Quentin Tarantino issues blistering verdict on post-pandemic Hollywood movies

Quentin Tarantino has branded Hollywood as a "flavourless sausage factory" as he issued a blistering verdict on post-pandemic movies.

The Pulp Fiction filmmaker explained that he has been unable to find a picture in recent years that he doesn't "pick to death".

In an op-ed for Sight and Sound magazine, Tarantino said: "Since the pandemic, for me anyway, it seems almost impossible for a new movie to come out that I don't pick to death. Flaws, implausibilities, audience pandering, miscast performers or just plain stupid s*** usually torpedoes every new movie coming out of the flavourless sausage factory that used to call itself Hollywood.

"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."

Tarantino says there have been a few films released since the pandemic that he has "liked", although they haven't "swept (him) away to the magical land of enjoyment".

The 63-year-old director said: "I've seen movies I've liked since then – West Side Story (2021); Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1 and 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.

"These days I'd rather read a book."

However, Tarantino did praise The Rip – Joe Carnahan's action thriller that stars Matt Damon and Ben Affleck as Miami police officers.

The Reservoir Dogs director wrote: "The film is an exciting cop thriller with a novel premise that manages to deliver the goods in really clever ways.

"The whole package worked for me: 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."

Tarantino often shares hard-hitting opinions about the movie industry and claimed last year that his enjoyment of the 2007 film There Will Be Blood was impacted by "weak sister" Paul Dano's performance alongside Daniel Day-Lewis.

Ranking Paul Thomas Anderson's drama as his fifth-favourite movie of the 21st century, the director told The Bret Easton Ellis podcast: "There Will Be Blood would stand a better chance to be in number one or number two if it didn't have a big giant flaw in it, and the flaw is Paul Dano.

"Obviously, it's supposed to be a two-hander, and it's also so drastically obvious that it's not a two-hander.

"He is weak sauce, man. He's a weak sister."

Tarantino believes "another terrific actor" could have excelled in the role, suggesting his Once Upon a Time in Hollywood actor Austin Butler, despite him only being 16 when There Will Be Blood was released.

He said: "Austin Butler would have been wonderful in that role. [Dano] just such a weak, weak, uninteresting guy."