Quentin Tarantino takes aim at streaming movies: "It’s like they don’t even exist"

Quentin Tarantino
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Quentin Tarantino has taken aim at everyone’s favorite industry punching bag: big-budget streaming movies.

While talking to Deadline about his plans for a final movie, the legendary director’s attention turned to streaming services.

"Now is a good time [to stop] because I mean, what even is a motion picture anyway anymore?" Tarantino lamented. "Is it just something that they show on Apple? That would be diminishing returns."

Tarantino then made reference to Netflix and Ryan Reynolds – who has starred in projects such as The Adam Project and Red Notice for the streamer.

"I’m not picking on anybody, but apparently for Netflix, Ryan Reynolds has made $50 million on this movie and $50 million on that movie and $50 million on the next movie for them. I don’t know what any of those movies are. I’ve never seen them. Have you?"

He continued, "I haven’t ever talked to Ryan Reynolds’ agent, but his agent is like, ‘Well, it cost $50 million.’ Well, good for him that he’s making so much money. But those movies don’t exist in the zeitgeist. It’s almost like they don’t even exist."

Tarantino’s 10th and final movie, The Movie Critic, is currently in the works – but no casting or filming details have been announced. In the same interview, he revealed he had once planned to adapt Casino Royale. In recent days, he has also announced that Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood fictional character Rick Dalton had died.

For more from the auteur, here’s our complete ranking of the best Tarantino movies. Then take a look ahead to the next six months in cinema with our guide to 2023 movie release dates.

Bradley Russell

I'm the Senior Entertainment Writer here at GamesRadar+, focusing on news, features, and interviews with some of the biggest names in film and TV. On-site, you'll find me marveling at Marvel and providing analysis and room temperature takes on the newest films, Star Wars and, of course, anime. Outside of GR, I love getting lost in a good 100-hour JRPG, Warzone, and kicking back on the (virtual) field with Football Manager. My work has also been featured in OPM, FourFourTwo, and Game Revolution.

Read more
Quentin Tarantino
Quentin Tarantino says that 2019 was the "last year of movies" as streaming took over: "What the f*ck is a movie now?"
Quentin Tarantino
Quentin Tarantino is in "no hurry" to make his final movie – and has teased what he's "probably" doing next instead
Oppenheimer
Netflix CCO claims that Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer would have had same cultural impact if it was a Netflix exclusive
Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds) and Wolverine (Hugh Jackman)
After the massive success of Deadpool and Wolverine, Ryan Reynolds says he sees the Merc with a Mouth as more of a supporting character going forward
Jennifer Lawrence and Leonardo DiCaprio in Don't Look Up
This Netflix movie might have flopped with critics, but the director claims 500 million people watched it
Ben Affleck and Matt Damon at the Golden Globes
Netflix drop first look at thrilling new action movie from Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, which is described as "Heat meets Training Day"
Latest in Sci-Fi Movies
Liam Neeson in The Phantom Menace
"Wise mentor" or "awful Jedi"? Star Wars fans are debating if Qui-Gon Jinn is to blame for Anakin's turn to the dark side
Robert Pattinson in Mickey 17
Mickey 17 director Bong Joon Ho would love to tackle the book's sequel too, but has a "plethora of new, weird ideas" he wants to make first
Robert Pattinson in Mickey 17
Director Bong Joon Ho says Robert Pattinson was "born" to play one of his Mickey 17 characters, with The Lighthouse convincing him he could take on both parts
Darth Vader in Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back
Longlegs director pitches horrifying Star Wars movie with Darth Vader, and we want it to happen
Bloodsport
The 32 greatest '80s action movies
Robert Pattinson in Mickey 17
"Give him both": Legendary director thinks Robert Pattinson should win two Oscars for his dual performances in new sci-fi movie Mickey 17
Latest in News
Monster Hunter Wilds
Monster Hunter Wilds' story is as divisive as expected: some players hate the "relentless on rails handholding," others love the build-up to "the best scene in Monster Hunter history"
The Last of Us season 2 first look
Pedro Pascal says "beautiful" scene that made him want to join The Last of Us got cut, but it’ll thankfully appear in season 2: "He was like, ‘That’s half the reason I’m here!’"
Monster Hunter Wilds
Monster Hunter Wilds art director and 20-year series vet says the new game intentionally leans into a question fans have debated forever: "What is a hunter?"
Absolum
The other devs behind the best retro beat-em-up in recent memory are making a co-op roguelike brawler that "channels the spirit" of Capcom's classic D&D games
Battlefield Bad Company 2
"I am freaked out by how much might actually have been accurate": Battlefield Bad Company 3 writer unearths forgotten script
Skyrim
Skyrim is still an all-time great for asset reuse: this hunk of human flesh could be some poor guard's glute, or probably just a piece of repurposed beef