Tarantino's Trash List: 5 Movies He'd Happily Bury Six Feet Under
When it comes to the film world, Quentin Tarantino is a force to be reckoned with.
The two-time Oscar winner for Best Original Screenplay has his finger on the pulse of cinema, making his opinions on films both hotly anticipated and controversial. But which movies make Tarantino cringe? Grab your popcorn and read on to find out!
Groundhog Day (1993) – Murray's Misstep?
Tarantino's disdain for Bill Murray's feel-good comedies is well documented in his 2022 book, Cinema Speculation. The man behind Pulp Fiction and Reservoir Dogs feels that interesting people aren't always likable, and that the focus on Murray's transformation into a likable character detracts from the films. Some fans agree, believing that such "conversions" ruin Murray's signature "hip, cool, curmudgeon" vibe.
"Admittedly, when you don't give a f**k about other people's feelings, it probably does wonders for your caustic wit. But I've always rejected the idea that Bill Murray's characters needed redemption. Yeah, maybe he charmed Andie MacDowell [in 'Groundhog Day'], but does anybody think a less sarcastic Bill Murray is a better Bill Murray?" Tarantino said.
Natural Born Killers (1994) – A Stone in Tarantino's Shoe
Though Tarantino penned the original script for Natural Born Killers, he has disowned the final product after Oliver Stone's rewrites transformed it into a commentary on media violence. Fans feel that Stone's attempt at a Tarantino-style movie missed the mark, resulting in a film that doesn't fit in Quentin's oeuvre.
"One of the things about that script, in particular, was that I was trying to make it on the page," he said on The Moment podcast in 2021 (via Slash Film). "So when you read it, you saw the movie. And it's like why didn't [Stone] do at least half of that? It was done for him!"
The Hunger Games (2012-2015) – Royale Rumble
Tarantino accuses The Hunger Games of ripping off the 2000 Japanese film Battle Royale, a favorite of his. While author Suzanne Collins denies any connection between her novel and the earlier film, some fans can't shake the feeling that the plots are strikingly similar. Regardless, many viewers remain loyal to Collins' dystopian world.
The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions (2003) – Matrix Malfunction
Tarantino once ranked The Matrix (1999) as his second favorite film, but its sequels left him disillusioned. He argues that they "ruined the mythology" of the original, leaving fans to wonder if this trilogy took the red pill or the blue pill. Many agree with Tarantino, lamenting the loss of mystery that made the first film so captivating.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe (2008-Present) – Superhero Showdown
Tarantino's feelings on the Marvel Cinematic Universe are complex. Once a comic collector himself, he admits he might have enjoyed the superhero boom in his younger years. However, his current stance is more measured: he doesn't hate the films, but he doesn't love them either. He believes that actors in superhero roles have been eclipsed by the characters they portray and that original films are at war with franchises. Some fans argue that Tarantino's just bitter about the MCU's box office dominance, but others see merit in his points.