Quentin Tarantino expressed dissatisfaction with contemporary films in an essay for Sight & Sound magazine. The director, known for “Pulp Fiction,” criticized the current state of movies.
Flaws, implausibilities, audience pandering, miscast performers, or just plain stupid content damage most new films from what once was Hollywood’s creative hub.
Tarantino suggested that recent films fail to captivate him as earlier ones did. He compared movies from the last six years to those from the 1980s, which he has previously labeled one of cinema’s worst eras.
The filmmaker noted exceptions, such as “West Side Story” (2021), “Horizon: An American Saga” Chapter 1 and 2 (2024), but confessed none truly enchanted him like films of the past. Tarantino also praised “The Rip,” a 2026 Netflix thriller starring Matt Damon and Ben Affleck.
A suspenseful thriller, “The Rip” captivated me throughout, showcasing clever direction, strong performances, and a sensational screenplay.
Tarantino has not directed a new movie since 2019’s “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.” He announced plans to direct one final film before retiring, yet expressed reluctance due to dissatisfaction with the industry’s state.
He questioned the modern film landscape during the 2025 Sundance Film Festival.
“What … is a movie now? Plays in theaters for a brief release, then available on television by the second week? I didn’t pursue this for diminishing returns,” he stated.
Tarantino previously expressed approval for “Top Gun: Maverick” and Spielberg’s “West Side Story” for providing true cinematic spectacle. These films renewed his hope for cinema.
In 2022, he listed his favorite films of the 21st century on the “ReelBlend” podcast. Notably, no films from the 2020s made the list, aside from Spielberg’s “West Side Story” ranked at No. 20.
Tarantino’s upcoming project, “The Popinjay Cavalier,” will be a swashbuckling comedy play on the West End. Additionally, he wrote a screenplay for a “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” follow-up, directed by David Fincher, starring Brad Pitt.