Tarantino’s mother on him watching movies unsuitable for his age: “I’m more worried about you watching the news”

Movies are usually rated according to how suitable they are for a particular audience. That’s why genres like horror or films with excessive gore are generally reserved for adults. Still, those rules can be easily bent. Quentin Tarantino was one of those kids who, at a very young age, began watching movies with a high level of explicit violence – and it was his own mother who took him to see them.

In a recent interview, the Knoxville-born director shared an anecdote on the subject. “I started to realize that I was allowed to watch movies the other kids in my class couldn’t,” he said. “I asked, ‘Mom, my other friends aren’t allowed to watch the kind of movies you take me to […] What do you think about all that?’” said Tarantino. His mother Connie’s reply was pure gold.

Tarantino’s mother’s conviction

The clip, posted on X (Twitter) by user Doctor Frusna, shows the moment in the interview when Tarantino’s mother responds with conviction. “Quentin, it’s a movie! There’s nothing you’re going to see in a movie that’s going to mess you up. It’s a damn movie. In fact, I’m more worried about you watching the news than a movie,” the director recalled with a laugh, quoting his mother.

Tarantino grew up in the 1960s and 70s, caught between the wave of new European cinema and the revival of American filmmaking, so he saw many of the most important films in history at a young age. “I saw them all as a kid, at 9, 10 and 11 years old. I saw The Godfather when it came out, I saw The French Connection when it came out… I literally saw The Wild Bunch on a double bill with Deliverance when I was in third grade,” he said.

All these films left a deep mark on Tarantino, as traces of these classics can be found throughout his work – the raw violence of The Wild Bunch, the alienated man of Taxi Driver and the action sequences of The French Connection.

Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all.

Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.