The 10 Essential Quentin Tarantino Films And The Shocking Status Of His 'Final' Movie

As of December 2025, the biggest question in modern cinema is still: What will be Quentin Tarantino's final film? For years, the legendary director has firmly maintained his plan to retire after completing his tenth feature film, a self-imposed limit that has turned every new project announcement into a major global event. The recent, dramatic cancellation of his long-rumored final project, *The Movie Critic*, has thrown the entire cinematic world into a frenzy, leaving the director's coveted final slot wide open once again and forcing a fresh look at his unparalleled body of work. Tarantino's career is a masterclass in postmodern filmmaking, characterized by *non-linear narratives*, *dialogue-driven scenes*, and a deep, encyclopedic love for *exploitation cinema* and forgotten genres. Before we dive into the mystery of his ultimate farewell, here is a complete look at the nine (or ten) feature films that cemented his status as a *cult classic* auteur, along with the biography that defines his unique vision.

Quentin Tarantino: A Brief Biography and Feature Filmography

Quentin Jerome Tarantino is an American filmmaker, actor, film historian, and author whose distinctive style—a blend of graphic violence, stylized action, and extended, pop-culture-infused dialogue—redefined *independent film* in the 1990s. Born in Knoxville, Tennessee, his foundational education came not from film school, but from working at a video rental store, which he credits as his true cinematic university. He has won two Academy Awards for Best Original Screenplay (for *Pulp Fiction* and *Django Unchained*).

• Full Name: Quentin Jerome Tarantino
• Born: March 27, 1963 (Knoxville, Tennessee)
• Occupation: Filmmaker, Screenwriter, Actor, Author
• Academy Awards: 2 (Best Original Screenplay for *Pulp Fiction* and *Django Unchained*)
• Signature Style: Non-linear storytelling, stylized violence, extended dialogue, *needle drops* (eclectic music choices), *trunk shots*, and genre blending.
• Directed Feature Films (Chronological Order):
• *Reservoir Dogs* (1992)
• *Pulp Fiction* (1994)
• *Jackie Brown* (1997)
• *Kill Bill: Volume 1* (2003)
• *Kill Bill: Volume 2* (2004)
• *Death Proof* (2007) (Part of *Grindhouse*)
• *Inglourious Basterds* (2009)
• *Django Unchained* (2012)
• *The Hateful Eight* (2015)
• *Once Upon a Time in Hollywood* (2019)
• Current Project Status: Actively searching for his 10th and final film after shelving *The Movie Critic*.

The Definitive Ranking of Quentin Tarantino's 10 Feature Films

Tarantino famously counts *Kill Bill: Volume 1* and *Volume 2* as a single film, which is why his current directorial count stands at nine features, leaving one spot open for his retirement. Below is the complete list of his directed feature films, ordered by their release, showcasing his evolution from a *crime noir* innovator to a master of the *revisionist western* and *period piece*.

1. *Reservoir Dogs* (1992): Tarantino’s explosive directorial debut, a *heist film* that focuses entirely on the aftermath. It established his trademarks: a non-linear structure, snappy dialogue, and shocking violence, famously featuring the ear-cutting scene. This film introduced the world to the *Tarantino cinematic universe*.
2. *Pulp Fiction* (1994): The film that changed independent cinema forever. A sprawling, interconnected crime epic that won the Palme d'Or and the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay. Its influence on pop culture, from its iconic soundtrack to its unforgettable characters like Jules Winnfield and Vincent Vega, is undeniable.
3. *Jackie Brown* (1997): A deliberate, character-driven homage to 1970s *Blaxploitation cinema*, specifically adapted from Elmore Leonard’s novel *Rum Punch*. It is often cited by critics as his most mature and emotionally resonant film, featuring a career-defining performance by Pam Grier.
4. *Kill Bill: Volume 1* (2003) & *Kill Bill: Volume 2* (2004): An epic, two-part *martial arts film* and *revenge saga* that pays tribute to *Wuxia*, spaghetti westerns, and *Japanese samurai cinema*. The story of The Bride's quest for vengeance is a masterclass in stylized action and genre blending, with the director having also teased the existence of a single, uncut version titled *Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair*.
5. *Death Proof* (2007): Released as part of the *Grindhouse* double feature with Robert Rodriguez’s *Planet Terror*. This *exploitation film* is a love letter to B-movies and features a terrifying Stuntman Mike (Kurt Russell) and some of the most impressive practical car stunts in modern cinema.
6. *Inglourious Basterds* (2009): A *World War II* film and work of *revisionist history*. The film is a tension-filled masterpiece, featuring an unforgettable, Oscar-winning performance by Christoph Waltz as the menacing Colonel Hans Landa. It proved Tarantino could successfully tackle large-scale historical epics with his signature flair.
7. *Django Unchained* (2012): A *spaghetti western* set in the American South, focusing on a freed slave (Jamie Foxx) who teams up with a German bounty hunter (Christoph Waltz) to rescue his wife. It is his highest-grossing film domestically and earned him his second Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay.
8. *The Hateful Eight* (2015): A claustrophobic, post-Civil War *western* shot entirely in 70mm *Ultra Panavision*. The film is a chamber piece, relying on intense dialogue and suspicion among a group of disparate characters trapped in a cabin during a blizzard.
9. *Once Upon a Time in Hollywood* (2019): A nostalgic, sprawling love letter to 1969 Los Angeles and the golden age of Hollywood. The film follows a fading actor, Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio), and his stunt double, Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt). It is his most personal film to date and another example of *revisionist history* that touches on the infamous Manson Family murders.

The Final Film Mystery: Why 'The Movie Critic' Was Shelved

The biggest news in the world of *Quentin Tarantino* in late 2024 and 2025 was the sudden and surprising decision to "pull the plug" on his much-anticipated tenth film, *The Movie Critic*. The project was reportedly set in 1977 Los Angeles and inspired by a real-life, cynical film critic who wrote for a pornographic magazine. It was slated to star Brad Pitt, reprising his role as Cliff Booth from *Once Upon a Time in Hollywood*, leading many to believe the film would serve as an "epilogue-y" connection to his shared cinematic universe. Tarantino, however, decided to scrap the project entirely, stating he simply changed his mind, a move that is highly unusual so late in the pre-production process. This decision reignited the speculation around what his true farewell will be, leaving the door open for several legendary *unmade projects* that fans have dreamed about for decades.

Unmade Projects and Possible Final Candidates

The cancellation of *The Movie Critic* has brought several other potential films back into the conversation, keeping the fan base on the edge of their seats. The director is known for having a long list of scripts and ideas that never made it to the screen, but a few stand out as possibilities for his final bow:

• The *Vega Brothers* Film: Perhaps the most famous of his unmade projects, this was intended to be a prequel/sequel crossover bringing together Vic Vega (Michael Madsen from *Reservoir Dogs*) and Vincent Vega (John Travolta from *Pulp Fiction*). Though the actors have aged out of the roles, Tarantino could find a creative way to revisit the concept.
• The *Star Trek* Film: For a time, Tarantino was seriously developing an R-rated *Star Trek* film with screenwriter Mark L. Smith, which reportedly would have involved time travel and the classic Kirk/Spock crew. While he has stepped away from the project, the sheer shock value of a *Tarantino Star Trek* would make for a phenomenal final film.
• *Kill Bill: Volume 3*: The director has often discussed the possibility of a third installment, focusing on the daughter of Vivica A. Fox’s character, Vernita Green, seeking revenge on The Bride (Uma Thurman). This would provide a satisfying conclusion to one of his most beloved sagas.

Ultimately, the identity of Quentin Tarantino's 10th and final film remains the most compelling mystery in Hollywood. Whether he chooses a small, intimate piece of *independent film* or a massive, genre-blending epic that ties his entire *cinematic universe* together, the film will be the culmination of a career built on *postmodern* brilliance, *stylized violence*, and a profound, infectious love for the history of *cinema*. The world is waiting to see which script he pulls from his archive to deliver his ultimate, definitive mic drop.