10 wild and unforgettable movies to watch if you loved Pulp Fiction

Killing Them Softly (2012) | Image Source: The Weinstein Company
Killing Them Softly (2012) | Image Source: The Weinstein Company

There's just something about Pulp Fiction: broken timelines, hitmen pontificating about life, and pop-culture-thick dialogue that is somehow funny and dangerous to say. It has gone down in both film history and the hearts of those who've been desperate for more of that chaotic brilliance. Having said that, while Pulp Fiction stands leagues apart, it also went on to liberate a new generation of filmmakers who aren't afraid to cross over boundaries, turn expectations into dust, and make their characters bleed and laugh for a stylish monologue.

This list comprises 10 unforgettable films that exude unfiltered energy. These are not copies; rather, they would be considered spiritual siblings: gritty against the grain, bold, and unpredictable, with characters stumbling through crime, morality, and madness. You will find indie gems, offbeat British crime comedies, and cult classics that challenge the rules of storytelling just like Tarantino. Some come with razor-sharp wit; some come with haunting imagery; others come with grinding suspense.

If Christmas to you feels like watching Pulp Fiction and craving a little more harsh punching and thinking, then here are some cinematic ninjas that await you.


10 wild and unforgettable movies to watch if you loved Pulp Fiction

1. Reservoir Dogs (1992)

Reservoir Dogs (1992) | Image Source: Miramax Films
Reservoir Dogs (1992) | Image Source: Miramax Films

Before Pulp Fiction, came Reservoir Dogs, a lesson in non-linear storytelling and cool dialogue. Quentin Tarantino's first film is a rough-around-the-edges exploration of the consequences of a botched diamond heist, even if the robbery itself is never seen. Rather, tension is created through acutely observed exchanges and graphic character reveal. The warehouse environment is a pressure cooker for conspiracy and paranoia.

Recent 4K restorings have rekindled some interest among Gen Z audiences, who admire its low-rent looks and subdued violence. With standout turns from Harvey Keitel and Steve Buscemi, the crime thriller is still a must-see for fans hankering for more of Tarantino's early, uncooked energy and signature pop culture-fueled anarchy.


2. Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998)

Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998) | Image Source: PolyGram Filmed Entertainment
Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998) | Image Source: PolyGram Filmed Entertainment

Guy Ritchie's Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels is usually regarded as the British equivalent to Pulp Fiction, if a bit more garish. It's a frenetic crash of gangsters, hustlers, and bad fortune, told through snappy cuts, overlapping narrative threads, and indelible British dialogue. The film set up Jason Statham as a movie star and brought Ritchie global fame. It's a style frenzy of dark humor and streetwise action, with a beat fueled by a Britpop-dominated soundtrack.

A recent re-release on Amazon Prime with behind-the-scenes special features has renewed its popularity. If you liked Pulp Fiction's non-linear storytelling and ironic violence, this movie packs a similarly crazy, character-driven wallop.


3. True Romance (1993)

True Romance (1993) | Image Source: Warner Bros. Pictures
True Romance (1993) | Image Source: Warner Bros. Pictures

Written by Quentin Tarantino and directed by Tony Scott, True Romance is the crime love adventure you never knew you wanted. It traces Clarence and Alabama, two star-crossed lovers running with a trunk of hijacked drugs and half the criminal underworld on their tail. True Romance blends saccharine romance and ultra-stylized gore, just like Pulp Fiction. Christopher Walken and Dennis Hopper create one of the greatest showdowns in movie history.

Tarantino has made an open declaration in recent years that this is one of his most personal screenplays. The cult following of the movie continues to increase, particularly among those fans re-experiencing Tarantino's initial writing.


4. Trainspotting (1996)

Trainspotting (1996) | Image Source: PolyGram Filmed Entertainment
Trainspotting (1996) | Image Source: PolyGram Filmed Entertainment

Danny Boyle's Trainspotting might center on heroin dependence, but it has the same revolutionary attitude and nonconformist narrative that made Pulp Fiction legendary. With dreamlike imagery, a pulsating soundtrack (dream of Iggy Pop and Underworld), and performances to remember by Ewan McGregor and Robert Carlyle, the movie delves into the euphoria and devastation of Edinburgh's subculture youth.

Its 2017 sequel, T2 Trainspotting, reunited the original cast to delve into aging and regret, presenting fans with an emotionally resonant yet stylish follow-up. Boyle's frenetic camera movement and the dark humor of the film have made it a darling among film students and Tarantino enthusiasts alike.


5. Go (1999)

Go (1999) | Image Source: Columbia Pictures
Go (1999) | Image Source: Columbia Pictures

Go mimics the fractured narrative and frenetic energy that turned Pulp Fiction into a pop culture touchstone. It's a high-test blend of botched drug deals, raves, and mistaken identity told from three interconnected points of view over one wild evening in L.A. Director Doug Liman (The Bourne Identity) works with a lively young cast, including Sarah Polley and Katie Holmes. Recently declared by IndieWire a "lost Gen-X gem," Go has been rediscovered by its fan base on streaming sites.

Its snappy dialogue, cheeky humor, and throbbing electronica score make it a must-see for anyone who wants to get their fix of Tarantino-esque storytelling with a 90s twist.


6. Snatch (2000)

Snatch (2000) | Image Source: Columbia Pictures
Snatch (2000) | Image Source: Columbia Pictures

Guy Ritchie went back to his trademark mayhem with Snatch, a frenetic tour of London's underworld. With swift razor cuts, overlapping storylines, and eccentric figures such as Brad Pitt's incomprehensible gypsy boxer, this movie broadens the stylish crime-caper template. Its humor is as dark as it is possible for human humor to be, with violence and slapstick frequently doled out in the same sentence. Added to Netflix's cult classics recently, it's being rediscovered by a new generation who are searching for Pulp Fiction-like tales.

Ritchie's knack for cutting and non-linear storytelling makes Snatch one of the most thrilling trips of contemporary British cinema, equal parts vicious, strange, and genius.


7. Natural Born Killers (1994)

Natural Born Killers (1994) | Image Source: Warner Bros. Pictures
Natural Born Killers (1994) | Image Source: Warner Bros. Pictures

Few movies have equaled the divisive influence of Natural Born Killers. Written by Oliver Stone and scripted by Tarantino, this counterculture satire of media violence traces lovers Mickey and Mallory Knox as they kill their way across the country in a bloody road trip. Stone assaults the audience with scrambled film stocks, hyperactive cuts, and hallucinatory visuals, rendering the movie a crazed fever dream, similar to Pulp Fiction.

A 2024 anniversary release put it back on the big screen, sparking renewed discussion of its outspoken commentary. With Woody Harrelson and Juliette Lewis giving unforgettable performances, it's not for the squeamish, but it's crucial for anyone who loves dark, edgy films.


8. The Boondock Saints (1999)

The Boondock Saints (1999) | Image Source: Indican Pictures
The Boondock Saints (1999) | Image Source: Indican Pictures

Much like Pulp Fiction, The Boondock Saints is an Aussie, gritty, unapologetic cult classic, combining stylized violence and vigilante justice. Set in Boston, it is about Irish-American twins who believe they have been divinely appointed to cleanse the city of criminals. Unfortunate was the distribution of the film and limited release that could almost guarantee it would be a huge home-video hit with college audiences. Also, Dafoe's crazy FBI agent splashes an operatic absurdity over the film, apt for keeping things wild and loose.

Latin prayers, slo-mo shootouts, and moral ambiguity in the film saw late reinterpretations as a bold and bizarre statement on justice that still polarizes critics and fans alike.


9. Killing Them Softly (2012)

Killing Them Softly (2012) | Image Source: The Weinstein Company
Killing Them Softly (2012) | Image Source: The Weinstein Company

With Brad Pitt starring and a style that's darkly bleak, Killing Them Softly is a neglected gem that combines political subtext with noir style. The crime drama plot follows a hitman mopping up from a failed mob card game, but beneath the surface is a scathing critique of America's economic meltdown. Directed by Andrew Dominik (Blonde, The Assassination of Jesse James), the movie is imbued with mood, suspense, and Tarantino-esque monologues, similar to Pulp Fiction.

Modern critics have welcomed its bold pace and message, particularly amid heightening political cynicism. If you adored Pulp Fiction's dialogue scenes and realism, this is one to rewatch.


10. In Bruges (2008)

In Bruges (2008) | Image Source: Focus Features
In Bruges (2008) | Image Source: Focus Features

The darkly comedic In Bruges is a contemplation of guilt, mortality, and morality under the unlikely jurisdiction of a fairy-tale Belgian city. Farrell and Gleeson are sublime as the two hitmen under the exertion of a botched job, as they reprise a furious philosophical banter that zigzags between humor and heartbreak. Writer-director Martin McDonagh interlaces the film with symbolism and a haunting tone that lifts it far above your average crime movie.

In Bruges is fast becoming an indispensable classic since the popularity of The Banshees of Inisherin. Any connoisseur of character-driven dramas, like Pulp Fiction, sharpened with quick, cutting-edge irony, should have this on their list.


Beautifully barbed dialogue and storytelling chaos; these films don't just trail after Pulp Fiction-they create their own wild cinematic paths. Every film on this list sets out to astonish, turning violence into a startlingly deft art form and flawed characters into heroes. They are unpredictable and thrive on hard choices at every turn, keeping viewers on tenterhooks.

Whether you're drawn to the grimness of noir, twisted humor, or adrenaline-filled crime sagas, these unforgettable tales give in much more than the pure entertainment: they challenge your very concept of narrative. So, hold tight! These films aren't just movies; they're full-throttle experiences you'll be quoting and revisiting for years.

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Edited by Zainab Shaikh