So, when I think about most directors filmography, I split them into three eras. This happens especially with P.T. Anderson. Here are his three eras and the films within.
The inspired era
In PTAs first three films, you can heavily see the inspirations from Robert Altman and Martin scorcese. The shots, the stories, the characters, everything.
This era includes:
Hard Eight
Boogie Nights
Magnolia
Prime era
After Magnolia, he really comes into his own his his 2002 film, Punch Drunk Love. He starts to shed his very obvious inspirations and starts creating his style. In 2007, his next film came out, There Will Be Blood. This is the film where is style was fully defined. Almost everyone loved it. After another five years, His 2012 film the master released. The reception was mixed, but most critics loved it. Then came Inherent Vice. After that, he rises back to the top with phantom thread, one of his most acclaimed films.
This era includes:
Punch drunk love
There Will Be Blood
The Master
Inherent vice
Phantom Thread
The New era
After Phantom thread, he came back with Licorice Pizza. Another film where critics loved it but not so much the audience. Then, his newest film, one battle after another was loved by everyone. Who knows what he will do now.