Death Proof was originally presented as a double feature, alongside Robert Rodriguez's Planet Terror, although in practice the vast majority of screenings separated the two films.
From the ground-up, this was envisioned as an indulgent homage to exploitation films of the 1970s, and it wasn't expected to be a commercial success. But it still bombed far harder than predicted, and for good reason.
The initial hook of a serial killer who likes to run over his victims is somewhat evocative, but the film doesn't take that idea and go in any meaningful or interesting directions. Don't bother. Even if you want to prove yourself as a Tarantino aficionado, no one will ever ask you about Death Proof.
| © Dimension Films
What a fall from grace. Kill Bill: Volume 1 is awesome, but Volume 2 feels like a weird apology for how over-the-top the first film was (as if that wasn't the entire point).
Many will now argue that it's better than reviewers at the time claimed, and that it only felt anti-climactic in 2004 because viewers were expecting a repeat of the first film. However, those people are wrong, Volume 2 is just a boring movie.
| © Miramax Films
Speaking of boring movies, The Hateful Eight was easily one of the biggest disappointments for me. It felt like a three-hour bottle episode with no payoff. Maybe Tarantino wanted to prove he could still do "slow, talky films" like Reservoir Dogs, as well as action-packed flicks, who knows?
| © The Weinstein Company
Jackie Brown was Tarantino's third film, and while it's an entertaining movie without any glaring red-flags, it feels like a noticeable regression artistically from Pulp Fiction and Reservoir Dogs. It's worth a watch if you ever see it pop-up on Netflix or TV, but don't expect anything spectacular. | © Miramax Films
This one will be controversial, as many of you would probably have it lower on the list. It's certainly indulgent, and you need to be willing to enjoy a fantasy version of history, in which Sharon Tate survives and the weirdos from the Mason Family are the one's savagely killed.
But if you can go with Tarantino on this little adventure, you can enjoy some great performances and funny writing. | © Sony
The first Kill Bill is the most unapologetic action film in Tarantino's whole filmography. And while violent revenge porn will only take a film so far, it's definitely far enough to make for a great watch. This brings us into must-watch territory. | © Miramax Films
We'll admit, Tarantino did himself no favors by cameoing as a slave-trafficker and using the n-word as excessively as he does in this film. But if you can separate the art from the artist, which is admittedly harder in the case of Tarantino, who famously likes to be in his own movies, then you'll enjoy Django Unchained.
| © Columbia Pictures
A certified banger, Inglorious Basterds has it all: Great performances, sharp writing, amazing set-pieces, and a compelling plot. And unlike so many Tarantino films, it doesn't stray into offensive territory because it's basically about killing Nazis. Also, respect goes to Christoph Waltz, whose performance in the opening scene is breathtaking. | © Universal Pictures
Of course, it's Reservoir Dogs, you know we had to put it first or second place. For a directing debut, you really can't ask for more from Tarantino (who was only 28-years-old at the time).
If you haven't seen it, please just go and watch it. It will certainly feel dated, and perhaps over-stylized for your own taste, but on such a narrow budget Tarantino shows what he can do when relying on dialogue alone (we don't actually see the initial heist that the whole movie is based upon).
| © Miramax Films
Yes, I know, a cliché pick for first-place. But for good reason; Pulp Fiction is iconic to cinema, not just the filmography of Tarantino. Watch it.
| © Miramax Films
Tarantino has written and directed ten films, and they are (with the exception of Death Proof) great. Here is how we rank from them all, from worst to best!
