Paul Thomas Anderson is the finest director in the world right now because he constantly strives to innovate and continue creating greatness. He started making movies young and never went to film school, believing it was a waste of time. Much like Quentin Tarantino, he learned his trade watching movies and absorbing the techniques he saw within. In many ways, and despite their friendship, he is the anti-Tarantino, as his films actually mean something and have something that exists beneath the style and surface. Anderson idolises directors such as Martin Scorsese, Jonathan Demme, Stanley Kubrick and Robert Altman and he is heir to Scorsese's cinematic throne. Anderson, like Scorsese and Kubrick, is a show off. He likes to throw every cinematic technique he knows into his films. From the iconic opening scene of Boogie Nights to the raining frogs of Magnolia, he can do it all and he has the confidence, authority and audacity to pull it off successfully. Anderson likes to explore similar themes within his movies such as dysfunctional families (especially in the form of the father and son), religion, greed, loneliness, obsession and the hauntings of the past. His movies are vividly visual and distinctly recognisable through their gorgeous cinematography and enchanting music. He's a true actors director and has directed everyone from Tom Cruise to Daniel Day-Lewis to career-best performances. When all is said and done, Paul Thomas Anderson will go down as one of the 10 greatest directors to ever step onto a set: here's a ranking and analysis of his films so far, from worst to best.