Actor Matthew Lillard has publicly addressed what he described as "humbling" and hurtful criticism from famed director Quentin Tarantino, who recently labelled him a poor performer.
Lillard's Candid Response at GalaxyCon
The 55-year-old star, best known for roles in Scream, the Scooby-Doo live-action films, and Good Girls, spoke openly about his feelings during a fan Q&A at GalaxyCon in Ohio this week. Lillard confirmed he was aware of Tarantino's comments, which were made public earlier in the week.
"Quentin Tarantino this week said he didn't like me as an actor. Eh, whatever. Who gives a s**t," Lillard told the audience, according to a report by Deadline. He then revealed the personal impact of the critique. "Listen, the point is that it hurts your feelings. It f*****g sucks, and you wouldn't say that to Tom Cruise. You wouldn't say that to somebody who's a top-line actor in Hollywood."
Lillard contrasted his popularity with fans against his standing in the industry, noting, "I'm very popular in this room. I'm not very popular in Hollywood. Two totally different microcosms, right? And so, you know, it's humbling, and it hurts."
Tarantino's Controversial Podcast Comments
Lillard's response follows an episode of The Bret Easton Ellis Podcast, released in early December 2025, where Tarantino was listing his top five favourite films from the last 25 years. The director expressed frustration that he could not place Paul Thomas Anderson's 2007 epic There Will Be Blood in the top spot.
Tarantino pinpointed actor Paul Dano's performance as the film's "big giant flaw." He argued that Dano, who starred opposite Daniel Day-Lewis, could not hold his own in what was meant to be a two-handed drama. "He is weak sauce, man. He's a weak sister," Tarantino stated.
The director then extended his criticism to two other actors. "I don't care for Owen Wilson, I don't care for Matthew Lillard," he said. Notably, while Wilson featured in Tarantino's favourite film Midnight in Paris, Lillard has never appeared in a Tarantino project.
Hollywood Rallies in Defence of Paul Dano
Tarantino's remarks, particularly about Paul Dano, sparked significant backlash from within the film industry, prompting several high-profile figures to come to the actor's defence.
Actress Toni Collette shared a still from Little Miss Sunshine on social media, placing a crown emoji over Dano's head. Ben Stiller tweeted succinctly, "Paul Dano is f-ing brilliant," while John Cusack added, "Paul Dano rocks. Great Actor."
Further support came from The Batman Part II co-writer Mattson Tomlin and Marvel star Simu Liu. Tomlin praised Dano not only as "a terrific actor" but also as an "astonishing director," urging people to watch his film Wildlife. Simu Liu simply wrote on X, "Paul Dano is an incredible actor."
The incident highlights the subjective nature of artistic critique and its very personal impact, even on established performers. While Tarantino is renowned for his distinctive cinematic vision, the strong defence of Dano underscores the respect he commands among his peers, contrasting sharply with the director's singular opinion.
