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Updated 6 months ago,October 19, 2024
Love him or hate him, everyone knows the name Quentin Tarantino.
A creative juggernaut in the modern film industry, few directors have achieved the same level of critical acclaim as Tarantino in the larger context of pop culture.
Using his encyclopedic knowledge of all things film when crafting each and every one of his movies, Tarantino has earned widespread attention for his rich dialogue, colorful characters, and controversial reliance on harsh language and violent subject matter.
Reservoir Dogs / Miramax Films
As audiences continue to await the tenth and final film from the Academy Award-winning director, we thought wed take a look back at the impressive number of movies Tarantino has released so far.
From pulse-pounding slasher films to hyper-violet revisionist Westerns, here is every one of Quentin Tarantinos movies, ranked from worst to best.
Death Proof (2007)
The closest Tarantino to making a full-blown horror movie,Death Proofacts as an endearing love letter to grittier 80s slashers and 70s exploitation films.
Casting Kurt Russell as deranged stunt driver Stuntman Mike McKay, the film centers around Stuntman Mikes crime spree in the Southern U.S., each of which involves the former stunt performer stalking and brutally murdering young women with his souped-up muscle cars.
Released as one-half of TarantinosGrindhousecollaboration alongside Robert RodriguezsPlanet Terror, Death Proofis far from a bad movie, delivering genuinely chilling sequences built around Russells sadistic lead character.
But between its meandering dialogue and uneven pacing, it doesnt come close to matching the acclaim of Tarantinos other, far better movies.
Dimension Films
The Hateful Eight (2015)
After a highly publicized script leak almost upended the project, Tarantino decided to go ahead and produce his 2015 Western mystery, The Hateful Eight, in spite of this early production setback.
A cross between a rugged Spaghetti Western and a traditional whodunit,The Hateful Eightcoasts on Tarantinos penchant for sharp dialogue and memorable characters, whether in the form of Samuel L. Jacksons grizzled Marquis Warren or Jennifer Jason Leighs cackling Daisy Domergue.
In spite of its Agatha Christie levels of twists and turns, though,The Hateful Eights whopping three hour runtime can leave more impatient viewers tapping their foot in anticipation of the next major plot reveal.
The Weinstein Company
Kill Bill: Volume 1 (2003)
The first entry in Tarantinos two-partKill Billseries,Kill Bill: Volume 1shows off Tarantinos proficient skills at awe-inspiring action sequences, as evidenced by the epic (and incredibly gory) fight scene between Uma Thurmans Bride and the Crazy 88 street gang.
Combining the underlying elements of an Italian giallo film with the visual style of a 70s martial arts movie and a contemporary anime series,Kill Bill: Volume 1rarely has a dull moment anywhere in its two-hour length, kicking off Tarantinos kung fu extravaganza with a satisfying bang.
Jackie Brown (1997)
Rather than attempting to outdo himself following his Oscar-winning success onPulp Fiction,Tarantino veered in an entirely different direction with his 1997 follow-up,Jackie Brown.Adapted from a novel by Elmore Leonard,Jackie Brownmarks the first (and so far only) instance of Tarantino using pre-existing material for one of his films.
Miramax
Though overarchingly faithful to its source material, Tarantino introduces enough changes to ensure the novel makes a smooth transition into a self-contained film.
Of course, in true Tarantino fashion, the director even manages to weave in some meticulous references to the movies that influenced him growing up, specifically introducing homage to the blaxploitation cinema of the 1970s (such as Pam GriersCoffyandFoxy Brown,among others).
Kill Bill: Volume 2 (2004)
Yes, admittedly,Kill Bill: Volume 2doesnt have the same high-octane action sequences as its predecessor.
Miramax
But what Volume 2 lacks in pulse-pounding stunt work, it more than makes up for with its enticing story.
Focusing on the Brides continuing quest for revenge against the surviving members of the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad,Kill Bill: Volume 2also presents a more nuanced look at Beatrix Kidd and her ex-lover Bill.
Providing an in-depth exploration of their romantic relationship together,Volume 2also underscores the true cost for Kiddos vengeance, leading to a bittersweet conclusion for Thurmans katana-wielding assassin.
Miramax
Django Unchained (2012)
Since his debut in the early 1990s, Tarantino has always expressed a deep-seated love for the 60s Spaghetti Westerns of filmmaker Sergio Leone (Once Upon a Time in the WestandThe Good, the Bad and the Ugly).
With that in mind, its certainly not surprising that the director would one day wind up making his own version of the traditional Western with 2012sDjango Unchained.
A bold and atmospheric revenge film set against the backdrop of the pre-Civil War South, Tarantinos persistently original work onDjango Unchainedestablishes the project as the best Western film in decades, netting Tarantino his second Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay.
Sony Pictures
Reservoir Dogs (1992)
Tarantinos debut effort,Reservoir Dogsalso stands among the most revolutionary indie dramas of the 1990s (an era that came packed to the brim with monumental indie films).
Relying extensively on his vast knowledge of international cinema, Tarantino broke the rules for independent filmmaking with his work here, cobbling together a fully-formed movie that borrowed from the French New Wave, Hong Kong crime films, and hard-boiled American heist movies.
The ensuing film solidified Tarantinos place as an efficient young filmmaker to watch out for in the future, as well as introducing many recurring themes that became associated with Tarantinos name (such as nonlinear plots, vivid characters, and a strong ear for dialogue).
Miramax
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019)
If theres one thing youve probably gathered from reading this list so far, its that Quentin Tarantino loves everything related to cinema, be it campy slasher movies from the 70s or vintage Western films from the 60s.
Channeling that love into 2019sOnce Upon a Time in Hollywood,Tarantino manages to transport viewers to the latter days of 1960s Los Angeles.
Backed by a groovy soundtrack filled with period-appropriate hits, Once Upon a Time in Hollywoodoffers up an enthralling study of Hollywoods heyday, breaking down the prevalent myths surrounding the film industry and the infamous Manson Family murders.
Sony Pictures
Inglourious Basterds (2009)
After the somewhat underwhelming response to his 2007 horror movieDeath Proof,Tarantino returned to a long-time passion project that hed been toying with for years.
Ensuring the project finally reached fruition, Tarantino redeemed himself in the public spotlight when it came time for 2009s hilarious World War II drama,Inglourious Basterds.
Mixing laughs with plenty of heart-stopping narrative reveals,Inglourious Basterdsproved that Tarantino had not yet lost his distinct capabilities as a creative filmmaker, resulting in a movie that only gets better with each new viewing.
The Weinstein Company
Pulp Fiction (1994)
Referenced, mocked, and lampooned in countless movies, TV shows, and video games since its 1994 release,Pulp Fictionlives on as Tarantinos definitive masterpiece.
Among the most notable movies of the 1990s,Pulp Fictiondrew on every characteristic associated with Tarantinos distinct brand of filmmaking, from its pop culture-laced dialogue and three-dimensional characters to its plentiful plot twists and nonlinear presentation.
Achieving an iconic reputation over the past several decades,Pulp Fictioncontinues to rank among the most beloved films of the modern era, ensuring Tarantinos rapid ascent to the very top of the film industry.
Miramax
