Pulp Fiction

While most films follow a chronological path, Pulp Fiction is composed of seven narrative sequences arranged out of order. If played chronologically, the sequences would run 4, 2, 6, 1, 7, 3, 5. This arrangement allows the film to begin and end in the same diner, creating a "circular" effect where the conclusion of the movie actually takes place in the middle of the story's timeline.

The structure is more than a gimmick; it allows for overlapping perspectives on the same events. For example, the opening diner robbery is revisited at the end from a different point of view, revealing the presence of characters who were previously off-screen. This episodic approach mimics the fragmented, punchy nature of the mid-20th-century "pulp" magazines and hardboiled novels that gave the film its name.

Originally written in 1992 and 1993, the script was turned down by TriStar Pictures for being "too demented." This rejection allowed Harvey Weinstein and Miramax Films to step in, making Pulp Fiction the first film the studio fully financed. The gamble paid off: the film became a massive critical and commercial success, proving that independent cinema could compete with—and even surpass—major studio blockbusters.

The profitability and marketing of the film had a sweeping effect on the industry. It demonstrated that "art-house" sensibilities—like unconventional structure and extensive dialogue—could have massive mainstream appeal. This success effectively launched the 1990s independent film boom, changing how movies were developed and distributed globally.

Casting was a battleground between Tarantino’s vision and studio preferences. John Travolta, whose career was in a slump, took a significant pay cut to play Vincent Vega after Michael Madsen turned it down. The film's success and Travolta’s Oscar nomination completely reinvigorated his career. Similarly, Bruce Willis risked his "star status" by appearing in a modestly budgeted indie film, a move that earned him new critical respect and millions in backend profits.

Other roles were defined by happy accidents and specific homages. Samuel L. Jackson’s iconic Jheri-curled hair was the result of a production assistant buying the wrong wig, while Uma Thurman’s Mia Wallace was modeled on pulp novel archetypes. These performances, particularly Jackson's delivery of the fictionalized Ezekiel 25:17, transformed the characters into cultural icons and set the template for the "Tarantino cast."

The film is widely regarded as a watershed moment for postmodern cinema due to its self-reflexivity and "pastiche." It is famous for devoting considerable screen time to monologues and casual conversations—such as the "Royale with Cheese" discussion—that have little to do with the plot but everything to do with revealing character perspectives.

Tarantino used the film to pay homage to his favorite directors and "hardboiled" tropes, blending graphic violence with an ironic sense of humor. From the opening title card giving dictionary definitions of "pulp" to the numerous references to 1950s pop culture, the film is constantly aware of itself as a piece of media. This style influenced a generation of filmmakers to adopt a more talkative, referential, and stylistically bold approach to crime cinema.

Beyond its box office success, Pulp Fiction achieved the highest honors in cinema, winning the Palme d'Or at Cannes and an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay. It is frequently cited on "greatest films ever made" lists, with Entertainment Weekly naming it the best film of its era in 2008.

In 2013, its impact was formally recognized when it was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress. It remains Tarantino’s "magnum opus," a film that not only defined the 1990s but also fundamentally altered the DNA of the modern crime comedy through its unique blend of "low-culture" pulp and high-concept filmmaking.