Famed director Quentin Tarantino has long opposed the rise of streaming and now singles out Ryan Reynolds films in particular.
Over the course of his career, the pulp fiction director has earned a reputation for incorporating stylized references to violence from popular culture and lengthy dialogue sequences into his films. But in a recent interview with the Catalan-Spanish newspaper Diari ARA, Tarantino was asked why he tends to avoid sex scenes in his projects. “It’s true, sex is not part of my idea of cinema. And the truth is that in real life it’s a pain to do sex scenes, everyone’s very tense.”
The famous US filmmaker has been open about it changing cinema landscape and the death of the movie star, which he says is a factor in his decision to retire from filmmaking after his next project.
And the always candid director reiterated his stance that streaming is killing cinema, referring specifically to US actor Ryan Reynolds.
Speak with meetingthe 60 year old Inglourious Basterds The director scoffed at how Reynolds was able to raise huge paychecks for direct-stream movies that “don’t exist.”
“I mean, and I’m not bullying anyone, but apparently Ryan Reynolds made $50 million for Netflix on this movie, and $50 million on this movie, and $50 million on the next movie. I don’t know what this movie is. I’ve never seen her,” Tarantino said.
“I’ve never spoken to Ryan Reynolds’ agent, but his agent said, ‘Well, it cost $50 million.’
“Well, good for him that he’s making so much money. But these films don’t exist in the zeitgeist. It’s almost as if they don’t even exist.”
Quentin Tarantino is retiring from filmmaking after his tenth and final project. Image: Amy Sussman/Getty Images
Ryan Reynolds has starred in a number of Netflix Originals. Credit: Gilbert Carrasquillo/GC Images
Reynolds, 46, has starred in a number of Netflix Originals in recent years, including The Red Note (2021) and The Adam Project (2022), although Tarantino’s understanding of his salary may be somewhat exaggerated.
He reportedly earned a whopping $30 million The Red Notealongside his A-list co-stars Gal Gadot and Dwayne Johnson, and around $23 million for it The Adam Project.
Dwayne Johnson, Gal Gadot, and Ryan Reynolds reportedly made around $30 million each for The Red Notice. Image: Amy Sussman/Getty Images
Meanwhile, Tarantino is about to pre-produce his tenth – and final – foray behind the camera; a movie called The Film Critic. He said he will continue to write for various projects in the future.
Speak with CNN Earlier this year, Tarantino said he wanted to retire while he was still at his best.
“I’ve been doing this for a long time. I’ve been doing this for 30 years and it’s time to close the show. Like I said, I’m an entertainer. I want you to want more, you know,” he said, before pointing out that the evolving film landscape is a factor.
“I don’t want to work towards declining earnings. I don’t want to be that old man who’s out of touch when I already feel a bit like an old man who’s out of touch when it comes to the current movies that are out now. And that is exactly what is happening.”
Margot Robbie starred in Quentin Tarantino’s latest film, Once Upon A Time in Hollywood. Image: Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images
Tarantino is joined by the likes of Martin Scorsese and Ridley Scott, who have all complained about how the popularity of mega-franchises — like Marvel and DC — is affecting what movie studios are willing to make.
In his interview with meeting Overnight, Tarantino said he would likely make his final film in collaboration with Sony “because it’s the last game in town that’s totally dedicated to the cinematic experience.”
He added: “It’s not about powering their streaming network. They are committed to the theater experience. They judge success by how asses sit on seats.
“And they judge success by the films catching the zeitgeist, not just by making a big, expensive film and then putting it on your streaming platform. Nobody even knows it’s there.”