Quentin Tarantino slams ‘Hunger Games’ as ‘rip off’ of ‘Battle Royale’
Quentin Tarantino has slammed “The Hunger Games” franchise, calling it up a “rip off” of the Japanese film “Battle Royale.”
Bang Showbiz
Matthew Lillard is opening up about having his feelings hurt by director Quentin Tarantino, who recently cited him as one of his least favorite actors.
While appearing at GalaxyCon in Columbus, Ohio, the “Five Nights at Freddy’s” star, 55, reacted to the “Kill Bill” filmmaker criticizing his acting on a podcast, according to a video shared on TikTok.
“Quentin Tarantino this week said he didn’t like me as an actor,” Lillard noted, drawing boos from fans.
After tamping down the booing, the “Scooby-Doo” actor explained he was bringing this up to make a point that he feels he is not as popular in Hollywood as he is with his fans.
“It hurts your feelings,” Lillard said. “…And he wouldn’t say that to Tom Cruise. He wouldn’t say that to somebody who’s a top-line actor in Hollywood. I’m very popular in this room. I’m not very popular in Hollywood. Two totally different microcosms. So it’s humbling, and it hurts.”
During a pause, a fan in the room yelled out, “We love you,” to which Lillard said, “Thank you.”
Tarantino made his comments during an episode of “The Bret Easton Ellis Podcast,” where he named his favorite films of the century. The “Pulp Fiction” director gave Paul Thomas Anderson’s “There Will Be Blood” the fifth spot on his list but said it would have been higher if not for a “big giant flaw”: Paul Dano’s performance opposite Daniel Day-Lewis.
“Obviously, it’s supposed to be a two-hander, and it’s also so drastically obvious that it’s not a two-hander,” Tarantino said. “He is weak sauce, man. He’s a weak sister.”
Tarantino went on to argue Dano gives a “non-entity performance” in the movie and that Austin Butler would have done a better job, adding that Dano is “the weakest male actor in SAG.” While he was at it, Tarantino also pointed to two other actors he doesn’t like.
“I don’t care for him, I don’t care for Owen Wilson, and I don’t care for Matthew Lillard,” Tarantino said.
Tarantino’s comments inspired fans, and some in Hollywood, to rally around Dano.
Without referencing what Tarantino said, director Matt Reeves, who worked with Dano on his film “The Batman,” took to X to write, “Paul Dano is an incredible actor, and an incredible person.” Ben Stiller also posted on X that Dano is “brilliant,” while Simu Liu said he is “an incredible actor.”
Fans have also expressed support for Lillard, especially after hearing that he was hurt by what Tarantino said. Actress Gina Darling praised the “Scream” actor on X as “insanely kind and incredibly talented,” while on TikTok, one fan commented, “Oh I was livid about Paul Dano but I had no idea he included Matthew Lillard — now we riot.”
Lillard reprised his role as serial killer William Afton in “Five Nights at Freddy’s 2,” the new horror sequel that topped the box office this weekend. Speaking to USA TODAY about the movie, the actor reflected on the career renaissance he has been experiencing recently, which has included his upcoming return to the “Scream” series as Stu Macher in “Scream 7” and a Marvel role in “Daredevil: Born Again.”
“As you’re rounding second base headed for home on a career, to get a resurgence so late in life is a gift,” he said. “You don’t see it very often.”