Quentin Tarantino Scrapped ‘The Movie Critic’ Due to Similarity with ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood’
Quentin Tarantino, renowned for his distinctive filmmaking style, recently revealed why he decided not to proceed with “The Movie Critic.” This decision is particularly noteworthy because it would have been his tenth and potentially final film. The acclaimed director explained that the project felt too similar to “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” both in theme and execution. The involvement of a “movie critic” as the central character raised concerns about audience interest, leading Tarantino to question its viability.
Speaking on the Church of Tarantino podcast, recorded in Los Angeles at Pam’s Coffy, Tarantino explained, “I wasn’t really excited about dramatizing what I wrote when I was in pre-production, partly because I’m using the skillset that I learned from ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood’ [of] ‘How are we going to turn Los Angeles into the Hollywood of 1969 without using CGI?’” He noted that this transformation was a significant challenge but pivotal for the earlier film. With “The Movie Critic,” there wasn’t the same level of challenge. “It was too much like the last one,” he added.
The project began as an eight-episode TV series set in 1977, as Tarantino had hinted in 2022. Despite sharing no direct characters with “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” rumors swirled about potential connections due to Brad Pitt’s involvement. However, Tarantino clarified that “The Movie Critic” was purely a “spiritual sequel.”
“The thing about ‘The Movie Critic’ is I really, really like it,” Tarantino admitted. He found the concept intriguing: “Can I take the most boring profession in the world and make it an interesting movie?” Despite his affection for the script, he questioned, “Who wants to see a TV show about a movie critic?” The director considered the project a test of his creative prowess.
After shelving “The Movie Critic,” Tarantino redirected his efforts to “The Adventures of Cliff Booth” for Netflix, which continues the story from “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.” Though he is not directing, he remains involved as a writer and producer with David Fincher at the helm.
Tarantino also plans to bring a theatrical production to London’s West End in 2026, with hopes of embarking on his tenth—and possibly final—film thereafter. Addressing speculation about his legacy and future, Tarantino firmly stated, “I’m not paralyzed with fear. Trust me.”
