Replete with quotable dialogue, resonant characters, and unforgettable spectacles, the filmography ofQuentin Tarantinoremains one of the most memorable in modern Hollywood. Each movie he directs — except for one, perhaps, which will be touched on in a moment — features at least a single iconic and indelible location in which at least part of the film is set. These are the places that audiences think of with regard to each respective project.
If theKill Billmovies counted as one, then he technically only has nine total films under his directorial belt. However, this list will count them as two, with two separate entries, while also ranking the most recognizable spot from his eight other movies. All that said: these are the ten most iconic locations fromeach Quentin Tarantino movie.
10The Bar From Death Proof
Along with Robert Rodriguez, his longtime friend and collaborator, Quentin Tarantino took part in a double-feature calledGrindhouse(2007). He named his portion of the projectDeath Proof(2007), taken from the night Sean Penn told Tarantino over drinks about the prospect of stuntmen “death-proofing” cars. Of course, Tarantino took this idea, created an antagonistic character in Stuntman Mike (played by Kurt Russell), and wrapped everything with a stylistic, slasher bow on top. While there isn’t a name for a particular location that stands out here inDeath Proof, the opening act of the film takes place inside a bar — with Tarantino playing the bartender, no less. This is where Stuntman Mike picks up his first victim, and if there had to be one, it’s ultimately the spot most associated with the film. However, since it isn’t exactly iconic, the bar scene does land Tarantino’sexploitation horrorouting here at number ten.
9The Shopping Mall From Jackie Brown
This is where the main plot point ofJackie Brown(1997) takes place: a shopping mall department store. Specifically, the dressing room therein. But of course, the whole store plays an integral role in both the plot and the framing of each scene.
Jackie buys a suit, goes in and out of the dressing room, while Max Cherry, Louis Gara, and Melanie Ralston all play their parts in making the swap and getting their respective parties to safety. Well, until Louis and Melanie reach the parking lot, that is. Things get far less secure from there. The opening scene of the film is a strong argument that the airport in which Jackie works as a flight attendant is the most memorable location of the film. The blocking, camerawork, and specificallythe soundtrackfeatured in the aforementioned scene are as iconic as anythingJackie Brownhas to offer.
8Two Pines Chapel From Kill Bill: Volume 2
InKill Bill: Volume 2(2004), the Two Pines Chapel was where Beatrix Kiddo and her fiancé Tommy Plympton were in the middle of their rehearsal when Bill and his Deadly Viper Assassination Squad entered the premises and slayed everyone in the chapel. This obviously kicked the events of the series in general into gear, and its drawn-out lead up builds suspense until the very end when Bill’s goons show up with all black suits, machine guns, and a massive grudge against the Bride. What’s also worth noting about Two Pines Chapel is that it’s an actual location in Lancaster, California — except, it’s called the Cavalry Baptist Church. Not Two Pines. In fact, it’s commonly called The Kill Bill Church nowadays. But names aside, it exists, andfans can actually visit the location. Pretty neat.
7The House of Blue Leaves From Kill Bill: Volume 1
A Japanese bar, restaurant, and the headquarters of O-Ren Ishii and the Crazy 88, The House of Blue Leaves facilitates the most memorable scene thatKill Bill: Volume 1(2003) has to offer. Or, either of theKill Billfilms for that matter.
This was the place in which Beatrix Kiddo went toe-to-toe with a group of O-Ren Ishii’s Yakuza foot soldiers called the Crazy 88 and provided film fans with some of the more memorable instances offight choreography. It’s full of dismemberments and Wilhelm Screams. What more could you ask for? When people look back on these films, this is undoubtedly one of the first scenes that springs to everyone’s minds.
6Le Gamaar Cinema From Inglourious Basterds
Owned by Shosanna Dreyfus, she helps operate it with her assistant and boyfriend, Marcel. This is the location that the film culminates to, with the premiere of a (fictional) German film calledStolz Der Nation— which roughly translates toA Nation’s Pride.Few images fromInglourious Basterds(2009) remain as artistically significant as the theater going up in flames in Shosanna’s ultimate act of revenge.
There are other great locations from this project, like theopening LaPadite farmhouseand the midpoint’s basement pub, but in the end, the choice was easy for this spot: Le Gamaar Cinema will always remain the quintessential location fromInglourious Basterds.
5Spahn Ranch From Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
As the only legitimate, real-life location on the list that goes by its actual name, Spahn Ranch fromOnce Upon a Time in Hollywood(2019) acts within the plot as a former movie set where Cliff and Rick had previously worked ona few western films. Now, however, in the movie’s current timeline, the ranch has been taken over by the Manson Family.
There are many significant exchanges that go down here at Spahn Ranch — none perhaps as prominent as Cliff’s interaction with Squeaky Fromme and the borderline-brainwashed owner, George Spahn. For as much plot and development as Tarantino’s most recent film features, it can all be traced back to the events that went down at Spahn Ranch.
4Candyland From Django Unchained
Again, the primary plot points revolve around the existence and destruction of Candyland. A plantation owned by Calvin Candie (played by Leonardo DiCaprio), this is where the titular Django had reason to believe his wife is being held as a slave. So, he set out on a journey with his new partner, a bounty hunter named Dr. King Schultz —played to a brilliant degree by Christoph Waltz.
Most of the film’s major sequences went down here at Candyland. From the disruptive dinner Calvin served to his guests just before revealing to the protagonists he was privy to their plans to the film’s ending sequence of Django destroying the plantation with endless loads of dynamite, this is without a doubt the most iconic location fromDjango Unchained(2012).
3Minnie’s Haberdashery From The Hateful Eight
Aside from the opening trek, the rest ofThe Hateful Eight(2015) takes place entirely in this location. And that’s even with regard to the one flashback of the movie. But each of the locations on this list have their own little quirks aside from the emphasis on their names, the characters constantly repeating them to subtly drive their titles home for the audience. Here with Minnie’s Haberdashery, the door doesn’t close. Every time someone goes in or out, the characters inside must grab a nail and hammer it shut. But for consolation: when they’re done, they can rest with a cup of Minnie’s famous hot coffee.
No one location has encompassed so much screen time in any of Tarantino’s films. The audience meets all but four featured characters in the Haberdashery, and sticks with them untiltheir untimely deaths. Well, for some of them, it was untimely. For others, the sooner was undoubtedly for the better.
2The Warehouse From Reservoir Dogs
A heist movie known for breaking the conventions thereof,Reservoir Dogs(1992) takes place almost entirely after the theft takes place. And for the most part, the aftermath plays out in a warehouse they rented to reconvene after the deed was done. Aside from the opening scene and a couple flashbacks along the way, all the action takes place inside this warehouse.
It’s one of the more prominent examples of a movie going down injust one location. From Mr. Blonde torturing a police officer to the Mexican standoff that was initiated in the film’s final act, the movie’s most memorable scenes go down in the warehouse. It is of course the most prominent location of Tarantino’s debut.
Related:Reservoir Dogs: 5 Iconic Scenes in the Quentin Tarantino Movie
1Jack Rabbit Slims From Pulp Fiction
Known for its 1950s atmosphere with to-die-for milkshakes, Jack Rabbit Slims is a restaurant visited by Mia Wallace and Vincent Vega inPulp Fiction(1994). It features a waiter dressed like Buddy Holly — played by Steve Buscemi — along with a fine array of face powder in the women’s bathroom. But most prominently, the famousdancing scenetakes place here, where Mia and Vincent get down toYou Never Can Tellby Chuck Berry.
The apartment scene is equally iconic, but not as much for its location as the dance sequence was. There was also the thrift store with Butch and Marcellus, and the opening/ending diner scenes with Pumpkin and Honey-Bunny. But in the end, Jack Rabbit Slims isn’t just the most memorable setting fromPulp Fiction— it’s also the most iconic location Tarantino has used throughout his whole filmography in general.
