Because the yr winds down, Quentin Tarantino has been rating what he considers the highest movies of the period. His look on The Bret Easton Ellis Podcast rapidly ignited the web with sharp critiques that despatched the film followers and creators right into a frenzy.
His feedback about Paul Dano, Owen Wilson, and even The Starvation Video games grabbed speedy consideration. In the midst of all that firepower was Scream and Scooby-Doo star Matthew Lillard, and everybody loves Matthew Lillard!
Lillard has now shared the way it felt to be singled out by one among Hollywood’s most talked about filmmakers.
Tarantino didn’t pull punches on the podcast, saying Paul Dano was “the weakest f*cking actor in SAG” whereas discussing There Will Be Blood. That sparked a wave of pushback from actors and filmmakers, together with The Batman director Matt Reeves, who jumped to Dano’s protection.
Tarantino additionally mentioned The Starvation Video games “simply ripped off” Battle Royale, which is true. However, these remarks dominated the headlines, however tucked amongst them was a jab at Lillard. Whereas speaking with Bret Easton Ellis, Tarantino mentioned, “I don’t take care of Matthew Lillard,” and tossed Owen Wilson into the identical class.
A TikTok video shared by @little_spooks captured Lillard addressing the group at a 5 Nights at Freddy’s 2 screening throughout GalaxyCon, the place he introduced up Tarantino’s feedback. Earlier than providing his trustworthy response, he set the scene by acknowledging what occurred with a easy line.
“Quentin Tarantino, this week, mentioned he did not like me as an actor.”
The viewers instantly booed in help, however Lillard wasn’t taking part in the second off with jokes or bravado. He leaned into sincerity and defined precisely the way it felt.
“The purpose is, is that it hurts your emotions. It f*cking sucks. He would not say that to Tom Cruise. He would not say that to somebody who’s a top-line actor in Hollywood.
“I am very fashionable on this room I’m not very fashionable in Hollywood two completely completely different microcosms. Proper And so, , it is humbling, and it hurts.”
His response brings a human aspect to the fast-moving on-line debates that erupted round Tarantino’s latest remarks. Lillard identified that the filmmaker probably wouldn’t discuss that means about Hollywood’s greatest stars, which solely amplified how private the phrases felt to somebody who has spent many years delivering superior and enjoyable performances however hasn’t at all times been handled as a top-tier trade title.
What Tarantino thinks doesn’t mirror what I or loads of different followers assume. Lillard made that apparent whereas standing in a room full of individuals who adore him. His profession has been stuffed with beloved roles, and audiences proceed to champion him.
Whatever the sting, Lillard is having a stellar second. 5 Nights at Freddy’s 2 is monitoring for an enormous opening weekend and is anticipated to drag in file numbers.
On high of that, he’s heading again into the Scream franchise with the seventh movie arriving February 27, 2026, which followers have been celebrating ever because the reveal. Tarantino could not take care of him, however moviegoers positive do, they usually proceed to indicate up for him in a giant means.
