The Best Quentin Tarantino Movies

Whether you’ve just started your journey in the realm of cinema or have been a film enthusiast for some time, it’s unlikely that you haven’t come across the name Quentin Tarantino, a filmmaker who’s been responsible for some of the most iconic movies in modern times. Aside from the numerous credits he has as a writer, producer, and short film director, Tarantino has directed 10 feature-length motion pictures during his long-running career, and each of them has added a distinct flavor to his filmography through the years.

Keeping in mind that none of these ten films can truly be described as bad, some of them are simply better than the others in terms of their rewatch value, entertainment factor, and cinematic characteristics.

10

Jackie Brown

There is not much that is wrong with Jackie Brown as a film, but some of its issues can throw you off because, for starters, it may be the dullest movie that Quentin Tarantino has ever directed. It does not have much going for it stylistically either, which makes its 2.5-hour runtime a bit bland to sit through, as the criminal lifestyle of its titular character, played by Pam Grier, is somehow the least interesting part of the entire film.

Thankfully, the supporting ensemble, which includes an excellent performance by the late Robert Forster along with an energetic Samuel L. Jackson, swoops in to save the day, but there is only so much you can do when the film’s pacing keeps hindering its overall appeal.

9

Death Proof

Quentin Tarantino’s take on the slasher genre came out with mixed results, as although the film is not even two hours long, it starts to feel like it is overstaying its welcome at one point. Combined with some questionable performances, such as the stuntwoman Zoe Bell playing herself, Death Proof is not the strongest moment in Tarantino’s filmography, but it can be enjoyed if you turn your brain off and want to watch a creative automobile twist on the serial killer trope.

With a memorable soundtrack and an unforgettable sequence featuring Vanessa Ferlito’s Arlene (you will know it when you see it), Death Proof does have a lot of mindless fun in store, making it an enjoyable title from 2007 that feels like it was released in the 90s thanks to the homage it pays to old-school cinema.

8

Kill Bill: Volume 2

You would think that a two-part saga that revolves around a woman trying to take revenge against the titular character would ensure that Bill himself is a satisfying element at the end of it, but unfortunately, the build-up leading to their reunion is much more intriguing than the actual meeting. But putting the disappointing final encounter aside, Kill Bill: Volume 2 is still a great sequel that continues everything that made the first film so fresh.

The intro scene at the wedding and the Bride being stuck inside a coffin are just two of the many instances that make the only sequel in Quentin Tarantino’s filmography a fulfilling viewing experience worthy of the quality of Volume 1, for the majority of its runtime at least.

7

Reservoir Dogs

Being the very first feature-length film directed by Quentin Tarantino, Reservoir Dogs introduced and defined many elements that have become a staple of the director’s filmography since 1992. The majority of Reservoir Dogs owes its effectiveness to the excellent ensemble cast that has to carry the film on its shoulders while sitting in one room, and things could have gone very wrong if the dialogue written by Tarantino was not as gripping as it thankfully was.

The plot is simple: a heist does not go exactly as planned and ends up in utter chaos, leading the participants to meet at a rendezvous point to figure out which of them was the loose end, but Tarantino somehow turns that basic premise into a compelling film with catchy conversations and engaging nonlinear storytelling.

6

Once Upon A Time In Hollywood

The biggest problem with Quentin Tarantino’s latest film is that it tries to tackle way too many storylines, even with its long runtime, resulting in some of them not getting the focused attention that they should have received. For example, the talent of Margot Robbie feels wasted as Sharon Tate, which could have been an entirely different movie on its own, but the Tate murders come across as more of an afterthought and shoehorned in rather than a fully realized story.

Fortunately, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood has the power to transport you to the golden 60s era of the film industry, with standout performances and the dynamic between Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt stealing the show, although the climax of the movie, which involves a flamethrower, doesn’t feel earned.

5

The Hateful Eight

With The Hateful Eight, Quentin Tarantino takes everything that made Reservoir Dogs so effective and turns it up several notches, putting an even more fascinating set of characters in one room and embracing the tell-don’t-show approach with a tightly written script. These characters are brought to life by a wonderful ensemble cast that delivers amazing performances, as a sense of whodunit mystery keeps looming over the entire film.

It’s hilarious when it needs to be, over the top when it comes to its violence and has gripping music to keep the mysterious elements going, making it the most Tarantino film that the director has ever created.

4

Django Unchained

If there were any doubts regarding Jamie Foxx’s acting chops before 2012, Django Unchained made sure that it utilized the actor’s talent by putting him in his most dramatic role yet, and it does that with an emotionally charged plot that hits you right in the feels. Foxx is supported by an ensemble that brings nothing less than its A-game to the table, with Christoph Waltz, Leonardo DiCaprio, Samuel L. Jackson, and everyone else owning their respective roles.

With Django Unchained, Quentin Tarantino puts his own stylistic and unconventional twist on the spaghetti Western genre, with each sequence being just as engrossing as the one before, making you genuinely care about the titular character as he tries to navigate the harsh world to find his wife.

3

Kill Bill: Volume 1

Even after more than two decades, there aren’t many films that can be compared to Kill Bill: Volume 1, an extremely innovative movie that feels like it has been converted from an anime to live-action and ends up being a splendid viewing experience. Serving as an introduction to the Bride’s revenge plot against the titular Bill, the film’s vibrant and highly stylized take on the martial arts action genre remains unmatched.

The action choreography still holds up even today; the assassins that Uma Thurman’s character confronts are all eccentrically unique in their ways, and the movie keeps the momentum going throughout its runtime, resulting in a timeless classic that can be rewatched over and over again despite its sequel’s issues.

2

Pulp Fiction

There’s a reason why Pulp Fiction always comes up in conversations about the best films of all time, and although it might seem pretentious to believe in that sentiment, the kind of influence that the 1994 movie has had on cinema can’t be ignored. Aside from being a major part of pop culture, despite being released in the 20th century, Pulp Fiction ditches the traditional form of filmmaking and divides its narrative into segments that feel like episodes of a television series.

The film showcases Quentin Tarantino’s greatest strengths and packs them up within a perfect runtime, which includes dialogue that keeps you hooked, sequences that may seem out of place and weird in any other movie but work marvelously here, characters who you will remember for a long time, and a soundtrack for the ages.

1

Inglourious Basterds

The opening sequence in Inglourious Basterds will be more than enough for you to realize that you’re in for a very special viewing experience, as it not only sets the stage for a rollercoaster ride but takes the most subtly intense approach to introduce one of the greatest antagonists in modern films, Christoph Waltz’s Hans Landa. It’s a take on the war genre that isn’t usually witnessed in the film industry, as although there’s plenty of action, the gradual build-up is what will keep you on the edge of your seat, as any situation can go in any unexpected direction.

Inglourious Basterds takes itself seriously when it wants to but simultaneously knows when to sprinkle in some light-hearted moments through its dialogue, has an ensemble cast that’s having a lot of fun with the script it’s been given, and juggles various storylines to converge them towards a highly satisfying conclusion. It’s an essential Quentin Tarantino film that even casual movie watchers can appreciate, as it’s easily the most entertaining movie in the director’s filmography.