Quentin Tarantino says Hollywood has become a 'flavourless sausage factory'

ATHENS: Quentin Tarantino has delivered a sharp critique of contemporary Hollywood, saying the industry now turns out films that are frequently weakened by poor casting, attempts to cater too heavily to audiences and weak decision-making.

In an essay for Sight & Sound magazine, the Oscar-winning director said he finds it increasingly difficult to watch new releases without mentally picking them apart. He argued that mainstream filmmaking has seen a significant drop in quality and ambition in recent years.

"Flaws, implausibilities, audience pandering, miscast performers or just plain stupid s*** usually torpedoes every new movie coming out of the flavourless sausage factory that used to call itself Hollywood," Tarantino said writing about his frustrations with current cinema.

He added that newer films now tend to draw contempt rather than generosity, and said this feeling has deepened in the period after the pandemic. According to Tarantino, the experience of watching fresh theatrical releases has changed so much that he often chooses reading over going to the cinema.

Views on modern cinema

Tarantino contrasted his current attitude with how he viewed films in earlier decades. He said that even during the inconsistent output of the 1980s, he could still enjoy the experience of going to the movies, something he believes has largely faded today.

He said there have still been some recent titles he appreciated, but few that fully absorbed him as a viewer.

"I've seen movies I liked since then – 'West Side Story' (2021); 'Horizon: An American Saga' Chapter 1 and 2 (2024), a few others – but nothing that really held me in its grip and swept me away to the magical land of enjoyment," he wrote, referring to the films he has liked in recent years.

Despite his broader criticism, he singled out one recent production for particular praise. Tarantino spoke positively about The Rip, a crime thriller directed by Joe Carnahan and starring Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, describing it as a rare modern film that managed to hold his attention from beginning to end.

He praised the direction, ensemble cast and cinematography of the film, while saying its screenplay stood out most strongly. The Rip follows two Miami-Dade police officers who uncover corruption tied to cartel money. The cast also includes Steven Yeun, Teyana Taylor, Sasha Calle and Kyle Chandler.

Tarantino's current projects

Tarantino’s most recent film was Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood, released in 2019. That film was followed by a novel adaptation, while discussion has continued around what his final feature project will be.

The director is also working on a stage play, The Popinjay Cavalier, described as a swashbuckling comedy set in 1930s Europe. The production is scheduled to open in London’s West End in 2027.

Tarantino had earlier said he planned to retire after making his 10th film, but later dropped a project titled The Movie Critic, leaving uncertainty over what will become his final film. His latest comments have again placed him in the middle of debate over Hollywood’s creative direction, as wider discussion continues around commercial pressure, franchise-led storytelling and the changing shape of cinema.