has never been shy about his influences. As one of the most stylized and outspoken directors of his generation, his tastes often pull from a wide swath of pop culture, from grindhouse cinema to classic sitcoms. So, when Tarantino champions something, it tends to gain attention fast.
Over the years, Quentin Tarantino has praised a handful of standout TV shows. From long-running network sitcoms to ambitious cable dramas, he’s not afraid to cross genres or lean into unexpected favorites. However, according to the filmmaker himself, one series stands out above the rest - his absolute favorite show comes from Netflix, and it’s a modern horror classic.
It’s a bone-chilling, emotionally devastating, and brilliantly constructed supernatural tale that redefined horror television when it premiered in 2018. While Tarantino’s pick may not be what most fans would expect from the director behind Pulp Fiction or Kill Bill, it’s a series that proves great storytelling and cinematic precision transcend genre. The Haunting of Hill House is his favorite - and after watching (or rewatching) it, I can understand why.
In a 2020 interview with The Jerusalem Post, Quentin Tarantino revealed a surprising yet passionate pick for his favorite TV series:
“My favorite series, with no competition, is The Haunting of Hill House.”
Coming from a director known for his encyclopedic knowledge of movies and TV, that’s high praise. He singled out The Haunting of Hill House, Mike Flanagan’s acclaimed 2018 horror series for Netflix, as his personal favorite. For a director who’s often celebrated for his dialogue-driven narratives and meticulous shot composition, it makes sense that he would appreciate a show as carefully constructed as this one.
Created by Mike Flanagan - who previously directed Oculus and Gerald’s Game - The Haunting of Hill House is a slow-burn horror story that’s It impressed both critics and audiences with its layered narrative, which unfolds across two timelines, and its jaw-dropping technical achievements (including an unforgettable one-shot episode).
Tarantino has always been drawn to stories that bend genre conventions, and The Haunting of Hill House fits that mold perfectly. It’s not just scary - it’s deeply moving,
Quentin Tarantino’s admiration for the series highlights his appreciation for art that’s both emotionally rich and formally daring. While he’s rarely worked in horror himself, his tastes clearly embrace the genre when it’s done right - and Mike Flanagan definitely got it right with The Haunting of Hill House.
The Haunting of Hill House isn’t just a good horror TV show - it’s a deeply affecting family saga wrapped in ghost stories that feel terrifyingly real. The 10-episode Netflix series centers on the Crain family, whose childhood home left lasting emotional and supernatural scars. In the present, siblings Steven, Shirley, Theo, Luke, and Nell reunite after tragedy strikes again, only to face horrors from their past.
Henry Thomas and Carla Gugino play the young versions of Hugh and Olivia Crain, whose tragic attempts to build a new life for their children unravel amid the house’s chilling secrets. Flanagan’s adaptation draws from Shirley Jackson’s 1959 novel but reimagines it with a fresh, multigenerational approach that
The ghosts are genuinely frightening, but it’s the human pain that lingers.
What makes the show so effective is The ghosts are genuinely frightening, but it’s the human pain that lingers from each Hill House character's first line to their last. Whether it’s Theo’s closed-off heart, Luke’s addiction, or Nell’s haunting episode “The Bent-Neck Lady,” every scare is grounded in psychological depth.
The craftsmanship is also impossible to ignore. The now-legendary sixth episode, “Two Storms,” unfolds in seemingly seamless long takes, moving between timelines and locations with dizzying precision. It’s , especially someone like Quentin Tarantino, who values technical mastery as much as narrative power.
Seven years later, . It boasts a 93% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and an 8.5 on IMDb - critical acclaim that matches its enduring fan devotion. Whether you’re a horror diehard or someone who usually avoids scary stories, Quentin Tarantino’s favorite show has an emotional gravity that transcends its genre.
The Haunting of Hill House might be Quentin Tarantino’s undisputed favorite, but it’s far from the only show he’s spotlighted over the years. As someone who draws creative energy from everything from pulp novels to classic TV, Tarantino has an eclectic list of favorites - and they aren’t all as chilling as Hill House.
One of the most surprising picks in his TV lineup is How I Met Your Mother (via She Knows). In a resurfaced quote from years past, Tarantino admitted and clever use of unreliable storytelling:
“I’ve been watching that since the very first episode, so that’s the one show that I always keep watching.”
He’s also shown admiration for classic martial arts TV shows like 1972’s Kung Fu and 1980’s Shadow Warriors, both of which influenced his early writing (via Far Out). Tarantino has credited Shadow Warriors as a direct inspiration for the father-son themes in Kill Bill, and his love for Kung Fu helped shape the East-meets-West tone of many of his films.
Even Justified have caught his attention. He reportedly appreciated Justified for its whip-smart dialogue and Elmore Leonard-inspired storytelling, something that clearly resonates with his own writing style. His love for Justified in particular was so great that he was instrumental in getting sequel series Justified: City Primeval off the ground (via NME)
However, it’s still telling that, despite his wide-ranging taste, Quentin Tarantino gave The Haunting of Hill House the top spot. That kind of endorsement is more than a casual compliment - it’s a filmmaker recognizing another creator’s magnum opus. Whether he’s watching horror, comedy, or prestige drama, Quentin Tarantino continues to champion shows that challenge convention and elevate the medium.
