DirectorQuentin Tarantinohas created quite a few characters over the course of his career, but only 15 of them can be considered the best.Quentin Tarantino has made a confusing number of moviesin his career, and he’s filled them with colorful characters. Some ofTarantino’s best movieshave found success primarily because of those characters, and some of them have even been elevated to pop-culture icon levels. With so many iconic characters, however, it can be hard to pick just one as the best.
Tarantino has made a wide variety of films since he made his first short film,My Best Friend’s Wedding, in 1987. That means he’s also created a huge array of characters with different personalities, accomplishments, roles, and other details. The best Tarantino characters all have a few things in common, though. They all excel in at least one thing, whether it be their emotional stories, their importance to the film, or just plain old coolness. These 15 Quentin Tarantino characters all do something the best.
Every Quentin Tarantino Cameo In His Own Movies (& Where To Spot Them)
Quentin Tarantino has either played a character or lent his voice to an off-screen presence in almost every movie he has made. Let’s take a look.
15Major Marquis Warren
Played By: Samuel L. Jackson
One of the most compelling characters Quentin Tarantino has created, and the best character inThe Hateful Eight, was Major Marquis Warren.Seeing Samuel L. Jackson as a bounty hunter in the Old West was interesting enough in its own right, but Warren also got a few chances to shine as a character. Warren basically plays the role of a classic detective inThe Hateful Eight, and his powers of deduction make him incredibly interesting. He also has some fascinating quirks, like his Lincoln letter, and some great lines, like his threats, that made Warren an iconic Tarantino character.
The Hateful Eight
Cast
Quentin Tarantino’s 2015 Western incorporates elements of the mystery and thriller genres. Set in 1877, The Hateful Eight follows eight strangers who seek refuge from a blizzard in an isolated stagecoach stopover. Starring Samuel L. Jackson, Kurt Russell, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Walton Goggins, Tim Roth, Michael Madsen, Bruce Dern, and Channing Tatum, The Hateful Eight was inspired by the Western TV shows of 1960s.
14Max Cherry
Played By: Robert Forster
Quentin Tarantino is known for his over-the-top style, his flashy set pieces, and his devastating violence.Just about the only things that are nuanced about his films are the dialogue, which is purposefully written to be as natural as possible, and one character: Max Cherry inJackie Brown. Robert Forster’s Max Cherry was straightforward, he was clear, and he didn’t mince his words, which made him a unique entry to Tarantino’s list of characters. Max also had incredible chemistry with Pam Grier’s Jackie, which makes him one of Tarantino’s best love interests to this day.
Jackie Brown
Jackie Brown is a 1997 crime thriller directed by Quentin Tarantino. Pam Grier stars as a flight attendant who outsmarts the authorities, her boss, and a ruthless killer after smuggling cash for a gunrunner. The movie counts with an all-star cast that includes Samuel L. Jackson, Robert De Niro, Robert Forster, Michael Keaton, and Bridget Fonda.
13Cliff Booth
Once Upon a Time… in Hollywoodwas quite a few things all at once, but Brad Pitt’s Cliff Booth tied it all together admirably. Cliff was a stunt double, fixer, personal assistant, and several other things, which let him connect all the various threads in the movie. From his run-in with the Manson family to his friendship with Rick Dalton, Cliff was great in all the situations he found himself in. He was also responsible for both of the fight sequences inOnce Upon a Time… in Hollywood, and both his imagined fight against Bruce Lee and his real fight against the Mansons were delightful to watch.
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Once Upon A Time in Hollywood, which takes place in Los Angeles in 1969, at the height of hippy Hollywood. The two lead characters are Rick Dalton, the former star of a western TV series, and his longtime stunt double Cliff Booth. Both struggle to make it in a Hollywood they don’t recognize anymore, but Rick soon realizes he’s the next-door neighbor of the infamous Sharon Tate.
12Rick Dalton
Played By: Leonardo DiCaprio
While Cliff provided quite a bit of action and excitement inOnce Upon a Time… in Hollywood, Leonardo DiCaprio’s Rick Dalton was still the film’s best character.Dalton was the vehicleOnce Upon a Time… in Hollywoodused to deliver its main message and really sell the idea that the golden age of Hollywood was dying. He also had some great moments in the movie, from his scene inLancerto his use of a flamethrower. Though he’s not a typical Quentin Tarantino protagonist, he is among the best.
Every Song In Once Upon A Time In Hollywood
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood transports audiences to 1969 Hollywood with a soundtrack featuring Paul Revere & the Raiders, Deep Purple, and more.
11Mr. White
Played By: Harvey Keitel
Reservoir Dogswas an incredibly impressive debut film for Quentin Tarantino, and its success was thanks in large part to Harvey Keitel’s performance as Mr. White.Reservoir Dogswas an almost entirely character-driven story - the diamond thieves spend most of their time in the same warehouse - so having strong personalities was very important. Even with as many iconic performances as the movie had, though, Mr. White managed to stand out. He’s the most moral of a group of hardened criminals, his mercy keeps the entire film going to its tragic conclusion, and he essentially delivers the main message ofReservoir Dogsthrough his death alone.
Reservoir Dogs
Quentin Tarantino’s feature-length debut Reservoir Dogs is an ensemble movie starring Harvey Keitel, Michael Madsen, Tim Roth, Steve Buscemi, Lawrence Tierney, Chris Penn, and Edward Bunker. The 1992 film centers around a group of criminals who begin to suspect one of them is an undercover cop when their supposedly perfect diamond heist goes wrong.
10Bill
Played By: David Carradine
TheKill Billduology is a classic tale of revenge, but the main reason it feels so unique and special is because of its central antagonist: David Carradine’s Bill.InKill Bill, Tarantino made the brilliant move of hiding Bill’s face entirely, which granted him a massive amount of mystique, especially after the church massacre.Kill Bill: Volume 2then made Bill even more interesting by letting Carradine really shine in the role. Bill was fascinatingly manipulative, strangely charming, and incredibly complex.Kill Billwouldn’t have been the iconic duology it is today without Bill, which easily makes him one of Tarantino’s best.
Kill Bill: Vol. 1
Kill Bill: Vol. 1 follows an assassin as she seeks revenge after being betrayed by her former employer, Bill, and fellow assassins. Released in 2003, the film initiates a violent journey of vengeance directed by Quentin Tarantino and stars Uma Thurman as the central character known as The Bride.
9Calvin Candie
The only thing Quentin Tarantino likes more than a strong protagonist is a strong villain, and Calvin Candie is proof of that.Though he’s only introduced in the second half ofDjango Unchained, Leonardo DiCaprio managed to make Candie one of the film’s most memorable characters. FromDiCaprio’s hand injury inDjango Unchainedto Candie’s blinding rage and abhorrent speech about phrenology, Calvin Candie is one of Tarantino’s best antagonists. The Southern slaver is extremely easy to hate, which makes the righteousness of Django’s quest all the better, and makes Candie an important part of the film.
Django Unchained
Quentin Tarantino’s Django Unchained follows Jamie Foxx’s Django, a Black slave who is freed before becoming a bounty hunter. After meeting German dentist-turned-bounty-hunter Dr. King Schultz, Django sets off to free his wife from the cruel and charismatic plantation owner Calvin Candie. Christophe Waltz stars alongside Foxx, with Leonardo DiCaprio, Samuel L. Jackson, and Kerry Washington rounding out the cast of Tarantino’s revisionist Spaghetti Western.
8Aldo “The Apache” Raine
Quentin Tarantino is known for writing colorful and slightly oddball characters, but there’s something about Aldo Raine’s quirks set against the backdrop of World War II that make him stand out.Brad Pitt’s Aldo gaveInglourious Basterdssome much-needed comedic relief through his thick southern accent, his harebrained scheme to speak Italian at the movie premiere, and more. Despite his humor, however, Aldo also had chances to be incredibly cool, like in his speeches to the Basterds and his opinions on Nazi uniforms. As the leader and commander of the Basterds, Aldo Raine made quite a name for himself.
Inglourious Basterds
Inglourious Basterds is a film set during World War II in Nazi-occupied France. It follows a group of Jewish-American soldiers, known as “The Basterds,” led by Lt. Aldo Raine, who engage in ruthless anti-Nazi efforts. Their actions intersect with a French-Jewish theater owner in a plot against the regime.
7Mia Wallace
Played By: Uma Thurman
Mia Wallace was a bit of a surprise standout inPulp Fiction, given how many great characters there already are in the film. Though she’s essentially a side project for Vincent Vega, Uma Thurman was able to make Mia an instant hit. She’s unusual in an interesting way, she has some great dance moves, and she provided a great look into Vincent’s character in a variety of scenarios.She was also responsible for one ofPulp Fiction’s most nailbiting scenes when she accidentally snorted Vincent’s heroin, so Mia was a very important and appreciated part of the movie.
Pulp Fiction
Quentin Tarantino’s classic tale of violence and redemption follows the intertwining tales of three protagonists: hitman Vincent Vega, prizefighter Butch Coolidge, and Vincent’s business partner Jules Winnfield.
6Vincent Vega
Played By: John Travolta
Vincent Vega has some of the most screen time of any character inPulp Fiction, and he made good use of it. From his near-constant need to use the bathroom to his hilarious mistakes like shooting Marvin in the face and letting Mia overdose, Vincent is one of the most memorable characters in the movie.John Travolta also did a great job at giving Vincent a lot of memorable and humorous qualities, from the chemistry he had with Mia to his conversations with Jules. There’s a reasonPulp Fictionmarked a career comeback for Travolta, and it’s because Vincent was such a great character.
Pulp Fiction: Why Vincent Vega Was In Amsterdam
In one of the most memorable scenes from Pulp Fiction, Vincent Vega talks about his time in Amsterdam, but what was he doing there? Let’s take a look.
