Among the talented artists of Hollywood, none has more creatively varied his output than Quentin Tarantino. This Tennessee native cut his teeth on movies at a young age, solidifying his commitment to film by writing screenplays while working as a clerk at a video store. Which films are Tarantino’s best?

Quentin J. Tarantino The Writer

During his video store days, he wrote Reservoir Dogs, True Romance and Natural Born Killers. Tarantino sold Natural Born Killers and True Romance for the money to direct his 1992 debut masterpiece, Reservoir Dogs, Empire’s “Greatest Independent Film of all Time.” True Romance, directed by Tony Scott, was nominated for a Saturn Award in 1993.

Tarantino then wrote and directed Pulp Fiction in 1994, releasing to huge commercial success. Awards included an Oscar for Best screenplay, six other Academy Award nominations and it was chosen by the Library of Congress for inclusion in the National Film Registry.

His notable writer credits include:

  • From Dusk Till Dawn (as both movie and TV series)
  • Kill Bill Volume 1 and 2
  • Jackie Brown
  • Inglourious Basterds
  • Django Unchained
  • CSI: Crime Scene Investigation

A telling Tarantino quote on writing is, “I was kind of excited about going to jail the first time and I learnt some great dialogue.”

QT The Director

Tarantino shined right from the start with Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction. His effort on Jackie Brown earned nearly twenty nominations world wide. Kill Bill Volume 1 brought in two Empires, for Best Actress and Best Director, three MTV Movie Awards and two Saturns, one for Best Action Film. Kill Bill Volume 2 followed that up with an MTV Movie Award and three Saturns. Django Unchained was dripping in accolades, with 111 nominations world wide and 29 awards, including two Oscars, for Best Screenplay and Best Supporting Actor.

Tarantino The Actor

Tarantino has 36 actor credits, including TV roles on The Golden Girls, Saturday Night Live and Alias. Best roles? Mr. Brown in Reservoir Dogs and Richie Gecko in From Dawn Till Dusk.

Any time this name comes up in the credits, whether as actor, director, writer or producer, viewers can count on both quality and originality from perhaps the single most formidable player in the modern Hollywood era.