Quentin Tarantino Reveals Which of His Movies He Thinks Are the Best and the Worst

Quentin Tarantino is often defined by his 1994 masterpiece Pulp Fiction, a film that earned both an Oscar and the Palme d’Or while drastically changing the landscape of late nineties pop culture.

With iconic dialogue and unforgettable characters, the project helped launch stars like Samuel L. Jackson, Uma Thurman, and John Travolta into global superstardom. Despite the massive legacy of that crime classic, the director himself views his 2019 feature, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, as his greatest achievement.

During a conversation with the Reel Blend podcast, he explained his perspective by noting, “I do think that Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is my best film.” He was so invested in that world that he later expanded the narrative into a 2021 novel, further exploring the lives of characters played by Margot Robbie, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Brad Pitt.

While he is proud of his modern classics, he is also surprisingly candid about his professional missteps. He has expressed deep dissatisfaction with his 2007 contribution to the Grindhouse double feature, the horror-action flick Death Proof.

The film was intended as a tribute to the gritty exploitation movies of the past, but the director felt that audiences ultimately missed the point of the project. He spoke about this disconnect in a retrospective interview, reflecting on why the audience failed to engage with the unique format.

“With Grindhouse, I think me and Robert just felt that people had a little more of a concept of the history of double features and exploitation movies,” he explained. “No, they didn’t. At all. They had no idea what the f**k they were watching.

It meant nothing to them, alright, what we were doing. So that was a case of being a little too cool for school.” Years later, the director solidified his negative opinion, labeling it the weakest entry in his filmography.

“To me, it’s all about my filmography, and I want to go out with a terrific filmography… Death Proof has got to be the worst movie I ever made,” he admitted. “For a left-handed movie, that wasn’t so bad, all right?

So if that’s the worst I ever get, I’m good. But I do think one of those out-of-touch, old, limp, flaccid-d**k movies costs you three good movies as far as your rating is concerned.” The director is currently focused on the final phase of his legendary career, as he has long stated he intends to retire after completing ten feature films.

After shelving his planned final project, The Movie Critic, in 2025, he has shifted his attention toward developing a completely new, top-secret story to serve as his cinematic swan song. Industry insiders suggest this project will feature a massive ensemble cast, with several of his frequent collaborators expected to return for one final performance.

In the meantime, his influence on the industry continues through his writing and his ongoing curation of the New Beverly Cinema in Los Angeles. The theater serves as a hub for fans to watch classic films in their original formats, reflecting his lifelong dedication to film preservation.

His fans remain eager for any news regarding his final feature, which promises to be one of the most anticipated releases of the decade. While we wait to see what he brings to the screen next, his existing body of work remains a staple of modern cinema.

From the sharp wit of his scripts to his distinct visual flair, he has crafted a filmography that has inspired a new generation of creators. His impact is undeniably deep, even if he remains his own harshest critic when looking back at his catalog.

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