Kill Bill: Vol. 1

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Kill Bill: Vol. 1

R

Released Oct 10, 2003

1h 50m

Action

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

85%

Tomatometer

238 Reviews

81%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

A former assassin, known simply as The Bride (Uma Thurman), wakes from a coma four years after her jealous ex-lover Bill (David Carradine) attempts to murder her on her wedding day. Fueled by an insatiable desire for revenge, she vows to get even with every person who contributed to the loss of her unborn child, her entire wedding party, and four years of her life. After devising a hit list, The Bride sets off on her quest, enduring unspeakable injury and unscrupulous enemies.

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Critics Consensus

Kill Bill is admittedly little more than a stylish revenge thriller -- albeit one that benefits from a wildly inventive surfeit of style.

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Geoffrey O'Brien

Film Comment Magazine

... Kill Bill confirms [Quentin Tarantino] as a filmmaker of astonishing invention and aplomb...

Mar 22, 2018

Full Review

Candice Frederick

Reel Talk Online

There's nothing like a good 'ole revenge heist (complete with a hit list) to make this film one of Tarantino's best.

Rated: A-

Sep 12, 2017

Full Review

Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

Visually striking, but also very violent.

Rated: 3/5

Dec 24, 2010

Full Review

Frank J. Avella

The Contending

Both films combined gift Uma Thurman the role of her career and, for the first film, she received BAFTA and Golden Globe nominations for Best Actress...she was not recognized by the Academy, which is absurd, in retrospect.

Rated: A-

Jan 27, 2025

Full Review

Aaron Neuwirth

Why So Blu

The results of this initial entry are bloody cinematic joy.

Rated: 4.5/5

Jan 22, 2025

Full Review

Justin Kim

Loud and Clear Reviews

While not the meatiest out of Quentin Tarantino’s movies, Kill Bill Vol.1 shows simplicity can be a merit when supported by highly memorable style.

Rated: 4.5/5

Jan 6, 2025

Full Review

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Jen W

The violent set-pieces and bloodshed take more of a "Mr. Orange" backseat - but equally bloody - ride in The Bride's second outing as Tarantino doubles down on what he does best: emphasising everything that makes his larger than life characters tick.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

08/18/25

Full Review

Dave S

Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill: Vol. 1 is basically his teenage boy’s wet dream come to life, which comes as no surprise considering Tarantino’s love for 70’s martial arts movies. Plot and characters mean little or nothing here. The plot? A bride (Uma Thurman) seeks revenge for the killing of her wedding party. The characters? Does it really matter? What matters is the style and it is uber stylish. The fight scenes effectively mimic the chopsocky (is that appropriate nowadays?) films of yesteryear – quick cuts, gravity-defying physicality, quick zooms, exaggerated sound effects, plenty of blood, etc. The rest of the movie is the exact opposite – beautifully composed shots, effective camera movement, vibrant colours, and relatively restrained performances. It may not be up there with the best that Tarantino has to offer, but it's still pretty entertaining.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

08/13/25

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Eric W.

Quentin just can’t stop making amazing movies.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/13/25

Full Review

Benjamin P.

The Bride 👰‍♀️ is going to get her revenge!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/02/25

Full Review

Julian S.

What it lacks in story, it more than makes up for in style. Thurman cuts through the chaos with cool, controlled fury.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/30/25

Full Review

Los G

The ultimate example of style over substance

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

07/24/25

Full Review

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Quentin Tarantino

Director

Uma Thurman

The Bride

Lucy Liu

O-Ren Ishii

Vivica A. Fox

Vernita Green

Michael Madsen

Budd

Daryl Hannah

Elle Driver

Kill Bill: Vol. 1: Official Movie Clip - Showdown at the House of Blue Leaves

2:13

Kill Bill: Vol. 1: Official Movie Clip - A Hattori Hanzo Sword

2:19

Kill Bill: Vol. 1: Official Movie Clip - The Crazy 88s

2:13

Kill Bill: Vol. 1: Official Movie Clip - Your Mother Had it Coming

2:13

Kill Bill: Vol. 1: Official Movie Clip - My Name is Buck

2:08

Kill Bill: Vol. 1: Official Movie Clip - Hello Vernita

2:13

Kill Bill: Vol. 1: Official Movie Clip - The Bride Arrives

2:13

Kill Bill: Vol. 1: Official Movie Clip - Hattori Hanzo

2:13

Kill Bill: Vol. 1: Official Movie Clip - The Bride vs. Gogo

2:13

Kill Bill: Vol. 1: Official Movie Clip - Defeating Johnny Mo

2:13

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Synopsis

A former assassin, known simply as The Bride (Uma Thurman), wakes from a coma four years after her jealous ex-lover Bill (David Carradine) attempts to murder her on her wedding day. Fueled by an insatiable desire for revenge, she vows to get even with every person who contributed to the loss of her unborn child, her entire wedding party, and four years of her life. After devising a hit list, The Bride sets off on her quest, enduring unspeakable injury and unscrupulous enemies.

Director: Quentin Tarantino
Producer: Lawrence Bender
Screenwriter: Quentin Tarantino
Distributor: Miramax Films
Production Co: Lions Gate Films, Miramax, Super Cool ManChu, A Band Apart
Rating: R (Some Sexual Content|Language|Strong Bloody Violence)
Genre: Action, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 10, 2003, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 21, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $70.1M
Runtime: 1h 50m
Sound Mix: Dolby Stereo, Dolby A, SDDS, DTS, Surround, Dolby Digital, Dolby SR

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