Released in 1994, “Pulp Fiction” was a milestone in cinema. Directed by Quentin Tarantino, the film was an absolute success with critics and audiences and influenced an entire subsequent generation. The gangster film is recognized for its non-linear narrative, sharp dialogues, amazing soundtrack and quirky characters.
The success of “Pulp Fiction” led studios to seek out films that captured the same style, resulting in a wave of similar post-1994 productions that persisted for many years.
Some of these films were successful, while others were seen as “clones” and cheap imitations. Below we list the 10 most interesting examples. Watch!
Movies similar to Pulp Fiction
A gangster film with a “complex” plot, full of twists and turns, sharp dialogues and an acid sense of humour, “Scacco Matto” has a very Tarantino flavour.
The production is also full of big stars: Bruce Willis, Josh Hartnett, Lucy Liu, Stanley Tucci, Ben Kingsley and Morgan Freeman.
In the plot, young Slevin (Hartnett) is mistakenly placed in the middle of a personal war between crime bosses when his identity is changed.
This film directed by Kiefer Sutherland also features several elements seen in “Pulp Fiction”. The neo-noir film also stars Vincent Gallo in one of the lead roles, and names like Mykelti Williamson, Kevin Pollak, Max Perlich, Rod Steiger and Kim Dickens in the cast.
In the storyline, Ray (Gallo) spent time in prison after being accused of a crime instead of his mob boss. When he gets out of prison he expects something big from his boss as a reward. However, Ray gets a miserable job in a warehouse in exchange. From that moment on, Ray decides to take revenge and plans to steal a million dollars worth of drugs from his former boss.
Mixing the genres of crime and comedy, “The Name of the Game” is based on the novel “Get Shorty”, by Elmore Leonard (it is interesting to note that two years later, Quentin Tarantino will adapt another of Leonard’s works for the cinema: “Jackie Brown”).
The film is directed by Barry Sonnenfeld and features big names in the cast: John Travolta, Gene Hackman, Rene Russo, Danny DeVito and James Gandolfini. The plot follows a mobster (Travolta) who inadvertently becomes involved in the world of Hollywood cinema.
Released a year after “Pulp Fiction,” “The Name of the Game” was widely associated with the previous film due to similarities in style and the presence of John Travolta. The sequel, “Be Cool – The Other Name of the Game”, was released in 2005.
The film most comparable to “Pulp Fiction” is, without a doubt, “Things to Do in Denver When You’re Dead.” So strongly inspired that some critics of the time considered it a “Pulp Fiction” clone.
Released a year after Tarantino’s film, “Things to Do in Denver” was a box office failure and has been forgotten ever since.
The film’s cast includes names such as Andy García, Christopher Lloyd, Treat Williams, Steve Buscemi, Christopher Walken, Fairuza Balk and Gabrielle Anwar. In the plot, a gangster (Garcia) and his partners make a series of disastrous mistakes during a mission and are persecuted.
With sharp, casual dialogue and a plot that doesn’t follow a chronological order, “Let’s Go” is another “Pulp Fiction”-style ’90s film. The film received good critical reception upon its release and gained status afterward as well.
The film is directed by Doug Liman (“The Edge of Tomorrow”, “Mr. and Mrs. Smith”, “The Bourne Identity”) and features names such as William Fichtner, Katie Holmes, Jay Mohr, Sarah Polley, Scott Wolf, Timothy Olyphant and Melissa McCarthy in the cast.
Set to electronic music, the film is set during the Christmas season. The plot follows a supermarket cashier (Polley) who falls into confusion after deciding to sell drugs to pay her rent.
Following the “Pulp Fiction” formula of bitingly humorous gangster films, “Games, Smoking, and Two Smoking Barrels” received critical acclaim.
The film is directed by Guy Ritchie (“Crime Tycoons”, “Snatch – Pigs and Diamonds”) and stars Jason Statham, Jason Flemyng, Dexter Fletcher, Nick Moran, Steven Mackintosh, Sting and Vinnie Jones.
In the plot, a group of friends try to win a big poker game. But the game is rigged and they end up losing, accumulating a huge debt.
Keanu Reeves and Cameron Diaz star in this crime and comedy film that follows the style of Quentin Tarantino and his films. The cast also includes Vincent D’Onofrio, Courtney Love, Tuesday Weld, Dan Aykroyd and Delroy Lindo.
In the plot, former stripper Freddie (Diaz) marries Sam (D’Onofrio) to pay off a debt. At the wedding, Freddie meets Jjaks (Reeves), Sam’s brother, and the two fall in love instantly. The two decide to run away together and begin to be chased wildly.
Another film often associated with a “Pulp Fiction” clone is “Violent Thursday.” Practically all the characteristics of Tarantino’s film are present in it, such as unbridled violence, morbid humor and much more.
The cast includes Thomas Jane, Aaron Eckhart, Paulina Porizkova, Paula Marshall, Michael Jeter and Mickey Rourke.
In the plot, a former drug dealer (Jane) restarts her life peacefully, working as an architect and getting married. However, things change when a former accomplice (Eckhart) appears out of nowhere in his life with a suitcase full of drugs and asks to stay at his house.
Written and directed by Christopher McQuarrie (Oscar-winning screenwriter for “The Usual Suspects”, director of films in the “Mission: Impossible” series such as “Rogue Nation” and “Fallout”), “In Cold Blood” brings a mix of genres and a stylized Tarantino-style visual. However, it was poorly received by critics.
In the story, two criminals (Ryan Phillippe and Benicio del Toro) plan to kidnap a young woman (Juliette Lewis) who acts as a surrogate mother for wealthy people, with the aim of obtaining an easy ransom.
However, they find themselves involved in a much more complex and dangerous situation than they expected. The cast also includes Taye Diggs, Nicky Katt, Scott Wilson and James Caan.
Following the trends established by “Pulp Fiction”, such as ultra violence and acid humor, “Santos Justiceiros” ended up performing poorly at the box office and being negatively received by critics upon its release. However, over the years, the film has gained cult status and even a sequel in 2009.
The cast includes Willem Dafoe, Sean Patrick Flanery and Norman Reedus. The plot follows two Irish twin brothers who become vigilantes after killing members of the Russian mafia in self-defense. Catholics believe that God has given them the mission to end crime.
The Next 10 Pulp Fiction Inspired Movies appeared first on Olhar Digital.
Source: Olhar Digital
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
