Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction was released in 1994 and had a major impact right away. It announced Tarantino as a top filmmaker, revived John Travolta’s career, and taught countless American’s how to order a Quarter Pounder with Cheese in France. Here are some facts you may not have known about the famous film.
The film contains 265 f-bombs, but that’s still second in Tarantino’s filmography to Reservoir Dogs, which has 269.
Vincent Vega’s 1964 Chevelle Malibu was stolen after the shoot. The car belonged to Tarantino in real life and was eventually recovered two decades later.
It only cost about $8.5 million to make, and made it all back with an opening weekend of $9.3 million.
It was the third-highest grossing R-rated movie of 1994, following True Lies and Speed.
The role of Vincent Vega was written for frequent Tarantino collaborator Michael Madsen.
Madsen dropped out before the script was completed to join the cast of Wyatt Earp…which isn’t even the best Wyatt Earp movie.
Madsen’s character’s name in Reservoir Dog was Vic Vega, which makes Vincent his brother, who would have been his twin had Madsen taken the part.
Top Gear’s Stig was inspired by The Gimp, and was originally named after him until all drivers refused to go by that name.
Bruce Willis’ character Butch was originally written for Matt Dillon, who wasn’t so sure about the script.
Tarantino convinced Travolta to come on board with an all-day Welcome Back, Kotter, Grease, and Saturday Night Fever board game marathon.
Travolta’s character reads an actual pulp fiction, Peter O’Donnell’s Modesty Blaise, which Tarantino hoped to adapt at someday.
Uma Thurman wasn’t the first choice for Mia Wallace. Among the many names considered, Tarantino’s supposed favorite was Michele Pfeiffer.
The role of Jules may have been written for Samuel L. Jackson, but he almost lost the part to Paul Calderon, who impressed Tarantino so much that Jackson had to fly back to Los Angeles and audition a second time to win back the part.
Friend and frequent collaborator Robert Rodriguez manned the director’s chair while Tarantino was on screen. The two would later go on to make From Dusk till Dawn and the Grindhouse films together.
The famous needle scene was filmed in reverse, with Travolta pulling the fake needle out of Thurman, rather than the other way as seen in the film.
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