“You don’t remember it five years from now”: Tarantino shares mixed feelings about Yellowstone 

Quentin Tarantino recently commented on Yellowstone; a show that has been gaining a large fan following. Tarantino, the loudest of all American film directors, is used to provoking outrage with off-the-cuff comments. And recently, during an interview, he aimed his critical eye at the TV phenomenon Yellowstone, with opinions that robustly challenge its mass popularity. Whereas millions have fallen hook, line, and sinker for the Dutton family's machinations and show's contemporary Western look, Tarantino is less than keen on its enduring popularity.

According to Screenrant, describing Yellowstone as "a soap opera," Tarantino explained,

"You know their backstories and connections to everyone else... you don’t remember it five years from now. You’re only caught up in the minutia of it in the moment."

That comment has ignited new arguments about what distinguishes a series that captivates audiences in the moment from one that has a lasting impact on popular culture. The director's comments were not entirely derisive but imply a narrow distinction between momentary audience appeal and lasting artistic presence, one that Tarantino feels Yellowstone doesn't make.

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Tarantino's take: Surface-level enjoyment vs. durable legacy

In calling Yellowstone "entertaining" but not memorable, he was not so much disrespecting the show's popularity, so much as he was emphasizing a difference in purpose and effect.

As per Screenrant, he said,

"compelled and caught up in it, but at the end of the day it’s all just a soap opera. They’ve introduced you to a bunch of characters. You know their backstories and connections to everyone else..."

He continued,

"you don’t remember it five years from now. You’re only caught up in the minutia of it in the moment."

Shows such as Yellowstone might be satisfying on an immediate level, but from his perspective, they don't have people thinking about it years later. His reference to "soap opera" was not a coincidence. Soap operas, although commonly engaging whenever produced, are commonly characterized by recycled clichés, prolonged and soporific melodrama, and emotionally manipulative but shallow narrative.

To Tarantino's critical eye, it is well-shot and well-acted, but ultimately an emotionally manipulative, formulaic genre that never brings anything of substance or originality to the story.

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The context for his criticism: A broader observation on modern TV

Tarantino's comments were not directed at Yellowstone alone. The discussion was an extension of his overall concerns regarding current TV trends. He had already criticized storytelling during the stream era when algorithms and audience data might guide programming over creative input.

According to Screenrant, he said,

"The difference is I’ll see a good Western movie, and I’ll remember it for the rest of my life. I’ll remember the story, this scene and that scene. It built to an emotional climax of some degree. The story is good. It’s not just about the interpersonal relationships. "

He added,

"But there’s a payoff to it. There is not a payoff on TV stuff. It’s more interconnected drama. While I am watching, that is good enough. But when it’s over, I couldn’t tell you [what happened]."

Here, the show represents a bigger shift in television—a shift that prioritizes fleeting enjoyment at the expense of long-term cultural relevance. By calling the show a "soap opera," Tarantino wasn't so much criticizing its format or script as he was its ambition.

There are undoubtedly programs that try to undermine the format or redefine the medium, but Yellowstone, in his opinion, plays it safe, giving the audience what they know they're going to get instead of trying to push the envelope and give them something different.

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The appeal and structure of Yellowstone

Much to Tarantino's chagrin, Yellowstone was a huge success. It is the creation of Taylor Sheridan and premiered in 2018, starring Kevin Costner as the patriarch of a dominant Montana ranching dynasty, John Dutton. The show is famous for its intense family saga, breathtaking landscapes, and visceral fights over land and legacy. It was an immediate flagship show for Paramount, shattering ratings records and inspiring spin-offs 1883 and 1923.

Viewers watch Yellowstone because it has a mix of Western tough-talking hard-boiled grittiness along with contemporary social tensions. The narratives are rich in moral complexity, loyalty, and betrayal. But to critics such as Tarantino, the same would sound over-the-top or formulaic, much like soap operas rather than prestigious TV.

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Prestige vs. popularity: Where Yellowstone stands

Tarantino's comment is a refrain of an old accusation against entertainment: Is popularity equitable with prestige? Several programs with huge fan bases—Game of Thrones, The Walking Dead, Stranger Things—have been guilty of the same critique. Critics love to make a distinction between what drives ratings and what truly educates the medium or resonates in popular memory.

To this extent, what Tarantino appears to be suggesting is that although Yellowstone can be successful as a commercial enterprise, it cannot be compared to shows like The Sopranos and The Wire in terms of creative risk-taking or intellectual heft. His remark forms part of today's discussion around viewing and remembering television and how to qualify a series in notes due to artistic merit and not its audience.

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Public and industry reaction

The public reaction to Tarantino's remark has been understandably divided. Viewers of Yellowstone believe that the show's plot, acting, and location engender a sense of involvement that's too scarce on television today. Some others take Tarantino's point of view, which is that the series is spectacle, not substance.

Surprisingly, Taylor Sheridan and Kevin Costner have stayed clear of taking direct potshots at Tarantino's remarks. Production has not faltered, with additional spinoffs and new seasons in the pipeline. The creators and viewers of the show could argue that Yellowstone does not need some level of critical admiration to justify its existence—its viewer base speaks for itself.

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Ultimately, Tarantino's own thoughts bring an intriguing take to the larger discourse around the changing face of television. Whether or not the show will be mentioned five years from now is anyone's guess. Maybe the enormous presence of the show in the entertainment scene today will dwindle—or perhaps it will evolve into something even larger as its world of stories continues to grow.

What's certain is that Tarantino's comments aren't insulting—They are to be expected. From a director who appreciates originality, heft to the narrative, and stylistic daring, his criticism of Yellowstone is no surprise. It might not be in sync with wider public opinion, but it forces us to think more critically about what we're watching, whether it stays in our memory or not and why.

Also read: “It's a bit of a soap opera”: Kevin Costner takes a jibe at Yellowstone six months after the series finale