Why Tarantino Should Quit After Once Upon a Time in Hollywood—And Why That’s Totally Fine
Initially, when I learned that Quentin Tarantino wouldn’t be directing The Movie Critic as his last movie, I felt quite disappointed. To tell you the truth, it appeared to fit perfectly in that moment.
In this case, here was a renowned director, undeniably passionate about cinema, for whom a film about a film critic from the ’70s seemed an ideal choice to conclude his remarkable career.
Initially, it seemed to me that it might have been better if Quentin Tarantino didn’t make “The Movie Critic.” As I reflect on it now, I find myself feeling content with the idea that he could never make another film again. This is primarily because his ninth movie, “Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood,” feels like his final masterpiece, a perfect farewell, if you will. Therefore, while I don’t want to sound morbid, I must admit that I wouldn’t be upset if “OUATIH” were indeed Tarantino’s last movie ever.
Firstly, A Story About Late ’60s Hollywood Feels Like A Fitting Conclusion To Tarantino’s Career
Are you curious about which Quentin Tarantino film I adore the most? Well, it’s undeniably Pulp Fiction. Now, I know there are many enthusiasts who believe that Inglourious Basterds is his finest work, but for me, nothing beats the charm of Fiction.
To be quite honest, there’s something about this event that made me feel as though it could have occurred in the ’70s instead of the ’90s. It might have been the music, the dancing, or simply the atmosphere, but I found myself questioning when it was actually set. In fact, I had to double-check because it seemed so reminiscent of the 1970s.
In reality, just like “Jackie Brown”, the film, it shares this trait despite being set in contemporary times. This aligns because it pays tribute to blaxploitation films. However, here’s the twist: Although Tarantino’s films are often rooted in a particular timeframe, such as “Django Unchained” or my personal favorite of his works, “The Hateful Eight”, they all retain an atmosphere reminiscent of the 70s, with Samuel L. Jackson significantly contributing to their ’70s vibe.
Indeed, it’s quite compelling to me why Quentin Tarantino’s “Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood” feels like an ideal swansong for the esteemed director. I can’t help but sense that he is deliberately channeling the ’70s vibe, but if not, it’s remarkable how effortlessly this era seems to permeate most of his films.
In truth, the movie titled OUATIH unfolds in the year 1969, marking a pivotal moment just before a decade that would significantly transform cinema. The cast includes Mike Moh depicting Bruce Lee, Damian Lewis embodying Steve McQueen, and Rafal Zawierucha portraying Roman Polanski – it seems as though the film is an affectionate tribute to this era that Quentin Tarantino holds in high regard. Notably, Margot Robbie stars as Sharon Tate, a role I’ll delve into shortly.

The Movie Ends On A Happy Note
To put it simply, while I greatly enjoy “Django Unchained,” I recognize that it strays from reality due to Django’s ability to eliminate all the villains and escape with his wife, Broomhilda, without facing any significant repercussions. In essence, this is an unusual slave-themed film where we celebrate instead of mourn at the conclusion.
In my view, both these movies – let’s call them “It’s Fun” and “Inglourious Basterds” – are equally entertaining. The latter features an imaginative take on World War II where Hitler meets his demise in a way that feels just, even though it’s only fiction. These films embody the unique style of alternate history storytelling we see from Quentin Tarantino.
If it weren’t for the release of “The Hateful Eight” disrupting the sequence, I would view “Django Unchained,” “Inglorious Basterds,” and “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” as Quentin Tarantino’s alternate historical trilogy, since these films each rewrite history to provide more gratifying conclusions compared to what transpired in actuality.
Interestingly, among stories that revolve around slavery, the Holocaust, and the Manson murders, it’s the latter that leaves me most puzzled. This could be because Sharon Tate’s survival – as opposed to the endings in Django or Inglorious Basterds – seems like a more unexpectedly positive outcome, given the context of these other stories.
This addition to Tarantino’s body of work seems particularly suitable as an ending to his career, given its optimistic finale. The gruesome demise of Tate in the past movies certainly established the grim tone for the ’70s, and this reinterpretation of history (titled “Once Upon a Time…”) feels like a soothing conclusion to a filmography that has frequently been marked by violence. It’s quite satisfying indeed.

It’s Also A Highly Respected Film, And Some People’s Favorite Tarantino Movie
Furthermore, it’s often found that Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is placed near the pinnacle when ranking Quentin Tarantino’s movies. Some individuals even consider it his finest work. Consequently, let’s wrap things up on a peak note!
Another strong indication that Quentin Tarantino might choose to conclude his filmmaking journey with the 2019 movie is that it continues to generate conversation among audiences long after its release.
This accomplishment is significant, given that the filmmaker initially expressed his intention to end at the 10th film. However, would anyone truly mind if we didn’t receive that tenth installment? Reflect on all the directors who crafted their finest works early in their careers, only for later films to fall flat like a disappointing release.
For example, I adore Alfred Hitchcock, and some of his greatest films can be found on Netflix, though they’re about to disappear. Still, I don’t believe anyone would argue that his final film, Family Plot, was his finest. If only he had ended his career with the chilling masterpieces like 1963’s The Birds or 1960’s Psycho. Or consider this: if Akira Kurosawa hadn’t made the comedy-drama, Madadayo, as his last film, but instead created the profoundly personal movie, Dreams?
As a devoted cinephile, I must confess that Quentin Tarantino’s cinematic journey has been consistently captivating, save for minor hiccups (*tactfully* omitting Death Proof from the conversation). Yet, couldn’t it have been more fulfilling if he had a stellar portfolio of EIGHT undeniable masterpieces under his belt and concluded his career on a triumphant note such as Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood? There is one compelling reason that I yearn for this to be his swan song.

Lastly, After Seeing The Movie Critic Get Scrapped, My Expectations Would Be Even Higher For Whatever Might Come Next
To clarify, while some parts of this article may appear as if I doubt Tarantino’s ability to create a fantastic final film, that is not the case at all! On the contrary, I had been eagerly anticipating “The Movie Critic,” and I was disappointed when he chose not to proceed with it.
However, this prompted me to ponder, “What on earth will his last film be like?” The concept of what it might become grew larger and larger in my mind until I needed to compose myself, as such thoughts can be a bit overwhelming for me.
Besides that fact, it’s also worth mentioning that my expectations might be too high. After he abandoned “The Movie Critic,” I find myself believing that anything he chooses to create next must be the best movie ever made, if he didn’t think “Critic” was good enough. This isn’t ideal because it means I’m essentially setting myself up for disappointment.
I’m not looking forward to being let down by Quentin Tarantino’s final movie. While it might not be as highly anticipated as George R.R. Martin’s “The Winds of Winter”, considering Tarantino has stated he plans to make ten films, surely the last one should be his finest?
Perhaps fans might exaggerate their expectations, but who am I to dispute their enthusiasm? After all, everyone seems to adore the film OUATIH. Granted, there would likely be disappointment if it turned out to be his last movie, but at least in that scenario, we’d already have confirmation that his final work was a masterpiece.
How do you feel about it? Is it alright with you if Quentin Tarantino decides to stop at movie number nine? I’m curious about your thoughts on this.
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2025-07-10 21:09