If Quentin Tarantino sticks to his plan to retire from filmmaking after directing 10 movies to leave behind a solid filmography before losing his edge, he’s only going to make one more movie (he’s technically already made 10, but he counts Kill Bill as one). While some critics claim his homage-driven style prevents real innovation, most are unable to deny the sheer joys of watching the Tarantino-verse unfold on the big screen.
From splatters of blood to well-placed soundtrack choices to poetic conversations about nothing, Tarantino’s style is utterly cinematic, and uniquely his own. Q.T. has yet to direct a really terrible movie – although the jury’s still out on Death Proof – but some of his movies have been slightly better-received than others.
10 Death Proof (64%)
It should come as no surprise to Tarantino fans that Death Proof is his lowest-rated directorial effort on Rotten Tomatoes, because even the director himself considers it to be his worst film.
The premise is sound – a blend of slasher and carsploitation about a sadistic stuntman with a death-proof car who kills young women in car crashes – but the execution emulates its homage targets’ shoddy style a little too accurately.
9 The Hateful Eight (74%)
Despite taking place mostly in a single location, The Hateful Eight is one of Tarantino’s longest films. At times, there seem to be long stretches of superfluous dialogue that could’ve been cut to streamline the movie a little, but for the most part, the movie successfully builds tension toward shocking payoffs.
Samuel L. Jackson’s electrifying lead performance, Robert Richardson’s stunning 70mm cinematography, and Ennio Morricone’s spooky, engrossing Oscar-winning score more than make up for the weak spots in Tarantino’s script.
8 Kill Bill: Volume 2 (84%)
Tarantino considers Kill Bill to be one movie and even wanted to release it as such before the now-infamous Harvey Weinstein balked at the idea of releasing a four-hour movie. The second half of the Kill Bill saga is much slower and flabbier than its predecessor.
Where Volume 1 is an action-packed extravaganza, Volume 2 spends much of its runtime as a hangout movie. It works as the conclusion to the Bride’s journey, but Volume 1 is a more entertaining ride.
7 Once Upon A Time In Hollywood (85%)
Tarantino stepped outside his comfort zone with 2019’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. Instead of drawing from a genre like spaghetti westerns or kung fu actioners, Tarantino drew on his own memories of Los Angeles in 1969, as the Golden Age of Hollywood was coming to an end.
This is a movie that has to be watched a few times to be fully appreciated. Tarantino seamlessly blends his own world with that of ‘60s Hollywood, while Robert Richardson’s cinematography on the sun-drenched streets of L.A. is gorgeous.
6 Kill Bill: Volume 1 (85%)
The first Kill Bill “volume” is only ranked one percentage point higher than the second one on Rotten Tomatoes, but it is arguably the better movie.
From the opening suburban fight scene to the climactic showdown at the House of Blue Leaves, Volume 1 certainly has the best action of the Kill Bill duology.
5 Django Unchained (87%)
There was some controversy surrounding the use of spaghetti western motifs and dark humor to depict American slavery in Django Unchained, but there’s not much room for subtlety when dealing with such an ugly, harrowing chapter of history.
Tarantino’s revenge fantasy epic, in which a freed slave becomes a bounty hunter and infiltrates a plantation to liberate his wife, is a bold, operatic, satirical masterpiece. Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz, Kerry Washington, Samuel L. Jackson, and Leonardo DiCaprio all give impeccable performances.
4 Jackie Brown (87%)
Blaxploitation legend Pam Grier became one of the first fading movie stars to receive a career renaissance courtesy of Quentin Tarantino when she played the title character in Jackie Brown. Adapted from Elmore Leonard’s Rum Punch, Jackie Brown is Tarantino’s only movie to be based on previous source material.
Perhaps owing to this restriction, Jackie Brown is arguably Tarantino’s most mature movie. It doesn’t have any flashy stylistic flairs, it keeps focused on telling its story, and most importantly, it explores real human emotions.
3 Inglourious Basterds (89%)
Tarantino boldly declared Inglourious Basterds to be his masterpiece in the movie itself. The director had been working on his own take on a Dirty Dozen-esque World War II epic for years before he finally settled on a final draft and got the cameras rolling.
The end result certainly didn’t disappoint. Col. Hans Landa, played by Christoph Waltz, is one of the greatest villains in movie history. His scenes in the film are a masterclass in suspense-building.
2 Reservoir Dogs (92%)
When Reservoir Dogs hit the indie movie scene in 1992, it was a revelation. Oozing with style, Tarantino’s low-budget debut established all of the filmmaker’s hallmarks: nonlinear storytelling, idiosyncratic dialogue, revenge themes, pop music juxtaposed against graphic violence etc.
Tarantino singlehandedly kicked off a new wave of American independent cinema when he brought together influences from French crime movies and spaghetti westerns in Reservoir Dogs.
1 Pulp Fiction (92%)
Tarantino’s second feature is on par with his first on the Tomatometer. After Reservoir Dogs introduced moviegoers to Tarantino’s style, Pulp Fiction showed them what he could do with a big Hollywood studio’s money and equipment.
With one of the most fiercely original screenplays ever written and a cast to die for, Tarantino followed up his groundbreaking debut movie with an even more groundbreaking sophomore movie.