Quentin Tarantino Reveals His Top Three Perfect Horror Movies

Quentin Tarantino is known as one of the most important filmmakers of our time, and his talent comes from more than just directing. He’s a huge film buff with an incredible memory for movies – everything from old silent films to rare horror titles.

Tarantino often says working at a video store helped him build this vast knowledge, describing his mind as a detailed archive. Because he knows so much about film, people always listen when he recommends a movie.

Tarantino once explained that he absorbs inspiration like a sponge, remembering details, behaviors, and even jokes he hears. This ability to collect and recall these details is a key reason his scripts feel so realistic, even when they’re highly stylized.

While on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, director Quentin Tarantino was asked to name the films he thought were perfect. He explained that while taste is subjective, some movies are just exceptionally well-made and appeal to almost everyone.

Tarantino ultimately chose three classic horror films as examples of perfection. First on his list was Tobe Hooper’s 1974 film, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

This movie introduced the iconic villain Leatherface and had a huge impact on the horror genre, influencing later successes like Halloween and Friday the 13th. Tarantino has long praised the film’s intense, realistic feel and the way it creates a truly terrifying experience for viewers.

Tarantino’s second pick is Steven Spielberg’s 1975 film, Jaws. Though debated as either a horror or thriller, Tarantino believes it’s a flawless movie. The film, about a town plagued by a Great White shark, revolutionized cinema. It essentially invented the summer blockbuster and left a lasting fear of the ocean in audiences for years to come.

Completing the set is William Friedkin’s The Exorcist, a film frequently named the scariest of all time. It’s a chilling story about a young girl taken over by a demonic force and the priests who fight to save her.

Tarantino’s admiration for these movies shows his fondness for directors who aren’t afraid to be bold and create powerfully memorable experiences for audiences. The 62-year-old filmmaker is currently keeping fans guessing about what he’ll do next.

Although he famously cancelled his project The Movie Critic last year, he’s been busy. He recently finished the screenplay for The Adventures of Cliff Booth, a sequel to Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. A short teaser for the film debuted during Super Bowl 60. David Fincher is directing, and the movie will stream on Netflix with Brad Pitt, Elizabeth Debicki, and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II starring in the film.

Quentin Tarantino is back in front of the camera for the independent film Only What We Carry, where he’ll play a publisher named John Percy. A first look at the movie—which also stars Simon Pegg and Sofia Boutella—was recently released.

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2026-02-16 15:44