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September 10, 2026Sources cited
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Licorice Pizza

Licorice Pizza is a 2021 American coming-of-age comedy-drama film written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated September 10, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Licorice Pizza is a 2021 American coming-of-age comedy-drama film written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson. Set in 1973 in California’s San Fernando Valley, it follows the relationship between teenage actor Gary Valentine and young adult Alana Kane, played by Cooper Hoffman and Alana Haim in their film debuts. The film was released in the United States on December 25, 2021.

Plot

The film follows Alana Kane, a young woman in her mid-20s, and Gary Valentine, a teenage actor, as they form a friendship that develops through a series of business ventures and personal turns in 1970s California.

Cast

The two lead roles are played by Alana Haim and Cooper Hoffman, with supporting performances from Sean Penn, Tom Waits, Bradley Cooper, Benny Safdie, and others.

Production

Licorice Pizza was written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, who set the story in the San Fernando Valley and drew on the atmosphere of early-1970s Southern California.

Title meaning

The title refers to a now-defunct Southern California record-store chain. The phrase itself does not describe the film’s plot directly.

Key facts

  • Licorice Pizza is a 2021 coming-of-age comedy-drama written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson.
  • The film stars Alana Haim and Cooper Hoffman in their film debuts as Alana Kane and Gary Valentine.
  • Set in 1973 in the San Fernando Valley, the story follows the evolving relationship between the two leads.
  • The supporting cast includes Sean Penn, Tom Waits, Bradley Cooper, and Benny Safdie.
  • The title refers to a defunct Southern California record-store chain.
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Canadian context

It screened and was reviewed in Canada as part of the wider international release of a major American film, and it is of interest to Canadian viewers as an Oscar-nominated Paul Thomas Anderson feature.

Frequently asked questions

What is Licorice Pizza about?
It follows the relationship between teenage actor Gary Valentine and young adult Alana Kane as they grow, drift, and work through various schemes in 1973’s San Fernando Valley.
Who directed Licorice Pizza?
Paul Thomas Anderson directed the film.
Who stars in Licorice Pizza?
Alana Haim and Cooper Hoffman star in the lead roles, with Sean Penn, Tom Waits, Bradley Cooper, and Benny Safdie among the supporting cast.
Is Licorice Pizza based on a true story?
No clear source states that it is a direct true-story adaptation; it is an original film set in a specific historical period and inspired by the atmosphere of 1970s Southern California.
What does Licorice Pizza mean?
The title refers to a defunct Southern California record-store chain; it is not a literal reference to the dessert or to pizza.
When was Licorice Pizza released?
It was released in the United States on December 25, 2021.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Licorice_Pizza
    Supports: Release year, director, writer, lead cast, setting, and basic premise.
  2. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/licorice_pizza
    Supports: Plot overview, director, genre, and U.S. theatrical release date.
  3. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11271038/
    Supports: Plot summary, cast, and general film overview.
  4. The Guardian — https://www.theguardian.com/film/2021/nov/15/licorice-pizza-review-paul-thomas-anderson
    Supports: Title meaning as a reference to a defunct Southern California record-store chain.