Matthew Lillard Reacts After Quentin Tarantino Calls Him Out - "It F*cking Sucks"
As the year winds down, Quentin Tarantino has been ranking what he considers the top films of the era. His appearance on The Bret Easton Ellis Podcast quickly ignited the internet with sharp critiques that sent the movie fans and creators into a frenzy.
His comments about Paul Dano, Owen Wilson, and even The Hunger Games grabbed immediate attention. In the middle of all that firepower was Scream and Scooby-Doo star Matthew Lillard, and everyone loves Matthew Lillard!
Lillard has now shared how it felt to be singled out by one of Hollywood’s most talked about filmmakers.
Tarantino didn’t pull punches on the podcast, saying Paul Dano was “the weakest f*cking actor in SAG” while discussing There Will Be Blood. That sparked a wave of pushback from actors and filmmakers, including The Batman director Matt Reeves, who jumped to Dano’s defense.
Tarantino also said The Hunger Games “just ripped off” Battle Royale, which is true. But, those remarks dominated the headlines, but tucked among them was a jab at Lillard. While talking with Bret Easton Ellis, Tarantino said, “I don’t care for Matthew Lillard,” and tossed Owen Wilson into the same category.
A TikTok video shared by @little_spooks captured Lillard addressing the crowd at a Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 screening during GalaxyCon, where he brought up Tarantino’s comments. Before offering his honest reaction, he set the scene by acknowledging what happened with a simple line.
“Quentin Tarantino, this week, said he didn't like me as an actor.”
The audience immediately booed in support, but Lillard wasn’t playing the moment off with jokes or bravado. He leaned into sincerity and explained exactly how it felt.
“The point is, is that it hurts your feelings. It f*cking sucks. He wouldn't say that to Tom Cruise. He wouldn't say that to someone who is a top-line actor in Hollywood.
“I'm very popular in this room I am not very popular in Hollywood two totally different microcosms. Right And so, you know, it's humbling, and it hurts.”
His reaction brings a human element to the fast-moving online debates that erupted around Tarantino’s recent remarks. Lillard pointed out that the filmmaker likely wouldn’t talk that way about Hollywood’s biggest stars, which only amplified how personal the words felt to someone who has spent decades delivering awesome and fun performances but hasn’t always been treated as a top-tier industry name.
What Tarantino thinks doesn’t mirror what I or a lot of other fans think. Lillard made that obvious while standing in a room packed with people who adore him. His career has been full of beloved roles, and audiences continue to champion him.
Regardless of the sting, Lillard is having a stellar moment. Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 is tracking for a massive opening weekend and is expected to pull in record numbers.
On top of that, he is heading back into the Scream franchise with the seventh film arriving February 27, 2026, which fans have been celebrating ever since the reveal. Tarantino may not care for him, but moviegoers sure do, and they continue to show up for him in a big way.