Every Michael Madsen & Quentin Tarantino Movie Ranked, Including Their Best Bloody Team-Up

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The global community is grieving over the loss of the talented actor, Michael Madsen, whose captivating performances have left a lasting impact on audiences worldwide. Many recall him as Glen, the foster father from Free Willy, while others remember his portrayal of Jimmy, Louise’s indecisive musician boyfriend in Thelma & Louise. Known affectionately as “Midas” Madsen due to his Midas touch, whatever he put his hand to seemed to turn into gold. Tragically, Michael Madsen passed away from cardiac arrest at his home in Malibu, California on July 3, 2025.

Besides being recognized as one of director Quentin Tarantino’s recurring partners, Madsen was often joined by actors such as Samuel L. Jackson, Harvey Keitel, Kurt Russell, Uma Thurman, and Zoë Bell in Tarantino’s films. Whenever Tarantino needed him, the late actor was always ready to contribute. Consequently, they collaborated on five different movies. While all their collaborations were commendable, one stands out as the best among them.

Here is how the Michael Madsen and Quentin Tarantino collaborations rank against each other.

5
‘The Hateful Eight’ (2015)

In the aftermath of the American Civil War, the narrative unfolds in snowbound Wyoming. A weary bounty hunter named John “The Hangman” Ruth (Kurt Russell), is transporting criminal Daisy Domergue (Jennifer Jason Leigh) to Red Rock for her execution. En route, they reluctantly accept the company of Major Marquis Warren (Samuel L. Jackson), a former Union officer and bounty hunter with an intriguing past, as well as Chris Mannix (Walton Goggins), who claims to be the newly appointed sheriff of Red Rock. As a fierce blizzard ensues, they are compelled to seek refuge at Minnie’s Haberdashery, where they encounter suspicious individuals.

As a die-hard Tarantino fan, I’ve always been captivated by the idea that initially, he envisioned his next project as a literary sequel to “Django Unchained,” titled as a novel first. However, fate had other plans when the script got leaked. Intrigued by this twist of events, Tarantino contemplated scrapping the production and releasing it as a book instead. Yet, eventually, he found himself drawn back into the world of cinema, turning that very manuscript into the latest masterpiece we’ve all come to know and love.

Only Comes Alive in the Third Act

In the film “The Hateful Eight,” there’s a powerful blend of masculine and feminine energy to captivate everyone. Plus, Michael Madsen joins the cast to amplify the intrigue and unusual brutality. This QT production, despite not being his finest work, still stands as one of his most intelligent and enjoyable films. What makes it even more appealing is its stunning visuals, showcasing a grand scale. And the climactic action scene takes the cake.

Regrettably, the movie seems unnecessarily prolonged, featuring extended scenes of dialogues. Moreover, the characters lack substantial emotional dimensions, which might suggest that Tarantino was still figuring out how to adjust the story following the script leak. We understand and extend our forgiveness.

4
‘Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood’ (2019)

In the year 1969, as depicted in the movie “Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood”, societal norms are shifting rapidly. The protagonists, former television western star Rick Dalton (portrayed by Leonardo DiCaprio), and his stuntman companion Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt) are finding it tough to secure roles. Additionally, Cliff is embroiled in whispers about a past incident involving his wife’s demise.

As neighbors to the young actress Sharon Tate and her director spouse, Roman Polanski, Dalton attempts to cultivate friendship with them. However, events take a grim turn when individuals associated with Charles Manson’s cult set their sights on these prominent figures of Hollywood.

Tarantino came up with the concept during the production of Death Proof. This was after he found out that Kurt Russell had been collaborating with his longtime stunt double, John Casino, for a significant period.

Hardly the Best Hollywood Story

In a thrilling tribute to its vintage roots, Pitt delivers an exceptional performance as a daring stuntman in a movie, where gloomy motifs, period-accurate fashion, and a captivating style are skillfully blended with contemporary references. The exhilarating fight scene between Rick and Bruce Lee is not to be missed, and let’s not forget Tarantino’s signature close-ups of feet – this time focusing on Margot Robbie’s elegant pair. Who could resist such an enticing spectacle?

To put it another way, it’s hard to deny that Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood is yet another instance where Tarantino and Madsen collaboration feels overly grandiose, much like their work on The Hateful Eight. The movie, unfortunately, suffers from being excessively populated, which hampers the character development. With actors like Timothy Olyphant and Al Pacino making appearances, it leaves less room for an actor of Madsen’s caliber to fully demonstrate his talents. His role as a sheriff in the fictional western TV show, Bounty Law, is merely a brief one.

3
‘Kill Bill. Vol 1’ (2003)

In the movie titled “Kill Bill. Vol 1”, we follow the character of ‘The Bride’ (played by Uma Thurman), a former member of an elite assassination squad known as The Deadly Vipers. On her wedding day at a chapel in El Paso, Texas, the Deadly Vipers, under the leadership of her ex-lover Bill (David Carradine), ambush the ceremony. Although wounded, The Bride reveals to Bill that he is the father of her unborn child. Despite this revelation, Bill shoots her. Remarkably, she survives and upon full recovery, she sets out on a vengeful quest.

During the filming of “Pulp Fiction,” the characters of Quentin Tarantino and Uma Thurman developed the idea for The Bride. However, it wasn’t until 2000 that Tarantino started writing the script, working on it while residing in New York City.

Bloody Mayhem

In an unexpected twist, Michael Madsen’s performance in “Kill Bill: Volume 1” often goes unnoted when discussing his extensive body of work, with critics frequently overlooking it in favor of the sequel. Madsen portrays Budd, Bill’s brother and a former member of the Vipers, now working as a bouncer at a strip club. He effectively projects the required tough-guy demeanor, while fellow actors such as Uma Thurman, Vivica Fox, and Lucy Liu all deliver standout performances in this action-packed film.

In this film, Tarantino showcases his skills exceptionally well. He skillfully integrates certain traditional martial arts and exploitation aspects, along with a short anime segment. However, the one drawback is that the narrative lacks originality; it feels somewhat familiar as we’ve encountered a similar storyline before.

2
‘Kill Bill. Vol 2’ (2004)

In the movie “Kill Bill: Volume 2”, Uma Thurman’s character, now known as The Bride, persists in her mission for vengeance. Having dispatched several of her marked enemies, she now focuses on Budd (Michael Madsen) and Elle Driver (Daryl Hannah). Budd demonstrates his fighting prowess by trapping her and burying her alive, but she manages to escape thanks to wisdom bestowed upon her by Pai Mei (Gordon Liu). The storyline escalates as The Bride encounters her ex-lover, Bill (David Carradine), in a climactic confrontation.

The movie was jointly created with “Kill Bill. Volume 1.” Originally, Tarantino planned to create one long film, but due to its length exceeding four hours, he was compelled to divide it into two separate parts.

Bill Finally Gets Killed

In the sequel, Tarantino developed the character of The Bride significantly more, which is why many find it superior. There’s simply more depth and complexity this time around. Furthermore, Madsen’s character has a larger role to play, and Bill makes his physical debut in this installment.

Apart from it, the dialogue is more profound in “Kill Bill: Vol. 2,” enriched by thoughtful conversations between The Bride and Bill that create an engaging watch. If you’re a martial arts enthusiast, the training scene with Pai Mei (Gordon Liu) will impress you due to its skillful choreography and tribute to kung fu cinema. Additionally, Tarantino seamlessly incorporates various genres, such as spaghetti westerns and “chanbara.

1
‘Reservoir Dogs’ (1992)

In my humble opinion as a cinephile, Quentin Tarantino’s initial cinematic offering, “Reservoir Dogs,” stands out as a groundbreaking directorial debut. This gritty crime drama revolves around the ill-fated execution of a diamond heist, masterminded by the formidable Joe Cabot (Lawrence Tierney). The cast of characters are six seasoned robbers, each known only by their color-coded aliases: Mr. White (Harvey Keitel), Mr. Orange (Tim Roth), Mr. Blonde (Michael Madsen), Mr. Blue (Edward Bunker), Mr. Brown (Tarantino himself), and Mr. Pink (Steve Buscemi). When the operation goes awry, the survivors reconvene at a warehouse, their suspicions aroused as they speculate that among them might be an undercover officer.

Initially, Quentin Tarantino intended to produce the movie with his companions, spending just $30,000. However, things took a turn when Harvey Keitel read the script and decided to join as a producer. With Keitel’s involvement, they successfully attracted $1.5 million in funding.

The First of Many Great Collaborations

In the film “Reservoir Dogs”, scenes such as debating over tipping a waitress or standoffs reminiscent of Mexican standoffs are just a few examples of its memorable moments. A movie like this wouldn’t be complete without unexpected twists, and it certainly has many. One member of the group turns out to be an undercover cop, but figuring out who can be quite challenging.

Not only was the violence something to witness, but it was evident Quentin understood his craft when he dressed the robbers in white shirts. The red on their attire served as a recurring symbol of the harsh reality and brutality inherent in a criminal lifestyle. Meanwhile, Madsen convincingly portrayed Vic Vega’s cool demeanor despite reported struggles with filming the unsettling ear-cutting scene.

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2025-07-06 21:34