Every Tarantino Movie Ranked (From Worst To Best)

Quentin Tarantino’s contribution to the “Grindhouse” double feature, “Death Proof” is a tribute to exploitation movies. Kurt Russell stars as a murderous stuntman who kills women with his “death proof” car. However, he meets his match when a group of ladies decide to fight back. “Death Proof” has plenty of Tarantino’s usual entertaining dialogue, including one scene that’s one long, impressive take. But it can meander a bit compared to most of the director’s other works. Even so, the climactic car chase and battle is a spectacular set piece with some phenomenal practical stunts that has “Death Proof” finishing on a high note.

This Western mystery movie sees a group of strangers caught in a blizzard shortly after the Civil War. Mistrust and suspicions abound, and things eventually turn predictably bloody. Tarantino’s take on a whodunnit unravels at a methodical pace that can turn some viewers off. It was originally intended to be a novel, after all. And while some members of the ensemble shine, others can sadly blend into the background. Don’t get us wrong: it’s an amazing movie, with excellent tension throughout, plenty of humor, some great performances, and an epic score by Ennio Morricone. “The Hateful Eight” is simply less approachable than other films by Tarantino.

A pseudo adaptation of the Elmore Leonard novel “Rum Punch,” “Jackie Brown” follows the titular stewardess, who is involved in smuggling money across the border. Her attempts to navigate her associates and avoid the FBI are complicated by her burgeoning romance with bail bondsman Max Cherry. “Jackie Brown” is one of Tarantino’s most tightly plotted films, partly thanks to the source material. However, it also retains his signature flair and pays tribute to blaxploitation movies. The romance between Jackie and Max Cherry is among the sweetest and most endearing in Tarantino’s roster. All that being said, “Jackie Brown” lacks some of the bombast of most Tarantino movies, and is far more subtle. But maybe that’s your bag!

Tarantino’s love letter to 1960s Tinsel Town, “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” depicts the intertwining stories of the events leading up to the Manson murders. Caught up in the middle of everything are once successful fictional actor Rick Dalton and his stunt double, Cliff Booth. While “Once Upon a Time” is a slow burn, its finale is positively explosive, and is one of the funniest and most violent climaxes in any Tarantino film. The road there isn’t without its highlights either, with Brad Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio delivering pitch perfect performances. “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” mixes truth with fairy tale to create a fantastic movie.

The second half of Tarantino’s two-part revenge epic, “Kill Bill: Volume 2” sees Beatrix Kiddo, a.k.a. the Bride, finally get her vengeance on the titular Bill and everyone else who betrayed her. “Volume 2” is a bit more restrained than its predecessor. Although some may find its slower pace less satisfying, we think it’s actually a strength, since it focuses more on the characters’ motivations and well-acted conversations. “Volume 2” also has a Western bent to it, which becomes a theme in the latter half of Tarantino’s career. “Kill Bill: Volume 2” may not cut as deeply for us, but if it does for you, we can see why.

After a German bounty hunter frees a slave, the duo works together to kill criminals and rescue Django’s still enslaved wife from the villainous Calvin Candie. It may be Tarantino’s highest grossing movie so far, but “Django Unchained” can be hard to watch sometimes, given the horrific violence perpetrated by the slavers. Even so, Django is among Tarantino’s most compelling protagonists, with King Schultz forming the other half of a great partnership. Likewise, Calvin Candie is one of his best villains. The action scenes are bloody, yes, but thrilling and well-executed. Plus the humor in this movie crops up in some unexpected places. “Django Unchained” is a riveting story from start to finish.

Tarantino’s first outing as a director follows a gang of color-coded thieves who reconvene at a hideout to try to figure out what went wrong at a botched heist. While it contains homages to everything from Stanley Kubrick to Hong Kong crime thrillers, “Reservoir Dogs” remains an excellent early example of Tarantino’s oeuvre. Quotable dialogue, an eclectic soundtrack, a non-linear narrative, and shocking violence pervade this fantastic crime film. We can’t rate it any higher, because Tarantino has obviously improved as a director since his inaugural effort, but his big screen debut still holds up.

The first half of this two-part epic is Tarantino firing on all cylinders! After awakening from her coma, the Bride goes on a roaring rampage of revenge against her former assassin cohorts, with Bill being her ultimate goal. Filled with tributes to everything from kung-fu movies to anime, “Kill Bill: Volume 1” is an entertaining cocktail of styles that comes together into something new and distinctly Tarantino. The fight scenes are stylish, thrilling and fast-paced. The Bride is also arguably Tarantino’s most iconic lead protagonist. Still, for as much as we love “Kill Bill” to death, Tarantino has perhaps made a few better films both before and after it.

Tarantino’s take on a war movie is set in Nazi occupied France. The film follows two separate plots against the Third Reich, one by a group of American commandos and another by a Jewish theater owner in hiding. Both groups run afoul of the brilliantly devious SS officer, Hans Landa, who might be one of the best villains not just in any Tarantino movie, but in any movie, period. Nearly every scene is a masterclass in great dialogue and mounting tension, that usually culminates in extreme violence. “Inglourious Basterds” may be Tarantino at the height of his craft. The acting, direction, and history-defying script are all practically flawless.

You could argue that any of the movies on this list deserves the number one spot. But we contend that “Pulp Fiction” is the best Quentin Tarantino film because it goes “full Tarantino”! It has an all-star ensemble cast playing various criminals and ne’er do wells in a non-linear narrative. It has some of the most quotable dialogue out there. Even the side characters who only appear in a scene or two are memorable. “Pulp Fiction” is everything Tarantino does best crammed into one movie. There’s a reason that when you ask someone to name a Tarantino movie, “Pulp Fiction” is usually the first that comes to mind.