The first trailer for Once Upon a Time in Hollywood makes it look like the most Tarantino Quentin Tarantino movie yet


The first trailer for Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is here, and it looks like the movie Quentin Tarantino has been preparing to make all his life.
The ninth film from the acclaimed director, who is known for his obsession with movie history and tropes, takes place in 1969 Hollywood and follows Rick Dalton, a washed-up actor played by Leonardo DiCaprio, and his stunt double, played by Brad Pitt. The new footage shows that Tarantino went all out in faithfully recreating the era, complete with the director's beloved Cinerama theater on Sunset Boulevard. Even the title pays tribute to Sergio Leone, an influence on Tarantino.
Margot Robbie also stars in the film as actress Sharon Tate, who was murdered by followers of Charles Manson the year the movie takes place. But although that real-life tragedy hangs over the film, the trailer's got an upbeat tone, complete with DiCaprio dancing on a variety show and Pitt fighting Mike Moh as Bruce Lee after informing him that accidentally killing a person will, in fact, land you in jail. The footage teases a killer soundtrack, laugh-out-loud dialogue, a celebration of the art of filmmaking, and, more than likely, horrifying violence. In other words, it's definitely a Tarantino movie.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The trailer doesn't highlight the film's full, ridiculously impressive cast, but it also consists of Al Pacino, Kurt Russell, Michael Madsen, James Marsden, Tim Roth, Timothy Olyphant, Dakota Fanning, Damian Lewis, Bruce Dern, and Luke Perry.
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood hits theaters on July 26. Watch the trailer below. Brendan Morrow
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
The Assassin: action-packed caper is 'terrific fun'
The Week Recommends Keeley Hawes stars as a former hitwoman drawn out of retirement for 'one last job'
-
The EPA wants to green-light approval for a twice-banned herbicide
Under the radar Dicamba has been found to harm ecosystems
-
Sudoku medium: July 30, 2025
The Week's daily medium sudoku puzzle
-
CBS cancels Colbert's 'Late Show'
Speed Read 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert' is ending next year
-
Shakespeare not an absent spouse, study proposes
speed read A letter fragment suggests that the Shakespeares lived together all along, says scholar Matthew Steggle
-
New Mexico to investigate death of Gene Hackman, wife
speed read The Oscar-winning actor and his wife Betsy Arakawa were found dead in their home with no signs of foul play
-
Giant schnauzer wins top prize at Westminster show
Speed Read Monty won best in show at the 149th Westminster Kennel Club dog show
-
Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar take top Grammys
Speed Read Beyoncé took home album of the year for 'Cowboy Carter' and Kendrick Lamar's diss track 'Not Like Us' won five awards
-
The Louvre is giving 'Mona Lisa' her own room
Speed Read The world's most-visited art museum is getting a major renovation
-
Honda and Nissan in merger talks
Speed Read The companies are currently Japan's second and third-biggest automakers, respectively
-
Taylor Swift wraps up record-shattering Eras tour
Speed Read The pop star finally ended her long-running tour in Vancouver, Canada