Early reactions to Quentin Tarantino’s The Hateful Eight

Last Updated on August 5, 2021

THE HATEFUL EIGHT has already screened for many critics, and although reviews are embargoed until December 21, some have taken to Twitter to share a few quick thoughts on Quentin Tarantino's new movie. The early reactions are mostly positive, however there are a couple of critics who weren't high on the upcoming Western and, according to The Playlist, a small number of viewers have reported walking out.

"The Hateful Eight" is awesome. Tarantino's fullest exploration of genre to date. Expert first-half tension explodes into blood & violence.

— Kristopher Tapley (@kristapley) November 30, 2015

The photography is unreal. Your eye will explore every inch of the frame. Expert staging, blocking and lighting throughout.

— Kristopher Tapley (@kristapley) November 30, 2015

And the roadshow experience is exquisite. I've decided all films should have intermissions.

— Kristopher Tapley (@kristapley) November 30, 2015

THE HATEFUL EIGHT is one of those movies that's really great on first viewing, and will be about a thousand times better the second time.

— Mike Ryan (@mikeryan) December 2, 2015

Jennifer Jason Leigh is absolute dynamite in THE HATEFUL EIGHT. And Walton Goggins *almost* steals the show from Samuel L. Jackson. Almost.

— Mike Ryan (@mikeryan) December 2, 2015

Tarantino sets up characters and stakes in post-Civil-War race drama @thehatefuleight, a languorously intense 70 mm cinephile's fantasy.

— Anne Thompson (@akstanwyck) December 2, 2015

Actors will love the luxury of this ace ensemble surfing with QT's dialogue. The images, sound, settings, rich Morricone score are tops.

— Anne Thompson (@akstanwyck) December 2, 2015

The rest waits for the embargo. Jennifer Jason Leigh as only woman in key cast could nab Oscar nom. Jackson, Russell & Goggins also tops.

— Anne Thompson (@akstanwyck) December 2, 2015

The dark cynicism of Peckinpah smashed into the playfulness of Tarantino still makes for the meanest film of QT's career. Loved it.

— devin faraci (@devincf) December 2, 2015

I think HATEFUL EIGHT is sort of QT's response to his own historical revisionist films. There's a whole thread in H8 that comments on them.

— devin faraci (@devincf) December 2, 2015

We can talk about 'Hateful Eight' now? Ok good. Loved everything about it. QT at his most indulgent. Sam Jackson is terrific.

— Mike Sampson (@mjsamps) December 2, 2015

THE HATEFUL EIGHT is dark, bloody and diabolically funny. If you thought the Crazy 88s were crazy, they got nothing on these eight. So great

— ErikDavis (@ErikDavis) December 2, 2015

THE HATEFUL EIGHT is like The Thing took the form of an early John Ford movie & holy hell is it great. Sam L. Jackson = a national treasure.

— david ehrlich (@davidehrlich) December 2, 2015

My HATEFUL Take: I freakin' love this movie. Agatha Christie's DEATH PROOF in the Old West. I wish it were an hour longer.

— Jordan Hoffman (@jhoffman) December 2, 2015

That "great vengeance and furious anger" monologue now has a glorious sequel.

— erickohn (@erickohn) December 1, 2015

I don't like to write about movies negatively before they open so I'll keep my thoughts re: Hateful Eight private…

— Sasha Stone (@AwardsDaily) December 2, 2015

@AwardsDaily i was there and i am beyond curious to see the reaction. Probably some of the most polarized of the year

— Michael Kamens (@TheMBrand) December 2, 2015

Don't trust critics? Well, GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY director James Gunn has also seen THE HATEFUL EIGHT (albeit an unfinished version), and he highly praised the film in a Facebook post.

I saw The Hateful Eight a couple months ago and was asked not to post about it on social media, but now that a lot of…

Posted by James Gunn on Wednesday, December 2, 2015

THE HATEFUL EIGHT will hit 70mm-capable theaters on Christmas Day before going wide on January 8, 2016.