Quentin Tarantino has shared his opinion on what he considers the ‘greatest movie ever made’, which diverges significantly from the style of films he is known for creating.
At 62, Tarantino’s status as a renowned filmmaker is well-established, largely due to his impressive body of work. His films, known for their distinct style, often feature sharp, profane dialogue paired with intense violence, all underpinned by engaging narratives and memorable characters.
This distinctive style, however, does not align with the film Tarantino regards as the finest ever made, though he acknowledges its brilliance.
In a discussion on the ReelBlend podcast, Tarantino stated: “I think Jaws is the greatest movie ever made. Maybe not the greatest film. But it’s the greatest movie ever made.”
He elaborated that Steven Spielberg’s direction of Jaws exemplified a perfect amalgamation of technical skill, entertainment, and broad audience appeal.
Tarantino seemed to suggest that ‘movie’ in this context pertains to a blockbuster, a genre Spielberg significantly influenced with the release of Jaws in 1975.
He further commented: “As far as a movie, there’s no making it better than Jaws. There’s no ‘better’ than Jaws. It is the best movie ever made. And it shows how badly timed most movies made before Jaws were.”
“This is exactly the kind of movie he was put on earth to make.”
Jaws, adapted from Peter Benchley’s 1974 novel, tells the story of a great white shark threatening a small beach community. The film received three Academy Awards at the 1976 Oscars.
Tarantino has also been open about his own filmmaking journey and has mentioned the film he believes he was destined to create.
In an August interview on The Church of Tarantino podcast, he expressed: “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is my favorite, Inglourious Basterds is my best. But I think Kill Bill is the ultimate Quentin movie, like nobody else could’ve made it.”
“Every aspect about it is so particularly ripped, like with tentacles and bloody tissue, from my imagination and my id and my loves and my passion and my obsession.”
“So I think Kill Bill is the movie I was born to make, I think Inglourious Basterds is my masterpiece, but Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is my favorite.”