Quentin Tarantino wrote and directed The Hateful Eight, released in 2015 and set in the height of a Wyoming winter, following a bounty hunter and his prisoner who find shelter in a cabin currently inhabited by a collection of intriguing and dangerous characters. The almost stage-like production becomes a violent and shocking character study and whodunnit, filled with the type of dialogue you may expect from Tarantino. If you were a fan, here are 10 must-see movies like The Hateful Eight you should also check out.
10 Movies Like The Hateful Eight
Slow West (2015)
Slow West is aptly named, as it is a slow-burning character study that follows a 16-year-old boy on a journey across 19th Century frontier America looking for the woman he loves, while accompanied by the enigmatic traveler Silas. However, when things do kick into high gear, it is brutal and shocking kputting this on a par with Tarantino.
Unforgiven (1992)
This sterling example of a Western classic stars Clint Eastwood in a stunning piece of movie-making that is essentially a revenge thriller, complete with visceral violence, developed characters, and incredible performances. The film is also a tribute to two masters of the genre, Sergio Leone and Don Siegel, who had both died before the release of this masterpiece.
Django Unchained (2012)
Thought it best to include Tarantino’s other more controversial Western on the list, which starts in 1858 following another bounty hunter looking for a slave named Django who he buys to aid him in finding some men he has been searching for. Django then embarks on his own quest to find his wife, sold previously for escaping from her owner. A plan is formed and his revenge is planned.
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)
As far as Westerns go, there are some classics that many others pull from, and this is surely at the top of the list. Paul Newman and Robert Redford cement their place in Hollywood history in this tale of a train robbery going wrong, leading to our anti-heroes finding themselves on the run with a posse on their tracks. With a love triangle, a stunning soundtrack, and just charisma and charm in abundance, you know Tarantino is a fan.
Dead for a Dollar (2022)
Walter Hill directs this stylish Western, Dead for a Dollar, that follows a notorious bounty hunter who runs into his arch-enemy, a professional gambler and outlaw that he had been responsible for locking up years ago. Hill made his return to directing in this project, and there’s no denying the performances are top notch but it does fall down in some of the finer details. Still a modern Western that fans should enjoy.
Hostiles (2017)
Scott Cooper directs this entry on our list, set in 1892, and takes a fascinating moral dilemma and watches the characters deal with it. Cavalry war hero Joseph Blocker must escort Chief Yellow Hawk, his hated enemy, to his ancestral home as his final mission. However Comanches are still out for blood, and Blocker is struggling to do his duty in this slow-burning but often shocking Western drama.
The Sisters Brothers (2018)
Gold prospector Hermann Kermit Warm is being chased by a pair of killers, the Sisters Brothers, played by John C Reilly and Joaquin Phoenix. This is a quirky and offbeat Western thriller based on a novel by Patrick DeWitt and combining themes of redemption and personal sacrifice. A post-modern Western with substance.
The Thing (1982)
John Carpenter’s classic base-under-siege horror may not seem like a film you would find on this list until you start to see the comparisons between the two movies. An ensemble cast stranded together and turning against each other is a template for both films and then you get confirmation from Tarantino himself that the film was indeed an inspiration. Why have never noticed this before?
The Wild Bunch (1969)
In an interview with Tarantino in Premiere Magazine, Tarantino talks about director Sam Peckinpah and his style of directing. He goes on to mention The Wild Bunch directed by Peckinpah, a film that follows an aging group of outlaws that are on the lookout for one last big job before their time in the Wild West is done. The ensemble cast and character-driven narrative, as well as some great action set pieces, make this a must-see.
Hombre (1967)
The same interview also mentions this classic Western starring Paul Newman, as a white man raised by Apaches, who finds himself in a desperate struggle for survival along with a diverse cast of characters he has shared a carriage with. After being attacked, they rely on Newman’s skills to survive. Tarantino hadn’t made the connection with his own film but acknowledges that there are similarities in the tone.
Do you have any more recommendations for movies like The Hateful Eight? Let us know in the comments!
