director Quentin Tarantino it made waves when it hit Pau Danothe performance capacity of en, causing widespread criticism.
Tarantino appeared in the “Bret Easton Ellis Podcast” in late 2025, where he dubbed Dano’s film There will be blood as one of his favorite movies of all time.
“Obviously, it’s supposed to be a two-hander, and it’s also so drastically obvious that it’s not a two-hander,” Tarantino said, disparaging Dano’s performance. “He’s weak sauce, man. He’s a weak sister (and he’s) such a weak, weak, uninteresting guy.”
Dano, who played twin brothers in 2007 There will be blood opposite Daniel Day-Lewislater he received support from people like George Clooney i Toni Collette.
Some creative collaborations are too strong to be left as a one-off. Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg and Quentin Tarantino are among the famous directors known for hiring the same actors over and over again for their films. Thank you! You have successfully subscribed. Subscribe to newsletters Please enter a valid email. Subscribe for (…)
“It was really nice,” Dano he said variety in January 2026. “I was also incredibly grateful that the world spoke for me so I didn’t have to.”
Keep scrolling for a full breakdown of Tarantino’s controversial comments about Dano:
What did Quentin Tarantino say about Paul Dano?
Quentin Tarantino appeared on the “Bret Easton Ellis Podcast” in December 2025, stating that Paul Dano is “the weakest actor in SAG”. (SAG, Screen Actors Guild, is the union of Hollywood actors.)
“(There will be blood) would have a better chance of being No. 1 or No. 2 if it didn’t have one big, giant flaw, (and) the flaw is Paul Dano,” Tarantino said, ranking his favorite films. “Obviously, it’s supposed to be a two-hander, and it’s also so drastically obvious that it’s not a hander.”
Podcast host Bret Easton Ellis further speculated that Dano’s co-star Daniel Day-Lewis looked “so gigantic” in 2007 that he may have overshadowed Dano’s performance.
“So you cast him with the weakest male actor in SAG? The lamest shit in the world?” joked Tarantino. “I’m not saying he’s giving a terrible performance. I’m saying he’s giving a nonentity (performance). I don’t care.”
Did Quentin Tarantino discuss other actors?
During his appearance on the “Bret Easton Ellis Podcast” in 2025, Quentin Tarantino also stated that he didn’t “care” Owen Wilson i Matthew Lillard as actors
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Stars react to Quentin Tarantino’s comments about Paul Dano
When George Clooney won the AARP Adult Films Best Actor Award in January 2026, he he used his speech to support Paul Dano.
“By the way, Paul Dano and Owen Wilson and Matthew Lillard, I would be honored to work with those actors. Honored,” Clooney said. “The people I’ve known most of my life … actually, most of them are actors. I have a great affinity (for them) and I don’t like to see people being cruel. We’re living in an age of cruelty. We don’t need to join in.”
Weeks later, Dano’s Little Miss Sunshine Co-star Toni Collette also had his back.
“Are we really going there? Fuck this guy! He must have been high,” Collette said variety “It was just confusing. Who does this?”
Paul Dano breaks his silence after Quentino Tarantino comments
While talking to variety in January 2026, Paul Dano was thankful that so many actors were in his corner.
“It was really nice,” Dano said. “I was also incredibly grateful that the world spoke for me so I didn’t have to.”