Quentin Tarantino’s Take on Modern Cinema

Quentin Tarantino, known for his classic films, has expressed dissatisfaction with the current movie industry. The 63-year-old Oscar-winning director discussed his views in an essay for Sight & Sound magazine. He shared that finding a new film he genuinely enjoys has become a rarity.

According to Tarantino, recent films are often marred by flaws, unrealistic scenarios, and miscasting. He criticized the industry, referring to Hollywood as the “flavorless sausage factory.” Tarantino finds contemporary films uninspiring compared to past decades. He noted that movies from the last six years make the 1980s seem comparable to the 1930s.

Tarantino, who previously labeled the 1980s as one of the worst eras for cinema, admits there have been films he liked, such as West Side Story (2021) and Horizon: An American Saga (2024). However, he longs for movies that capture his imagination and provide joy. He revealed a preference for reading books over watching modern films.

Before giving praise, Tarantino shared his admiration for The Rip, a Netflix movie released in 2026 starring Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. He described it as a gripping cop thriller that was refreshing and clever, with commendable direction, cast performance, cinematography, and a standout screenplay.

Tarantino’s film career began with 1992’s Reservoir Dogs. His last movie was 2019’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, and he plans to direct only one more film before retiring. He expressed disillusionment with the modern film industry, questioning what constitutes a movie today. His concern revolves around films having brief theatrical releases before transitioning swiftly to television.

At the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, Tarantino highlighted 2019 as the “last year of movies.” Despite his critical views, he has previously mentioned enjoying recent films like Top Gun: Maverick and Spielberg’s West Side Story. He found them to be true cinematic spectacles, which he feared might be a thing of the past.

On the Bret Easton Ellis Podcast, the director shared his top 20 favorite films of the 21st century. Notably, only Spielberg’s West Side Story ranked at No. 20, with no 2020s films included.

In March, Tarantino announced his next project would be a swashbuckling comedy play titled The Popinjay Cavalier, set for the West End. Details about his tenth and final movie remain uncertain after dropping plans for a film called The Movie Critic. However, he wrote the screenplay for a Once Upon a Time in Hollywood follow-up directed by David Fincher, featuring Brad Pitt reprising his role as Cliff Booth.