Scream Star Claps Back at Tarantino Criticism: ‘I’m Not Popular in Hollywood’

Following Quentin Tarantino’s criticism of several actors, one of them has spoken up. Last December, Matthew Lillard admitted he was hurt by the remarks of the two-time Oscar-winning director who had stated he “didn’t care” about the acting of the star from Five Nights at Freddy’s 2, as well as those of Paul Dano and Owen Wilson.

“Quentin Tarantino said this week he doesn’t like me as an actor. Well, whatever. Who cares,” he told his fans at GalaxyCon in Columbus, Ohio (via Deadline), eliciting support from the audience. “Listen, the thing is, it hurts. It really sucks, damn it,” Lillard added. “And you wouldn’t say that to Tom Cruise. You wouldn’t say that to a Hollywood star.”

Highlighting his popularity with fans of movies like Scream (1996), Scooby-Doo (2002), Five Nights at Freddy’s (2023), and others, Matthew Lillard explained: “I am very popular here. I am not in Hollywood. Two totally different worlds, right? So it’s quite humiliating, and it hurts.”

Tarantino Holds No Punches

Matthew Lillard’s comments follow Quentin Tarantino’s harsh critique of Paul Dano‘s performance in There Will Be Blood (2007), which he called a “big, huge flaw” in Paul Thomas Anderson’s film.

“Obviously, it’s supposed to be a two-hander, but it’s clear that it’s not,” he said. “[Dano] is really bad. The weakest link. Austin Butler would have been great in that role. [Dano] is so bland, uninteresting. The weakest damn actor in SAG, damn [laughs].”

Tarantino added: “I don’t care about him, and I don’t care about Owen Wilson and Matthew Lillard either.”

Balancing success with fans and scathing reviews from Hollywood, Matthew Lillard reminds us that even popular actors are not immune to hurtful words, but his sincerity and humor remain his best defense.

He will soon be seen in several projects, including the series Carrie, Daredevil: Born Again, and Scooby-Doo! The Live-Action Series. In film, Matthew Lillard has been announced in the upcoming Five Nights at Freddy’s 3 and Scream 7. He will also appear in the drama Behemoth!, with Pedro Pascal and Will Arnett.

Meanwhile, you can see him in the acclaimed drama Life Of Chuck (2025), alongside Tom Hiddleston, Mark Hamill and Chiwetel Ejiofor, available on Canal+.

AlloCiné provides daily over 40 articles on cinema and series news, interviews, streaming recommendations, quirky and cinephile anecdotes about your favorite movies and series. Subscribing to AlloCiné on Google Discover ensures you explore daily the richness of a site designed by enthusiasts for enthusiasts.