Inglourious Basterds (2009) is a war film written and directed by Quentin Tarantino.
Featuring an ensemble cast that includes Brad Pitt, Christoph Waltz, and Mélanie Laurent. The film is set during World War II and presents an alternate history narrative centered around two converging plots to assassinate key figures of Nazi Germany. One plot involves a team of Jewish American soldiers, known as the Basterds, led by First Lieutenant Aldo Raine (Pitt). The other plot is orchestrated by Shosanna Dreyfus (Laurent), a Jewish cinema owner in Paris seeking revenge for her family's murder.
The film's title is inspired by the 1978 film The Inglorious Bastards, though the two works differ significantly in content and style. Tarantino began writing the screenplay in 1998, but it took years for him to finalize the project, which eventually began principal photography in October 2008. The film was shot in various locations in Germany and France, with a production budget of approximately $70 million. It premiered at the Cannes Film Festival on May 20, 2009, before its wide release in August 2009.
Inglourious Basterds received critical acclaim, particularly for its screenplay, direction, and performances, especially that of Christoph Waltz, who won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Hans Landa, a cunning SS officer. The film grossed over $321 million worldwide, making it one of Tarantino's highest-grossing films. It holds a score of 89% on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics praising its blend of violence, dark humor, and genre elements, characteristic of Tarantino's unique filmmaking style.
Overall, Inglourious Basterds stands out as a significant film in Tarantino's oeuvre, combining historical fiction with a satirical take on war, revenge, and the power of cinema.