Quentin Tarantino has written a scathing assessment of modern Hollywood, calling it “a flavourless sausage factory” that no longer inspires him.
The Oscar-winner, famous for films such as Pulp Fiction and Kill Bill, wrote for Sight and Sound Magazine recently to discuss his feelings about the type of films being made currently.
“Since the pandemic … it seems almost impossible for a new movie to come out that I don’t pick to death,” he said. “Flaws, implausibilities, audience pandering, miscast performers or just plain stupid shit usually torpedoes every new movie coming out of the flavourless sausage factory that used to call itself Hollywood.”
He continued: “These days, the entire concept of what is a movie is more inclined to inspire contempt in me than generosity. Which is fair enough, because by comparison the movies of the last six years make the ’80s seem like the ’30s.” The director then name-checked the few films he has enjoyed in recent years.
“I’ve seen movies I’ve liked since then — West Side Story (2021); Horizon: An American Saga — Chapter 1 & 2 (both 2024), a few others, but nothing that really held me in its grip and swept me away to the magical land of enjoyment that I used to visit and was the reason why I loved movies above all artforms,” Tarantino said. “These days I’d rather read a book.”
He also mentioned 2026 film The Rip, starring Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, which he described as “an exciting cop thriller with a novel premise that manages to deliver the goods in really clever ways.”
“The whole package worked for me,” he continued. “[Joe] Carnahan’s direction, the splendid cast, the look of the film (courtesy of cinematographer Juan Miguel Azpiroz) — but the real powerhouse component of this splendid collection is the sensational screenplay by Carnahan and Michael McGrale.”
Quentin Tarantino has been vocal about his taste in cinema, causing controversy last year after criticising actors Paul Dano and Matthew Lillard. Many Hollywood names came out in support of Dano, while Lillard admitted the film maker’s criticism “hurts”.
The director is currently working on a London theatre production titled The Popinjay Cavalier, set to open in 2027.