Quentin Tarantino has never been one to bite his tongue when it comes to sharing his opinions about Hollywood. And more often than not, his words have landed him in controversy. One such instance was the director's unabashed critique of The Batman actor Paul Dano which resurfaced at the Sundance Film Festival 2026.

Having remained mum on the director's diss earlier, Paul Dano responded to Quentin Tarantino's diss for the first time at the Sundance Film Festival, and the reaction was anything but weak.

During Paul Dano’s appearance at the Sundance Film Festival, he was asked about Quentin Tarantino's comments. Though he was briefly interrupted by his Little Miss Sunshine co-star Toni Collette, who stepped in to defend him, Dano expressed nothing but gratitude for the support he received on social media. 

“That was really nice. I was also incredibly grateful that the world spoke up for me so I didn’t have to,” Dano told Variety.

The storm began earlier when Quentin Tarantino appeared on Bret Easton Ellis’ podcast, and while ranking the best films of the 21st century, he placed There Will Be Blood fifth, adding that he might have ranked it even higher if not for Dano’s performance. 

“He is the weak sister. [Daniel] is eating him [alive]. Austin Butler would have been wonderful in that role. He’s just such a weak, weak, uninteresting guy,” he said.

Many fans and fellow actors in Hollywood were not convinced by Tarantino’s remarks. Among those who spoke out were also Little Miss Sunshine directors Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris, who described the Pulp Fiction director’s comments as embarrassing.

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As it turns out, Dano was not the only target of criticism during the podcast. Tarantino also took aim at two other actors, including one known for the Scream franchise.

During the Bret Easton Ellis podcast, Quentin Tarantino also criticized two other actors, Owen Wilson and Scream (1996) star Matthew Lillard, saying he did not care about them as actors. Lillard, however, did not stay silent. Speaking at GalaxyCon in Columbus, Ohio, he called out the director and confessed to the hurt the comments brought him.

“It hurts your feelings,” he said.

Now, Lillard’s decision to stand up for himself was just as admirable as Paul Dano’s calm and composed response to the situation. As for Tarantino, he is no stranger to controversy or to sharing bold opinions publicly, regardless of the backlash. This time, however, fans and many in Hollywood were louder in expressing their support for those they care about. 

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What do you think about Paul Dano’s response to Tarantino’s remark? Let us know in the comments section below.