Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood (2019)

Last updated:
August 19, 2025

Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood (2019) is both a love letter to late 1960s Hollywood and a bold rewriting of one of history’s darkest cultural moments. Mixing fact and fiction, it follows fading TV star Rick Dalton and his stunt double Cliff Booth as they navigate an industry in transition, all while the specter of the Manson Family murders looms in the background.

Table of Contents

Detailed Summary

The Decline of Rick Dalton

Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio), once the star of a hit Western TV series, now finds himself stuck in guest villain roles. He struggles with insecurity, drinking, and the looming reality that his career is fading in the face of a changing Hollywood landscape. His neighbor, however, is Sharon Tate (Margot Robbie), who represents the rising wave of Hollywood youth and optimism.

Cliff Booth’s Life on the Sidelines

Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt), Rick’s longtime stunt double, is more easygoing but has his own troubles. He lives in a trailer behind a drive-in theater with his dog Brandy. Rumors about Cliff’s past, particularly the possibility that he killed his wife, make him an outcast in the industry, but his loyalty to Rick keeps him employed.

Sharon Tate’s Sunshine

Sharon Tate, portrayed with lightness and warmth by Margot Robbie, floats through the film as a symbol of innocence and hope. One standout moment has her sneaking into a theater to watch herself on screen in The Wrecking Crew. Her storyline provides a poignant contrast to the looming violence we, the audience, know is historically supposed to come.

Spahn Ranch and the Manson Family

In one of the tensest sequences, Cliff picks up a hitchhiking young woman named Pussycat, who leads him to the Spahn Ranch, now occupied by Charles Manson’s followers. Cliff senses something sinister in the hippie commune, especially after seeing George Spahn (Bruce Dern) in questionable circumstances. This scene establishes the threat of the Manson Family without yet unleashing it.

Career Crossroads

Rick meets producer Marvin Schwarz (Al Pacino), who convinces him to try his luck in spaghetti Westerns in Italy. After shooting a series of films overseas, Rick returns to Los Angeles with a new Italian wife. Still, his partnership with Cliff seems destined to fade, with the two agreeing to gradually part ways.

Movie Ending

On the night of August 8, 1969—the night of the real-life Tate murders—history takes a sharp Tarantino turn. The Manson Family members (Tex Watson, Susan Atkins, and Patricia Krenwinkel) arrive on Cielo Drive intending to kill Sharon Tate and her friends. Instead, they decide to target Rick Dalton after being insulted by him earlier that night.

When they break into Rick’s house, they find Cliff, high on an acid-laced cigarette, and Brandy the dog. What follows is a brutal, darkly comedic fight: Brandy mauls Tex, Cliff smashes one of the women into furniture, and Rick finishes things off spectacularly with a flamethrower he had kept from one of his old movies.

The violence is exaggerated and cathartic—Tarantino’s fantasy of rewriting history. Instead of Tate and her friends being slaughtered, they remain untouched, safe in the house next door. The film ends with Rick finally being invited into Tate’s home, symbolizing not only his acceptance into the new Hollywood but also an alternate history where innocence was preserved.

Are There Post-Credits Scenes?

Yes, there is a small post-credits scene. It shows Rick Dalton filming a commercial for Red Apple Cigarettes, a fictional brand used throughout Tarantino’s films. The scene serves as a humorous nod to Tarantino’s cinematic universe rather than a setup for a sequel.

Type of Movie

Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood is a comedy-drama, infused with revisionist history, Hollywood nostalgia, and dark satire. It blends slice-of-life character study with sudden bursts of Tarantino’s trademark violence.

Cast

Leonardo DiCaprio as Rick Dalton
Brad Pitt as Cliff Booth
Margot Robbie as Sharon Tate
Al Pacino as Marvin Schwarz
Emile Hirsch as Jay Sebring
Margaret Qualley as Pussycat
Dakota Fanning as Squeaky Fromme
Austin Butler as Tex Watson
Bruce Dern as George Spahn

Film Music and Composer

The soundtrack is a curated mix of 1960s rock, pop, and radio jingles rather than an original score. Songs by artists like Paul Revere & the Raiders, The Mamas & The Papas, and Neil Diamond create a rich period atmosphere. Tarantino’s sharp use of diegetic radio broadcasts also helps immerse the audience in 1969 Los Angeles.

Filming Locations

Los Angeles, California – Much of the film was shot on real Hollywood streets, with painstaking efforts to recreate the late 1960s look.
Cinerama Dome, Westwood Village, and El Coyote Café – All iconic LA locations that give authenticity to the setting.
Spahn Ranch Recreation – A faithful re-creation was built for the Manson Family sequence, underscoring the haunting reality of that historical site.

The locations are crucial, as Tarantino’s film is as much about Hollywood as a place as it is about the characters.

Awards and Nominations

Academy Awards: Won 2 Oscars (Best Supporting Actor for Brad Pitt, Best Production Design), nominated for 10 total including Best Picture.
Golden Globes: Won 3, including Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy.
BAFTAs: Won Best Supporting Actor and Best Production Design.

Behind the Scenes Insights

Tarantino once considered casting Tom Cruise as Cliff Booth.
Leonardo DiCaprio improvised Rick Dalton’s infamous breakdown in his trailer.
The flamethrower scene was filmed with a real working prop from The 14 Fists of McCluskey, created just for the movie.
Margot Robbie wore exact replicas of Sharon Tate’s jewelry, loaned by Tate’s sister, Deborah Tate.

Inspirations and References

Inspired by the Valachi Papers-style blending of real events with fiction.
The characters of Rick Dalton and Cliff Booth are amalgamations of fading 1960s actors and stuntmen.
Tarantino’s obsession with the Manson murders as a cultural shift point heavily influenced the narrative.

Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes

Several deleted scenes were cut for pacing. Some later appeared in Tarantino’s extended cut for television. These include more footage of Rick Dalton’s Italian film career and extended Sharon Tate sequences. No known alternate ending was filmed—the rewritten history ending was always Tarantino’s intent.

Book Adaptations and Differences

Tarantino later wrote a novelization of the film in 2021. The book expands heavily on the characters’ backstories, especially Cliff Booth’s dark history, Rick’s career struggles, and Sharon Tate’s Hollywood social life. Unlike the film, the book is less about the Manson Family and more about character studies.

Memorable Scenes and Quotes

Key Scenes

Rick Dalton’s trailer breakdown after flubbing lines.
Cliff Booth’s tense standoff at Spahn Ranch.
Sharon Tate watching herself in The Wrecking Crew.
The violent showdown at Rick’s house with the Manson Family.

Iconic Quotes

Rick Dalton: “You’re Rick f***in’ Dalton. Don’t you forget it.”
Cliff Booth: “I try.”
Rick Dalton (to Tex): “Hey! I’m the devil, and I’m here to do the devil’s business.” [mocking Tex’s own line]

Easter Eggs and Hidden Details

The fictional Red Apple Cigarettes appear, as in nearly all Tarantino movies.
Cliff Booth’s rumored murder of his wife echoes the mysterious death of actress Natalie Wood.
Sharon Tate’s real-life friend Jay Sebring appears as a character, grounding the fantasy in historical reality.
The movie theater Sharon visits is the Bruin Theatre, still standing today.

Trivia

Brad Pitt performed many of his own stunts.
The film grossed over $377 million worldwide, making it Tarantino’s second highest-grossing film.
Kurt Russell not only acts in the film but also narrates parts of it.
Tarantino has said this is “his love letter to Hollywood” and possibly his penultimate film.

Why Watch?

This film isn’t just about Hollywood; it’s about what Hollywood means—dreams, reinvention, nostalgia, and the power of storytelling to rewrite history. It’s a mix of melancholy, comedy, and explosive violence that only Tarantino could deliver.

Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood (2019)