nominees in Oscar's top category. READ MORE

    • 0
  5. The Race
    FEINBERG FORECAST: Updated Projections (With 15 Weeks Until the 85th Oscars)

    FEINBERG FORECAST: Updated Projections (With 15 Weeks Until the 85th Oscars)

    9:58 pm PST 11/11/2012
    • Scott Feinberg
    Number of comments:

    THR's awards analyst offers his latest assessment of the race. READ MORE

    • 2
  6. Dubai Film Festival Adds 'Cloud Atlas,' 'The Master' to Lineup

    Dubai Film Festival Adds 'Cloud Atlas,' 'The Master' to Lineup

    2:50 am PST 11/8/2012
    • Stuart Kemp
    Number of comments:

    "Hyde Park on Hudson," "The Sapphires" and "Quartet" will also screen in the event's "cinema of the world" sidebar. READ MORE

    • 0
  7. Todd McCarthy's First Analysis of the Year's First Oscar Picks

    Todd McCarthy's First Analysis of the Year's First Oscar Picks

    11:00 am PDT 10/31/2012
    • Todd McCarthy
    Number of comments:

    THR's chief movie critic on the slow start start of the year and the recent releases that might make this award season interesting. READ MORE

    • 0

  8. A Few Minutes with Feinberg: Gotham Awards

    10:14 pm PDT 10/24/2012
    • THR Staff
    Number of comments:

    THR's awards analyst Scott Feinberg gives us the frontrunners for the Gotham Awards including 'Moonrise Kingdom', 'The Master'. He also breaks down the winners of the Hollywood Film Awards. READ MORE

    See All Videos

    • 0
  9. The Race
    Could Joaquin Phoenix's Awards Slam Cost Him an Oscar? (Analysis)

    Could Joaquin Phoenix's Awards Slam Cost Him an Oscar? (Analysis)

    4:52 pm PDT 10/18/2012
    • Gregg Kilday
    Number of comments:

    The actor -- following in the footsteps of such anti-awards-campaign winners as George C. Scott, Marlon Brando and Mo'Nique -- actually could curry favor with the Academy. READ MORE

    • 3
  10. The Race
    Joaquin Phoenix Declares Award Season Is 'Total, Utter Bulls---'

    Joaquin Phoenix Declares Award Season Is 'Total, Utter Bulls---'

    11:20 am PDT 10/18/2012
    • Erik Hayden
    Number of comments:

    'The Master' star said that he didn't want to be a part of awards season campaigning. READ MORE

    • 3
  11. 'The Master,' 'Moonrise Kingdom' Among Gotham Independent Film Award Nominees

    'The Master,' 'Moonrise Kingdom' Among Gotham Independent Film Award Nominees

    7:08 am PDT 10/18/2012
    • Erin Carlson
    Number of comments:

    The nominations, announced Thursday in New York City, also include "Bernie" and "Beasts of the Southern Wild." READ MORE

    • 0
  12. The Race
    FEINBERG FORECAST: Updated Projections (With 19 Weeks Until the Oscars)

    FEINBERG FORECAST: Updated Projections (With 19 Weeks Until the Oscars)

    4:14 pm PDT 10/14/2012
    • Scott Feinberg
    Number of comments:

    As the New York Film Festival ends and the Chicago International Film Festival begins, THR's awards analyst offers his latest assessment of the race. READ MORE

    • 2
  13. Senator Takes 'The Master' for Germany

    Senator Takes 'The Master' for Germany

    3:18 am PDT 10/4/2012
    • Scott Roxborough
    Number of comments:

    Paul Thomas Anderson's Scientology-themed film could prove controversial for German audiences. READ MORE

    • 2
  14. The Race
    Hollywood Film Awards to Honor Amy Adams, 'Zero Dark Thirty' Editor, and 'Anna Karenina' Production Designer (Exclusive)

    Hollywood Film Awards to Honor Amy Adams, 'Zero Dark Thirty' Editor, and 'Anna Karenina' Production Designer (Exclusive)

    6:00 am PDT 10/1/2012
    • Scott Feinberg
    Number of comments:

    Adams could score her fourth best supporting actress Oscar nomination this year for 'The Master,' 'On the Road,' or 'Trouble with the Curve.' READ MORE

    • 0
  15. How a Trip to the Mall Changed 'The Master' Star Joaquin Phoenix's Life

    How a Trip to the Mall Changed 'The Master' Star Joaquin Phoenix's Life

    8:00 am PDT 9/21/2012
    • Bill Higgins
    Number of comments:

    The actor and his late brother River -- who grew up in a counterculture lifestyle that included veganism and briefly joining a born-again Christian/hippie group -- got their start in entertainment by busking at shopping centers. READ MORE

    • 0
  16. Box Office Report: 'Resident Evil' Climbs to the Top, While 'The Master' Breaks Records

    Box Office Report: 'Resident Evil' Climbs to the Top, While 'The Master' Breaks Records

    8:29 am PDT 9/16/2012
    • Gregg Kilday
    Number of comments:

    The Milla Jovovich-vs.-zombies movie took in $21.1 million, while Paul Thomas Anderson's newest film packed the art houses. READ MORE

    • 2
  17. Box Office Report: Scientology-Inspired 'The Master' Shatters Art House Records

    Box Office Report: Scientology-Inspired 'The Master' Shatters Art House Records

    8:38 am PDT 9/15/2012
    • Pamela McClintock
    Number of comments:

    UPDATED: Mila Jovovich starrer "Resident Evil: Retribution" tops weekend box office with $21.1 million; Disney's 3D rerelease of "Finding Nemo" debuts at No. 2 with $17.5 million. READ MORE

    • 7
  18. On the Scene at New York Fashion Week

    On the Scene at New York Fashion Week

    9:14 pm PDT 9/14/2012
    • Elizabeth Snead
    Number of comments:

    Behind-the-scenes celebrity action during the NY Spring 2013 shows was mix of Jessica Alba, Emma Stone, Jennifer Hudson and Michael Douglas (?) plus Fergie and Adam Lambert to NBA Players Chris Bosh, Russell Westbrook, and gold medal Olympians Ryan Lochte, Conor Dwyer. Shake well. READ MORE

    • 0
  19. In Theaters This Weekend: Reviews of 'The Master,' '10 Years' and More

    In Theaters This Weekend: Reviews of 'The Master,' '10 Years' and More

    9:00 pm PDT 9/13/2012
    • Paula Zulian
    Number of comments:

    What THR's critics say about the movies opening this week. READ MORE

    • 0
  20. Fall Movie Preview 2012: Major New Releases From Spielberg, Jackson, Tarantino, the Wachowskis, Burton and More

    Fall Movie Preview 2012: Major New Releases From Spielberg, Jackson, Tarantino, the Wachowskis, Burton and More

    11:18 am PDT 9/12/2012
    • THR Staff
    Number of comments:

    The summer is done, and with a slew of hugely anticipated movies set to premiere in the coming months, Hollywood is hopeful to chase away the box office doldrums. Get a glimpse at the hottest new features -- including P.T. Anderson's "The Master," the return of 007 in "Skyfall" and the first of Peter Jackson's "Hobbit" trilogy -- in THR's 2012 Fall Movie Pre... READ MORE

    • 0

Summary

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.

Company Info

  • The Weinstein Company Studio
  • Annapurna Pictures Production Company
  • Ghoulardi Film Company Production Company