Bryan McAllister’s personal reference notebook
July 30, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
A quiet encyclopedia with a personal desk
Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
Screen & Stage • Film

There Will Be Blood

There Will Be Blood is a 2007 American epic period drama film written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson.

Updated July 30, 20261 min readCited sources

There Will Be Blood is a 2007 American epic period drama directed by Paul Thomas Anderson. It follows oilman Daniel Plainview during the California oil boom as his pursuit of wealth turns destructive.

What it is

The film is loosely based on Upton Sinclair’s 1927 novel *Oil!*. It centres on Daniel Plainview, a silver miner who becomes an oil prospector and tycoon. His ambition brings him into conflict with local landowners and the preacher Eli Sunday, while his relationships become increasingly strained.

Key details

Written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, the film stars Daniel Day-Lewis as Daniel Plainview, with Paul Dano as Eli Sunday and Dillon Freasier as H.W. Plainview. It runs 158 minutes and was released in 2007. The production adapts Sinclair’s novel very loosely as a historical drama set around the turn of the 20th century.

Why it matters

The film is widely associated with themes of capitalism, greed, religion, corruption, and obsession. Its harsh portrait of ambition and moral decay has made it a staple of North American cinema studies, including at Canadian repertory and university film venues.

In short

  • Set during the California oil boom of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
  • Loosely based on Upton Sinclair’s 1927 novel *Oil!*.
  • Stars Daniel Day-Lewis as oil tycoon Daniel Plainview.
  • Explores greed, power, religion, and family conflict.
Canadian angle

The film has been widely screened, reviewed, and studied in Canada as part of North American cinema, including at Canadian repertory and university film venues.

Quick questions

What is *There Will Be Blood* about?
It is about Daniel Plainview, an ambitious oil prospector whose quest for wealth leads to conflict, corruption, and personal ruin.
Who directed *There Will Be Blood*?
Paul Thomas Anderson directed and wrote the film.
Who stars in the film?
Daniel Day-Lewis stars as Daniel Plainview, with Paul Dano as Eli Sunday and Dillon Freasier as H.W. Plainview.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/There_Will_Be_Blood
    Supports: Basic identification, director, release year, cast, source novel, and plot overview.
  2. Paramount Pictures — https://www.paramountpictures.com/movies/there-will-be-blood
    Supports: Official synopsis, runtime, genre, release year, and cast.
  3. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/there_will_be_blood
    Supports: Synopsis, runtime, rating, release information, and genre.
  4. RogerEbert.com — https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/there-will-be-blood-2008
    Supports: Critical description of the film, plot context, and its loose basis on *Oil!*.
  5. NPR — https://www.npr.org/2007/12/26/17628099/there-will-be-blood
    Supports: Director, runtime, genre, and literary basis.