History of Quentin Tarantino in Timeline
Quentin Tarantino is a highly influential American filmmaker, actor, and author known for his distinct style. His films often feature stylized violence, lengthy dialogues (frequently with profanity), and pop-culture references. This approach has cultivated a devoted fanbase while achieving both critical acclaim and commercial success. Tarantino's impact has led some to consider him the most influential director of his generation. His work has garnered numerous accolades, including multiple Academy Awards, BAFTA Awards, and Golden Globe Awards.
1956: Blood in the Water Match
In 2006, Tarantino helped produce "Freedom's Fury" about the Blood in the Water match, a water polo match between Hungary and the USSR at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics.
1960: Influence of Bande à Part and Breathless
Jean-Luc Godard films (Bande à Part and the 1960 version of Breathless) are cited as formative influences.
1960: Psycho Opinion
Tarantino considers the 1983 film Psycho II to be superior to the original 1960 film Psycho.
March 27, 1963: Quentin Tarantino's Birth
On March 27, 1963, Quentin Jerome Tarantino was born in Knoxville, Tennessee to Connie McHugh and Tony Tarantino.
1966: Move to Los Angeles
In 1966, Quentin Tarantino and his mother returned to Los Angeles, after living with her parents in Knoxville.
1966: Original Broadway Play
In 1966, Wait Until Dark, in which Quentin Tarantino acted in a revival of, originally appeared on Broadway.
1971: Exposure to Mature Movies
In 1971, Quentin Tarantino, accompanied by his stepfather, attended film screenings and was allowed by his mother to watch mature movies like Carnal Knowledge.
1972: Exposure to Mature Movies
In 1972, Quentin Tarantino, accompanied by his stepfather, attended film screenings and was allowed by his mother to watch mature movies like Deliverance.
1973: Detroit 9000 Release
In 1973, Rolling Thunder Pictures released Detroit 9000, directed by Arthur Marks.
1973: Return to Knoxville
In 1973, after his mother's divorce and misdiagnosis, Quentin Tarantino was sent to live with his grandparents in Knoxville.
1975: Switchblade Sisters Release
In 1975, Rolling Thunder Pictures released Switchblade Sisters, directed by Jack Hill.
1977: The Mighty Peking Man Release
In 1977, Rolling Thunder Pictures released The Mighty Peking Man, directed by Ho Meng Hua.
1977: Early Screenplay and Shoplifting Incident
In 1977, at age 14, Quentin Tarantino wrote his early screenplay called "Captain Peachfuzz and the Anchovy Bandit" and, at 15, was grounded for shoplifting.
1977: Roman Polanski Charges
In a 2003 Howard Stern interview, Tarantino defended the director Roman Polanski against charges that Polanski had raped then-13-year-old Samantha Geimer in 1977.
1981: The Beyond Release
In 1981, Rolling Thunder Pictures released The Beyond, directed by Lucio Fulci.
1981: Influence of Blow Out
Tarantino admired the 1981 film Blow Out, directed by Brian De Palma, which led to his casting of John Travolta in Pulp Fiction.
1983: Psycho II Opinion
Tarantino considers the 1983 film Psycho II to be superior to the original 1960 film Psycho.
1983: Influence of Breathless remake
Tarantino was captivated with Jim McBride's 1983 remake of Breathless and with Richard Gere's unlikable but charismatic protagonist.
1986: First Hollywood Job
In 1986, Quentin Tarantino got his first Hollywood job as a production assistant on Dolph Lundgren's exercise video, "Maximum Potential".
1987: My Best Friend's Birthday
In 1987, Quentin Tarantino co-wrote and directed the unfinished film "My Best Friend's Birthday".
1987: Ishtar Appreciation
Tarantino appreciates Elaine May's 1987 film Ishtar, despite its reputation as a box-office flop.
November 19, 1988: Appearance on The Golden Girls
On November 19, 1988, Quentin Tarantino appeared in "Sophia's Wedding: Part 1", an episode of The Golden Girls as an Elvis impersonator.
January 1992: Release of Reservoir Dogs
In January 1992, Quentin Tarantino's crime thriller "Reservoir Dogs" was released and screened at the Sundance Film Festival, receiving a positive response.
1992: Minor Acting Roles
In 1992, Tarantino had a minor acting role in Eddie Presley.
1993: True Romance Release
In 1993, Quentin Tarantino's screenplay "True Romance" was optioned and the film was eventually released.
1994: Pulp Fiction Success
In 1994, Quentin Tarantino wrote, directed, and acted in Pulp Fiction, and received the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay and the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival.
1994: Chungking Express Release
In 1994, Rolling Thunder Pictures released Chungking Express, directed by Wong Kar-wai.
1994: Minor Acting Roles
In 1994, Tarantino had minor acting roles in The Coriolis Effect, Sleep With Me, and Somebody to Love.
1995: Participation in Four Rooms and Desperado
In 1995, Quentin Tarantino participated in the anthology film Four Rooms and had a supporting role in Desperado.
1995: Rolling Thunder Pictures Formed
In 1995, Tarantino formed Rolling Thunder Pictures with Miramax to release or re-release independent and foreign features.
1995: Minor Acting Roles
In 1995, Tarantino had minor acting roles in All-American Girl and Destiny Turns on the Radio.
1996: From Dusk till Dawn
In 1996, From Dusk till Dawn, for which Tarantino wrote the script, was released, with Tarantino also having an acting role.
1996: Hard Core Logo and Curdled Release
In 1996, Rolling Thunder Pictures released both Hard Core Logo, directed by Bruce McDonald, and Curdled, directed by Reb Braddock.
1996: Minor Acting Roles
In 1996, Tarantino had minor acting roles in Girl 6, and starred in Steven Spielberg's Director's Chair.
October 1997: Physical Assault and Lawsuit
In October 1997, Quentin Tarantino physically assaulted Don Murphy at a restaurant in West Hollywood, leading to a $5 million lawsuit against Tarantino. The judge ordered Tarantino to pay Murphy $450.
1997: Rolling Thunder Pictures Shut Down
By 1997, Miramax had shut down Rolling Thunder Pictures due to poor sales.
1997: Altercation with Journalist at Oscars Ceremony
During the 1997 Oscars ceremony, Quentin Tarantino confronted Chris Connelly, a journalist, after taking offense to an article that included an interview with Tarantino's biological father. Tarantino gave Connelly the finger and spat at him.
1997: Jackie Brown Release
In 1997, Quentin Tarantino's third feature film, Jackie Brown, an adaptation of Elmore Leonard's novel Rum Punch, was released.
1997: Spike Lee's Criticism of Racial Slurs
In 1997, Spike Lee questioned Tarantino's use of racial slurs in his films, especially the N-word, particularly in Pulp Fiction and Jackie Brown.
1998: Broadway Debut in Wait Until Dark
In 1998, Quentin Tarantino made his Broadway debut in Wait Until Dark, which received unfavorable reviews.
2001: Iron Monkey US Release
In 2001, Tarantino produced the US release of the Hong Kong martial arts film Iron Monkey.
2002: Portrayal of McKenas Cole in Alias
From 2002, Quentin Tarantino portrayed villain McKenas Cole in the ABC television series Alias.
2003: Kill Bill: Volume 1 Release
In 2003, Kill Bill: Volume 1, written and directed by Quentin Tarantino, was released.
2003: Howard Stern Interview
In a 2003 Howard Stern interview, Tarantino defended the director Roman Polanski against charges that Polanski had raped then-13-year-old Samantha Geimer in 1977.
2004: Kill Bill: Volume 2 Release
In 2004, Kill Bill: Volume 2, written and directed by Quentin Tarantino, was released.
2004: Cannes Film Festival Jury President
In 2004, Quentin Tarantino served as president of the jury at the Cannes Film Festival.
2004: Hero US Release
In 2004, Tarantino brought the Chinese martial arts film Hero to the US.
May 2005: Directing CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
In May 2005, Quentin Tarantino co-wrote and directed "Grave Danger", the fifth season finale of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.
2006: Hostel Release
In 2006, "Quentin Tarantino presents" production, Hostel, opened at number-one at the box office.
2006: Freedom's Fury Production
In 2006, Tarantino helped produce the Hungarian sports documentary Freedom's Fury.
August 2007: Cinemanila International Film Festival
In August 2007, while teaching in a film course at the Cinemanila International Film Festival, Tarantino cited Filipino directors as personal icons.
2007: Sally Menke as Collaborator
Editor Sally Menke, who worked on all Tarantino films until her death in 2010, was described by Tarantino in 2007 as "hands down my number one collaborator".
2007: Release of Death Proof
In 2007, Quentin Tarantino directed the exploitation slasher film Death Proof, released as part of Grindhouse.
2007: Hostel: Part II Production
In 2007, Tarantino was a producer of the film "Hostel: Part II".
October 2008: Filming Begins on Inglourious Basterds
In October 2008, filming began on Quentin Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds.
2008: Hell Ride Production
In 2008, Tarantino produced the Larry Bishop-helmed Hell Ride.
August 2009: Release of Inglourious Basterds
In August 2009, Quentin Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds was released to positive reviews.
2009: Retirement Plans
In 2009, Tarantino expressed his intention to retire from filmmaking at age 60 to focus on writing novels and film literature.
February 2010: Purchase of New Beverly Cinema
In February 2010, Tarantino bought the New Beverly Cinema in Los Angeles to preserve 35 mm film screenings.
2010: Death of Sally Menke
Editor Sally Menke, who worked on all Tarantino films until her death in 2010, was described by Tarantino in 2007 as "hands down my number one collaborator".
2011: Critics' Choice Music+Film Award
In 2011, Tarantino was recognized at the 16th Critics' Choice Awards with the inaugural Music+Film Award.
2011: Production Begins on Django Unchained
In 2011, production began on Quentin Tarantino's Django Unchained.
December 2012: Release of Django Unchained
In December 2012, Quentin Tarantino's Django Unchained was released and became his highest-grossing film to date.
2012: Sight & Sound Directors' Poll
In the 2012 Sight & Sound directors' poll, Tarantino listed his 12 favorite films.
January 11, 2014: The Hateful Eight Title Reveal
On January 11, 2014, the title of Tarantino's new Western film was revealed to be "The Hateful Eight".
January 2014: The Hateful Eight Script Leak
In January 2014, the script for "The Hateful Eight" was leaked, causing Tarantino to consider abandoning the film production.
April 19, 2014: Live Reading of The Hateful Eight Script
On April 19, 2014, Tarantino directed a live reading of the leaked script for "The Hateful Eight" at the United Artists Theater in Los Angeles, as part of the Live Read series.
2014: Active Programming at New Beverly Cinema
Starting in 2014, Tarantino took a more active role in programming film screenings at the New Beverly, showing his own films as well as prints from his personal collection.
January 2015: The Hateful Eight Filming
In January 2015, filming of "The Hateful Eight" went ahead as planned with a new draft of the script.
December 25, 2015: The Hateful Eight Roadshow Release
On December 25, 2015, "The Hateful Eight" was released as a roadshow presentation in 70 mm film-format theaters.
December 30, 2015: The Hateful Eight Digital Release
On December 30, 2015, "The Hateful Eight" was released in digital theaters, following its roadshow presentation.
July 2017: Manson Family Film Announced
In July 2017, it was reported that Tarantino's next project would be a film about the Manson Family murders.
October 18, 2017: Weinstein Allegations Interview
On October 18, 2017, Tarantino gave an interview discussing sexual harassment and assault allegations against producer Harvey Weinstein and stated he knew about his behavior but did not do enough.
2017: Weinstein Scandal
In a June 2021 interview on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast, Tarantino said he regretted not pressing Weinstein further regarding his misconduct before the 2017 scandal.
February 3, 2018: Uma Thurman's Allegations
On February 3, 2018, Uma Thurman said Harvey Weinstein had sexually assaulted her and that she had reported this to Tarantino.
February 2018: Once Upon a Time in Hollywood Title and Casting Announcement
In February 2018, it was announced that the Manson Family film would be titled "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood," with Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, and Margot Robbie cast in key roles.
2018: Backlash and Apology
A 2003 Howard Stern interview resurfaced in 2018, where Tarantino defended Roman Polanski. Following criticism, Tarantino issued an apology.
July 2019: Once Upon a Time in Hollywood Theatrical Release
In July 2019, "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" was theatrically released by Sony Pictures, receiving critical acclaim.
June 2020: Official Critic on Rotten Tomatoes
In June 2020, Tarantino became an officially recognized critic on the review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes.
June 2021: Joe Rogan Experience Interview
In a June 2021 interview on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast, Tarantino said he regretted not pressing Weinstein further regarding his misconduct before the 2017 scandal.
2021: Purchase of Vista Theatre
In 2021, Tarantino announced that he had also purchased the Vista Theatre in Los Angeles, with plans to keep it a first-run theatre that only shows movies on film.
July 3, 2022: Birth of Second Child
On July 3, 2022, Quentin Tarantino and Daniella Pick's second child, a daughter, was born in Israel.
July 19, 2022: Video Archives Podcast Premiere
On July 19, 2022, the Video Archives podcast, hosted by Quentin Tarantino and Roger Avary, premiered. The podcast features the directors and a guest examining films that could have been offered for rental at their former video store.
November 1, 2022: Publication of Cinema Speculation
On November 1, 2022, Quentin Tarantino's second book, titled "Cinema Speculation," was published. The book is about films of the New Hollywood era and was inspired by film critic Pauline Kael.
November 2022: Plans for Television Series Revealed
In November 2022, Tarantino revealed plans to shoot an eight-episode television series in 2023, with no further details provided.
2023: Future Television Series
In November 2022, Tarantino revealed plans to shoot an eight-episode television series in 2023.
August 2024: Expresses Intention to Vote for Kamala Harris
In August 2024, Quentin Tarantino announced his support for and intention to vote for Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election on Bill Maher's podcast Club Random.
January 2025: Sundance Film Festival Comments
In January 2025, at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, Tarantino stated that he was in "no hurry" to make his final film and was prioritizing writing a stage play.
