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Film is a demanding medium where artistic visions will always collide. However, hostility toward a particularly contentious film can often take on a life of its own. A great example of this is the serious distaste that renowned filmmaker Quentin Tarantino feels for the 1994 crime filmNatural Born Killers, for which he wrote the script.
Tarantino is regarded as one of the most prestigious directors in the business, largely because of his distinct storytelling approach and the kind of stories he tells. However, despite having written numerous screenplays, he has one film that he finds completely objectionable:Natural Born Killers.
With good reason, this Oliver Stone-directed film is among the most contentiously discussed movies ever made.Though Tarantino wrote the story, he has long expressed his negative opinions about the Robert Downey Jr.-starred film, which was heavily revised by theMidnight Expresswriter.
Also read:“It’s a hell of a good revenge movie”: Dune Director Calls One Quentin Tarantino Movie to Be the Best Revenge Flick and it’s Not What You Think
Oliver Stone:Natural Born KillersWas Ruined By Quentin Tarantino
Natural Born Killers,according toOliver Stone, was an attempt to undertake a radical reconceptualization of the road movie genre by trying to examine the story through the prism of contemporary media organizations. When the satirical gem was first released, critics wrote it off as a failed project, but in the years since, fans have praised it.
The 1994 film was a critical failure, and Stone blamedQuentin Tarantinofor much of it, according to an interview withMovieMakermagazine. Though he is credited with coming up with the story’s idea, Tarantino attempted to publish his original screenplay even after giving up all publishing rights.
Speaking about the film’s reception, Stone attributed Tarantino’s role:
“All over the world — everywhere we went — we were hurt by the critics with him saying we had rewritten the script. He hadn’t even seen the movie, but he was commenting on me, saying stuff about my films. It was just outrageous.”
However, Stone’s editing of Tarantino’s screenplay turned it into a highly stylized satire that greatly exceeded the director’s initial intentions for the movie. Therefore, the film was ranked as the eighth most controversial film ever made in 2006 byEntertainment Weekly, despite its graphic content and propensity to inspire ‘copycat’ crimes.
Also read:“He’s a real jerk”: Mathew McConaughey Made Quentin Tarantino Cry With His Tearjerking Scene in Ghosts of Girlfriends Past
Quentin Tarantino Hates This Robert Downey Jr. Film (Despite Writing The Story)
The Independentreported that the producers of Robert Downey Jr.’s 1994 film filed a lawsuit against Quentin Tarantino after the latter tried to publish his original screenplay forNatural Born Killersas a paperback book. They claimed that thePulp Fictiondirector had forfeited the publishing rights when he sold them the script.
Tarantino subsequently denied having anything to do with the movie, tellingThe Telegraphabout his hatred for it:
“I hated that f**king movie. If you like my stuff, don’t watch that movie.”
According toScreen Rant, after being permitted to publish his script, Tarantino eventually developed a strong distaste for the film. His primary worry was that the public would associate him with work he did not contribute to.
Although it may stem from a feeling of creative betrayal, Tarantino’s contempt forNatural Born Killershas grown to be an essential aspect of his career as a director. Viewers are still divided by the controversial reputation of the film. Regardless of your feelings towardNatural Born Killers,Tarantino’s dedication to realizing his artistic vision has been a pillar of his storied career.
Despite having a $34 million production budget, it made $110 million at the box office and garnered mixed reviews. The film was deemed excessively violent and graphic by some critics, while others appreciated the plot, acting, comedy, and blend of action and romance.
Natural Born Killersis available to rent on Apple TV.
Related:Quentin Tarantino and James Cameron Fell in Love With Robert Pattinson’s Twilight Despite Film’s Incredible Backlash
Siddhika Prajapati
Senior Journalist & Content Head
Articles Published :3310
With over 3,300 articles carved into the digital walls of FandomWire, Siddhika Prajapati excels at creating, curating, and elevating engaging stories. She takes pride in giving these stories a home and, of course, she’s got a Google Knowledge Panel to prove it!Whether it’s reviewing the latest drop on Netflix, Amazon Prime, or Apple TV+, or analyzing the cultural echoes of a streaming hit on Paramount+ or Max, Siddhika is always writing three steps ahead of the discourse.
