Once Upon a Time in Hollywood Budget, Box Office Collection, Cast, Review, Plot, Hit or Flop, And More
This review contains a lot of spoilers for the film. If you haven’t seen “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” yet and don’t want to be told how Tarantino rewrites history, turn back now.
I can’t believe that after so much speculation, so much discussion, and so much anticipation, Quentin Tarantino’s 9th film is finally here. “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” is a fairy tale version of the real events surrounding the Tate murders committed by the infamous Manson family in 1969. As with his last two films, “Inglourious Basterds” and “Django Unchained,” Tarantino once again rights the wrongs of American history, giving audiences a satisfying conclusion to a story whose tragic realities they’ve already understood.
And while the film was clearly not trying to be 100% true to real events, I believe it is important to go back and find out what was fact and what was fiction in this film, so that we can better inform ourselves and see how much research went into the making of the film.
Brief Overview of Once Upon a Time in Hollywood Movie
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Quentin Tarantino |
| Written by | Quentin Tarantino |
| Produced by | David HeymanShannon McIntoshQuentin Tarantino |
| Starring | Leonardo DiCaprioBrad PittMargot RobbieEmile HirschMargaret QualleyTimothy OlyphantAustin ButlerDakota FanningBruce DernAl Pacino |
| Cinematography | Robert Richardson |
| Edited by | Fred Raskin |
| Production Companies | Columbia PicturesBona Film GroupHeyday FilmsVisiona Romantica |
| Distributed by | Sony Pictures Releasing (worldwide)Huaxia Film Distribution (China) |
| Release Dates | May 21, 2019 (Cannes)July 26, 2019 (United States)August 14, 2019 (United Kingdom) |
| Running Time | 161 minutes |
| Countries | United StatesUnited KingdomChina |
| Language | English |
Take A Look On Cast & Crew in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Leonardo DiCaprio | Rick Dalton |
| Brad Pitt | Cliff Booth |
| Margot Robbie | Sharon Tate |
| Emile Hirsch | Jay Sebring |
| Margaret Qualley | “Pussycat” |
| Timothy Olyphant | James Stacy |
| Julia Butters | Trudi Frazer |
| Austin Butler | “Tex” |
| Dakota Fanning | “Squeaky” |
| Bruce Dern | George Spahn |
| Mike Moh | Bruce Lee |
| Luke Perry | Wayne Maunder |
| Damian Lewis | Steve McQueen |
| Al Pacino | Marvin Schwarz |
| Nicholas Hammond | Sam Wanamaker |
| Samantha Robinson | Abigail Folger |
| Rafał Zawierucha | Roman Polanski |
| Lorenza Izzo | Francesca Capucci |
| Costa Ronin | Wojciech Frykowski |
| Damon Herriman | Charlie Manson |
Supporting & Manson Family Characters
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Lena Dunham | “Gypsy” |
| Madisen Beaty | “Katie” |
| Mikey Madison | “Sadie” |
| James Landry Hébert | “Clem” |
| Maya Hawke | “Flowerchild” |
| Victoria Pedretti | “Lulu” |
| Sydney Sweeney | “Snake” |
| Harley Quinn Smith | “Froggie” |
| Kansas Bowling | “Blue” |
| Cassidy Vick Hice | “Sundance” |
| Danielle Harris | “Angel” |
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood Box Office Collection
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Domestic Gross (US & Canada) | $142.5 million |
| International Gross | $249.6 million |
| Worldwide Total Gross | $392.1 million |
| Estimated Break-Even Point | $250–400 million (depending on source) |
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood Movie Plot
In February 1969, after years of working as a Western TV star, Hollywood actor Rick Dalton struggles to stay relevant. After being absorbed into guest roles as villains, he is encouraged by his agent Marvin Schwarz to try out a spaghetti western in Italy – a move that Rick finds less than ideal. His loyal stunt double and best friend, Cliff Booth, a silent war veteran with a violent reputation, supports him as he lives in a trailer with his pit bull, Brandy. Rising star Sharon Tate lives next door to Rick with her husband, director Roman Polanski, and Rick dreams of befriending her to rekindle their careers.
While Cliff is running errands for Rick, he picks up a hitchhiking girl named Pussycat and ends up at the Spahn Ranch, where he once worked. There, he suspects the hippies who are now occupying the place and investigates its elderly owner, George Spahn. Meanwhile, Rick struggles with self-doubt while filming the TV show Lancer but breaks free with a strong performance that boosts his confidence. He later goes to Italy for film work, marries an actress, and returns home six months later, unable to keep Cliff on his payroll.
On August 8, 1969, Rick and Cliff spend their last night together drinking. While Rick relaxes at home, Cliff smokes a cigarette laced with acid and takes Brandy. Nearby, Manson’s followers plan to kill Tate and his guests but decide to target Rick instead. In a bloody confrontation, Cliff and Brandy kill the attackers, and Rick finally uses a flamethrower prop to eliminate the last attacker. The chaos ends with an invitation from Tate, signaling that Rick’s career – and life – may finally take a new turn.
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood Movie Review
Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio) was a successful TV star in the 1950s, but is now slowly declining in the unpredictable showbiz industry. Meanwhile, his stunt double and friend Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt) has become dependent on Dalton for a living as his driver. Dalton’s neighbors are French-Polish director Roman Polanski and his wife – actress Sharon Tate, both at the peak of their careers. This ninth film from Quentin Tarantino explores these characters and their careers during the Golden Age of Hollywood.
Much of the film is devoted to Hollywood and the classic era of television and films. It often feels indulgent; as if Tarantino is focusing solely on showcasing his directorial skills rather than telling a full story. But it manages to create such compelling characters with a compelling journey that it ultimately doesn’t matter that many scenes could have been edited out without affecting the story. Despite their ultimate relevance, it’s impossible to imagine the film without them. So, there are many instances when the film will test your patience, and make you wonder – ‘Where is all this going?’ Fortunately, the director doesn’t hold back in the climax and lets the pieces of the puzzle come together in a wonderful ending.
There are a lot of creative liberties, so don’t look for historical accuracy – this film goes beyond that. It’s a nostalgic tribute to old Hollywood. The production design and cinematography are memorable, with the first film taking you back to that era and the second giving you sweeping views of 60s Los Angeles and its sprawling mansions. The camera follows all the action and emphasizes every little detail of the characters and their emotions, which is essential because both Brad Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio are amazing to watch. DiCaprio is especially a treat when it comes to portraying Dalton’s insecurities and how vulnerable his starlet ego has become over the years. The scenes where DiCaprio shoots the show’s pilot are a testament to his acting ability. The rest of the cast is no slouch either. Margot Robbie, Al Pacino, and Kurt Russell’s characters also make their presence felt. But love them or hate them, this is Tarantino in his element and ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood’ proves once again that there is no other cinematic storyteller like him.
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