Quentin Tarantino is obsessed with his own legacy. He talks about it constantly. Honestly, if you’ve ever sat through one of his interviews, you know he views his filmography like a sacred Decalogue—ten movies and then he’s out. But here is the thing: if you actually sit down to write out a list of Quentin Tarantino directed movies, the math starts getting weird.
People argue about it in dive bars and on Reddit daily. Does Kill Bill count as one or two? What about that segment in Four Rooms? If he directed a scene in Sin City, why doesn't that move the needle?
Most directors just work until they stop getting hired or, well, die. Tarantino wants to be the guy who walked away at the top of his game. He’s terrified of being the "old man" director making out-of-touch dramas that nobody cares about. Because of that, the number ten has become a mythic goalpost.
As of early 2026, we are in a strange limbo. He scrapped The Movie Critic—which everyone thought was the big finale—and now he’s messing around with stage plays and producing projects like The Adventures of Cliff Booth for David Fincher.
Let's look at the actual list. No fluff. Just the films that make up the "official" ten, and why the count is such a headache for fans.
The Official List of Quentin Tarantino Directed Movies (According to Him)
If you ask Quentin, he’s made nine movies. He counts the two volumes of Kill Bill as a single cinematic event. It's a bit of a loophole, but since it was originally written as one script, we usually let him have it.
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1. Reservoir Dogs (1992)
This is where the legend started. A heist movie where you never actually see the heist. It’s basically just guys in suits bleeding out in a warehouse and talking about Madonna. It cost almost nothing to make but changed independent cinema forever.
2. Pulp Fiction (1994)
The big one. You can't talk about the 90s without the Royale with Cheese. It’s non-linear, it’s violent, and it made John Travolta a star again. It’s probably the most influential script of the last forty years.
3. Jackie Brown (1997)
This is actually the movie that real Tarantino nerds love the most. It’s his only adaptation (based on Elmore Leonard’s Rum Punch). It’s slower, more mature, and doesn't rely on flashy gunfights. Pam Grier is incredible in it. Honestly, it’s his most "human" film.
4. Kill Bill: Vol. 1 & Vol. 2 (2003-2004)
The Bride. The yellow jumpsuit. The Five Point Palm Exploding Heart Technique. Tarantino considers this one film split in two. Most fans just accept this because if we didn't, he’d already be retired and we wouldn’t have gotten the later masterpieces.
5. Death Proof (2007)
The "weakest" link, according to the man himself. It was part of the Grindhouse double feature with Robert Rodriguez. It’s half-slasher, half-car-stunt movie. The dialogue is long—maybe too long for some—but that final car chase is entirely practical and absolutely terrifying.
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6. Inglourious Basterds (2009)
Revisionist history at its peak. He literally kills Hitler in a movie theater. This gave us Christoph Waltz as Hans Landa, arguably the greatest villain in modern history. The opening scene in the farmhouse is a masterclass in tension that every film student should study.
7. Django Unchained (2012)
A "Southern" western. It’s loud, it’s controversial, and it’s a massive revenge fantasy. Jamie Foxx and Leonardo DiCaprio are electric. It’s also the movie where Tarantino’s love for blood-squibs went into overdrive.
8. The Hateful Eight (2015)
A nasty, snowy chamber piece. It feels like a stage play. Eight terrible people trapped in a room during a blizzard. It’s cynical and mean, but the Ennio Morricone score is haunting.
9. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019)
A love letter to a lost era of Los Angeles. It’s his most relaxed movie until the final twenty minutes when everything goes off the rails. Rick Dalton and Cliff Booth are the best duo he’s ever written.
Why the "Tenth" Movie is Taking Forever
We were all geared up for The Movie Critic. It was supposed to be set in 1977 and follow a guy who wrote reviews for a porno rag. Brad Pitt was rumored to be involved. Then, out of nowhere in 2024, Tarantino just binned it. He said he "grew more excited by other ideas."
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Now, in 2026, the status of the tenth film is the biggest mystery in Hollywood. He’s currently busy with The Adventures of Cliff Booth, which is a sequel/spin-off of Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, but he isn't directing it—David Fincher is. Because he's only the writer and producer on that, it doesn't count toward his "Ten."
He also spent 2025 working on a stage play. He told reporters at Sundance that if the play is a smash hit, he might even make the play his last movie. That would be a weird way to go out, but he’s always been unpredictable.
The "Ghost" Movies That Don't Count
If you look at a raw list of Quentin Tarantino directed movies, you’ll see titles that aren't on his official tally. This is where the confusion comes in for casual viewers.
- My Best Friend’s Birthday (1987): His "lost" student film. Much of it was destroyed in a lab fire. He doesn't count it because it’s unfinished.
- Four Rooms (1995): He directed the segment "The Man from Hollywood." Since he only did one-fourth of the movie, it doesn't count as a "Tarantino Film."
- Sin City (2005): He was a "Special Guest Director" for the scene where Clive Owen and Benicio del Toro are talking in a car. It was basically a favor to Robert Rodriguez.
- CSI: Grave Danger (2005): He directed a two-part finale for the TV show. It’s great, but it’s television.
What Should You Watch First?
If you’re new to this and looking at the list of Quentin Tarantino directed movies wondering where to start, don't go in order. Start with Pulp Fiction to see the style at its peak. Then go back to Reservoir Dogs.
If you want something fun and stylized, Kill Bill is the move. If you want a deep, character-driven story, Jackie Brown is the underrated gem you shouldn't skip.
The reality is that whether he makes ten or twelve, Tarantino’s footprint is permanent. He’s a guy who loves movies so much it hurts, and every single entry on his list feels like it was made by a fan who somehow got the keys to the studio.
Actionable Next Steps for Film Fans
- Check out the novelizations: If you loved Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, read the book Tarantino wrote. It adds massive amounts of backstory for Cliff Booth that didn't make the movie.
- Watch the "Guest" Work: See the CSI episodes "Grave Danger." They are genuinely some of the best episodes of procedural TV ever made.
- Track the Tenth: Keep an eye on trade publications like Deadline or The Hollywood Reporter. With The Movie Critic dead, the next announcement for "Movie #10" will be the biggest casting call of the decade.