When discussing the greater influence of cinema, it’s always interesting to learn about the films and filmmakers that inspired future generations, essentially allowing the medium to evolve over time. In contemporary cinema, Quentin Tarantino is one of the greatest filmmakers, possessing a profound knowledge of cinema and its history. Naturally, he was greatly influenced by specific types of films, cinematic waves and directors. It’s always interesting to discover which films in particular inspired Tarantino, and it’s not always difficult to notice. All of his movies highlight the genres, films and filmmakers that influenced him at different times of his life, and it should come as no surprise that the Western genre was a big influence. More specifically, there are Western directors considered legends of cinema, and Tarantino was inspired by several of them.
It’s important to point out that, although the industry naturally puts filmmakers and actors in certain boxes, it doesn’t mean that it is their only interest. Just as Scorsese is not just a gangster movie director, and Carpenter didn’t just want to make horror movies, some of the greatest classical Hollywood filmmakers did everything they could to expand their horizons. Tarantino is a rare kind of auteur who was able to avoid this Hollywood trend by being the true author of everything he made. Never restricted to one genre, he followed the path of his favorite directors, who also did the same, including some that people might not expect. One of Tarantino’s favorite directors is Sam Peckinpah, who also manages to transcend the genre that most labeled him.