Matthew Lillard responds to “humbling” Quentin Tarantino criticism

Posted On December 7, 2025December 7, 2025

Matthew Lillard has hit back at Quentin Tarantino, who recently criticised the actor in a much-discussed podcast episode.

Recently, Tarantino named his top 20 favourite movies of the 21st century while chatting with the American Psycho author on the Bret Easton Ellis Podcast. However, the activity came with as much slander as it did praise.

Tarantino lashed out at the Paul Thomas Anderson epic, There Will Be Blood, where he called Paul Dano the “weakest male actor in SAG“. However, the director then found it necessary to add, “I don’t care for him, I don’t care for Owen Wilson, and I don’t care for Matthew Lillard.”

While on stage at GalaxyCon in Ohio, Lillard referenced Tarantino’s recent criticism of his acting, mixing nonchalance with earnest despondency.

Addressing the crowd, the Scream actor began, “Quentin Tarantino this week said he didn’t like me as an actor. Eh, whatever. Who gives a shit.”

However, he then elaborated, “Listen, the point is that hurts your feelings. It fuckin’ sucks. And you wouldn’t say that to Tom Cruise. You wouldn’t say that to somebody who’s a top-line actor in Hollywood.”

The star went on, “I’m very popular in this room. I’m not very popular in Hollywood. Two totally different microcosms, right? And so, you know, it’s humbling, and it hurts.”

Dano, who received the biggest form of insult, has yet to speak out about Tarantino’s criticism, though many in the industry, including The Batman director Matt Reeves, have come to his defence in the meantime.

Reeves’ The Batman sequel screenwriter also joined in on the discourse, writing, “I am really pleased to see so many people cheer on Paul Dano this week. Not only is he a terrific actor, but he’s an astonishing director who exudes control and tremendous empathy. Check out Wildlife if you haven’t seen it.”

Additionally, Ben Stiller also caught wind of Tarantino’s tirade and wrote online, simply, “Paul Dano is fucking brilliant.” Dano is yet to comment on the matter.

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