Filmmaker Quentin Tarantino has released his own list of standout films from the 21st century, offering a typically blunt and unpredictable take on modern cinema. Appearing on "The Bret Easton Ellis Podcast", the "Pulp Fiction" and "Kill Bill" director named his personal picks for numbers 11 to 20, with the top 10 to be revealed later.
Tarantino said he was inspired by The Big Picture podcast's ranking of the 25 best films of the century. After hearing the discussion, he "grabbed a pen" and drafted his own list, limiting himself to one title per director.
His selections span horror, martial arts, comedy, and biblical drama, reflecting the eclectic tastes that have shaped his filmmaking over the past three decades.
11. "Battle Royale" (Kinji Fukasaku)
The 2000 Japanese action-thriller, in which schoolchildren are forced into a deadly government-run survival game, earned strong praise from Tarantino. He also criticised the thematic similarities he sees in The Hunger Games, remarking that critics "never called it out" due to the Japanese film's limited visibility in the West.
12. "Big Bad Wolves" (Aharon Keshales, Navot Papushado)
Tarantino applauded the film's uncompromising script and its tonal boldness, noting its thematic parallels with Prisoners while emphasising that the Israeli thriller goes much further than a typical American production would.
13. "Jackass: The Movie" (Jeff Tremaine)
Calling it the funniest film he has seen in two decades, Tarantino recalled screening it with the Kill Bill crew during production. The 2002 stunt-comedy film, led by Johnny Knoxville and his team, remains a cultural touchstone for its chaotic physical humour.
14. "The School of Rock" (Richard Linklater)
Tarantino praised the film's "pure fun" energy and its blend of Jack Black's breakout performance with Richard Linklater's direction and Mike White's writing, calling it the closest modern equivalent to The Bad News Bears.
15. "The Passion of the Christ" (Mel Gibson)
Mel Gibson's 2004 biblical drama drew an unusual reaction from Tarantino, who described the extremity of its violence as both shocking and darkly humorous. He commended the direction and the film's immersive recreation of the period.
16. "The Devil's Rejects" (Rob Zombie)
Tarantino described Rob Zombie's 2005 film as a pivotal moment in modern horror, citing its fusion of Western grit, cult brutality, and a style he compared to Peckinpah's influence carried into a new genre.
17. "Chocolate" (Prachya Pinkaew)
The Thai martial arts film impressed Tarantino with its inventive fight sequences and the physical dedication of its young lead actress. He highlighted its underdog spirit and extraordinary stunt choreography.
18. "Moneyball" (Bennett Miller)
Tarantino singled out Brad Pitt's performance as one of the strongest star roles of the last 20 years, praising how the actor carried the film's emotional and narrative weight. The film chronicles the analytics-driven revolution in Major League Baseball.
19. "Cabin Fever" (Eli Roth)
He noted the film's blend of humour and tension, crediting Eli Roth's distinctive sense of horror and comedy. While acknowledging that Hostel may be Roth's strongest work, Tarantino called Cabin Fever his personal favourite.
20. "West Side Story" (Steven Spielberg)
Tarantino lauded Spielberg's 2021 reimagining of the classic musical, describing it as evidence that the director "still has it." He praised the film's revived energy and craftsmanship, as well as the surprisingly strong performance by its lead, Ansel Elgort.
Tarantino's full top 10 list is expected to be released soon.
