During a detailed conversation on The Church of Tarantino podcast, Quentin Tarantino, the acclaimed filmmaker and two-time Oscar winner, disclosed which of his films he holds in highest regard. He identified his favorite film, the one he considers his best work, and the movie that he feels captures his unique style most effectively, highlighting key moments in his career.
Defining His Ultimate Quentin Tarantino Movie
Tarantino described Kill Bill as the film he was destined to create, emphasizing its deeply personal nature. He stated,
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‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood‘ is my favorite, ‘Inglourious Basterds‘ is my best,
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and continued,
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But I think ‘Kill Bill‘ is the ultimate Quentin movie, like nobody else could’ve made it. Every aspect about it is so particularly ripped, like with tentacles and bloody tissue, from my imagination and my id and my loves and my passion and my obsession. So I think ‘Kill Bill’ is the movie I was born to make, I think ‘Inglourious Basterds’ is my masterpiece, but ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood’ is my favorite.
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This statement reflects Tarantino’s emotional connection to these works, differentiating his personal favorites from his professional benchmarks.
Evaluating His Screenplays and Directorial Approach
When discussing his screenplays, Tarantino ranked Inglourious Basterds as his strongest script, with The Hateful Eight and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood closely following. He elaborated on his directing, highlighting,
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I think ‘Inglourious Basterds’ is my best script, and I think ‘Hateful Eight’ and ‘Once Upon a Time In Hollywood’ are right behind,
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and added,
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But, there’s an aspect of ‘Hateful Eight’ that I actually think is probably my best directing of my material, i.e., the material is written and it’s solid. So it’s not like I have to create it, like ‘Kill Bill,’ it’s solid, it’s right there and I actually think it’s my best servicing [of] my material as a director.
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His reflections reveal the distinction he draws between writing and directing in his body of work.
On Passing Directorial Duties for a Sequel
Although Tarantino expressed strong affection for Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, he revealed that David Fincher would be directing the upcoming sequel, The Adventures of Cliff Booth, for Netflix. Tarantino explained his decision not to return to direct this project by noting his desire for new challenges. He said,
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I love this script, but I’m still walking down the same ground I’ve already walked,
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and further stated,
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It just kind of unenthused me. This last movie, I’ve got to not know what I’m doing again. I’ve got to be in uncharted territory.
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This choice aligns with his intent to explore fresh creative territory for his final film.
The Cancellation of Tarantino’s Planned Final Film
Tarantino also discussed the shelving of his rumored 10th and last film, The Movie Critic. The director admitted that the project felt too similar to his earlier work. He remarked,
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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?’
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and added,
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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.
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This explains why he decided to abandon the project and search for an entirely new direction for his concluding work.
Significance of Tarantino’s Creative Choices
Quentin Tarantino’s insights reveal his evolving perspective on his filmography and future projects. By distinguishing the film he feels born to make from the one he calls his masterpiece, alongside his favorite, he offers a rare glimpse into his artistic priorities. His decision to pass on directing a sequel and cancel his final film project underlines his commitment to originality and exploration. Fans and observers can anticipate that Tarantino’s forthcoming efforts will embody his desire to tread new ground, ensuring that his legacy remains defined by innovation rather than repetition.
