Quentin Tarantino says Ryan Reynolds’ Netflix films ‘don’t even exist’

Famed director Quentin Tarantino has long been against the rise of streaming, and now, he’s singled out Ryan Reynolds’ movies in particular.

Quentin Tarantino has made an extraordinary comment about Ryan Reynolds' big budget streaming movies.

Quentin Tarantino has singled out Ryan Reynolds in his latest interview hitting out at the rising popularity of streaming giants.

The famed US filmmaker has been outspoken about the changing landscape of cinema and the death of the movie star, which he’s suggested is a factor in his decision to retire from movie-making after his next project.

And the ever-candid director has doubled down on his stance that streaming is killing cinema, referencing US actor Ryan Reynolds in particular.

Speaking to Deadline, the 60-year-old Inglourious Basterds director scoffed at how Reynolds was able to procure mega pay cheques for straight-to-streaming flicks which “don’t exist”.

“I mean, and I’m not picking on anybody, but apparently for Netflix, Ryan Reynolds has made $50 million on this movie and $50 million on that movie and $50 million on the next movie for them. I don’t know what any of those movies are. I’ve never seen them,” Tarantino said.

“I haven’t ever talked to Ryan Reynolds’ agent, but his agent is like, ‘Well, it cost $50 million.’

“Well, good for him that he’s making so much money. But those movies don’t exist in the zeitgeist. It’s almost like they don’t even exist.”

Quentin Tarantino is retiring from movie-making after his 10th and final project. Picture: Amy Sussman/Getty Images

Ryan Reynolds has starred in a series of Netflix originals. Picture: Gilbert Carrasquillo/GC Images

Reynolds, 46, has appeared in a flurry of Netflix originals in recent years, including The Red Notice (2021) and The Adam Project (2022), though Tarantino’s understanding of his pay may be a little inflated.

It’s been reported he made a whopping $30 million for The Red Notice, alongside his A-list co-stars Gal Gadot and Dwayne Johnson, and around $23 million for The Adam Project.

Dwayne Johnson, Gal Gadot and Ryan Reynolds reportedly each made around $30m for The Red Notice. Picture: Amy Sussman/Getty Images

Meanwhile, Tarantino is about to head into pre-production for his 10th – and final – foray behind the lens; a film called The Movie Critic. He did say he’ll continue to write for various projects in the future.

Speaking to CNN earlier this year, Tarantino explained he wanted to retire while he was still on top of his game.

“I’ve been doing it for a long time. I’ve been doing it for 30 years, and it’s, it’s time to wrap up the show. Like I said I’m an entertainer. I want to leave you wanting more, you know,” he said, before suggesting the evolving film landscape was a factor.

“I don’t want to work to diminishing returns. I don’t want to become this old man who’s out of touch when already I’m feeling a bit like an old man out of touch when it comes to the current movies that are out right now. And that’s what happens.”

Quentin Tarantino’s most recent film, Once Upon A Time in Hollywood … starred Margot Robbie. Picture: Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images

Tarantino is joined by the likes of Martin Scorsese and Ridley Scott who have all aired grievances about how the popularity of mega franchises – like Marvel and DC – are impacting what movies studios are willing to make.

In his interview with Deadline overnight, Tarantino said he’d likely shoot his final film in partnership with Sony, “because they’re the last game in town that is just absolutely, utterly, committed to the theatrical experience.”

He added, “It’s not about feeding their streaming network. They are committed to theatrical experience. They judge success by arses on seats.

“And they judge success by the movies entering the zeitgeist, not just making a big expensive movie and then putting it on your streaming platform. No one even knows it’s there.”