The life and work of Quentin Tarantino: every film in order, from Reservoir Dogs to Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Who is Quentin Tarantino? His life and every film in order, from Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction to Kill Bill and Django Unchained, with his Oscars, his style and where to start.
Quentin Tarantino is an American director and screenwriter, born on March 27, 1963, in Knoxville, Tennessee. A former video store clerk who never went to film school, he made Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction, and became one of the most imitated voices in modern cinema. This guide follows his career film by film, with posters, so you can see where to start.
Quentin Tarantino at a glance
- Born: March 27, 1963, in Knoxville, Tennessee, United States
- Known for: Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, Kill Bill, Inglourious Basterds, Django Unchained and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
- Signature: long, witty dialogue, stories told out of order in chapters, pop music and film references and stylized violence
- Honors: two Oscars for Best Original Screenplay (Pulp Fiction and Django Unchained) and the Palme d'Or at Cannes for Pulp Fiction
Early life and career
Tarantino grew up in the Los Angeles area and worked at a video store, Video Archives, where he watched and talked about thousands of films. He sold screenplays such as True Romance before directing Reservoir Dogs in 1992. He has said he plans to stop directing after ten films.
The films, era by era
Reservoir Dogs (1992)
Criminals in black suits try to find out who betrayed them after a jewel heist went wrong. A low-budget debut that announced a new voice, with Harvey Keitel, Tim Roth and Steve Buscemi.
Pulp Fiction (1994)
Interlocking stories about hitmen, a boxer and a gangster's wife in Los Angeles, with John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson and Uma Thurman. It won the Palme d'Or and an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay.
Jackie Brown (1997)
A flight attendant, played by Pam Grier, plays two sides against each other, based on an Elmore Leonard novel. A calmer, more mature film that earned Robert Forster an Oscar nomination.
Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003)
A former assassin known as the Bride, played by Uma Thurman, goes after the people who tried to kill her. A bloody tribute to samurai, kung fu and spaghetti westerns.
Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004)
The Bride's revenge reaches its end, with David Carradine as Bill. Slower and more talkative, it explores the bond between the two.
Death Proof (2007)
A stuntman, played by Kurt Russell, hunts young women with his car. Part of the double feature Grindhouse, it pays tribute to B movies of the 1970s.
Inglourious Basterds (2009)
Jewish soldiers and a French cinema owner plot against the Nazis in occupied France. Christoph Waltz won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor and the film earned eight nominations.
Django Unchained (2012)
A freed slave, played by Jamie Foxx, and a German bounty hunter, played by Christoph Waltz, go after a plantation owner, played by Leonardo DiCaprio. It won two Oscars, including Original Screenplay.
The Hateful Eight (2015)
Bounty hunters and strangers are trapped in a snowed-in cabin, shot in 70mm. Ennio Morricone won his first competitive Oscar for the score.
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019)
An actor and his stuntman navigate the Hollywood of 1969, with Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt. It earned ten Oscar nominations and a win for Brad Pitt.
Quentin Tarantino movies in order
- Reservoir Dogs (1992)
- Pulp Fiction (1994)
- Jackie Brown (1997)
- Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003)
- Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004)
- Death Proof (2007)
- Inglourious Basterds (2009)
- Django Unchained (2012)
- The Hateful Eight (2015)
- Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019)
What defines a Quentin Tarantino film?
- Dialogue as action. Characters talk at length about burgers, songs and movies, and the talk builds tension.
- Broken timelines. Chapters, flashbacks and jumps that rearrange the order of events.
- A love of cinema. Soundtracks of old songs and constant tributes to westerns, kung fu, samurai and crime films.
Frequently asked questions about Quentin Tarantino
Who is Quentin Tarantino?
Quentin Tarantino is an American director and screenwriter, born on March 27, 1963, in Knoxville, Tennessee. A former video store clerk who never went to film school, he made Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction, and became one of the most imitated voices in modern cinema. This guide follows his career film by film, with posters, so you can see where to start.
When and where was Quentin Tarantino born?
Quentin Tarantino was born on March 27, 1963, in Knoxville, Tennessee, and grew up in the Los Angeles area.
What is Quentin Tarantino's best movie?
Most critics and fans choose Pulp Fiction, and Inglourious Basterds, Kill Bill and Django Unchained are close behind. There is no single answer, so rate them on Rankiew and build your own ranking.
Which Quentin Tarantino movie should I watch first?
Start with Pulp Fiction for the classic, Reservoir Dogs for his raw debut, Kill Bill for action and Inglourious Basterds or Django Unchained for his historical revenge stories.
Did Quentin Tarantino win the Oscar for Best Director?
No. Tarantino was nominated for Best Director three times but has not won it. He has won two Oscars for Best Original Screenplay, for Pulp Fiction (shared with Roger Avary) and Django Unchained.
Rate every Quentin Tarantino movie
Which one is your favorite? On Rankiew you can rate every film, write reviews and build your own list of Quentin Tarantino movies.
Sources: official studio releases, filmographies and public records.
