Ranking Quentin Tarantino's 10 Films
by EmboldenedLoser | created - 26 Mar 2011 | updated - 2 months ago | PublicEven though he may not be one of my favorite directors, a lot of other people would agree otherwise. What many people come to see when watching a Tarantino flick is the great dialogue, and I am one of the many. The humor and drama perfected the way Tarantino does it, can only be done by him. Hitting it big with "Reservior Dogs," and then becoming a household name with the release of "Pulp Fiction," he has become a legend and an idol ever since.
The aspect of Tarantino's films that I admire the most, and what is often overlooked, are the presence of the strong, witty, and empowering black and female characters in most of his filmography. Those characters are usually ignored in Hollywood movies, that always seem to have a white male protagonist, and where the female characters are looked upon as pure sex objects for the camera, and where the racially-stereotyped black male characters play second-fiddle to the white protagonist.
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1. Pulp Fiction (1994)
R | 154 min | Crime, Drama
The lives of two mob hitmen, a boxer, a gangster and his wife, and a pair of diner bandits intertwine in four tales of violence and redemption.
Director: Quentin Tarantino | Stars: John Travolta, Uma Thurman, Samuel L. Jackson, Bruce Willis
Votes: 2,206,599 | Gross: $107.93M
My rating - 10/10
The film's themes of redemption, loyalty, and in a way, compassion and sympathy, are what separates itself from so many of the thoughtless crime movies. Some really overlooked aspects of the movie, which was like the starting point for Q.T. to use in for future film projects, were the splendid and non-stereotyped representation of black male characters (Junes Winnfield & Marsellus Wallace), the non-sexualized and bold female characters (Mia Wallace, Fabienne, & Yolanda), and the fine portrayal of non-American characters (Fabienne & Esmarelda Villalobos). Not to mention, the inclusion of, not just one, but actually two interracial couples (Mia and Marsellus Wallace & Bonnie and Jimmie Dimmick), something that which Hollywood seems to be too afraid of doing, and breaking away from their usual formula of always featuring white, heterosexual couples. My major, and probably my only, gripe with the movie is the execution and the ambivalence behind the point of the "gimp scene." I have so many questions about that scene, and I've done a lot of research for answers online, and I am still left questioning this memorable fan-favorite scene.
2. Inglourious Basterds (2009)
R | 153 min | Adventure, Drama, War
In Nazi-occupied France during World War II, a plan to assassinate Nazi leaders by a group of Jewish U.S. soldiers coincides with a theatre owner's vengeful plans for the same.
Director: Quentin Tarantino | Stars: Brad Pitt, Diane Kruger, Eli Roth, Mélanie Laurent
Votes: 1,573,992 | Gross: $120.54M
My rating - 9/10
The opening scene of the movie, in my opinion, is the best scene that Tarantino has ever directed. The intense tension and sympathetic compassion, along with the usual Q.T., makes it one of the greatest individual scenes of the 2000s. The film had the usual great dialogue, as expected, but also had some fantastic acting. Probably the funniest movie by Tarantino since Pulp Fiction. I thought some scenes went on far too long, which is the main reason that I didn't give it a higher rating. I loved the ending, a rare happy ending for a World War II movie.
3. Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood (2019)
R | 161 min | Comedy, Drama
A faded television actor and his stunt double strive to achieve fame and success in the final years of Hollywood's Golden Age in 1969 Los Angeles.
Director: Quentin Tarantino | Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie, Emile Hirsch
Votes: 839,995 | Gross: $142.50M
My rating - 8.5/10
4. Reservoir Dogs (1992)
R | 99 min | Crime, Thriller
When a simple jewelry heist goes horribly wrong, the surviving criminals begin to suspect that one of them is a police informant.
Director: Quentin Tarantino | Stars: Harvey Keitel, Tim Roth, Michael Madsen, Chris Penn
Votes: 1,083,130 | Gross: $2.83M
My rating - 8.5/10
The first film written and directed by Quentin Tarantino, was also one of the most innovating movies of the 90's. The first 10 minutes or so of the movie, is probably the best part of this short movie. I found the movie to be very powerful among other heist films. In Roger Ebert's review of the movie, he said that Tarantino had a great idea, but couldn't fully execute it. In my opinion, the movie was way too dialogue-driven, which really hurt the film. In Ebert, I can totally concur with his assessment of Tarantino's directional-debut.
5. Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003)
R | 111 min | Action, Crime, Thriller
After awakening from a four-year coma, a former assassin wreaks vengeance on the team of assassins who betrayed her.
Director: Quentin Tarantino | Stars: Uma Thurman, David Carradine, Daryl Hannah, Michael Madsen
Votes: 1,185,993 | Gross: $70.10M
My rating - 8/10
If I am correct, this was the first Tarantino movie that I ever watched. To be honest, the first time I watched it, I found it to be boring. I then watched it a second time, and found it wildly entertaining. I'm not much a fan of action movies, but this had possibly the coolest action scenes I have ever witnessed. I loved the black-and-white transitioning and cartoons that Tarantino so wisely used. The one major flaw I had with the movie was that their wasn't much plot to the movie.
6. Django Unchained (2012)
R | 165 min | Drama, Western
With the help of a German bounty-hunter, a freed slave sets out to rescue his wife from a brutal plantation owner in Mississippi.
Director: Quentin Tarantino | Stars: Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz, Leonardo DiCaprio, Kerry Washington
Votes: 1,684,006 | Gross: $162.81M
My rating - 8/10
7. Jackie Brown (1997)
R | 154 min | Crime, Drama, Thriller
A flight attendant with a criminal past gets nabbed by the ATF for smuggling. Under pressure to become an informant against the illegal arms dealer she works for, she must find a way to secure her future without getting killed.
Director: Quentin Tarantino | Stars: Pam Grier, Samuel L. Jackson, Robert Forster, Bridget Fonda
Votes: 372,910 | Gross: $39.67M
My rating - 7.5/10
The film most known as the follow up to his hit success Pulp Fiction. Not nearly as known or as adored as his previous film. I found the movie to have a long and slow feel to it. Albeit, I do respect how he stayed true to the vibe of the blaxploitation films from the '70's that he was trying to pay homage to in this movie.
8. Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004)
R | 137 min | Action, Crime, Thriller
The Bride continues her quest of vengeance against her former boss and lover Bill, the reclusive bouncer Budd, and the treacherous, one-eyed Elle.
Director: Quentin Tarantino | Stars: Uma Thurman, David Carradine, Michael Madsen, Daryl Hannah
Votes: 800,818 | Gross: $66.21M
My rating - 7.5/10
This film had great action scenes, not nearly as good as its predecessor though. What made this film so amazing for me was the character development, story, and emotion that is expressed throughout the film. I don't understand why it's not ranked in IMDb's Top 250 movies, and also why it doesn't have a higher rating. This film is probably QT's most sentimental and mature film he's directed. Some slower scenes here and there denied it from been given a higher rating.
9. Death Proof (2007)
R | 127 min | Action, Thriller
Two separate sets of voluptuous women are stalked at different times by a scarred stuntman who uses his "death proof" cars to execute his murderous plans.
Director: Quentin Tarantino | Stars: Kurt Russell, Zoë Bell, Rosario Dawson, Vanessa Ferlito
Votes: 312,450
My rating - 7/10
This film had some disappointing dialogue for what I expect to hear in a Q.T. screenplay. Every now and then there would be the Tarantino dialogue you'd expect. What saves this film are the incredible action scenes, best exemplified by its fiery climax.
10. The Hateful Eight (2015)
R | 168 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
In the dead of a Wyoming winter, a bounty hunter and his prisoner find shelter in a cabin currently inhabited by a collection of nefarious characters.
Director: Quentin Tarantino | Stars: Samuel L. Jackson, Kurt Russell, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Walton Goggins
Votes: 655,776 | Gross: $54.12M
My rating - 6.5/10
With most of the $60 million budget obviously going to the actors and not the movie's setting, QT directed a lengthy, but tense movie. The screenplay is not as sharp and have that usual wit from him. Great performances all-around, even Channing Tatum's small appearance. The movie is a bit too long and drags out. My main concern with the movie is its questionable morality. We aren't presented with any good, but a lot of bad. Without spoiling, the movie resolves with bad taste and without nobility.
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