Quentin Tarantino‘s debut film, “Reservoir Dogs,” serves as a potent and humorously violent introduction to his unique cinematic style that would profoundly influence the 1990s. The plot follows a group of skilled criminals assembled by the strategic Joe Cabot (Lawrence Tierney) for a jewelry heist that disastrously unravels. As the survivors regroup in a desolate warehouse, suspicions arise about a possible informant among them. The tense atmosphere intensifies among the crew—Mr. White (Harvey Keitel), Mr. Orange (Tim Roth), Mr. Blonde (Michael Madsen), Mr. Pink (Steve Buscemi), and Nice Guy Eddie (Chris Penn)—culminating in a harrowing standoff when Joe confronts them. Tarantino’s signature dialogue, peppered with pop culture references and a classic ‘70s soundtrack, alongside influences from Hong Kong cinema and French New Wave, notably Jean-Luc Godard, make “Reservoir Dogs” a groundbreaking piece of the 1990s film landscape.
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Title | Reservoir Dogs |
| Director | Quentin Tarantino |
| Release Date | October 23, 1992 |
| Genre | Crime, Thriller |
| Main Cast | Harvey Keitel, Tim Roth, Michael Madsen |
| Runtime | 99 minutes |
| Synopsis | After a simple jewelry heist goes terribly wrong, the surviving criminals begin to suspect that one of them is a police informant. |
| Rating | R |
| Box Office | $2.8 million |
| Production Company | A Band Apart, Dog Eat Dog Productions |
| VHS Release Date | 1993 |
| Special Features | Deleted scenes, behind-the-scenes featurette, interviews with cast and crew |