The director’s first venture into the western genre remains his most compelling, as Django Unchained offers one of his most emotionally taxing stories with some of his most exciting action scenes. Set in the southern United States during the height of slavery, the story follows freed slave Django as he searches for his wife, takes up bounty hunting and kills a whole load of slave traders. One of the strongest elements of the film is its refusal to shy away from any of the brutality of the time, depicting all the horrors endured by the slaves that can feel uncomfortable at times but never unnecessarily grotesque. Though there have been some criticisms made of the film, specifically how it tries to be a gritty depiction of American slavery and a fast-paced spaghetti western at the same time, its excellent story, realism and cast makes it essential watching for any Tarantino fan.

Presented as a love letter to the years of classic Hollywood, Tarantino’s latest offering is an incredible feast for the senses. Carried by the incredible pairing of Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt, offering some of the most grounded and engaging performances of their esteemed careers. Defined by its sensational story and captivating characters, the film is one of the rare cases of Tarantino giving his trademark violent action scenes a back seat, but as opposed to Jackie Brown when it is employed there is no sense of restraint, leading to one of the most bonkers and memorable ending sequences in cinematic history. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is certainly a different flavour of Tarantino film with its uniqueness offering a breath of fresh air to long-time fans of the director’s work.

Just missing out on the top spot is this all-time classic from the early part of the director’s career. Certainly Tarantino’s most iconic film, Pulp Fiction presents a story straight off the pages of a comic book and follows a number of slick and interesting characters and the intersections between their stories. Pulp Fiction is the birthplace of many of pop culture’s most memorable figures and scenes; from the sleek and suave Winston Wolf, to the powerful pairing of Jules and Vincent. Even with the plaster on the back of Marsellus Wallace’s head, Pulp Fiction is baked into so much of film society in the modern day. Aside from its iconic reputation, Pulp Fiction claims the runner up position because of its incredible dialogue, creating some of the most well-known and quotable lines in cinematic history and will have you asking everyone you know… do you know what a quarter pounder is called in Europe?

Taking the highest honours is Tarantino’s first and simplest feature film, Reservoir Dogs is a masterclass in creating greatness from minimalism. As Tarantino’s first film the budget was modest compared to his projects since and, as a result, much of the film is set in the same room and the main cast is incredibly limited, but what is amazing is how the film uses these facts to its advantage. The singular location adds to the sense of claustrophobia and paranoia built into the story and the small cast is bolstered by the continued referencing of off-screen characters such as Mr. Brown and Mr. Blue. The way that the film uses its problems to its advantage is not only admirable but incredible, adding hugely to the tone of the film and making the gritty, almost slimy criminal group even more believable. Though Reservoir Dogs is undeniably a sensational film, the main reason for its place at the top of this list is its ability to balance all of Tarantino’s trademark qualities perfectly in one film, from the unforgettable characters, intense action and violence and sharp dialogue, Reservoir Dogs has it all, making it the most quintessential Tarantino film.