Reservoir Dogs currently beats Jackie Brown 61–39
The debut's economy outperforms the adaptation's patience.
The Verdict
This matchup has 18 votes — still early. The picture may shift as more people weigh in.
Reservoir Dogs operates on constraint so severe it becomes a formal principle — one location, real time, the heist happening offscreen, every revelation delivered through dialogue rather than action. That constraint forces Tarantino to build tension from conversation alone, and the result is a debut that proved dialogue could do the work of explosions. Jackie Brown has Grier's quiet authority and the Leonard-adaptation patience that most Tarantino fans wish he'd revisited. But patience without constraint becomes comfort, and comfort doesn't generate the same engagement as a locked room where someone is bleeding on the floor. The debut's desperation outperforms the adaptation's composure.
The Numbers
| Jackie Brown | Reservoir Dogs | |
|---|---|---|
| Head-to-Head | 39% | 61% |
| Overall Win Rate | 51% | 63% |
| Championships | 5 | 9 |
| Budget | $12M | $1M |
| Box Office | $75M | $3M |
Where This Matchup Sits
Out of 28 Crime films on the platform, Jackie Brown is in the upper half and Reservoir Dogs near the top at #1.
Looking at shared opponents, Kill Bill: Vol. 2 draws a line between them: Reservoir Dogs dominates that matchup, but Jackie Brown comes out on the wrong side.
Despite the lopsided head-to-head, the tournament records are competitive: Jackie Brown with 5 titles, Reservoir Dogs with 9. The broader record is tighter than this specific matchup.
Jackie Brown grossed $75M to Reservoir Dogs's $3M. The box office said one thing; bracket voters say another.
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