Every Quentin Tarainto Movie Ranked

Few filmmakers are as well-regarded as Quentin Tarantino. Thanks to his quippy dialogue, stylish cinematography, and penchant for filming feet, Taran

After nine films and a tenth in the making, Quentin’s filmography is nearly flawless. From his first film in 1992 to his latest starring Leonardo Dicaprio, we rank every Quentin Tarantino film from best to worst.

PULP FICTION: QUENTIN TARANTINO’S BEST FILM

Pulp Fiction is a film about guns, gimps, and gold watches. This 1994 P’alme d’Or winner catapulted Quentin Tarantino from indie darling wunderkind to visionary filmmaker leagues above his peers. Pulp Fiction captivated audiences with its non-linear narrative and superb cast.

Even today, critics still cite Pulp Fiction as groundbreaking cinema. The 1990’s were a a treasure trove of American filmmaking due in no small part to the legacy left by Pulp Fiction. Quentin has never made a bad film in his career, but none of his subsequent films have been able to top this sophomore outing.

ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD: QUENTIN SUBVERTS HISTORY TO TELL A FANTASTIC STORY

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood follows actor Rick Dalton and his stunt double Cliff Booth as their lives intersect with real-world Hollywood stars of the 1970s. Quentin loves to rewrite history, and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is his best revisionist tale yet.

One thing we love about Quentin Tarantino’s movies is how he always puts the story first. He never lets insignificant things like historical accuracy get in the way of telling the best story. Once Upon a Time plays with the audience’s emotions by telling a story we all know, the Manson Family, and ratcheting up the tension to an incredibly satisfying conclusion. This film also has some of the best performances in a Quentin Tarantino film to date. Not just in a Quentin movie, but honestly, in any film.

INGLORIOUS BASTERDS: A MODERN-DAY DIRTY DOZEN

Inglorious Basterds is Quentin Tarantino’s take on the World War 2 action genre. Quentin plays with genre in the film by making it part war film, part heist movie, and part revenge fantasy.

The titular Basterds carry the narrative, but it’s the fight between displaced Jew Soshana and nazi leader Hans that drive the film’s tension. The opening scene, where Christoph Waltz searches a house whose owner is hiding Jews under the floorboards, is a masterclass in horror filmmaking. The tension in this scene is palpable, and it perfectly sets up Soshana’s quest for revenge.

This was the first film where Quentin disregarded historical accuracy for a better narrative. The climactic cinema ending is poignant, where the good guys win, and the bad guys get their comeuppance. It’s a perfect end to a perfect movie that could only be accomplished by a filmmaker like Quentin Tarantino.

KILL BILL: BLOODY PERFECTION

The Kill Bill films are some of Quentin’s bloodiest to date. They tell the story of “The Bride” and her quest for revenge from a group of deadly assassins.

Kill Bill takes inspiration from kung fu movies of the late 60s and 70s, with a modern-day twist and spurting blood galore. Uma Thurman is given the spotlight, and she nails the part of a scorned lover seeking revenge. This was her second appearance in a QT film, but it is undoubtedly her best role to date.

DEATH PROOF: A DOUBLE-BILLED GRINDHOUSE HORROR

Eli Roth and Quentin Tarantino’s Grindhouse experiment didn’t land with audiences the way they were expecting. Two films were released simultaneously in cinemas with trailers for fake exploitation films shown during an intermission. Unfortunately, audiences didn’t have the same nostalgia for grindhouse double features, and the project ultimately flopped.

Quentin has said that Death Proof is his worst film, but we disagree. Audiences didn’t fully understand the movie at the time but on subsequent viewings, the film’s true genius is brought to life. The stellar female-led ensemble, the amazing practical effects, and the mid-point perspective switch make Death Proof an incredible film with a near-flawless script.

RESERVOIR DOGS: QUENTIN’S FIRST FILM

Reservoir Dogs is the first film Quentin made on his own. The film is told in a non-linear format, with members of a heist crew dealing with the fallout of a failed score.

Quentin’s brilliance shines through with this film as he had very little money to shoot and produce it. He wisely decided to write the script with these limitations in mind and delivered a gripping narrative through dialogue rather than spectacle.

The performances, notably Harvey Keitel and Michael Madsen, carry the film with their long expository dialogue. Reservoir Dogs is notable for starting Quentin’s career and showing the world exactly what the then-young director was capable of.

DJANGO UNCHAINED: SPAGHETTI WESTERN, VICIOUS REVENGE

Revenge is a common theme in QT’s movies, but none do the genre as much justice as Django Unchained. The film follows freed slave Django as he seeks revenge on his former masters and frees his wife, Broomhilda.

Leonardo DiCaprio gives an amazing performance in this film, playing the rare villain character. The film is also one of Quentin’s funniest, playing off tropes of the Old West and bumbling Klan members.

THE HATEFUL EIGHT: AN OLD WEST WHODUNNIT

Hateful Eight plays more like a stage performance than a traditional film. The majority of the film takes place in one room where each character, Agatha Christie style, attempts to surmise who amongst them has ulterior motives.

Hateful Eight allows Quentin’s writing to take center stage as most of the film is comprised of quippy dialogue that builds tension. The central mystery almost takes a backseat to the wonderful performances by the stellar cast.

JACKIE BROWN: QUENTIN TARANTINO’S RUM PUNCH ADAPTATION

Quentin Tarantino has never made a bad film, and Jackie Brown is no exception. His third film is still filled with fantastic dialogue and memorable characters. The reason Quentin’s third film lands at the bottom of our list is that it’s the only film in his repertoire that isn’t an original story.

Quentin is at his best while directing his own ideas, and it shows in Jackie Brown. While the film is still fantastic and far above its peers, it doesn’t reach the heights of his other seminal works. The performances are fantastic. Notably Pam Grier in the title role. But the convoluted money smuggling plot doesn’t feel as tight as some of Quentin’s original ideas.