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Reservoir Dogs (1992)

tomatometer

96

Average Rating: 8.9/10
Reviews Counted: 48
Fresh: 46 | Rotten: 2

No consensus yet.

92

Average Rating: 8.6/10
Critic Reviews: 13
Fresh: 12 | Rotten: 1

No consensus yet.

audience

93

liked it
Average Rating: 4.1/5
User Ratings: 381,822

My Rating

Movie Info

In 1992, Reservoir Dogs transformed Quentin Tarantino practically overnight from an obscure, unproduced screenwriter and part-time actor to the most influential new filmmaker of the 1990s. The story looks at what happens before and after (but not during) a botched jewelry store robbery organized by Joe Cabot (Lawrence Tierney). Mr. White (Harvey Keitel) is a career criminal who takes a liking to newcomer Mr. Orange (Tim Roth) and enjoys showing him the ropes. Mr. Pink (Steve Buscemi) is a

Nov 5, 2002

Miramax Films

Cast

All Critics (48) | Top Critics (13) | Fresh (53) | Rotten (2) | DVD (44)

Tarantino, in Reservoir Dogs, has made a nihilist comedy about how human nature will always undercut the best-laid plans.

September 7, 2011 Full Review Source: Entertainment Weekly | Comment
Entertainment Weekly
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Undeniably impressive pic grabs the viewer by the lapels and shakes hard, but it also is about nothing other than a bunch of macho guys and how big their guns are.

March 13, 2007 Full Review Source: Variety | Comment (1)
Variety
Top Critic IconTop Critic

It's unclear whether this macho thriller does anything to improve the state of the world or our understanding of it, but it certainly sets off enough rockets to hold and shake us for every one of its 99 minutes.

March 13, 2007 Full Review Source: Chicago Reader | Comment (1)
Chicago Reader
Top Critic IconTop Critic

It's dynamite on a short fuse.

March 13, 2007 Full Review Source: Globe and Mail | Comment
Globe and Mail
Top Critic IconTop Critic

You may not like the terms Tarantino sets, but you have to admit he succeeds on them.

February 27, 2007 Full Review Source: Entertainment Weekly | Comment
Entertainment Weekly
Top Critic IconTop Critic

A small, modestly budgeted crime movie of sometimes dazzling cinematic pyrotechnics and over-the- top dramatic energy.

May 20, 2003 Full Review Source: New York Times | Comment
New York Times
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Undoubtedly one of the best films of the 1990s, and probably one of the best directorial debuts of all time, Reservoir Dogs announced the arrival of one of contemporary cinema's hottest talents -- and he came out shooting.

November 7, 2011 Full Review Source: Film4 | Comment

Raw and bloody. For adults.

January 1, 2011 Full Review Source: Common Sense Media | Comment (1)
Common Sense Media

An action movie comprised almost entirely of words.

June 30, 2010 Full Review Source: LarsenOnFilm | Comment
LarsenOnFilm

In 1992 Quentin Tarantino did something that hadn't been done since 1986 with David Lynch's "Blue Velvet;" he reinvented cinema.

October 3, 2009 Full Review Source: ColeSmithey.com | Comments (7)
ColeSmithey.com

memorable

August 2, 2009 Full Review Source: Filmcritic.com | Comments (2)
Filmcritic.com

Tarantino was slated to direct the masterpiece that was True Romance but took on this project which might be the best directorial debut in years!

January 2, 2009 Comment
BDK Reviews

A highly cinematic blast for those who can stomach its brutality...Like Glengarry Glen Ross with guns.

January 9, 2007 Full Review Source: FulvueDrive-in.com | Comment
FulvueDrive-in.com

Structurally, Tarantino may have borrowed from Kubrick's crimers and Hong Kong films, but for a debut, it's brilliantly written and acted and it captures the paranoia of white working-class men, threatened by gays, women and other groups.

December 23, 2006 Full Review Source: Screendaily | Comment
Screendaily

A tour de force.

February 9, 2006 Full Review Source: Time Out | Comment

Quentin Tarantino came out of nowhere with perhaps the most astonishing, explosive American debut film since John Cassavetes' Shadows.

February 4, 2006 Full Review Source: Combustible Celluloid | Comment
Combustible Celluloid

This is a savage gangster story with all the Tarantino trappings, including enough blood for a couple of Jaws movies.

July 5, 2005 Full Review Source: Bullz-Eye.com | Comment
Bullz-Eye.com

You don't have to love it to be impressed with its riveting treatment of criminals in action.

June 28, 2005 Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews | Comment
Ozus' World Movie Reviews
More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Reservoir Dogs

A great directorial debut from a great director. Tarantino writes and directs this ultra vulgar/violent film and the cast puts on a great performance. This film (about the aftermath of a heist, not the heist itself) tests the trust and loyalty between nine suave criminals. This is one of the best indies of all time.

February 4, 2012
Sanjay Rema

Super Reviewer

This is Quentin Tarantino's first film, this is the start of a new generation in filmmaking. "Reservoir Dogs" follows a group of men after a robbery, and how all of their lives are affected after their insane plot. You feel every emotion that each character feels, every scene makes you feel like you are in the room

July 23, 2010
KJ Proulx

Super Reviewer

    1. Mr. Blonde/Vic Vega: Was that as good for you as it was for me?
    – Submitted by Elliott T (2 months ago)
    1. Mr. Pink: You're acting like a first year fucking theif - I'm acting like a professional!
    – Submitted by Pun C (2 months ago)
    1. K-Billy DJ: That was the Partridge Family's 'Doesn't Somebody Want To Be Wanted' followed by the Edison Lighthouse's 'Love Grows Where My Rosemary Goes' as K-Billy's Super Sounds of the 70's weekend just keeps on... truckin'.
    – Submitted by Robert C (3 months ago)
    1. Mr. Pink: You kill anybody?
    2. Mr. White/Larry: A few cops.
    3. Mr. Pink: No real people?
    4. Mr. White/Larry: Just cops.
    – Submitted by Kypros K (4 months ago)
    1. Joe Cabot: You have no idea what you're talking about. These people bust their ass. This is a hard job.
    2. Mr. Pink: So is working at McDonalds but you don't feel the need to tip them do you? Why not? They're serving you food but no society says 'no', don't tip these guys over there but tip these guys over here. Thats bullshit.
    3. Joe Cabot: Waitressing is the number one job for female non-college graduates. Its the one job basically any woman can get and make a living on. Reason is because of tips.
    4. Mr. Pink: Fuck all that.
    – Submitted by Alex O (5 months ago)

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