Burt Reynolds Revealed His Most Regrettable Film Set Experience

Burt Reynolds starred in some of the most memorable movies of his era, from Smokey and the Bandit to Deliverance. But his role as Jack Horner in Paul Thomas Anderson’s Boogie Nights stands out for a very different reason. The film, a sharp and darkly comedic look at the adult film industry’s heyday, marked a major moment for both Reynolds and the young director. Yet, for Reynolds, the experience was anything but positive.

In the years leading up to Boogie Nights, Reynolds’ career had hit a rough patch. He’d appeared in Striptease, which critics panned, as well as a string of forgettable comedies and direct-to-video releases. Landing the part of a seasoned adult film director in Anderson’s second feature seemed like a chance to reclaim some of his former glory. Mark Wahlberg, playing the ambitious Eddie who transforms into Dirk Diggler, was just starting to make his mark. For Anderson, only 26 at the time, working with a Hollywood veteran like Reynolds was a huge step.

Clashing Visions on Set

Despite the film’s later acclaim, Reynolds found the shoot grueling. He openly admitted,

“I hated the experience. I thought I’d sold out, in a way. I wasn’t sure whether that was why they were offering the film to me, but apparently, I did it very well,”

he told IndieWire. The movie went on to win awards and even earned Reynolds an Oscar nomination, but he never warmed to the process.

“I’ve done 60 films or something, and it was just the worst experience I ever had.”

The main source of tension was Reynolds’ relationship with Anderson. The director, still new to the industry, was full of energy and determination, but his inexperience showed. For Reynolds, who had decades of work behind him, taking direction from someone so young was a challenge. In his memoir, But Enough About Me, Reynolds wrote,

“I wasn’t crazy about being [directed] by a guy who’s younger than some sandwiches I’ve had.”

He never even watched the finished film, despite the critical praise it received.

Behind the Scenes: A Difficult Dynamic

Anderson himself later reflected on the difficulties, admitting that his youthful confidence may have rubbed Reynolds the wrong way. On Radio Andy, Anderson said,

“I was 26 years old and really full of a lot of vinegar and confidence and barking directions at everybody, and I think just trying to get this film made. And I think some of that probably got directed at Burt, and he wasn’t having it, and nor should he have. But that’s not to say there weren’t great, great moments.”

Despite the friction, Reynolds delivered a performance that critics and audiences still remember. The role helped cement Boogie Nights as one of the defining films of the 1990s, launching Anderson’s career and giving Wahlberg a serious boost. For Reynolds, though, the experience remained a personal low point, even as the world celebrated his work.