8 Incredible Movie Scenes Shot In A Single Take

5. Boogie Nights -€“ The Opening Shot

Paul Thomas Anderson is regarded as one of the finest film-makers currently living, so it makes sense that his 1997 feature debut Boogie Nights would show off some incredible talent. Like 1999's Magnolia, Boogie Nights tells the story of a huge number of different characters, expertly weaving their narratives together throughout the course of the film. In particular, the film follows Eddie Adams played by Mark Wahlberg, who winds up becoming a popular porn star in the 70s only to fall into obscurity during the 80s.

The film's opening shot, then, goes from establishing the title of the film to setting the context and introducing many of the main characters, like Julianne Moore's Maggie, Burt Reynold's Jack Horner, and Luis Guzman's Maurice Rodriguez. The shot follows these characters into an incredibly vibrant and popular nightclub, circling and tracking throughout the location.

Once in the club, there are all kinds of framing and lighting complications, and the introduction of even more characters played by Don Cheadle, John C. Riley, and Nicole Ari Parker. Getting the timing of the characters' conversations correct was also a massive concern.

When it came to making Boogie Nights, Anderson was incredibly particular, repeatedly pushing for the film to last over three hours long and be R-rated. The extremely dense, complex long shot is something that Anderson continues to perfect to this day, with notable examples showing up in Magnolia and 2012's The Master.