Dan MacMedan via USA TODAY via Imagn Images / Universal Pictures
While unveiling his top 20 movies of the 21st century, acclaimed director Quentin Tarantino took what’s being widely considered an uncalled for pot shot at actor Paul Dano while discussing Paul Thomas Anderson’s 2007 modern masterpiece There Will Be Blood.
Although Quentin Tarantino listed PTA’s There Will Be Blood as the fifth best movie of the 2000s so far, the Once Upon a Time in Hollywood director took major shots at Paul Dano during his analysis of the film.
Pano starred in There Will Be Blood as twins Paul and Eli Sunday opposite Daniel Day-Lewis’ titanic portrayal of Daniel Plainview.
“There Will Be Blood would stand a good chance at being #1 or #2 if it didn’t have a big, giant flaw in it … and the flaw is Paul Dano,” Tarantino said.
“Obviously, it’s supposed to be a two-hander, but it’s also drastically obvious that it’s not a two-hander. [Dano] is weak sauce, man. He is the weak sister. Austin Butler would have been wonderful in that role. He’s just such a weak, weak, uninteresting guy. The weakest f—— actor in SAG [laughs].”
Movie fans and professionals raced to defend actor Paul Dano after Quentin Tarantino took a weird pot shot at him
Once Tarantino’s comments went viral, both movie fans and professionals alike raced to defend Dano.
“I am really pleased to see so many people cheer on Paul Dano this week. Not only is he a terrific actor, but he’s an astonishing director who exudes control and tremendous empathy,” The Batman: Part II writer Tomlin wrote on social media.
“idk man i think Paul Dano is an incredible actor,” tweeted Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings Simu Liu.
You just created a million Paul Danos pic.twitter.com/ksum1mqhu2
— Chris Supreme (@AlsikkanTV) December 4, 2025
Sorry Quentin but Paul Dano is one of the most underrated actors of his generation. pic.twitter.com/BN0sYL0sqb
— Quentin Tarantino News (@QTarantino_news) December 3, 2025
Tarantino is like “This movie would’ve been perfect if Paul Dano had been replaced with close ups of lady feet and there was a cameo of me saying a racial slur.” https://t.co/JgBf22kO8s
— Matt Lieb?? (@mattlieb) December 3, 2025
Tarantino didn’t know Paul dano has shooters pic.twitter.com/3xYqyKpvPi
— ⋆꙳•̩̩͙❅*̩̩͙‧͙ Dani‧ ͙*̩̩͙❆ ͙͛ ˚₊⋆ (@Dan0nat0r) December 3, 2025
Dano will next be seen starring int he films The Wizard of the Kremlin and The Chaperones, while Tarantino has yet to confirm what his next and allegedly film final will be.