Pulp Fiction (1994)

Real talk before the fans line up: the weakest actor in Pulp Fiction is the guy who directed it. Quentin Tarantino casts himself as a suburban homeowner fussing about his coffee, and every second he’s on screen the movie forgets how cool it is. Everything around him is ridiculous in the best way. John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson argue about burgers and foot massages like it’s a philosophy seminar, then go to work. Travolta and Uma Thurman take over the dance floor at a retro diner and it’s the most watchable scene of the decade. Bruce Willis gets a whole story about a wristwatch that should be dull and isn’t. The timeline is chopped up and shuffled, and somehow it hits harder than if it ran in order. It made $213.9 million worldwide on a reported $8.5 million, and 2,476,319 IMDb ratings put it at 8.8. A 9.2 because decades of copycats still haven’t matched the way these people talk. $4,201 says you order a milkshake this month and ask out loud if it’s worth the price.

What works: Dialogue so specific and funny that small talk about burgers becomes iconic, plus a shuffled timeline that makes every story land harder.

What doesn’t: Tarantino’s own cameo is flat and self-indulgent, and the 154 minutes include a few stretches that are in love with their own chatter.

Who it’s for: People who rewatch crime movies for the conversations and like piecing a timeline back together in their heads.