Quentin Tarantino Explains Why He Abandoned His 10th and Final Film

Quentin Tarantino recently opened up about why he decided to abandon his script for “The Movie Critic,” a project that would have been his 10th feature film, and potentially his last, as the director has long promised to retire after completing ten films.

Tarantino spoke about the decision on the Church of Tarantino podcast, recorded at his Los Angeles coffee shop, Pam’s Coffy, giving fans a rare, in-depth look at his creative process.

“I wasn’t really excited about dramatizing what I wrote when I was in pre-production, partly because I’m using the skillset that I learned from ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood’ [of] ‘How are we going to turn Los Angeles into the Hollywood of 1969 without using CGI?’” Tarantino explained.

He said that unlike his previous project, which required complex planning to recreate the past, “The Movie Critic” didn’t offer the same challenge. “It was something we had to pull off. We had to achieve it. It wasn’t for sure that we could do it. … ‘The Movie Critic,’ there was nothing to figure out. I already kind of knew, more or less, how to turn L.A. into an older time. It was too much like the last one.”

Tarantino revealed that “The Movie Critic” was set in 1977 and originally began as an eight-episode TV series, a project he teased back in 2022. He also clarified that the story had no direct connection to “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” despite rumors and speculation fueled by Brad Pitt’s casting. “There were no shared characters between the two stories, though I called ‘The Movie Critic’ a spiritual sequel,” he said. Tarantino even left open the possibility of returning to the project, noting that the script is already written.

He described the challenge of making a film about a movie critic interesting, saying, “Who wants to see a TV show about a f*c*i*g movie critic? Who wants to see a movie called ‘The Movie Critic’? That was the test. If I can actually make a movie or a TV show about someone who actually watches movies interesting, that is an accomplishment. And I think I did that.”

After shelving “The Movie Critic,” Tarantino turned his attention to a proper sequel to “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” titled “The Adventures of Cliff Booth.” Netflix is producing the film, which is now shooting in Los Angeles, with David Fincher directing and Tarantino writing and producing. Meanwhile, Tarantino is also planning a play for London’s West End in 2026, before tackling his 10th and supposedly final feature film.

Tarantino addressed the ongoing speculation and pressure around his final movie, saying he isn’t worried or scared. “It’s a little crazy to listen to podcasts and hear all these amateur psychiatrists psychoanalyze as if they f*c*i*g know what they’re talking about about what’s going on with me, about how I’m so scared, alright, of my 10th film,” he said. He added with mock dramatization, “‘Oh my god! Oh my god! I’m so fragile about my legacy. What’s going on? I’m paralyzed with fear!’ I’m not paralyzed with fear. Trust me.”

Tarantino has always said he will stop directing after ten films because he wants to leave his career on a high note and avoid diluting his legacy. He believes capping his filmography ensures every movie matters, keeping his work fresh, exciting, and meaningful to audiences.

The decision to stop at ten isn’t about fear; it’s about control, passion, and knowing when to walk away at the peak of his creativity.

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