The 25 Most Badass Characters In Quentin Tarantino Movies

"Bad motherf***er" wallets all around for these guys.

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Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

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Seven films deep into his career, Quentin Tarantino's blood-splattered, pop-culture-cluttered, sometimes perverse, and always hilarious movies have become their own genre, beholden to his own tropes. Among the many things you're bound to find in a Tarantino flick—next to foot fetish shots, excessive use of "nigga/nigger," and Samuel L. Jackson—are several truly cool, unforgettable characters.

From the color-appointed jewel thieves of Reservoir Dogs to the eponymous former slave turned bounty hunter in Tarantino's latest, the bloody and wonderfully crazy Django Unchained (in theaters Christmas Day), the esteemed writer-director has bestowed upon us some of cinema's most memorable ass-kickers, assassins, and scary goons. As a companion piece to our highly entertaining Quentin Tarantino Soundboard, we've ranked the 25 most badass characters from all of his movies.

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Written by Frazier Tharpe (@The_SummerMan)

25. Christopher Walken as Captain Koons, Pulp Fiction (1994)

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24. Alexis Arquette as "Man #4," Pulp Fiction (1994)

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23. Lawrence Tierney as Joe Cabot, Reservoir Dogs (1992)

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22. Samuel L. Jackson as Ordell Robbie, Jackie Brown (1997)

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21. Vivica A. Fox as Vernita Green, Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003)

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20. The Crazy 88, Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003)

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19. Pam Grier as Jackie Brown, Jackie Brown (1997)

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18. David Carradine as Bill, Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003) and Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004)

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17. Kurt Russell as Stuntman Mike McKay, Grindhouse: Death Proof (2007)

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16. Rosario Dawson, Tracie Thoms, and Zoë Bell as the very angry drivers, Death Proof girls, Death Proof (2007)

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15. Christoph Waltz as Dr. King Schultz, Django Unchained (2012)

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14. John Travolta as Vincent Vega, Pulp Fiction (1994)

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13. Brad Pitt as Lt. Aldo Raine, Inglourious Basterds (2009)

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12. Harvey Keitel as Winston Wolf, Pulp Fiction (1994)

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11. Ving Rhames as Marsellus Wallace, Pulp Fiction (1994)

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10. Chiaki Kuriyama as Gogo Yubari, Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003)

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9. Eli Roth as Staff Sgt. Donny "The Bear Jew" Donowitz, Inglourious Basterds (2009)

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8. Lucy Liu as O-Ren Ishii, Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003)

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7. Gordon Liu as Pai Mei, Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004)

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6. Jamie Foxx as Django, Django Unchained (2012)

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5. Bruce Willis as Butch Coolidge, Pulp Fiction (1994)

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4. Christoph Waltz as Colonel Hans Landa, Inglourious Basterds (2009)

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3. Michael Madsen as Vic Vega (Mr. Blonde), Reservoir Dogs (1992)

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2. Samuel L. Jackson as Jules Winnfield, Pulp Fiction (1994)

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1. Uma Thurman as Beatrix Kiddo (a.k.a. The Bride), Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003) and Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004)

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