Punch-Drunk Love
Updated: 12/11/2025, 2:33:41 PM Wikipedia source
Punch-Drunk Love is a 2002 American absurdist romantic comedy drama film, produced, written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson. Adam Sandler stars as an entrepreneur with social anxiety who falls in love with his sister's co-worker, played by Emily Watson. The supporting cast includes Philip Seymour Hoffman and Luis Guzmán. After working on his third film Magnolia, Anderson planned to make his next film around 90 minutes, with Sandler in mind as the lead due to Anderson's love for him and his films. It features the video art of Jeremy Blake in the form of visual interludes. Punch-Drunk Love was produced by Columbia Pictures, Revolution Studios, New Line Cinema and Ghoulardi Film Company, and distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing. It premiered at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival on May 19, 2002 before being released theatrically in the United States on November 1, 2002. The film received positive reviews from critics, with Sandler's performance receiving widespread acclaim. However, the film was a box-office disappointment, grossing $24.7 million against its $25 million production budget. A favorite of several prominent filmmakers, it has been included in lists of the greatest movies of the 21st century. It was also a launchpad for Sandler to pursue dramatic or unconventional film roles outside of his usual mainstream comedies.
Infobox
Directed by
Paul Thomas Anderson
Written by
Paul Thomas Anderson
Produced by
mw- JoAnne Sellar Daniel Lupi Paul Thomas Anderson
Starring
Adam Sandler Emily Watson Philip Seymour Hoffman Luis Guzmán
Cinematography
Robert Elswit
Edited by
Leslie Jones
Music by
Jon Brion
Productioncompanies
Columbia Pictures Revolution Studios New Line Cinema Ghoulardi Film Company
Distributed by
Sony Pictures Releasing
Release dates
May 19, 2002 (2002-05-19) (Cannes) November 1, 2002 (2002-11-01) (United States)
Running time
95 minutes
Country
United States
Language
English
Budget
$25 million
Box office
$24.7 million
Tables
· Reception › Accolades
American Cinema Editors
American Cinema Editors
Award
American Cinema Editors
Category
Best Edited Feature Film – Comedy or Musical
Subject
Leslie Jones
Result
Nominated
Awards Circuit Community Awards
Awards Circuit Community Awards
Award
Awards Circuit Community Awards
Category
Best Original Screenplay
Subject
Paul Thomas Anderson
Result
Nominated
Belgian Syndicate of Cinema Critics
Belgian Syndicate of Cinema Critics
Award
Belgian Syndicate of Cinema Critics
Category
Grand Prix
Subject
Nominated
Cannes Film Festival
Cannes Film Festival
Award
Cannes Film Festival
Category
Palme d'Or
Subject
Nominated
Best Director
Best Director
Award
Best Director
Category
Paul Thomas Anderson
Subject
Won
Central Ohio Film Critics Association
Central Ohio Film Critics Association
Award
Central Ohio Film Critics Association
Category
Best Picture
Subject
Won
Best Director
Best Director
Award
Best Director
Category
Paul Thomas Anderson
Subject
Won
Best Original Screenplay
Best Original Screenplay
Award
Best Original Screenplay
Category
Won
Chicago Film Critics Association
Chicago Film Critics Association
Award
Chicago Film Critics Association
Category
Best Director
Subject
Nominated
Best Screenplay
Best Screenplay
Award
Best Screenplay
Category
Nominated
Best Score
Best Score
Award
Best Score
Category
Jon Brion
Subject
Nominated
Chlotrudis Awards
Chlotrudis Awards
Award
Chlotrudis Awards
Category
Best Movie
Subject
Nominated
Best Director
Best Director
Award
Best Director
Category
Paul Thomas Anderson
Subject
Nominated
Best Actor
Best Actor
Award
Best Actor
Category
Adam Sandler
Subject
Nominated
Audience Award – Best Movie
Audience Award – Best Movie
Award
Audience Award – Best Movie
Category
Won
Audience Award – Best Director
Audience Award – Best Director
Award
Audience Award – Best Director
Category
Paul Thomas Anderson
Subject
Won
Audience Award – Best Actor
Audience Award – Best Actor
Award
Audience Award – Best Actor
Category
Adam Sandler
Subject
Won
Gijón International Film Festival
Gijón International Film Festival
Award
Gijón International Film Festival
Category
Best Feature
Subject
Nominated
Best Actor
Best Actor
Award
Best Actor
Category
Adam Sandler
Subject
Won
Best Screenplay
Best Screenplay
Award
Best Screenplay
Category
Paul Thomas Anderson
Subject
Won
Gold Derby Awards
Gold Derby Awards
Award
Gold Derby Awards
Category
Best Original Screenplay
Subject
Nominated
Golden Globe Award
Golden Globe Award
Award
Golden Globe Award
Category
Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy
Subject
Adam Sandler
Result
Nominated
Golden Schmoes Awards
Golden Schmoes Awards
Award
Golden Schmoes Awards
Category
Best Screenplay
Subject
Paul Thomas Anderson
Result
Nominated
Best Breakthrough Performance
Best Breakthrough Performance
Award
Best Breakthrough Performance
Category
Adam Sandler
Subject
Nominated
Imagen Foundation Awards
Imagen Foundation Awards
Award
Imagen Foundation Awards
Category
Best Supporting Actor – Film
Subject
Luis Guzmán
Result
Won
International Online Cinema Awards
International Online Cinema Awards
Award
International Online Cinema Awards
Category
Best Original Screenplay
Subject
Paul Thomas Anderson
Result
Nominated
Las Vegas Film Critics Society
Las Vegas Film Critics Society
Award
Las Vegas Film Critics Society
Category
Best Picture
Subject
Nominated
Best Director
Best Director
Award
Best Director
Category
Paul Thomas Anderson
Subject
Nominated
Best Screenplay
Best Screenplay
Award
Best Screenplay
Category
Nominated
Motovun Film Festival
Motovun Film Festival
Award
Motovun Film Festival
Category
Propeller of Motovun
Subject
Won
MTV Movie Awards
MTV Movie Awards
Award
MTV Movie Awards
Category
Best Kiss
Subject
Adam Sandler & Emily Watson
Result
Nominated
National Society of Film Critics
National Society of Film Critics
Award
National Society of Film Critics
Category
Best Cinematography
Subject
Robert Elswit
Result
Nominated
Online Film & Television Association
Online Film & Television Association
Award
Online Film & Television Association
Category
Best Original Screenplay
Subject
Paul Thomas Anderson
Result
Nominated
Online Film Critics Society
Online Film Critics Society
Award
Online Film Critics Society
Category
Top Ten Films
Subject
7th Place
Best Original Screenplay
Best Original Screenplay
Award
Best Original Screenplay
Category
Paul Thomas Anderson
Subject
Nominated
Best Original Score
Best Original Score
Award
Best Original Score
Category
Jon Brion
Subject
Nominated
Phoenix Film Critics Society
Phoenix Film Critics Society
Award
Phoenix Film Critics Society
Category
Best Screenplay
Subject
Paul Thomas Anderson
Result
Nominated
Best Original Score
Best Original Score
Award
Best Original Score
Category
Jon Brion
Subject
Nominated
Best Use of Previously Published or Recorded Music
Best Use of Previously Published or Recorded Music
Award
Best Use of Previously Published or Recorded Music
Category
Nominated
Satellite Awards
Satellite Awards
Award
Satellite Awards
Category
Best Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical
Subject
Nominated
Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical
Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical
Award
Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical
Category
Adam Sandler
Subject
Nominated
Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical
Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical
Award
Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical
Category
Philip Seymour Hoffman
Subject
Nominated
Seattle Film Critics Society
Seattle Film Critics Society
Award
Seattle Film Critics Society
Category
Best Music
Subject
Jon Brion
Result
Nominated
Stinkers Bad Movies Awards
Stinkers Bad Movies Awards
Award
Stinkers Bad Movies Awards
Category
Most Intrusive Musical Score
Subject
Nominated
Toronto Film Critics Association
Toronto Film Critics Association
Award
Toronto Film Critics Association
Category
Best Film
Subject
Nominated
Best Director
Best Director
Award
Best Director
Category
Paul Thomas Anderson
Subject
Won
Best Supporting Actress
Best Supporting Actress
Award
Best Supporting Actress
Category
Emily Watson
Subject
Won
Best Screenplay
Best Screenplay
Award
Best Screenplay
Category
Paul Thomas Anderson
Subject
Nominated
Vancouver Film Critics Circle
Vancouver Film Critics Circle
Award
Vancouver Film Critics Circle
Category
Best Supporting Actress
Subject
Emily Watson
Result
Nominated
Village Voice Film Poll
Village Voice Film Poll
Award
Village Voice Film Poll
Category
Best Film
Subject
6th Place
Best Director
Best Director
Award
Best Director
Category
Paul Thomas Anderson
Subject
2nd Place
| Award | Category | Subject | Result | Ref. |
| American Cinema Editors | Best Edited Feature Film – Comedy or Musical | Leslie Jones | Nominated | |
| Awards Circuit Community Awards | Best Original Screenplay | Paul Thomas Anderson | Nominated | |
| Belgian Syndicate of Cinema Critics | Grand Prix | Nominated | ||
| Cannes Film Festival | Palme d'Or | Nominated | ||
| Best Director | Paul Thomas Anderson | Won | ||
| Central Ohio Film Critics Association | Best Picture | Won | ||
| Best Director | Paul Thomas Anderson | Won | ||
| Best Original Screenplay | Won | |||
| Chicago Film Critics Association | Best Director | Nominated | ||
| Best Screenplay | Nominated | |||
| Best Score | Jon Brion | Nominated | ||
| Chlotrudis Awards | Best Movie | Nominated | ||
| Best Director | Paul Thomas Anderson | Nominated | ||
| Best Actor | Adam Sandler | Nominated | ||
| Audience Award – Best Movie | Won | |||
| Audience Award – Best Director | Paul Thomas Anderson | Won | ||
| Audience Award – Best Actor | Adam Sandler | Won | ||
| Gijón International Film Festival | Best Feature | Nominated | ||
| Best Actor | Adam Sandler | Won | ||
| Best Screenplay | Paul Thomas Anderson | Won | ||
| Gold Derby Awards | Best Original Screenplay | Nominated | ||
| Golden Globe Award | Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy | Adam Sandler | Nominated | |
| Golden Schmoes Awards | Best Screenplay | Paul Thomas Anderson | Nominated | |
| Best Breakthrough Performance | Adam Sandler | Nominated | ||
| Imagen Foundation Awards | Best Supporting Actor – Film | Luis Guzmán | Won | |
| International Online Cinema Awards | Best Original Screenplay | Paul Thomas Anderson | Nominated | |
| Las Vegas Film Critics Society | Best Picture | Nominated | ||
| Best Director | Paul Thomas Anderson | Nominated | ||
| Best Screenplay | Nominated | |||
| Motovun Film Festival | Propeller of Motovun | Won | ||
| MTV Movie Awards | Best Kiss | Adam Sandler & Emily Watson | Nominated | |
| National Society of Film Critics | Best Cinematography | Robert Elswit | Nominated | |
| Online Film & Television Association | Best Original Screenplay | Paul Thomas Anderson | Nominated | |
| Online Film Critics Society | Top Ten Films | 7th Place | ||
| Best Original Screenplay | Paul Thomas Anderson | Nominated | ||
| Best Original Score | Jon Brion | Nominated | ||
| Phoenix Film Critics Society | Best Screenplay | Paul Thomas Anderson | Nominated | |
| Best Original Score | Jon Brion | Nominated | ||
| Best Use of Previously Published or Recorded Music | Nominated | |||
| Satellite Awards | Best Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical | Nominated | ||
| Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical | Adam Sandler | Nominated | ||
| Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical | Philip Seymour Hoffman | Nominated | ||
| Seattle Film Critics Society | Best Music | Jon Brion | Nominated | |
| Stinkers Bad Movies Awards | Most Intrusive Musical Score | Nominated | ||
| Toronto Film Critics Association | Best Film | Nominated | ||
| Best Director | Paul Thomas Anderson | Won | ||
| Best Supporting Actress | Emily Watson | Won | ||
| Best Screenplay | Paul Thomas Anderson | Nominated | ||
| Vancouver Film Critics Circle | Best Supporting Actress | Emily Watson | Nominated | |
References
- "Punch-Drunk Love"http://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Punch-Drunk-Love
- "Punch-Drunk Love (2002)"https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0272338/
- Magnoliahttps://www.theguardian.com/film/2000/mar/10/culture.features
- Los Angeles Timeshttps://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-may-20-et-turan20-story.html
- The Playlisthttps://theplaylist.net/tbt-paul-thomas-anderson-sandler-20180503/
- Rogerebert.comhttps://www.rogerebert.com/interviews/love-at-first-sight
- IndieWirehttps://www.indiewire.com/2020/11/punch-drunk-love-producer-casting-adam-sandler-befuddled-1234596860/
- Los Angeles Timeshttps://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-nov-05-ca-47189-story.html
- "The proof of 'Punch-Drunk Love' is in the pudding"https://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2002-10-07-pudding_x.htm
- The New York Timeshttps://www.nytimes.com/2002/10/06/movies/film-a-poet-of-love-and-chaos-in-the-valley.html
- The New York Timeshttps://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/01/arts/design/01blake.html
- IndieWirehttps://www.indiewire.com/2020/10/magnolia-freaked-out-adam-sandler-punch-drunk-love-1234593387/
- The Guardianhttps://www.theguardian.com/film/2000/nov/09/news
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- Metacritichttps://www.metacritic.com/movie/punch-drunk-love
- Rolling Stonehttps://www.rollingstone.com/movies/movie-reviews/punch-drunk-love-248540/
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- Entertainment Weeklyhttps://ew.com/article/2003/06/27/punch-drunk-love-4/
- Los Angeles Timeshttps://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-oct-11-et-turan11-story.html
- Varietyhttps://variety.com/2002/film/markets-festivals/punch-drunk-love-2-1200549551/
- Salon.comhttps://www.salon.com/2002/10/11/punch_drunk/
- Newsweekhttps://www.newsweek.com/call-him-unhappy-gilmore-146867
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- "Punch-Drunk Love"https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/punch-drunk-love-2002
- Entertainment Weeklyhttps://ew.com/article/2002/10/09/punch-drunk-love-2/
- The Washington Posthttps://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/2002/10/18/punch-drunk-love-it/7991e1d0-d8c3-4833-8de3-f0012236d931/
- "Festival de Cannes: Punch-Drunk Love"https://web.archive.org/web/20120118145737/http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/ficheFilm/id/3124026/year/2002.html
- "ACE Awards"https://web.archive.org/web/20030409203511/http://ace-filmeditors.org/nominees.htm
- IMDbhttps://www.imdb.com/event/ev0002990/2002/1/
- La Libre Belgiquehttps://www.lalibre.be/culture/cinema/2004/01/12/lucc-soffre-une-cure-de-gioventu-PHNRRS252VEJ3DOYWCSW4SWANI/
- "Awards 2002 : All Awards - Festival de Cannes 2015 (International Film Festival)"https://web.archive.org/web/20150121170045/http://www.festival-cannes.fr/en/archives/2002/allAward.html
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- JoBlohttps://goldenschmoes.joblo.com/results/golden-schmoes-winners-and-nominees-2002/
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- IMDbhttps://www.imdb.com/event/ev0003084/2003/1/
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- "MTV Awards rocks 'Moulin Rouge'"https://web.archive.org/web/20231123034824/https://variety.com/2002/scene/vpage/mtv-awards-rocks-moulin-rouge-1117867968/
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- Online Film Critics Societyhttp://ofcs.org/awards/2002-awards-6th-annual/
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