Many film bros would argue that Quentin Tarantino’s work is peak film canon prestige, and it’s clear that QT thinks pretty highly of himself, too. With a long-standing history of trashing beloved actors, he went too far this time, coming for a treasured horror actor we all know and love: Matthew Lillard. Earlier this month, it was reported that while on the Bret Easton Ellis podcast, Tarantino was taking shots at Paul Dano’s acting abilities when Matthew Lillard and Owen Wilson caught some needless strays. When asked about his favourite films of the 21st century, Tarantino went on an unsolicited rant where he declared, “I don’t care for [Paul Dano], I don’t care for Owen Wilson, and I don’t care for Matthew Lillard.” While many strongly disagree with the drive-by criticism of these three actors (especially Paul Dano), it seems the attack on Matthew Lillard has sparked the most widespread outrage, both in and out of the horror community. Speaking for all millennial horror fans out there, we must stand up and defend our beloved Matty Lilly. To quote Jezebel, “folks, we ride at dawn.”
It is no surprise that the collective outrage in response to Tarantino’s unfair comments is amplified when you hear how they affected Matthew Lillard. While speaking at GalaxyCon in Columbus, Ohio, Lillard addressed Tarantino’s criticism, saying, “Quentin Tarantino this week said that he doesn’t like me as an actor. Eh, whatever. Who gives a shit? Listen, the point is that it hurts your feelings. It fuckin’ 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.” He also added to the supportive crowd, “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.”
“Quentin Tarantino this week said that he doesn’t like me as an actor. Eh, whatever. Who gives a shit? Listen, the point is that it hurts your feelings. It fuckin’ 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.
I’m very popular in this room. I’m not very popular in Hollywood. Two totally different microcosms, right?”
– Matthew Lillard
While it’s undeniable that Quentin Tarantino has some acclaimed director and writer credits under his belt, there’s nothing more insufferable than self-important creators like him who make a career out of tearing others down. Furthermore, no one wants to hear the inflammatory opinions of a pretentious director with a foot kink who would defend a sexual predator. Sit the hell down.
Going back to Matthew Lillard’s words at GalaxyCon, he is onto something when he says he is popular in a convention sphere but not in Hollywood—“two totally different microcosms,” as he describes it. Fundamentally, as the title of this article says, Quentin Tarantino’s body of work may have garnered him film canon prestige (and “cachet” among Hollywood elitists), but Matthew Lillard doesn’t need that because he has a cult of loyal and devoted fans standing behind him who he earned not just through his work but also through his humble personality. Namely, Lillard has what Tarantino doesn’t have: fans that not only love his movies but respect the actor as a person—no separation of the artist from the art required here. In fact, off-screen, Lillard has a shining reputation not only for being outstandingly kind and generous to his legions of Scooby-Doo and Scream fans, but also for being an outspoken ally of the LGBTQ+ community and a vocal supporter of trans rights. Whether he’s embracing his queer-coded character in 1996’s Scream, advocating for LGBTQ+ organizations through his social media, or proudly supporting his nonbinary child, Ace (see their statement below), Lillard is a powerful supporter of the queer community. We could go on forever about what an incredible actor and human being Matthew Lillard is—but at the end of the day, his loyal fanbase speaks for itself and his legacy both on and off-screen.
“ As a young queer person, it is deeply healing to watch my dad do his best to connect with people on the fringes of our society, especially young trans people and my community as a whole.”
– Ace Lillard via Instagram (@_ace_lillard)
In speaking of Matthew Lillard’s legacy, there’s no better time than now to revisit Lillard’s iconic filmography (Tarantino be damned). While Lillard has noteworthy acting credits on the small screen in shows like Twin Peaks and Good Girls we’ll be looking at his greatest hits on the big screen, specifically in the horror and thriller genres (but obviously we cosign rewatching the late ’90s classic She’s All That any day of the week).
Matthew Lillard Movies To Watch Now
Whether you’re a millennial looking for those old Matthew Lillard movies that you may have missed back in the day, or you’re here for the newest Matthew Lillard movies, we’ve got you covered with these picks.
1. Scream (1996)
This ‘90s horror classic needs no introduction. You all know the story: a Ghostfaced killer begins murdering high school students in the small town of Woodsboro, California, and the group must use their knowledge of the Hollywood horror movie formula to survive. Directed by the late and great Wes Craven and written by Kevin Williamson, Scream (1996) revitalized the slasher genre and pioneered the concept of meta horror (love it or not) when it ingeniously introduced characters who were savvy to the “rules of a horror movie” and it cleverly flipped the scary movie tropes of its predecessors on their heads. The ensemble cast of this movie gave equally impressive performances, but Matthew Lillard’s performance as Stu Macher is a clear standout. **29-year-old spoiler alert** Matthew Lillard’s Stu is widely considered a fan-favourite Ghostface—which is saying a lot for a franchise spanning 6 (going on 7) films and counting. No shade to Skeet Ulrich, but Lillard’s “funny man” portrayal of killer Stu Macher opposite Ulrich’s “straight man” performance as killer Billy Loomis is undoubtedly one of the best parts of Scream. Brilliant character writing by Kevin Williamson aside, you’d be hard-pressed to deny that it was Matthew Lillard’s performance that cemented Stu Macher in the proverbial horror villain hall of fame.
It should be noted for the record that Scream, and its influence on the horror genre, is not something for Tarantino or film snobs to turn their noses up at. Let it be said that Scream (1996) holds its own against any Tarantino film and rightfully belongs in the Criterion Collection (but hey, there aren’t currently any Tarantino films in there either).
2. Five Nights At Freddy’s/Five Nights At Freddy’s 2
Nothing says popcorn horror fun like a Blumhouse movie that revolves around a scary, abandoned pizzeria inhabited by creepy animatronic animals waiting to come alive. Directed and written by Emma Tammi and co-written by Five Nights At Freddy’s game creator, Scott Cawthon along with Seth Cuddeback, Five Nights At Freddy’s (2023) follows the first 5 nights on the job for a young security guard, Mike working at the long-abandonned Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza alongside his sister, Abby. The pizzeria’s dark past is revealed when possessed by vengeful spirits, its animatronics come to life, and Mike and Abby must fight to survive as they confront the equally frightening memories that live inside the walls of Freddy’s.
Mileage may vary on your enjoyment of Five Nights At Freddy’s (FNAF) depending on your relationship to its namesake game franchise. Many viewers appreciated the fan service and praised the practical effects and the film’s faithfulness to the game, from its animatronics to its set design, but some had complaints about the pacing and convoluted plotlines. However, regardless of how you feel about the script, only positive things can be said for Matthew Lillard’s performance. Lillard is bringing his horror-movie A-game as Steve Raglan, the affable career counsellor who sets the whole film in motion by persuading Mike to take the security job at Freddy’s.
Since the first movie in 2023, a sequel, Five Nights At Freddy’s 2 was released earlier this month and picks up where we left off, a year after the events of the original film. Barring spoilers for the OG film, Matthew Lillard will be reprising his role in this sequel. So far, reviews say the new film delivers the same level of fan service as the first Night At Freddy’s while upping the ante on violence. Critics say the gore is lacking, but Matthew Lillard himself asserts that despite its PG-13 rating, FNAF is darker and scarier this time around.
3. Thirteen Ghosts
If you loved Scream (1996) don’t sleep on Thirteen Ghosts (also known as Thir13en Ghosts). On the surface, Thirteen Ghosts (2001) looks like just another cliché early aughts ghost movie, but thanks to its impressive practical effects and Matthew Lillard’s campy and charismatic performance, this movie exceeds expectations and is a bona fide underrated gem. Directed by Steve Beck (Ghoship) and written by Neal Marshall Stevens (Hellraiser: Deader) and Richard D’Ovidio, this movie is a remake of a classic William Castle film of the same name. It tells the story of a man who inherits his late rich uncle’s house, which contains his unique collections, including thirteen ghosts he has trapped in the basement (that you can only see with special “spectral” glasses).
Thirteen Ghosts excels in both production and character design (at least when it comes to the ghosts), with the modern glass house with steampunk-style moving parts, and the attention to detail in the backstories and identities of the thirteen ghosts. In speaking of characters, you won’t be surprised to hear that some say Matthew Lillard is the best part. Although his character Dennis Rafkin, the powerful but manic psychic, is a little more understated than Stu Macher in Scream (1996), Lillard still brings the appropriate amount of (mainly dry) humour to the role.
4. Hackers (1995)
Directed by Iain Softley and written by Rafael Moreu, this cult classic thriller features a stacked cast, including Angelina Jolie, Jesse Bradford, and, of course, the honourable Matthew Lillard. The plot is peak ‘90s nostalgia and centers on a group of teenage hackers drawn into a criminal conspiracy to unleash a computer virus that threatens to capsize five oil tankers. At its core, this film is a quirky ‘90s capsule that takes you on a fun trip down memory lane to a time that now feels like a bygone era, when the Internet was in its infancy. Of course, Matthew Lillard’s character, “Cereal Killer,” deserves much of the credit for bringing said fun, and the actor steals the show as usual with his frenetic energy and distinctive brand of comedy. Cereal Killer’s signature rollerblading scenes, along with his unique look and personality, made him a clear standout despite his notably limited screen time with actual computers.
5. The Curve (1998)/Dead Man’s Curve
Some describe this movie as Stu Macher goes to university. Written and directed by Dan Rosen, The Curve (initially released under the name Dead Man’s Curve) this black comedy/thriller focuses on two ambitious Harvard aspirants, Tim (Matthew Lillard) and Chris (Michael Vartan), who discover a university policy where roommates of a student who dies by suicide get an automatic 4.0 GPA. The two conspire to use this to their advantage by plotting to murder their obnoxious roommate and stage it as a suicide. Things don’t go as planned, and their futures are at stake when guilt and paranoia threaten to take over, and the authorities get involved.
While the many twists and turns make this movie tough to follow at times, the entertainment value is well worth it (not to mention the nostalgic ‘90s soundtrack). We would also be remiss if we didn’t mention Matthew Lillard’s inexplicably sexy performance as the manipulative yet charismatic Tim. We all know Matthew Lillard is hot, but playing an inherently unlikeable character like Tim underscores his talent for portraying charming yet deeply unsettling characters (as we saw with Scream’s Stu Macher). In fact, his performance as Tim is lauded as the standout of the film, with his character being the driving force behind the murder plot and ramping up the film’s tension tenfold. As usual, Lillard’s signature comedic flair is present, but aside from the slightly manic, darkly charming energy, his performance as Tim is more nuanced than his previous role as Stu Macher. His portrayal of Tim is markedly more calculating, cunning, and manipulative, adding layers of psychological intrigue to the narrative and elevating the film beyond the typical genre fare of ‘90s thrillers. As his next follow-up to Scream (1996), it’s satisfying to see Lillard get more screen time to really relish in his villain role in The Curve.
Honorable Mentions
Serial Mom
Directed by John Waters, Serial Mom is a ‘90s dark comedy that sees Matthew Lillard at the center of a perfect all-American family that happens to include a matriarch who’ll literally kill to see her children happy.
Scooby-Doo (2002)
With Shaggy being his most well-known role outside of Stu Macher in Scream, it’s safe to say Scooby-Doo deserves a spot on this list (hey, this counts as a “scary movie”, right?)
SLC Punk!
Another dark comedy for the books, SLC Punk! follows the lives of two punks living in conservative Salt Lake City, Utah, in 1985. Matthew Lillard plays the iconic punk Stevo with bright blue spiked hair. Need we say more?
What’s your favourite Matthew Lillard movie? Did we miss any? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.