Quentin Tarantino Reveals His Pick for Best Directorial Debut
Quentin Tarantino names his choice for the greatest directorial debut ever, spotlighting Edgar Wright’s Shaun of the Dead—despite it not technically being Wright’s first film. Discover why Tarantino stands by his pick and what makes this film so special in his eyes.
Few filmmakers are as qualified as Quentin Tarantino to weigh in on the greatest directorial debut in movie history. After all, his own first feature, Reservoir Dogs, made a huge impact when it hit theaters in 1992. But narrowing down the field to just one film is no easy task. There are plenty of contenders, from Orson Welles’ Citizen Kane and David Lynch’s Eraserhead to Sidney Lumet’s 12 Angry Men, Jean-Luc Godard’s Breathless, the Coen brothers’ Blood Simple, and Dennis Hopper’s Easy Rider. Even in recent years, audiences have seen impressive first features like Jordan Peele’s Get Out, Greta Gerwig’s Lady Bird, Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s Amores Perros, and Apichatpong Weerasethakul’s Mysterious Object at Noon. Picking a single standout is a challenge, even for someone with Tarantino’s deep knowledge of film.
Why Tarantino’s Choice Raises Eyebrows
Despite the tough competition, Tarantino has made his pick. But there’s a twist: the film he calls his favorite directorial debut isn’t actually the director’s first movie. He’s well aware of this, but some fans might not appreciate his take. Tarantino named Edgar Wright’s Shaun of the Dead as his top choice, even though Wright had already made A Fistful of Fingers before it. Speaking with Bret Easton Ellis, Tarantino explained,
“My favorite directorial debut, even though he did a cheapie debut movie he doesn’t like to talk about. I loved how much he loved the Romero universe he recreated. The script is really terrific; it’s one of the most quotable films on this list. I still quote the line, ‘Dogs don’t look up’. It’s not a spoof of zombie movies, it’s a real zombie movie, and I appreciate the distinction.”
Fact-Checking the Filmmaker’s Statement
Tarantino’s admiration for Shaun of the Dead is well documented. He’s even called it the best British film of the 21st century. But he’s mistaken on a couple of points. Not only was Shaun of the Dead Wright’s second feature-length film, but the idea that Wright avoids talking about his earlier work isn’t accurate either. In fact, Wright has discussed A Fistful of Fingers at length, sharing stories and insights about the project. So, Tarantino’s suggestion that Wright would rather forget his first film doesn’t hold up.
Sticking to His Guns
Still, Tarantino seems content to overlook A Fistful of Fingers, acting as if it never happened. Even if he had simply called Shaun of the Dead one of his favorite movies of the century, it wouldn’t have changed much. But by framing it as the greatest directorial debut, he’s essentially rewriting a bit of film history. For a director known for his encyclopedic knowledge of cinema, it’s a surprising move. Yet, in Tarantino’s eyes, the most impressive first film he’s ever seen isn’t technically a debut at all.