Love him or hate him, Quentin Tarantino is one of the most influential directors and screenwriters of the modern era. He is best known for weaving stories of historical fiction and crime dramedy, with lots of snappy dialogue and copious amounts of violence and gore. Tarantino is an acquired taste for sure, but to most cinema aficionados, he is considered one of the greatest filmmakers of all time.
Tarantino has served as a producer on several other projects that were widely panned, but every film that he has written and directed has a Certified Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes from critics and audiences alike. Even so, as it is with every great artist, some new projects can be just as acclaimed as their predecessors, while others aren't quite up to par.
10 Grindhouse Presents: Death Proof (2007) Is His Lowest-Rated But A Fun Ride
Death Proof is the second film in the double-feature Grindhouse from 2007, written and directed by Quentin Tarantino. Its paired film, Planet Terror is written and directed by Tarantino's co-producer on the whole project, Robert Rodriguez. The back-to-back pulpy B-grade material was intended to be an homage to the exploitation films from the 70s, with plenty of blood, guts, nudity, and dark humor.
Death Proof doesn't pack quite as much of a punch as Tarantino's other works, but this is likely due to it not being a standalone film – making the film feel more like the second episode of a series. Still, it's a fun ride, unlike the "death-proof" car at the center of the film. Death Proof holds a 64% Critic Rating and an Audience Rating of 72% on Rotten Tomatoes.
9 The Hateful Eight (2015) Is Worth The Long Runtime
The Hateful Eight received mostly positive reviews but remains one of Tarantino's more polarizing films. Many complained about the disproportionate ratio of dialogue to action, while others argued that the screenplay alone is compelling enough to remain invested. The film's length was criticized as well, clocking in at a whopping 187 minutes in its roadshow theatrical release. (There's an even longer version, broken down into 4 parts on Netflix.)
The Hateful Eight is a Western dramedy, Tarantino's stylish twist on the whodunit mystery genre. And though it's far from perfect, it is still an example of the writer/director's talent for genre-bending, and also provided actress Jennifer Jason Leigh with a triumphant comeback role. Critics gave it a 74% on Rotten Tomatoes, while audiences gave it 76%.
8 Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004) Measured Up To Its Predecessor
Sequels seldom measure up to their predecessors, but Kill Bill Vol. 2 is one of the few exceptions, with a rating just 1% lower than Kill Bill Vol. 1. Many – both critics and audiences alike – actually preferred this sequel to the first installment.
Vol. 2 picks up where Vol. 1 left off, with The Bride having plenty more names left to cross off her kill list. One of the most exciting aspects of the Kill Bill duology is Tarantino's complete freedom in making a film as violent and gory as he wanted. Vol. 2 provides a satisfying ending to a delightfully fierce series. Critics gave it a solid 84%, while audiences gave it a whopping 89%.
7 Once Upon A Time In Hollywood (2019) Was A Love Letter To Hollywood
Critics had a bit more love for Tarantino's most recent film than audiences, but those who immerse themselves in the world of filmmaking will almost undoubtedly have a greater appreciation for it. Once Upon A Time In Hollywood is a bittersweet love letter to Hollywood, as well as a nostalgic celebration – and poignant critique – of 60s culture.
This is likely Tarantino's last film, as he has stated in the past that he only intended on writing and directing a maximum of 10 films. Whether or not he will stick to his promise is unclear, but if so, Once Upon A Time In Hollywood is a high note in the director's body of work. Critics gave it an 85% on Rotten Tomatoes, while audiences had more mixed feelings, settling at 70%.
6 Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003) Redefined Female Empowerment In Cinema
The original Kill Bill was more than just a revenge thriller; it was a new kind of representation of female empowerment – and it's absolutely dripping with style. Some argue that it has more of a style-over-substance approach than Tarantino's other works, but it's so artfully executed that most complaints about the plot are easily forgotten. It's the movie that later inspired the only sequel that Tarantino has written and directed throughout his career.
Kill Bill Vol. 1 introduces us to The Bride, who awakens from a 4-year coma after her ex-lover attempted to murder her on her wedding day, sending her down a bloody path of revenge. Tarantino often pays homage to films from the 70s and did the martial arts films from that era justice. The Rotten Tomatoes Critic Rating stands at 85%, while the Audience Rating is 81%.
5 Django Unchained (2012) Sparked Necessary Conversations
Django Unchained has a surprising amount of humor for a film about an ex-slave who joins forces with a bounty hunter to take down the South's most wanted criminals. It borders on silly at some points, but never in a way that overrides the thematic value throughout the film. At the time of Django's release, too few films had been made about just how despicable slavery actually was, and plenty of irony lies in the fact that a white filmmaker was able to successfully convey that – though not without its fair share of controversy.
Django Unchained is a Western revenge fantasy, styled in the vein of Sergio Leone films, and features ideas and themes that are meant to make the viewer uncomfortable. Critics gave the film 86% on Rotten Tomatoes, and audiences settled a notch higher at 92%.
4 Jackie Brown (1997) Is An Underrated Gem
One of the lesser-known films on Quentin Tarantino's resume, Jackie Brown may not be the most hard-hitting film he's made, but it's one of the most smartly written, and both critics and audiences alike can recognize that. Once again paying tribute to 70s cinema (this time the "blaxploitation" genre), Jackie Brown follows a flight attendant who gets busted smuggling money for an arms dealer, then tries to make off with the loot, all while falling in love along the way.
Jackie Brown is slower-paced than Tarantino's other films, but the 150-minute runtime still flies by, and it's got enough sex, swearing, and murder for old and new Tarantino fans to find something to enjoy. Critics gave the film 87% on Rotten Tomatoes, and audiences gave it 85%.
3 Inglourious Basterds (2009) Is The Ultimate Historical Revenge Fantasy
Similar to Django Unchained, Inglourious Basterds is a strong example of Tarantino's inventiveness when it comes to creating historical fantasies. Between the scenes of action and violence (and a satisfyingly high body count of Nazis), the film is at its most tense during its quietest moments, making it a thrill ride even for those who are perpetually bored by history. Christoph Waltz's performance was singled out by critics and has become an iconic role in cinema.
Tarantino isn't afraid to show just how ugly and messy the past really was. It's a testament to his talent – and to society, as it stands today – that somehow, Inglourious Basterds is as relevant as ever, even in the year 2022. Critics gave Basterds 89% on Rotten Tomatoes, while audiences rated it just one percent lower at 88%.
2 Reservoir Dogs (1992) Put Tarantino On The Map
Quentin Tarantino's career immediately opened with a bang when he released his debut feature, and it has remained his second-highest-ranked film on Rotten Tomatoes. Reservoir Dogs almost feels like watching a stage play for two reasons: the setting is fairly minimal, and the performances carry the entirety of the film.
Reservoir Dogs doesn't have the sense of satisfaction that comes with the revenge fantasies Tarantino would make later in his career and it's downright nihilistic in comparison to those latter features. However, despite being Tarantino's least flashy film (likely just due to budget constraints), there's a reason Reservoir Dogs put him on the map right out of the gate. The film stands at 90% with critics on Rotten Tomatoes, and 94% with audiences.
1 Pulp Fiction (1994) Is One Of The Most Influential Films Of The 1990s
There's a reason Pulp Fiction has gone down in history as one of the most iconic films of the 1990s. It combines everything that Quentin Tarantino does best, all with his signature twist: neo-noir thrillers, B-movies, crime fantasies, and pitch-black humor paired with his trademark non-linear storytelling. Pulp Fiction earns its name, pulling from all perenially undervalued forms of entertainment.
If Reservoir Dogs is the film that put Tarantino on the map, then Pulp Fiction is the one that inspired a new generation of filmmakers and has become one of the most commonly referenced films in modern pop culture. Critics and audiences both adored the film, giving it 92% and 96%, respectively.