The Three Horror Films Quentin Tarantino Calls Perfect Picks

Quentin Tarantino is known as one of the most influential directors in modern cinema, but his genius comes not just from directing. He has an incredible knowledge of movies, built over decades of watching everything from old classics to obscure horror films. Tarantino often credits his time working at a video rental store for giving him this foundation, calling his mind a sponge for all the details he absorbs.

“My head is a sponge. I listen to what everyone says, I watch little idiosyncratic behaviour, people tell me a joke, and I remember it,” he once said. This talent helps him craft scripts that feel realistic even when the stories are over-the-top. Fans and fellow filmmakers take his opinions seriously because he has such a deep understanding of cinema history.

During a recent appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Tarantino was asked to name the movies he thinks are perfect. He explained that while everyone has different tastes, some films are just flawless in how they’re made. He picked three horror films that stand out to him as masterpieces.

The first is Tobe Hooper’s 1974 classic The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Tarantino admires the raw energy of the film and how it changed horror forever. Leatherface and the terrifying story of teenagers trapped in a nightmare created a blueprint for future horror films like Halloween and Friday the 13th.

His second choice is Steven Spielberg’s Jaws from 1975. While some argue it’s more thriller than horror, Tarantino calls it perfect filmmaking. The story of a coastal town terrorized by a great white shark became the first true summer blockbuster and left audiences terrified of swimming in the ocean for years.

The last movie on his list is William Friedkin’s The Exorcist. Known as one of the scariest films ever made, it follows a young girl possessed by a demon and the priests trying to save her. Tarantino respects directors who push boundaries, and these three films show how he appreciates stories that leave a lasting impact on viewers.

These days, Tarantino is still busy with creative projects. He recently wrote the screenplay for The Adventures of Cliff Booth, a sequel to Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. Directed by David Fincher for Netflix, the movie stars Brad Pitt, Elizabeth Debicki, and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II.

Tarantino is also acting again for the first time in decades. He wrapped filming for Only What We Carry, an indie drama where he plays publisher John Percy. The film co-stars Simon Pegg and Sofia Boutella and has already generated buzz with its first-look images.

Even after decades in Hollywood, Tarantino’s love for movies remains as strong as ever. He continues to study, watch, and celebrate films that shaped him, while working on projects that push his own creativity forward.

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