Tarantino ranked his movies at AFI Fest but left out Pulp Fiction
When the cinematic world often drowns itself in algorithmic noise and safe, sanitized takes, there are rare moments when pure, unfiltered passion cuts through the static. This was the case at the recent AFI Fest, where the maestro of 35mm cinema, Quentin Tarantino, stepped onto the stage and offered a masterclass that bypassed PR platitudes entirely. Instead of offering diplomatic answers, Tarantino delved into his blood-soaked filmography, championing his personal favorites with a ferocious authority that left audiences both surprised and thoroughly entertained.
During an in-depth Q&A session, Tarantino surveyed his career and unveiled a handful of picks that seemed designed to throw casual fans for a loop. He crowned his 2009 epic, Inglourious Basterds, as his absolute best work, declaring the revisionist war epic a true “masterpiece.” For his personal favorite, he pointed to his 2019 reflection, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, as a treasured gem from a bygone era.
But the spotlight shone brightest on the film he felt uniquely compelled to create: Kill Bill. This hyper-stylized, revenge-fueled opus was his insistence, a cinematic monument he claimed no other human being could have achieved.
However, the rankings weren’t without some curious omissions. Tarantino conspicuously left out iconic works like Pulp Fiction and Reservoir Dogs—the films that fundamentally altered the cultural landscape of the 1990s and cemented his status as a household name. While he acknowledged this was his body of work, he admitted a distinct disappointment in seeing other masterpieces sidelined.
Perhaps the most poignant omission was Jackie Brown. Tarantino spoke of the film as easily one of the finest, most nuanced pictures of his entire career, highlighting Pam Grier’s career-defining turn and the masterful rhythm of Elmore Leonard’s storytelling. It was a film he championed, yet not included in his top tier.
The reactions following the panel were predictably explosive. As clips circulated across social media, fans immediately began arguing for the inclusion of films like Pulp Fiction, debating whether a director’s personal rankings should supersede public consensus. Yet, Tarantino’s perspective remained firmly rooted in the craft itself. Where others see iconic monologues and needle drops, he remembers the sweat, the chaos, and the personal breakthroughs that fueled every frame.
Ultimately, listening to a master dissect his own art offers a refreshing antidote to the curated outrage of the internet. In a landscape increasingly dominated by corporate bets and rage-bait algorithms, Tarantino’s unwavering confidence in his own cinematic vision proves that there is still immense, passionate energy waiting to be celebrated in the world of cinema.
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