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The career of Quentin Tarantino was ignited by his intense heist-gone-wrong thriller, Reservoir Dogs, in 1992. With the Academy Award-winning Pulp Fiction only two years later in 1994, Tarantino went from a video store clerk to a cinematic force that would redefine narrative structure and dialogue in film.
His early screenwriting work for True Romance and Natural Born Killers flashed with his promise, but it is Pulp Fiction that certainly sealed his status as an auteur of the new generation.
This was followed by yet another cult classic, the Elmore Leonard adaptation of Jackie Brown in 1997, and the martial arts epic Kill Bill duology in 2003 and 2004. After this, the filmmaker Tarantino continued raking in massive success with his streak of films such as The Hateful Eight and the most recent Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood.
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Even in the face of criticism, Quentin Tarantino has been a non-compromising storyteller in his own style, defining and pushing the boundaries of American cinema. Now, with rumors of a new movie on his table, let's take a look at the top 10 ranked best movies of his based on critic scores on Rotten Tomatoes.
10 best Quentin Tarantino movies ranked according to Rotten Tomatoes
1) Pulp Fiction (1994)
Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction transformed modern cinema with its assemblage of stories interlocked by razor-sharp dialogues and a unique nonlinear narrative. Dripping in black humor, with stylized violence, this dark cult classic features strong performances from John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, Uma Thurman, and Bruce Willis.
His new style of storytelling, full of pop culture references and amazingly memorable dialogues, is etched in the movie world forever. After winning an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for Pulp Fiction, Tarantino ascended to overnight sensation status and was well on his way to being hailed as one of the trailblazing new auteurs.
It is this nonlinear construction and his bold, genre-blending style that allow many filmmakers to still be marked as borrowing from Quentin Tarantino today. Pulp Fiction remains Tarantino's most highly-rated film with a 92% on Rotten Tomatoes.
2) Reservoir Dogs (1992)
The Quentin Tarantino directorial debut Reservoir Dogs exploded into the indie film circle like a shot of adrenaline in 1992. This raw and gritty heist-gone-wrong thriller embedded both the non-linear narrative and razor-sharp dialogue as hallmarks of his unique cinematic style.
The atmospheric tension and character development are displayed through standout performances from Harvey Keitel, Tim Roth, and Steve Buscemi against whirling backdrops of extremely stylized violence and pop culture-laden banter. The intrepid storytelling and ingenious direction that Tarantino displayed in Reservoir Dogs turned it into an instant cult classic.
With a 90% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, Reservoir Dogs marked a bold debut that redefined independent filmmaking and placed Quentin Tarantino as the force to be dealt with. It heralded an entirely different era of dynamic, character-driven cinema that contributed to the 'Tarantinoesque' style of filmmaking.
3) Inglourious Basterds (2009)
Quentin Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds is a bold, audacious reinvention of World War II through both historical fiction and the Tarantino brand of filmmaking. It interlaces multiple storylines with meticulous style that come to a head in a nail-biting plot for the assassination of Nazi leaders.
Brad Pitt leads an ensemble cast as Lieutenant Aldo Raine, commanding a group of Jewish soldiers on a brutal mission of vengeance. For his richest, most calculating performance yet, Christoph Waltz won an Oscar as the cunning SS Colonel Hans Landa, proving once more Tarantino's flair for creating unforgettable characters.
Pulled by its sharp dialogue, tight suspense, and occasional dark gags, Inglourious Basterds crosses the boundaries of genre to seal Tarantino's claim to preeminence as a storyteller who boldly rewires history for dazzling cinematic effect.
Inglourious Basterds received an 89% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
4) Django Unchained (2012)
Quentin Tarantino's Django Unchained is a bold genre blender that redefines the Western. Set in the antebellum South, it follows Django, played by Jamie Foxx, a freed slave on a quest to rescue his wife from a brutal plantation owner.
Christoph Waltz turns in an Oscar-winning performance as Dr. King Schultz, a bounty hunter who becomes a partner to Django. Meanwhile, Leonardo DiCaprio and Samuel L. Jackson shine as formidable antagonists. The film features sharp dialogue, stylized violence, and a blunt depiction of the entire institution of slavery that accompanies a powerful narrative of revenge and redemption.
Django Unchained, rated 87% on Rotten Tomatoes, provokes and fascinates in equal measure with Tarantino's unique ability to marry apparent historical gravitas with his inimitable flavor of provocation.
5) Jackie Brown (1997)
Jackie Brown by Quentin Tarantino is a brilliant homage to the best of the blaxploitation genre, showcasing his masterful storytelling skills. Tailored from the pages of Elmore Leonard's novel Rum Punch, the film puts Pam Grier in the title role as a flight attendant who becomes embroiled in a hazardous game of deceit and survival.
With a talented cast that sports the likes of Samuel L. Jackson, Robert De Niro, and Robert Forster, Tarantino pieces together a subtle, character-driven plot with crackling dialogue and whip-around turns. Unlike his previous efforts though, Jackie Brown burns more slowly, letting the characters breathe and grow.
It is a testament to Tarantino's range as he infuses this crime thriller with deep emotional profundity in such a tasteful and polished tribute to 1970s cinema. It holds an 88% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
6) Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood (2019)
Quentin Tarantino's Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood is a nostalgic, kaleidoscopic journey through 1969 Los Angeles that blends fiction with the grim reality of the Manson Family murders.
Leonardo DiCaprio stars as Rick Dalton, a fading TV actor, while Brad Pitt plays his stunt double, Cliff Booth. Their lives find themselves crossing paths in and out within a painstakingly created atmosphere of an evolving Hollywood. The film also features Margot Robbie as Sharon Tate, who adds a poetic and wistful element to the story.
His love letter to another age has all the hallmarks of Tarantino's craft: sharp dialogue, meticulous details, and an unforgettable, revisionist climax. With an 86% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, it is an ode to the transformative power of cinema and stamps Tarantino's status as a master at blending fiction with history.
7) Kill Bill: Volume 1 (2003)
Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill: Vol. 1 is a stylish, adrenaline-infused homage to the martial arts and revenge film genres. With Uma Thurman starring as The Bride, a former assassin betrayed by her ex-colleagues and their leader, Bill, the film follows her quest to exact her vengeance upon them after being left for dead.
Interlaced with some jaw-dropping fight sequences—most notably, that with the Crazy 88—the film hurtles on. This is Tarantino working right within his wheelhouse: nonlinear narrative and a hyper-eclectic facility of influence that weaves the art of the samurai and spaghetti Western into a bright and violent tapestry.
These are accompanied by impressive visuals pepped up with a dynamic soundtrack, creating an immersive experience. With a non-stop pace and its tale of vengeance and survival, Kill Bill: Vol 1 is one of Tarantino's most notable works with an 85% on Rotten Tomatoes.
8) Kill Bill: Volume 2 (2004)
Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill: Vol. 2 is masterfully constructed to continue and conclude the relentless search by the Bride for vengeance. Uma Thurman reprises her role with ferocious intensity, going deeply into her character's past and its motivation.
Character development and emotional depth are showcased more in this volume, although it retains some of the riveting action. Nowhere does this thrill come more alive than in scenes like the buried-alive escape of the Bride or the final confrontation with Bill, played by David Carradine.
Full of homages to classic cinema, Kill Bill: Vol. 2 balances the visceral with the poignant to prove Quentin Tarantino can blend intense action with something heartfelt to create a fitting and powerful finale for an epic revenge saga.
Kill Bill: Vol. 2 received an 84% on Rotten Tomatoes.
9) The Hateful Eight (2015)
Quentin Tarantino's The Hateful Eight is a taut, almost claustrophobic Western that blends mystery with moral ambiguity. Set against the backdrop of snowbound Wyoming, it brings together eight questionable characters with Machiavellian motives trapped in a remote haberdashery.
Led by Samuel L. Jackson, Kurt Russell, and Jennifer Jason Leigh, this star-studded ensemble brings off powerhouse performances amidst rising paranoia and suspicion.
It's the trademark Tarantino dialogue that fuels the movie with sharp, slow-burning tension, finally culminating in jolts of violence. Nevertheless, stunning 70mm cinematography, an Oscar-winning score by Ennio Morricone, and atmospheric tension satisfy viewers.
Overall, it is a dark, character-driven study of betrayal and survival—laying down Quentin Tarantino's skill in churning out compelling narratives within confined, highly tense setups. Rotten Tomatoes gave it a 75% rating.
10) Death Proof (2007)
Death Proof by Quentin Tarantino is an action-filled tribute to exploitation cinema that bleeds into dark comedy. It represents one half of the double-feature Grindhouse, featuring Kurt Russell as Stuntman Mike, a talented but menacing psychopath whose weapon is his "death-proof" car.
Told in two separate parts, each following unaware women being targeted by Stuntman Mike. The film shines with the hallmark sharp dialogue and character-driven storytelling of Tarantino, subtly fashioning a tension-filled relationship as well as camaraderie between characters.
Death Proof is an unapologetically bold addition to Tarantino's filmography, celebrating the raw, visceral energy that defined the magic of 1970s grindhouse cinema. It is rated 64% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Quentin Tarantino continues to inspire and influence new generations of viewers and filmmakers with his cinematic offerings. Fans can watch these films of his while awaiting his latest project.
