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Nobody blends B-movie grit with A-list precision quite like Quentin Tarantino. With razor-sharp dialogue, an unmatched penchant for genre fusion, and whole-lotta feet, it is no wonder Tarantino’s work transformed the indie film scene in the early 90s.
With nine official films (and a last project on the cards), there’s everything here – from visceral revenge tales to character studies. This is our ranking of Tarantino’s films worst to best, in a quaint attempt to celebrate a director whose work remains endlessly cool; nevertheless, fiercely debated.
9Death Proof (2007)
Death Proof is pure, audacious Tarantino. A tantalizing ode to ’70s B-movie thrills has Kurt Russell as Stuntman Mike, a charming psycho who picks off talkative women with his“death-proof”car. While not everyone’s cup of tea, the movie’s stripped-down, no-studio-strings vibe and rapid-fire dialogue are undeniably QT.
Tarantino revels in the primal power of a good old-fashioned revenge chase, catering to hardcore genre fans. It gives a polarizing aftertaste though, especially when paired with its Grindhouse sibling, Planet Terror. But even that doesn’t help raise it to anything more than a forgettable midnight movie experience.
Check outDeath Proof(2007) onPrime
8The Hateful Eight (2015)
A snowed-in western with a wickedly dark sense of humor,The Hateful Eightthrows together eight shady characters, quite an ensemble no less, in a claustrophobic cabin in this mystery. The film comes off as an atmospheric tribute to old-school cinema, shot in 70mm as a nod to sweeping Western epics.
Beneath the blood-soaked surface, however, lies Tarantino’s most pointed social commentary, digging into America’s racial history post-Civil War. It may not always hold the same element of surprise for longtime fans, but its heavy themes and eerie setting make it an engrossing, if divisive, addition to his oeuvre.
7Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood (2019)
This movie is Tarantino’s love letter to the L.A. of his childhood—a dreamy alternate history of 1969 Hollywood complete with hippie communes, neon lights, and the shadow of the Manson Family.
Leonardo DiCaprioandBrad Pittbring to life one of his most grounded stories as an aging star and his loyal stuntman. Though it ends in a fiery,flamethrower-y,and fully-violent fashion, the film is uncharacteristically sentimental, making it one of his most personal works. It’s both a celebration of and a eulogy to a lost era of film.
Check outOnce Upon a Time in Hollywood(2019) onPrime
6. Kill Bill: Vol. 1 and 2 (2003-2004)
Tarantino released two volumes of Kill Bill, one year apart, but considers them to be one. The first half of this revenge saga is a visually striking homage to martial arts, complete with blood-spattered sword fights and an anime-inspired backstory.
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Uma Thurman’s Bride is an unforgettable character – from the chaotic Crazy 88 fight to her chilling duel with O-Ren Ishii, Kill Bill: Vol. 1 is an action-packed tribute that defines Tarantino at his most flamboyant and genre-loving.
The second half of Kill Bill slows things down. Less focused on action than the first volume, it’s a more introspective chapter —intense monologue and individual tribulations. The climactic showdown with Bill himself is less about spectacle and more about philosophy, making for a fittingly somber yet satisfying conclusion.
5Jackie Brown (1997)
As the only adaptation in Tarantino’s filmography, Jackie Brown shows a different side of QT. Taken from Elmore Leonard’s novelRum Punch, it’s a restrained, character-driven piece that reveals his affection for gritty, low-key crime thrillers. Pam Grier’s Jackie is as cool as they come, and her chemistry with Robert Forster’s kindhearted bail bondsman gives the film a surprising warmth.
Without the frenzied pacing or complex structure, Jackie Brown feels more like a soulful revisit to ’70s cinema, proving that sometimesQuentin Tarantinois at his best when he holds back.
Check outJackie Brown(1997) onAppleTV
4Django Unchained (2012)
Django Unchained brings spaghetti western and blaxploitation together to tell a story of revenge and survival in the Antebellum South. Jamie Foxx’s Django is a ruthless slave-turned-bounty hunter, whose journey alongside Christoph Waltz’s Dr. King Schultz is both violent and humorous.
While it pushesa-boundary-too-manyin its depiction of racial violence, its gleeful tone sometimes toes a line that not everyone appreciates. Still, Django’s vendetta, capped with a cathartic, blood-soaked showdown, and Leonardo DiCaprio’s Monseuir Candy in the second half, is as entertaining as it is bold.
Check outDjango Unchained(2012) onPrime
3Inglourious Basterds (2009)
A loose patchwork of war stories including a cinema plot, Nazi hunters, and a German hound,Inglourious Basterds(yeah, that is how he spells it) meanders from French resistance drama to Nazi revenge fantasy. Christoph Waltz’s Colonel Hans Landa is one of Tarantino’s greatest villains—a sinister, seductive force who steals every scene he’s in.
Brad Pitt’s drawling Lt. Aldo Raine is a bizarre comedic reaction to that coupled with an accent that, it seems, Pitt has not dropped since. While its multi-story structure can feel disjointed, each scene has something to offer. Tarantino’s dialogue-heavy style drives the suspense in one of the finest opening scenes on film- yet again proving that he can create edge-of-your-seat excitement even in the most talkative scenes.
Check outInglourious Basterds(2009) onPrime
2Reservoir Dogs (1992)
Tarantino burst onto the scene with Reservoir Dogs – an intense, low-budget heist flick that in all fairness redefined independent cinema. Set mostly in a single location, it turned genre conventions on their head and introduced audiences to the director’s signature style.
The cast, including Tim Roth and Steve Buscemi, embody QT’s unique blend of gritty criminal banter and unexpected moments of comedy. Despite its minimal setting, it’s a rollercoaster of tension and betrayal that sets the standard for what comes next.
Check outReservoir Dogs(1992) onPrime
1Pulp Fiction (1994)
No surprises here. Pulp Fiction is the film that defined a generation and elevated Tarantino to cult icon status. It also gave him his one and only Palme d’Or. Its nonlinear structure, snappy dialogue, and eclectic pop culture references cemented it as a timeless classic.
Tarantino juggles stories about hitmen, boxers, and mobsters, all anchored by a fiercely memorable cast that includes the likes ofSamuel L. Jackson, John Travolta, Bruce Willis, andUma Thurman. Few films have ever done such a number on popular culture—this one changed the game for dialogue, structure, and even music.
Check outPulp Fiction(1994) onNetflix
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Jayant Chhabra
Articles Published :123
Jayant Chhabra is a long-form writer and Creative Producer, who has worked with several renowned publications and production houses. Yet, there’s more to Jayant than meets the word count. You’ll find him cheering for the Red Devils, trying to produce music, or yet again being enamoured by the countless films, essays, and books that he holds close to his heart.
