Quentin Tarantino recently revealed his ranking of his own movies during an appearance on The Church of Tarantino podcast, offering insight into which films hold special meaning for him. Discussing his body of work, the director revealed where each project fits in terms of his creative identity, which screenplays he considers his strongest, and which movies reflect his unique vision most fully. This ranking highlights Tarantino’s perspective on his cinematic achievements and creative passions, providing fans with a rare glimpse into his artistic evaluation.
How Tarantino Categorizes His Best Work
During the podcast, Tarantino identified three standout films by different measures: “Kill Bill,” which he describes as the movie he was destined to make, “Inglourious Basterds” as his masterpiece, and
“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”
as his favorite. He explained that “Kill Bill” feels closest to his core, with every detail drawn deeply from his imagination and passions. Meanwhile, “Inglourious Basterds” represents the pinnacle of his writing, while
“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”
holds a special place in his heart as a personal favorite.
He said,
“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,”
then continued,
“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.”
Examining Tarantino’s Perspectives on Writing and Directing
Tarantino made a clear distinction between his work as a writer and as a director. He identified “Inglourious Basterds” as his sharpest screenplay, with “The Hateful Eight” and
“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”
following closely behind. However, when it comes to directing, he gave special recognition to “The Hateful Eight.” He noted that the material was already strong on the page, allowing him to focus on bringing the screenplay to life without having to create it from scratch, unlike more personal projects like “Kill Bill.”
He remarked,
“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.”
David Fincher to Lead ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood’ Spin-Off
While Tarantino cherishes
“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,”
he has decided not to direct its spin-off. Netflix has chosen David Fincher to helm “The Adventures of Cliff Booth,” which centers on Brad Pitt’s stuntman character from the original film. Tarantino expressed admiration for Fincher’s commitment to the project, highlighting the mutual respect between the two directors. This decision underlines Tarantino’s intention to pass the creative torch and acknowledges the seriousness Fincher brings to adapting his work.
In Tarantino’s words,
“I think me & David Fincher are the 2 best directors. So the idea that he actually wants to adapt my work shows a level of seriousness towards my work.”
What This Means for Tarantino’s Legacy and Future Projects
Quentin Tarantino’s rankings provide a candid look at how he views his filmography, emphasizing the different ways a filmmaker can value their work—through passion, craftsmanship, or personal enjoyment. The decision to entrust David Fincher with the continuation of the
“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”
narrative also signals Tarantino’s evolving role in the industry as he contemplates his future beyond directing. Fans can expect a new perspective on Tarantino’s universe from Fincher’s direction, while Tarantino himself remains reflective and optimistic about his creative path ahead.
