Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Quentin Tarantino
From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Quentin Tarantino made an impact.
Quentin Tarantino is a highly influential American filmmaker, actor, and author celebrated for his distinct cinematic style. His films are known for their graphic violence, lengthy dialogues laden with profanity, and extensive pop culture references. Tarantino's work has garnered a devoted cult following, critical acclaim, and commercial success, establishing him as a leading director of his generation. He has received numerous accolades, including multiple Academy Awards, BAFTA Awards, and Golden Globe Awards. His films have collectively grossed over $1.9 billion worldwide, solidifying his impact on the film industry.
1977: Wrote Captain Peachfuzz and the Anchovy Bandit
At the age of 14, Quentin Tarantino wrote one of his earliest works, a screenplay called Captain Peachfuzz and the Anchovy Bandit which was based on the 1977 film Smokey and the Bandit.
1986: First Hollywood job
In 1986, Quentin Tarantino was employed in his first Hollywood job, working with Video Archives colleague Roger Avary as production assistants on Dolph Lundgren's exercise video, Maximum Potential.
1987: Co-wrote and directed My Best Friend's Birthday
In 1987, Quentin Tarantino co-wrote and directed My Best Friend's Birthday. It was left uncompleted, but some of its dialogue was included in True Romance.
November 19, 1988: Played an Elvis impersonator in The Golden Girls
On November 19, 1988, Quentin Tarantino played an Elvis impersonator in "Sophia's Wedding: Part 1", an episode in the fourth season of The Golden Girls.
January 1992: Released Reservoir Dogs
In January 1992, Reservoir Dogs, written, directed by and starring Quentin Tarantino, was released and screened at the Sundance Film Festival. The crime thriller was an immediate hit, receiving a positive response from critics.
1992: Reservoir Dogs release
In 1992, Quentin Tarantino began his career with the independent crime film Reservoir Dogs.
1992: Minor role in Eddie Presley
In 1992, Quentin Tarantino had a minor acting role in Eddie Presley.
1993: Sale of 'Natural Born Killers' script
In 1993, Quentin Tarantino sold his script for Natural Born Killers. The script was rewritten, leading to Tarantino receiving only a story credit. He later disowned the film.
1993: True Romance released
In 1993, Quentin Tarantino's screenplay True Romance was optioned and the film was eventually released.
1994: Uncredited rewrite on It's Pat
In 1994, Quentin Tarantino did an uncredited rewrite on It's Pat.
1994: Feud with Denzel Washington during 'Crimson Tide' filming
In 1994, Quentin Tarantino had an on-set feud with Denzel Washington during the filming of Crimson Tide. The dispute arose over "Tarantino's racist dialogue added to the script".
1994: Minor roles in The Coriolis Effect and others
In 1994, Quentin Tarantino had minor acting roles in The Coriolis Effect, Sleep With Me, and Somebody to Love.
1994: Palme d'Or win for 'Pulp Fiction'
In 1994, Quentin Tarantino won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival for 'Pulp Fiction'.
1994: Pulp Fiction success
In 1994, Quentin Tarantino wrote, directed, and acted in the dark comedy crime film Pulp Fiction. Tarantino received the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay, shared with Roger Avary, and the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival. He was also nominated for Best Director.
1995: Minor roles in All-American Girl and Destiny Turns on the Radio
In 1995, Quentin Tarantino had minor acting roles in All-American Girl and Destiny Turns on the Radio.
1995: Participated in Four Rooms and Desperado
In 1995, Quentin Tarantino participated in the anthology film Four Rooms, directing the fourth segment of "The Man from Hollywood". He also had a supporting role in Desperado.
1995: Uncredited screenwriter for Crimson Tide
In 1995, Quentin Tarantino was an uncredited screenwriter for Crimson Tide.
1996: Minor role in Girl 6
In 1996, Quentin Tarantino had a minor acting role in Girl 6. Also in 1996, he starred in Steven Spielberg's Director's Chair, a simulation video game that uses pre-generated film clips.
1996: From Dusk till Dawn
In 1996, Quentin Tarantino re-teamed with Robert Rodriguez to write and act in From Dusk till Dawn.
1996: Uncredited screenwriter for The Rock
In 1996, Quentin Tarantino was an uncredited screenwriter for The Rock.
1996: Wrote and starred in From Dusk till Dawn
In 1996, Quentin Tarantino wrote and starred in the action horror film From Dusk till Dawn.
1997: Turned down Speed and Men in Black
Following the success of Reservoir Dogs, Quentin Tarantino was approached by major film studios and offered projects that included Speed and Men in Black, but he instead retreated to Amsterdam to work on his script for Pulp Fiction.
1997: Directed Jackie Brown
In 1997, Quentin Tarantino's third feature film, Jackie Brown, an adaptation of Elmore Leonard's novel Rum Punch, was released. A homage to blaxploitation films, it starred Pam Grier.
1997: Jackie Brown release
In 1997, Quentin Tarantino's third film as director, Jackie Brown, paid homage to blaxploitation films.
1998: Broadway debut in Wait Until Dark
In 1998, Quentin Tarantino made his major Broadway stage debut as an amoral psycho killer in a revival of the 1966 play Wait Until Dark, which received unfavorable reviews for his performance from critics.
2002: Portrayed McKenas Cole in Alias
From 2002, Quentin Tarantino portrayed villain McKenas Cole in the ABC television series Alias.
2003: Kill Bill: Volume 1 released
In 2003, Quentin Tarantino wrote and directed Kill Bill: Volume 1, a highly stylized "revenge flick".
2004: President of the Jury at Cannes Film Festival
In 2004, Quentin Tarantino attended the Cannes Film Festival, where he served as president of the jury.
2004: Kill Bill: Volume 2 released
In 2004, Quentin Tarantino wrote and directed Kill Bill: Volume 2 was released.
May 2005: Directed Grave Danger episode of CSI
In May 2005, Quentin Tarantino co-wrote and directed "Grave Danger", the fifth season finale of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. He was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series for this episode.
2007: Directed Death Proof
In 2007, Quentin Tarantino directed the exploitation slasher film Death Proof, released as part of Grindhouse, a double feature with Robert Rodriguez's Planet Terror.
2007: Death Proof release
In 2007, Quentin Tarantino made the exploitation-slasher film Death Proof, which was part of a double feature with From Dusk till Dawn director Robert Rodriguez, released under the collective title Grindhouse.
October 2008: Filming of Inglourious Basterds began
In October 2008, filming began on Quentin Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds.
August 2009: Release of Inglourious Basterds
In August 2009, Quentin Tarantino's film Inglourious Basterds was released to positive reviews, achieving the highest box office gross in the US and Canada for the weekend on release.
2009: Inglourious Basterds release
In 2009, Quentin Tarantino released Inglourious Basterds, which followed an alternate account of World War II.
2012: Django Unchained release
In 2012, Quentin Tarantino released Django Unchained, a slave revenge Spaghetti Western which won him his second Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay.
2015: The Hateful Eight release
In 2015, Quentin Tarantino's eighth film, The Hateful Eight, was a revisionist Western thriller and opened to audiences with a roadshow release.
October 18, 2017: Tarantino discusses Harvey Weinstein allegations
On October 18, 2017, Quentin Tarantino discussed sexual harassment and assault allegations against Harvey Weinstein, stating that his then-girlfriend Mira Sorvino had told him about her experiences with Weinstein in the mid-1990s. Tarantino confronted Weinstein at the time, received an apology, but now regrets not doing more.
2017: Weinstein scandal surfaces
In 2017, a scandal involving Harvey Weinstein surfaced, revealing extensive misconduct. This event prompted Quentin Tarantino to reflect on his past interactions and relationship with Weinstein.
February 3, 2018: Uma Thurman's assault allegations and Tarantino's response
On February 3, 2018, Uma Thurman, an actress in Kill Bill, told The New York Times that Harvey Weinstein had sexually assaulted her, and that she had reported this to Tarantino. Tarantino confronted Weinstein and banned him from contacting Thurman for the remainder of the film's production.
2019: Once Upon a Time in Hollywood release
In 2019, Quentin Tarantino's ninth film, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, was released. It is a comedy-drama set in the late 1960s about the transition of Old Hollywood to New Hollywood.
2019: Indignant response at Cannes Film Festival
In 2019, during the Cannes Film Festival at the Once Upon a Time in Hollywood press conference, Quentin Tarantino responded indignantly to a journalist's question about Margot Robbie's limited lines in the film.
2020: Tarantino signs two-book deal with HarperCollins
In 2020, Quentin Tarantino signed a two-book deal with HarperCollins. The first book was a novelization of Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, and the second was Cinema Speculation.
June 2021: Announcement of 'Video Archives' podcast
In June 2021, Quentin Tarantino announced plans to start a podcast with Roger Avary, named after Video Archives, where they both worked. The podcast would feature discussions of films that could have been rented at the store.
June 2021: Publication of 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood' novelization
In June 2021, Quentin Tarantino published his first novel, a novelization of 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood', which received positive reviews.
June 2021: Tarantino regrets not pressing Weinstein further
In June 2021, during an interview on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast, Tarantino expressed regret for not pressing Harvey Weinstein further regarding his misconduct before the 2017 scandal. He reflected on his past relationship with Weinstein, who he once admired for fostering his career.
2021: Once Upon a Time in Hollywood novelization
In 2021, Quentin Tarantino's debut novel, a novelization of the film Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, was published.
July 19, 2022: Premiere of 'Video Archives' podcast
On July 19, 2022, the Video Archives podcast, hosted by Quentin Tarantino and Roger Avary, premiered. The podcast explores films that could have been offered for rental at the Video Archives store.
November 1, 2022: Publication of 'Cinema Speculation'
On November 1, 2022, Quentin Tarantino published Cinema Speculation, a book about films of the New Hollywood era, inspired by film critic Pauline Kael.
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