The only companion book to Paul Thomas Anderson's acclaimed 1999 film, Magnolia: The Illustrated Screenplay includes the complete shooting script, introduction and script notes by Anderson, an interview with the writer/director, and complete cast and crew credits.

Anderson deliberately withheld information about his new film during production because "I feel lately as if I know everything about a movie before I see it, and I really want the audience to discover this purely." Featuring an ensemble cast and, in an unbilled role, Tom Cruise (who called Anderson to express interest in working with him), the film is now described by New Line as follows:

There are stories of coincidence and chance and intersections and strange things told. There is the story of a Dying Father, the Young Wife, his Lost Son, the Caretaker, the Boy Genius, his Father, the Game Show Host, the Daughter, the Mother, the Ex-Boy Genius and the Police Officer in Love.

There are nine plots that tell one story, set in the San Fernando Valley on a day full of rain with no clouds.

Along with the story of a pharmacist in London, a scuba diver and an accidental suicide, this is the story of "Magnolia."

This is a story about family relationships and bonds that have been broken and need to be mended in one day.