So you're digging into Quentin Tarantino movies directed? Smart move. Look, I remember back in college when a buddy shoved Reservoir Dogs in my face saying "You gotta see this!" Had no clue who Tarantino was. Two hours later my brain felt like it'd been scrambled with a chainsaw – in the best way possible. That raw energy, the snappy dialogue... man, it rewired how I saw cinema. Now, whether you're a newbie or just double-checking details, let's break down every film this guy's put his director stamp on.
Quentin Tarantino Directed Movies: The Full List (In Order)
Counting Quentin Tarantino movies directed is trickier than it seems. See, he's done segments in anthologies like Four Rooms and written stuff he didn't direct. But pure QT-helmed films? That's nine so far with one final one coming. Here’s the official lineup:
| Movie Title | Year | Key Cast | Runtime | Box Office (USD) | Iconic Scene |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reservoir Dogs | 1992 | Harvey Keitel, Tim Roth, Michael Madsen | 99 min | $2.9M | Ear-cutting to "Stuck in the Middle" |
| Pulp Fiction | 1994 | John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, Uma Thurman | 154 min | $214M | Diner robbery & Ezekiel speech |
| Jackie Brown | 1997 | Pam Grier, Robert Forster, Robert De Niro | 154 min | $74M | Mall money handoff sequence |
| Kill Bill: Volume 1 | 2003 | Uma Thurman, Lucy Liu, Vivica A. Fox | 111 min | $180M | Crazy 88 fight in blue lighting |
| Kill Bill: Volume 2 | 2004 | Uma Thurman, David Carradine, Michael Madsen | 137 min | $152M | Buried alive escape |
| Death Proof | 2007 | Kurt Russell, Zoë Bell, Rosario Dawson | 113 min | $31M | Car chase with hood stunt |
| Inglourious Basterds | 2009 | Brad Pitt, Christoph Waltz, Mélanie Laurent | 153 min | $321M | Opening farmhouse interrogation |
| Django Unchained | 2012 | Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz, Leonardo DiCaprio | 165 min | $426M | Candyland shootout |
| The Hateful Eight | 2015 | Samuel L. Jackson, Kurt Russell, Jennifer Jason Leigh | 168 min (Roadshow) | $156M | Poisoned coffee reveal |
| Once Upon a Time in Hollywood | 2019 | Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie | 161 min | $377M | Cliff Booth vs. Manson Family |
Quick confession: Death Proof nearly lost me. That middle chunk drags like tires in mud. Kurt Russell’s awesome but man, some scenes could’ve used trimming. Still, even QT’s "misses" have gold nuggets – that final car chase gets my pulse racing every time.
Where to Watch Quentin Tarantino Movies Legally
Finding Quentin Tarantino movies directed online? Don’t torrent. Not cool. Here’s where to stream legally right now (US):
- Netflix: Inglourious Basterds, Django Unchained
- Amazon Prime: Reservoir Dogs, Kill Bill Vol.1 & 2
- Apple TV: Pulp Fiction ($3.99 rental), Jackie Brown ($3.99)
- Max: The Hateful Eight, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Physical media heads – grab the Tarantino XX Blu-ray set ($89) for 8 films with killer commentaries.
Breaking Down Tarantino's Style: Why His Films Feel Different
Ever notice how you can instantly recognize a Quentin Tarantino movie directed by him? Like smelling coffee brewing. Here’s why:
| Style Element | How QT Uses It | Best Example |
|---|---|---|
| Non-linear Storytelling | Chronology? Optional. Builds suspense through time jumps | Pulp Fiction's three interlocking stories |
| Dialogue-Driven Scenes | Characters debate burgers, foot massages – then violence erupts | Opening diner convo in Reservoir Dogs |
| Homage & Genre Blending | Mashes kung fu, spaghetti westerns, blaxploitation | Kill Bill's anime/samurai/western fusion |
| Ultra-Violence | Bloody but cartoonish – more opera than horror | The Bride vs. Crazy 88 in Kill Bill |
| Soundtrack Curating | Diegetic music (songs characters hear) sets mood | Stuck in the Middle in Reservoir Dogs |
| Trunk Shots | Low-angle shot from inside car trunks | Pulp Fiction's watch retrieval scene |
That soundtrack thing? Genius. I put on the Pulp Fiction vinyl sometimes while cooking. Makes flipping burgers feel like a hit job. But here’s my gripe – sometimes the homages border on theft. Yeah I said it. That Kill Bill whistle from Twisted Nerve? Totally lifted. Still works though.
Ranking Every Quentin Tarantino Movie Directed (Personal Take)
Alright, hot take time. Rankings change weekly but today?
- Pulp Fiction (1994): Rewrote indie cinema rules. Perfect pacing.
- Inglourious Basterds (2009): Waltz’s Landa is top-tier villainy.
- Once Upon a Time... (2019): DiCaprio & Pitt’s bromance gold.
- Reservoir Dogs (1992): Raw debut energy unmatched.
- Kill Bill Vol.1 (2003): Pure action joyride.
- Django Unchained (2012): DiCaprio’s best performance? Maybe.
- Jackie Brown (1997): Underrated slow-burn character study.
- Kill Bill Vol.2 (2004): Great finale but pacing dips.
- The Hateful Eight (2015): Gorgeous but claustrophobic.
- Death Proof (2007): Russell saves it from grindhouse gimmick.
Fight me on Jackie Brown’s spot. People sleep on it because no shootouts? But Pam Grier and Robert Forster’s chemistry? Magic. Saw it at a revival theater last year – holds up better than most 90s flicks.
Underrated Gem Alert: Jackie Brown gets overshadowed but it’s QT’s most mature work. That scene where Ordell (Samuel L. Jackson) argues with Beaumont (Chris Tucker) in the trunk? Comedy genius with underlying menace.
The Future: The Movie Critic (QT's Final Film)
Quentin Tarantino movies directed will cap at ten. He’s said it repeatedly. His last one? The Movie Critic. Details are sparse but rumors suggest:
- Late 1970s setting (duh)
- Could star Brad Pitt again
- Centers on a cynical film reviewer
- May involve real critics like Pauline Kael
Shooting reportedly starts late 2024. Expect theaters late 2025. Part of me hopes he pulls a David Bowie and drops more later though. Ten feels too soon!
Quentin Tarantino Movies: Common Questions Answered
How many movies has Quentin Tarantino directed?
Nine theatrical features so far. Reservoir Dogs (1992) through Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019). The Movie Critic will be his tenth and supposedly final film. Note: Kill Bill Vol.1 & 2 count as two despite being one story.
Why does Tarantino use feet shots so often?
Okay, it’s a fetish. He’s admitted it. From Uma’s painted toes in Pulp Fiction to the close-up on Bridget Fonda’s soles in Jackie Brown – it’s his signature quirk. Some film bros overanalyze it as "vulnerability symbolism." Nah. Dude just likes feet.
What’s the most violent Quentin Tarantino movie?
Kill Bill Vol.1 wins by decapitation count. That Crazy 88 fight sprays more blood than a slaughterhouse. But tone-wise? Django Unchained’s dog attacks and mandingo fights haunt me more. Hateful Eight’s vomiting blood scene? Almost walked out. Not because it’s bad – just too real with breakfast in my belly.
Are all Quentin Tarantino movies connected?
Sorta! He calls it the "Tarantino-verse." Characters share surnames (Pulp Fiction’s Vega brothers), brands like Red Apple cigarettes appear everywhere, and fictional products like Big Kahuna Burger pop up in multiple films. It’s not Marvel-level continuity but fun Easter eggs for fans.
Which QT film won the most Oscars?
Django Unchained scooped two (Original Screenplay for Tarantino, Supporting Actor for Waltz). Pulp Fiction also won Screenplay but lost Best Picture to Forrest Gump – still hurts. Inglourious Basterds got Waltz another Supporting Actor trophy. Surprisingly, no Best Director wins yet. Robbed!
Where should I start with Tarantino films?
Newbies? Pulp Fiction. It’s the Rosetta Stone. If you dig gritty crime, go Reservoir Dogs. Love westerns? Try Django Unchained. Hate slow burns? Skip Jackie Brown initially. Pro tip: Never watch Death Proof first. It’s dessert, not the main course.
Why does Tarantino always appear in his movies?
Hitchcock did it. Cameos are his playground. From Elvis impersonator in Pulp Fiction to the australian roommate in Django – they’re usually blink-and-miss. Except Death Proof where he crashes hard as Warren the bar owner. Bad accent? Yeah. Fun? Absolutely.
What cameras does Tarantino use?
Film purist alert! He shoots on actual film, not digital. Favors Panavision cameras with anamorphic lenses for that widescreen look. Hateful Eight used ultra-rare 70mm film – only 100 theaters could project it properly. His DP Robert Richardson is a legend.
Behind the Scenes: How Quentin Tarantino Directs
Seeing him work is wild. On Once Upon a Time, DiCaprio talked about QT acting out every role during rehearsals – full intensity. Rules on his sets? No phones. Ever. And he famously doesn’t storyboard. "If I can see it in my head, why draw it?" But the craziest thing? He writes longhand in notebooks with red pens. No computers. Saw one at an exhibit – margins packed with doodles and coffee stains.
"I steal from every single movie ever made... If my work has anything it's that I'm taking this from this and that from that and mixing them together." – QT on his "homage" approach
He rehearses dialogue for weeks before shooting. Samuel L. Jackson said the Ezekiel speech in Pulp Fiction took 15 takes because QT kept tweaking punctuation. That obsessive focus shows.
Budget Secrets & Box Office Wins
Fun money facts about Quentin Tarantino movies directed:
- Reservoir Dogs budget: $1.2 million (raised by selling True Romance script)
- Pulp Fiction profit: Made 42x its $8M budget
- Most expensive: Once Upon a Time ($90M – mostly star salaries)
- Biggest grosser: Django Unchained ($426M worldwide)
- Least profitable: Death Proof ($31M – Grindhouse double-feature flopped)
Django’s success shocked everyone. A slavery revenge western? Studio heads thought it was career suicide. Jokes on them – it outsold Bond film Skyfall that year.
Tarantino's Legacy & Influence on Cinema
Before QT, indie films rarely crossed $10M. Pulp Fiction grossed $214M. It proved dialogue-heavy R-rated films could dominate. His impact? Look at any snappy crime flick post-1994 – Lock Stock, Snatch, even John Wick’s pacing owes him. But the real legacy? Making film nerds cool. Suddenly knowing obscure kung fu flicks was a flex.
Downside? A ton of bad knockoffs. Late 90s saw awful Tarantino-lite scripts with pop culture rants and sudden violence. Most forgot the substance beneath his style.
Ultimately, Quentin Tarantino movies directed shifted Hollywood’s axis. From indie vaults to Oscar podiums – all without superhero spandex. The Movie Critic will close a 33-year directing run. End of an era? Definitely. But man, what a ride.