Reservoir Dogs (1992)
A botched robbery indicates a police informant, and the pressure mounts in the aftermath at a warehouse. Crime begets violence as the survivors -- veteran Mr. White, newcomer Mr. Orange, psychopathic parolee Mr. Blonde, bickering weasel Mr. Pink and Nice Guy Eddie -- unravel.
Details
Budget
$1,200,000
Rating
8/10 (14506 votes)
Status
Released
Production Companies
Live Entertainment, Dog Eat Dog Productions
About Reservoir Dogs
Released in 1992, "Reservoir Dogs" is Quentin Tarantino's debut feature film, a crime thriller with a nonlinear timeline. The story centers on a group of criminals whose diamond heist goes wrong, leading them to suspect a police informant among them. The movie primarily unfolds in a warehouse as the surviving members, including Mr. White, Mr. Orange, Mr. Blonde, Mr. Pink, and Nice Guy Eddie, deal with the aftermath.
The film explores themes of betrayal, mistrust, and the unraveling of a criminal enterprise. Its narrative structure, which jumps between the present chaos in the warehouse and flashbacks detailing the heist's planning and execution, became a defining characteristic of Tarantino's style. Despite its tight budget, "Reservoir Dogs" gained recognition for its sharp dialogue, intense violence, and memorable characters.
The cast includes Harvey Keitel, Tim Roth, Steve Buscemi, and Michael Madsen. The movie is known for its psychological tension and the way it builds suspense through character interactions and revelations rather than relying solely on action. Its influence on independent cinema and crime thrillers is notable, establishing Tarantino as a distinctive voice in filmmaking.
Why you might be searching for Reservoir Dogs
People often search for "Reservoir Dogs" to find details about its iconic ear-cutting scene, the names of the color-coded characters, or information about its non-linear plot structure. Its status as Quentin Tarantino's first major film also makes it a common search, as does its memorable soundtrack and dialogue.
What reviewers are saying
One reviewer found this take on the heist-film-gone-wrong to be excellent, stylish, and intelligent, praising its humor and affordability, and drawing comparisons to Martin Scorsese's "Mean Streets" for its entertaining violence and music use.
Read the full reviewA different reviewer noted that while this film was Tarantino's first feature and showed hints of his future work, they did not enjoy it, citing the uninteresting lowlife characters, dull dialogue, and the singular warehouse setting as drawbacks.
Read the full reviewOne critic expressed that they did not understand the film's appeal, describing it as an "over-rated drama of brutal mistrust and duplicity" with an obvious ending, too much expletive-ridden dialogue, and lacking in subtlety and sophistication.
Read the full reviewAnother reviewer admitted they didn't "get it," feeling that nothing significant happened throughout the film, though they were surprised to see Steve Buscemi in such an early Tarantino project.
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about finding and identifying movies
You can stream *Reservoir Dogs* on Peacock and Netflix. It's also available on Apple TV and Prime Video.
*Reservoir Dogs* is not based on a true story. It's a fictional thriller about a diamond heist gone wrong, where the thieves suspect a police informant is among them.
In the chaotic climax of *Reservoir Dogs*, Mr. White, Mr. Pink, and the undercover cop Mr. Orange (Freddy Newendyke) are the last ones standing after a botched diamond heist. Mr. White kills Joe Cabot and Eddie Cabot to protect Mr. Orange, believing he is a fellow criminal, only for Mr. Orange to reveal he's a cop right before Mr. White shoots him and is then shot himself by arriving police.
Many critics and viewers consider *Reservoir Dogs* a worthwhile watch, praising its strong characterization, dialogue, and Quentin Tarantino's distinctive style. It has a 90% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes, with some calling it an "absolute classic" and an "astounding single-location thriller."