Punch-Drunk Love is a 2002 American absurdist romantic comedy-drama film written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson.
It stars Adam Sandler in a dramatic role as Barry Egan, a shy entrepreneur with social anxiety who falls in love with Lena, his sister's co-worker.
The film follows Barry as he navigates his lonely, mundane life, constantly berated by his seven sisters. When he inadvertently attracts the attention of a mysterious woman named Lena, a budding romance develops. However, Barry's life is further complicated when he becomes the victim of an extortionist and her deranged boss.
Punch-Drunk Love received positive reviews, with critics praising Sandler's dramatic performance and Anderson's unique, off-kilter style. Despite its commercial failure, failing to recoup its $25 million budget, the film is now considered a cult favorite and one of Sandler's best performances. It has been cited as a favorite film by many prominent filmmakers and actors and was also a major visual influence on the 2024 Pixar film Inside Out 2.