The First Movie Quentin Tarantino Ever Saw and Why It Changed Everything for Him

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As a movie lover, I’ve always been fascinated by Quentin Tarantino‘s ability to blend really smart, artistic filmmaking with the fun, sometimes over-the-top energy of older, low-budget movies. It was only a couple of years after he burst onto the scene that he gave us Pulp Fiction, and it rightfully won him an Oscar for the screenplay. What’s amazing about that film is the incredible cast – John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, Uma Thurman – and it still holds up today, loved by both hardcore film buffs and people just looking for a good time. I think a big part of that success comes from how much he knows about movies – he draws inspiration from everything, whether it’s a classic western or a silly horror film.

Quentin Tarantino’s inspirations often come from surprisingly early experiences. He recently told Italian host Fabio Fazio that the very first movie he ever saw was the 1967 spy film Deadlier Than the Male.

At just five years old, Tarantino was captivated by the film, especially a scene where the female characters kidnap and imprison a man. Although he didn’t fully understand the complexities of the scene at that age, the images stayed with him for decades. It wasn’t until years later, after becoming a well-known director, that he rewatched the film.

While watching it, he reached that specific scene and had a sudden realization: This is the first movie I ever saw! It was a significant moment for a filmmaker whose career has been built on referencing and honoring the films that influenced him. Although Deadlier Than the Male was largely made to take advantage of the popularity of James Bond, it clearly played a role in shaping Tarantino’s unique cinematic style.

Quentin Tarantino has been busy lately, despite previously cancelling his tenth film, The Movie Critic, because he wanted his film collection to be just right. He’s actually finished writing a sequel to his 2019 movie, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, called The Adventures of Cliff Booth. In a surprising move, he’s letting his friend David Fincher direct it, bringing together two of the most well-known directors in film history.

Brad Pitt returns as the acclaimed stuntman and fixer in the new film, which finished filming in January. The movie also features Elizabeth Debicki, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, and Scott Caan, and Netflix reportedly spent $200 million to make it.

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2026-02-06 21:44