Skip to main content

The Best Quentin Tarantino Movies, Ranked

Of all the contemporary film auteurs, perhaps no one’s work has permeated pop culture as thoroughly as Quentin Tarantino’s. This director’s hyper-stylized, retro fantasy worlds have come to define cinematic coolness. His clever mashups of genres, exquisite sense of aesthetic, impeccable editing, uproarious suspensefulness, and impossibly quippy dialogue have been endlessly imitated.

Given the current political landscape, Tarantino’s work has undergone a serious critical re-evaluation from Black and feminist critics and scholars who point toward both his allegedly abusive behaviors and the offensive politics and rhetoric of his films. It’s true that in this new light, for many, there may be nothing redeemable about his entire oeuvre. 

However, to throw all of Tarantino’s movies into the trash would discount the impossible talent of his frequent collaborators and stars like Sally Menke (who edited all of Tarantino’s movies until her death in 2010), Uma Thurman (who not only played the protagonist of Tarantino’s most iconic movies but was also credited as a co-writer on Kill Bill), Samuel L. Jackson (a frequent Tarantino star), and many more.

With that in mind, here’s our (subjective!) ranking of the greatest Tarantino-directed films of all time.

9. Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood (2019)

9. Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood
83 %
7.6/10
162m
Genre Comedy, Drama, Thriller
Stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie
Directed by Quentin Tarantino
By 2019, Tarantino’s works had gone through a critical re-evaluation, with many viewers becoming painfully aware of obvious blind spots in his aesthetic creations. But instead of improving or addressing these critiques, Tarantino doubled down on his shortcomings. Gleefully misogynistic, bizarrely meandering, needlessly disrespectful to history, and in strikingly poor taste overall (without any real sense of irony to carry it over into the realm of satire), Once Upon A Time may have garnered Oscar nominations, but it’s easily the director’s worst work. Yes — Brad Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio’s performances are magnificent, but their talent simply can’t save this pointless story.
ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD - Official Trailer (HD)

8. Django Unchained (2012)

8. Django Unchained
81 %
8.4/10
r 165m
Genre Drama, Western
Stars Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz, Leonardo DiCaprio
Directed by Quentin Tarantino
The absolutely stunning acting from Jamie Foxx and Kerry Washington is the real selling point of Django Unchained. Although the camerawork, performances, costuming, and storytelling of Django are nothing short of fantastic, it’s hard to look past what New York Times critic A.O. Scott described as the “brazenly irresponsible” and historically incoherent politics of the film. Even amidst praise, scholar Dana Phillips called the movie “downright lurid.”  And the extreme violence of the movie is simply unpalatable for most audiences. That being said, you can find more like this on our list of the best action movies on Netflix.
DJANGO UNCHAINED - Official International Trailer

7. The Hateful Eight (2015)

7. The Hateful Eight
68 %
7.8/10
r 188m
Genre Crime, Drama, Mystery, Western
Stars Samuel L. Jackson, Kurt Russell, Jennifer Jason Leigh
Directed by Quentin Tarantino
Jackson returns as a protagonist for this cold, Western nightmare — and his acting once again provides salvation for an often uncomfortably violent movie. Presented in select theaters with a full intermission — and the extended version available on Netflix as a four-part series — the movie is one long buildup to an ultra-violent crescendo, demonstrating Tarantino’s unparalleled talent for creating suspense. But it’s understandable that many simply didn’t have the patience for the payoff.

6. Inglourious Basterds (2009)

6. Inglourious Basterds
69 %
8.3/10
153m
Genre Drama, Action, Thriller, War
Stars Brad Pitt, Mélanie Laurent, Christoph Waltz
Directed by Quentin Tarantino
The first of Tarantino’s historically revisionist fantasies, Inglourious Basterds treads politically uncomfortable waters throughout its 2-hour and 33-minute run. Nonetheless, Tarantino advances his thesis about the potency of revenge through a complex and labyrinthine tale of Jewish fury. Although praise was heaped on Brad Pitt and Christoph Waltz for their excellent acting, Mélanie Laurent steals the show with ease. The sweeping cinematography of certain scenes is breathtaking — if also terribly disturbing. This film was even good enough to land a place on our list of the best war movies of all time.
Inglourious Basterds Official Trailer #2 - Brad Pitt Movie (2009) HD

5. Reservoir Dogs (1992)

5. Reservoir Dogs
79 %
8.3/10
r 99m
Genre Crime, Thriller
Stars Harvey Keitel, Tim Roth, Michael Madsen
Directed by Quentin Tarantino
A tightly wound suspense story of an assassination gone wrong, Reservoir Dogs’ unfortunately all-white and all-male cast make this movie much less tolerable than the director’s more colorful films — but the plot itself is absurdly compelling, with unexpected twists and turns around every corner. It’s not the most emotionally complex movie ever made, but it’s definitely one of the most entertaining.
Reservoir Dogs (1992) Official Trailer #1 - Quentin Tarantino Movie

4. Death Proof (2007)

4. Death Proof
7/10
r 113m
Genre Action, Thriller
Stars Kurt Russell, Zoë Bell, Rosario Dawson
Directed by Quentin Tarantino
Although Tarantino is an avowed horror fan, his movies rarely venture into that genre — with the exception of Death Proof. A slasher film at its heart (but replacing a machete with a racecar), Tarantino is on the record saying Death Proof is the worst work he’s ever released. It’s hard to understand why: The cast of cool women and their relatable debauched dialogue is even more lovable than the hyper-macho assassins he summons in other films. Kurt Russell as a psychopathic stuntman is creepily charming, and few emotional moments in Hollywood history compare to the triumph felt during the movie’s lengthy concluding chase sequence and the post-credit skull-crushing. Though one of the more jarring of the available films, this is still one of the best movies streaming on Amazon right now. 
Death Proof (2007) Official Trailer #1 - Quentin Tarantino Movie HD

3. Pulp Fiction (1994)

3. Pulp Fiction
94 %
8.9/10
r 154m
Genre Thriller, Crime
Stars John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, Uma Thurman
Directed by Quentin Tarantino
The narrative complexity and imminent quotability of Pulp Fiction make this movie impossible to avoid or ignore. With outstanding acting across the board and the perhaps most iconic soundtrack in cinema history, it’s no surprise Pulp Fiction was nominated for several Oscars. The very conceit of philosophically inclined hitmen on an existential and magically real journey has left an entire neo-noir subgenre of films in its wake. Although the rapport between characters is usually quite endearing, there are unfortunate segments of the script that simply don’t hold up to today’s standards of decency in ways that are patently unforgivable.
Pulp Fiction Official Trailer #1 - (1994) HD

2. Jackie Brown (1997)

2. Jackie Brown
64 %
7.5/10
r 154m
Genre Crime, Thriller, Drama
Stars Pam Grier, Samuel L. Jackson, Robert De Niro
Directed by Quentin Tarantino
Jackie Brown is as much a crime film as it is a love letter to its star, Pam Grier — without whom this movie amounts to very little. Luckily, Grier’s inimitable presence is enough to skyrocket Jackie Brown to the higher reaches of this list. Dryly funny and emotionally complex, the eponymous criminal heroine’s quest for freedom is both harrowing and entertaining. Samuel L. Jackson is a perfect foil for Grier’s grace, and the movie’s music has left a mark on cinema culture forever.
Jackie Brown | Official Trailer (HD) - Robert De Niro, Samuel L. Jackson | MIRAMAX

1. Kill Bill: Volumes 1 + 2 (2003--2004)

1. Kill Bill: Volumes 1 + 2
69 %
8.1/10
r 111m
Genre Action, Crime, Drama
Stars Uma Thurman, David Carradine, Daryl Hannah, Michael Madsen
Directed by Quentin Tarantino
Although the two films were released a year apart, this post-modern “roaring rampage of revenge” is one continuous narrative arc such that each movie is simply incomplete without the other — that’s why they’re only taking up one space on this list. Although the cartoonish violence of this anachronistic samurai fantasy is not everyone’s cup of tea, the gorgeous art design, beautiful fight choreography, and melancholic tale of a mother’s love is quite obviously the pinnacle of Tarantino’s work. Even the most ardent Tarantino haters must admit that the strength and resilience of Uma Thurman, who both starred in and co-authored The Bride’s bloody journey, saves these movies from complete excoriation.
Kill Bill: Volume 1 | Official Green Band Trailer (HD) - Uma Thurman, Lucy Liu | MIRAMAX

Editors' Recommendations

Movie images and data from:
Eric Shorey
Eric Shorey is a freelance pop culture blogger whose work has appeared in Nylon, Vice, Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, and MTV. He…
The best alien movies, ranked
Directors like Spielberg, Abrams, and more have made movies that headline our list
E.T.

There's got to be something out there in outer space besides just rocks and stars, right? Extraterrestrial lifeforms and their potential for being real have been one of humanity's great curiosities for generations. Filmmakers and storytellers have been at the forefront of speculating and creating plots and themes based around aliens and their invasions on Earth and around the solar system.

Sometimes science-fiction films and space movies give political commentary on racism, colonialism, diversity, and government. Other times the intense action and futuristic weapons are what make the movies interesting. There is so much more to the best alien movies than just lasers and green spacemen. These are the best ones Hollywood has to offer! From horror to sci-fi and even animated classics, aliens have touched almost every category of film there is to offer.

Read more
The best Matthew McConaughey movies, ranked
Matthew McConaughey has some awesome films to watch — here are our top picks
McConaughey in Mud

Matthew McConaughey has had quite an interesting career, to say the least. His filmography really is a story in three parts. When he first started out in the 1990s, McConaughey often played supporting roles in thoughtful dramas, bringing out the best in his co-stars. As he aged into the 2000s, Hollywood pinned him as a rom-com lead, and we can't ignore why. The man is pure swag and sex appeal, with a Texas accent that melts hearts and makes you want to go to the theater more than one time.

His third act was at the beginning of the 2010s when he became a true blockbuster, Academy Award-worthy star. Accolades for prestige biopics, fascinating sci-fi films, and more were very deserving and shined a light on a diverse and well-earned career. Now, McConaughey has taken a step back from acting for the most part, instead putting his focus on politics and other issues. Here are the 10 best Matthew McConaughey movies so far.

Read more
The best heist movies of all time, ranked
Looking for a smart film to watch? Try one of these heist movies
Harvey Keitel and Tim Roth point guns at each other in Reservoir Dogs.

Few sub-genres can tickle and please quite the way a good heist movie can. The elements of its formula, which typically includes getting a gang together, formulating a plan, and executing a heist, are all thrilling to watch, and doubly so when filmmakers throw their own spins on the genre. That, plus a great cast, can make a great heist movie, whether it’s also a great action movie or not. These are the best heist movies ever made, and as you’ll see, they span many different genres. 

10. Reservoir Dogs (1992)

Read more