The Great Advice Quentin Tarantino Got From Steven Spielberg After Experiencing His First Flop

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The 2007 double feature Grindhouse wasn’t a hit with audiences, which was a real blow to Quentin Tarantino‘s confidence. Throughout his career, from Reservoir Dogs to Kill Bill, the filmmaker had consistently received both praise and commercial success. He was surprised to find that his fans weren’t willing to embrace all of his creative ideas. It was a difficult period for the writer and director, but thankfully he had a strong network of support in Hollywood – including some valuable guidance from the iconic Steven Spielberg.

Over the weekend, Tarantino shared a story about some professional challenges he faced in the mid-2000s. He was speaking at the Burbank Film Festival (according to Deadline) and explained that after some initial reactions to Death Proof weren’t what he expected, he sought advice from more experienced filmmakers. This film was part of the Grindhouse project, paired with Robert Rodriguez’s Planet Terror. Tarantino recalled that both Steven Spielberg and Tony Scott told him he should be happy he was able to create the film he envisioned – something he confirmed he was – but Spielberg, who directed both Jurassic Park and Hook, also offered some insightful advice.

Quentin, you’ve had a lot of good fortune. But your next successful film will be even more rewarding than all your previous hits combined, now that you’ve gained experience. You understand what it’s like when a film doesn’t succeed. So, when you have another hit, it will feel much easier.

During a recent discussion, Quentin Tarantino compared the poor reception of Grindhouse to a painful breakup, saying, “It felt like the moviegoing audience was my girlfriend and my girlfriend broke up with me.” Interestingly, advice Steven Spielberg gave about love echoes this sentiment: you don’t truly value a relationship until it’s gone, and finding it again can be wonderful.

It’s always satisfying when good advice proves correct, and that’s what happened with Quentin Tarantino. While audiences didn’t respond to his tribute to gritty, low-budget films – Grindhouse only earned $50.2 million worldwide – he bounced back two years later with Inglourious Basterds, which made a much more impressive $316.8 million globally. And every film he’s made since – Django Unchained, The Hateful Eight, and Once Upon A Time In Hollywood – has grossed over $100 million.

Quentin Tarantino is currently 62 years old, and could potentially make many more successful and acclaimed films in the future. However, he’s stated he intends to stop directing after completing his tenth movie. That next film is currently uncertain, as he’s put his plans for The Movie Critic on hold. Hopefully, he’ll soon decide on a new story to tell, allowing us to experience his incredible filmmaking once more-and perhaps even change his mind about retiring for good.

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2025-09-30 10:10