View source for Inglourious Basterds

{{short description|2009 film by Quentin Tarantino}}
{{Hatnote group|{{redirect|Inglourious|the English rock band|Inglorious}}
{{distinguish|The Inglorious Bastards{{!}}''The Inglorious Bastards''}}}}
{{good article}}
{{Use American English|date=October 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2025}}
{{Infobox film
| image          = Inglourious Basterds poster.jpg
| alt            = The film's characters in various poses.
| caption        = International theatrical release poster
| director       = [[Quentin Tarantino]]
| writer         = Quentin Tarantino
| producer       = [[Lawrence Bender]]
| starring       = {{plainlist|<!--- per poster block --->
* [[Brad Pitt]]
* [[Christoph Waltz]]
* [[Michael Fassbender]]
* [[Eli Roth]]
* [[Diane Kruger]]
* [[Daniel Brühl]]
* [[Til Schweiger]]
* [[Mélanie Laurent]]
* [[August Diehl]]
* [[Julie Dreyfus]]
* [[Sylvester Groth]]
* [[Jacky Ido]]
* [[Denis Ménochet]]
* [[Mike Myers]]
* [[Rod Taylor]]
* [[Martin Wuttke]]
}}
| cinematography = [[Robert Richardson (cinematographer)|Robert Richardson]]
| editing        = [[Sally Menke]]
| studio         = {{plainlist|
* [[The Weinstein Company]]<ref name="AFI">{{cite web |title=Inglorious Basterds (2009) |url=https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/MovieDetails/64912 |website=[[American Film Institute]] |access-date=May 29, 2023}}</ref>
* [[Universal Pictures]]<ref name="AFI"/>
* [[A Band Apart]]<ref name="AFI"/>
* [[Babelsberg Studio|Zehnte Babelsberg Film GmbH]]<ref name="AFI"/>
}}
| distributor    = {{plainlist|
* The Weinstein Company (United States)
* Universal Pictures (International)
}}
| released       = {{film date|2009|05|20|[[2009 Cannes Film Festival|Cannes]]|2009|08|20|Germany|2009|08|21|United States}}<!-- WP:FILMRELEASE -->
| runtime        = 153 minutes<!--U.S. theatrical release: 153:41--><ref>{{cite web|title=Inglourious Basterds (18)|url=https://www.bbfc.co.uk/AFF257159/|work=[[British Board of Film Classification]]|date=July 27, 2009|access-date=November 12, 2012|archive-date=April 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420225936/https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/inglourious-basterds-film-qxnzzxq6vlgtotywnzu0|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| country        = {{plainlist|
* United States<ref name=variety>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2009/film/markets-festivals/inglourious-basterds-2-1200474739/|title=Inglourious Basterds|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|first=Todd|last=McCarthy|date=May 20, 2009|access-date=September 13, 2019|archive-date=June 7, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190607021311/https://variety.com/2009/film/markets-festivals/inglourious-basterds-2-1200474739/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=screen/><ref name=Kulish />
* Germany<ref name=variety/><ref name=screen>{{cite web|url=http://www.screendaily.com/reviews/cannes-reviews/inglourious-basterds/5001437.article|title=Inglourious Basterds|first=Mike|last=Goodridge|publisher=[[Screen International]]|date=May 25, 2009|access-date=January 9, 2013|archive-date=May 2, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140502032304/http://www.screendaily.com/reviews/cannes-reviews/inglourious-basterds/5001437.article|url-status=live}}</ref>
}}
| language       = {{plainlist|
* English
* German
* French
<!-- Italian is not significant as it is just for one joke in one scene. -->
}}
| budget         = $70{{nbsp}}million<ref name=budget>{{cite web |title=Weinstein Co. Up Against the Wall |website=IndieWire |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2009/06/weinstein-co-up-against-the-wall-186614/ |date=June 8, 2009 |access-date=September 13, 2019 |first=Anne |last=Thompson |archive-date=February 7, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200207085556/https://www.indiewire.com/2009/06/weinstein-co-up-against-the-wall-186614/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
| gross          = $321.5{{nbsp}}million<ref name="BoxOfficeMojo">{{cite web|url=https://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=inglouriousbasterds.htm|title=Inglourious Basterds (2009)|work=[[Box Office Mojo]]|publisher=[[Amazon.com]]|access-date=December 5, 2012|archive-date=June 18, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160618074335/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=inglouriousbasterds.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>
}}

'''''Inglourious Basterds''''' is a 2009 [[black comedy]] [[War film|war film]] written and directed by [[Quentin Tarantino]]. It stars an [[ensemble cast]] including [[Brad Pitt]], [[Christoph Waltz]], [[Michael Fassbender]], [[Eli Roth]], [[Diane Kruger]], [[Daniel Brühl]], [[Til Schweiger]], [[Mélanie Laurent]] and [[Mike Myers]]. The film tells an [[alternate history]] story of two converging plots to assassinate [[Nazi Germany]]'s leadership [[Paris in World War II|at a Paris cinema]]—one through a British operation largely carried out by a team of [[Jewish American]] soldiers led by [[First Lieutenant#United States|First Lieutenant]] Aldo Raine (Pitt), and another by [[History of the Jews in France|French Jewish]] cinema proprietor Shosanna Dreyfus (Laurent) who seeks to avenge her murdered family. Both are pitted against [[Hans Landa]] (Waltz), an [[Standartenführer|SS]] colonel with a fearsome reputation.

The title (but not the story) was inspired by Italian director [[Enzo G. Castellari]]'s 1978 [[Euro War]] film ''[[The Inglorious Bastards]]'', but deliberately misspelled as "a [[Jean-Michel Basquiat|Basquiat]]-esque touch".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.forward.com/articles/112638/ |title=Glorious Bastard: Tarantino Talks About His Not-A-Holocaust-Movie |date=August 21, 2009 |work=[[The Jewish Daily Forward]] |publisher=Forward Association |access-date=September 12, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090826161009/http://www.forward.com/articles/112638/ |archive-date=August 26, 2009 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> Tarantino wrote the script in 1998, but struggled with the ending and chose instead to direct the two-part film ''[[Kill Bill: Volume 1|Kill Bill]]''. After directing ''[[Death Proof]]'' in 2007, Tarantino returned to work on ''Inglourious Basterds''. A co-production between the United States and Germany, the film began [[principal photography]] in October 2008 and was filmed in Germany and France with a $70 million production budget.

''Inglourious Basterds'' premiered on May 20, 2009, at the [[2009 Cannes Film Festival|62nd Cannes Film Festival]], and received a wide release in theaters in Germany on August 20, and in the United States on August 21. [[The Weinstein Company]] distributed the film in the United States, while [[Universal Pictures]] handled international distribution. It was a commercial success, grossing $321.5 million worldwide, becoming Tarantino's highest-grossing film to that point, until it was surpassed by ''[[Django Unchained]]'' (2012). The film received critical acclaim, with Waltz's performance as Hans Landa being singled out for praise, but some criticized the historical liberties taken. It also won [[List of accolades received by Inglourious Basterds|multiple awards and nominations]], among them eight [[82nd Academy Awards|Academy Award]] nominations (including [[Academy Award for Best Picture|Best Picture]], [[Academy Award for Best Director|Best Director]] and [[Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay|Best Original Screenplay]]). For his role as Landa, Waltz won the Cannes Film Festival's [[Best Actor Award (Cannes Film Festival)|Best Actor Award]], as well as the [[BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role|BAFTA]], [[Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role|Screen Actors Guild]], [[Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Supporting Actor|Critics' Choice]], [[Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture|Golden Globe]], and [[Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor]].

==Plot==
<!-- Per WP:FILMPLOT, film plot summaries should be between 400 and 700 words. Please check the word count before making any additions. Please go to the talk page before making any major changes. -->
{{multiple image
| direction         = vertical
| width             = 150
| image1            = ChristophWaltz82AAMar10.jpg
| caption1          = [[Christoph Waltz]] plays ''Standartenführer'' [[Hans Landa]], an eloquent and cultured but deeply ruthless Austrian SS officer.
| image2            = Brad Pitt 2009 Academy Awards.jpg
| caption2          = [[Brad Pitt]] plays Lieutenant Aldo Raine, nicknamed "Aldo the Apache" due to his trademark of scalping Germans he defeats.
| image3            = Mélanie Laurent César 2016.jpg
| caption3          = [[Mélanie Laurent]] plays Shosanna Dreyfus, a French Jewish cinema owner whose family was executed by Landa and who is determined to exact revenge.
| image4            = Daniel Bruhl Cannes 2014.jpg
| caption4          = [[Daniel Bruhl]] plays Fredrick Zoller, a German army sniper and national hero whose story is made into a propaganda film.
| image5            = Michael Fassbender Cannes 2009.jpg
| caption5          = [[Michael Fassbender]] plays Lieutenant Archie Hicox, a British commando and former film critic who poses as a German officer with disastrous results.
| image6            = Eli Roth @ 2010 Academy Awards (cropped).jpg
| caption6          = [[Eli Roth]] plays Sergeant Donny Donowitz, "The Bear Jew", second in command of the Basterds who executes Germans with his baseball bat.
| image7            = Diane Kruger @ 2010 Academy Awards (cropped) (cropped).jpg
| caption7          = [[Diane Kruger]] plays Bridget Von Hammersmark, a German film star turned spy for the United Kingdom.
| image8            = Denis Ménochet (cropped).jpg
| caption8          = [[Denis Ménochet]] plays Perrier LaPadite, who hides the Jewish Dreyfus family for a year, then is forced by Landa to give them up.
}}
In 1941, Austrian [[SS-Standartenführer]] [[Hans Landa]] interrogates French dairy farmer Perrier LaPadite about a fugitive Jewish family, the Dreyfuses. He boasts his nickname, "The Jew Hunter," then offers LaPadite amnesty if he will give up the Dreyfuses. LaPadite tearfully admits that they are hiding under his floor. Landa's men massacre the Dreyfuses, but one of them, young Shosanna, escapes unharmed.

Three years later, U.S. Army lieutenant Aldo Raine recruits [[Jewish-American]] soldiers to the "Basterds," a [[black ops]] [[commando]] unit tasked with instilling fear among Nazis in occupied France by killing and [[scalping]] them. The group includes Sergeant Donny "The Bear Jew" Donowitz, privates first class Smithson Utivich and Omar Ulmer, rogue German sergeant Hugo Stiglitz, and Austrian-born translator Corporal Wilhelm Wicki. Raine leaves a [[swastika]] mark on surviving German soldiers so they can't hide their Nazi affiliations after the war.

Shosanna now operates a cinema in Paris under the name Emmanuelle Mimieux and meets Fredrick Zoller, a famed German sniper set to star in the German [[propaganda film]] ''Stolz der Nation'' (''Nation's Pride''). Infatuated with "Emmanuelle," Zoller convinces [[Joseph Goebbels]] to hold the film's premiere at her cinema. Landa, the premiere's head of security, interrogates Shosanna but doesn't reveal if he recognizes her. She plots with her [[Afro-French]] lover and projectionist, Marcel, to kill the German leaders by burning down the cinema with her collection of highly flammable [[nitrate film]]s.

[[British Commando]] Lieutenant Archie Hicox, a former film critic and fluent German speaker, is recruited for Operation Kino, an attack on the premiere with the Basterds. Disguised as German officers, Hicox, Stiglitz, and Wicki meet with German film star Bridget von Hammersmark, an undercover Allied agent, in an occupied town at a tavern unexpectedly full of German soldiers. They sit down and play [[board game]]s together.

Hicox's unusual accent catches the attention of Wehrmacht sergeant Wilhelm and SS Sturmbannführer Dieter Hellström, who joins Hicox's group when his suspicions are aroused. Hicox and Hammersmark convince him they are genuine, but Hicox blows their cover with a non-German [[Finger-counting|hand gesture]]. Everyone is killed in the ensuing gunfight except Wilhelm and a wounded von Hammersmark. Raine negotiates with Wilhelm for von Hammersmark's release until she shoots Wilhelm dead.

Believing she set his men up, Raine [[torture]]s von Hammersmark, but she convinces him of her loyalty and reveals [[Adolf Hitler]] himself is attending the premiere. Raine decides the mission needs to go ahead with himself, Donowitz, and Ulmer to attend posing as [[Cinema of Italy|Italian filmmakers]]. Von Hammersmark is doubtful but thinks the Germans won't find their Italian accents suspicious. Landa investigates the tavern and finds von Hammersmark's shoe and a napkin with her signature.

The Basterds infiltrate the premiere with timed explosives. Landa, fluent in [[Italian language|Italian]], sees through their cover and confronts von Hammersmark privately, strangling her to death. He has Raine arrested along with Utivich, whom he has also detected, but leaves Ulmer and Donowitz in the theater. Taking advantage of the situation, Landa offers to let the attack proceed if Raine's OSS commanders will guarantee his safety along with great riches for himself after the war. Raine contacts his commanders, and Landa negotiates a generous deal for himself and his radio operator.

During the screening, Zoller confronts Shosanna in the projection booth, and they shoot each other dead. As ''Nation's Pride'' reaches its climax, Shosanna's face appears on the screen telling the Nazi audience that they are about to be killed by a Jew. Having locked the auditorium, Marcel ignites a pile of nitrate film behind the screen, setting the theater ablaze. Ulmer and Donowitz break into the [[opera box]], fatally shoot Hitler and Goebbels then begin randomly firing into the crowd of fleeing Nazis. The timed explosives, previously hidden by Landa on the balcony, detonate, killing Ulmer, Donowitz, and the entirety of the Nazi Party.

Landa and his radio operator drive Raine and Utivich into [[zone libre|Allied territory]], where they surrender to Raine. Raine shoots the radio operator and triumphantly carves a swastika into Landa's forehead, declaring it to be his masterpiece.

==Cast==
{{Cast list|
* [[Brad Pitt]] as Lieutenant {{vanchor|Aldo Raine}}, nicknamed "Aldo the Apache" due to his trademark of scalping Germans he defeats, is the battle-hardened commanding officer of the Basterds. Raine is a [[coal miner]] and [[Rum-running|bootlegger]] from the [[Great Smoky Mountains]] of [[Tennessee]],<ref name="Aldo"/><ref name="Screenplay"/>{{rp|499}} where he fought against the [[Ku Klux Klan]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Taylor|first=Ella|author-link=Ella Taylor|url=https://www.villagevoice.com/2009/08/18/quentin-tarantino-the-inglourious-basterds-interview/|title=Quentin Tarantino: The Inglourious Basterds Interview|work=[[The Village Voice]]|date=August 18, 2009|access-date=March 6, 2022|archive-date=January 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120233654/https://www.villagevoice.com/2009/08/18/quentin-tarantino-the-inglourious-basterds-interview/|url-status=dead}}</ref> He survived a [[lynching]] and is a descendant of [[Jim Bridger]] and the [[Bridger family of Virginia|Bridger family]].<ref name="Aldo">{{cite web|last=Busby|first=John|url=https://medium.com/@johnbusby_73044/aldo-raine-violent-past-made-bloodthirsty-nazi-killer-345801827590|title=Aldo Raine: Violent Past made Bloodthirsty Nazi Killer|date=April 5, 2016|access-date=March 5, 2022|work=[[Medium (website)|Medium]]|archive-date=January 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170113210750/https://medium.com/@johnbusby_73044/aldo-raine-violent-past-made-bloodthirsty-nazi-killer-345801827590|url-status=live}}</ref> He was a member of the [[First Special Service Force|Devil's Brigade]] where he was trained in [[guerrilla warfare]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Clark|first=James|url=https://taskandpurpose.com/entertainment/10-things-didnt-know-inglourious-basterds/|title=10 Things You Didn't Know About 'Inglourious Basterds'|work=Task & Purpose|date=June 8, 2016|access-date=March 5, 2022|archive-date=June 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210619033931/https://taskandpurpose.com/entertainment/10-things-didnt-know-inglourious-basterds/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Christoph Waltz]] as ''[[Standartenführer]]'' [[Hans Landa]], an eloquent, cultured, multilingual but deeply ruthless Austrian SS officer who becomes an enemy of both Shosanna and the Basterds.
* [[Mélanie Laurent]] as {{vanchor|Shosanna Dreyfus}}, a 23-year-old<ref name="Screenplay"/>{{rp|90,186}} French Jewish cinema owner whose family was murdered by Landa's men when she was 20 years old. Shosanna manages to escape due to luck and Landa's decision to not pursue her.<ref name="Screenplay"/>{{rp|90–91}} Most of [[The Bride (Kill Bill)|The Bride]]'s attributes in Tarantino's ''[[Kill Bill: Volume 1|Kill Bill]]'' come from Tarantino's original development of Shosanna for ''Inglourious Basterds'', on which he started to work before ''Kill Bill''. Originally Shosanna, whom Tarantino described as a Jewish [[Joan of Arc]], was an assassin who had a list of Germans she would cross off as she killed them. Tarantino later switched the character attributes over to The Bride and later redeveloped Shosanna into the version who appears in the film.<ref name="Rose">{{cite interview|last=Rose|first=Charlie|author-link=Charlie Rose|url=https://charlierose.com/videos/26959|title=Quentin Tarantino|work=[[Charlie Rose (talk show)|Charlie Rose on PBS]]|date=August 21, 2009|access-date=March 8, 2022|via=charlierose.com|archive-date=December 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211218222355/https://charlierose.com/videos/26959|url-status=live}}</ref>{{rp|22:00–24:00}}
* [[Eli Roth]] as Sergeant {{vanchor|Donny Donowitz}}, also known as "The Bear Jew",<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/bear-jew-inglourious-basterds-backstory/|title=Bear Jew: Inglourious Basterds Backstory & Real Life Inspiration|first=Padraig|last=Cotter|date=March 15, 2019|website=ScreenRant|access-date=March 12, 2023|archive-date=March 12, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230312032311/https://screenrant.com/bear-jew-inglourious-basterds-backstory/|url-status=live}}</ref> a brooding member and second in command of the Basterds who executes Germans with his baseball bat. In Tarantino's screenplay Donowitz is likened to [[Joshua]]<ref name="Screenplay">{{cite book|last=Tarantino|first=Quentin|title=Inglourious Basterds: A Screenplay|publisher=Little, Brown and Company|isbn=978-0316070355|date=August 17, 2009}}</ref>{{rp|167}} and his bat to the sword of [[Gideon]].<ref name="Screenplay"/>{{rp|170}} Roth channeled actor [[Tony Curtis]] for his portrayal per Tarantino's direction.<ref name="QT New Beverly"/> Donny is the father of Tarantino-created film producer Lee Donowitz ([[Saul Rubinek]]) who appeared in ''[[True Romance]]''.<ref>{{cite web|last=Pederson|first=Nicole|url=https://collider.com/the-tarantino-universe-is-a-small-one-eli-roths-inglourious-basterd-character-is-the-father-of-true-romance-producer-lee-donowitz/|title=The Tarantino Universe Is A Small One - Eli Roth's Inglourious Basterd Character Is The Father of True Romance Producer Lee Donowitz!|work=[[Collider (website)|Collider]]|date=August 17, 2009|access-date=March 7, 2022|archive-date=January 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200108145832/https://collider.com/the-tarantino-universe-is-a-small-one-eli-roths-inglourious-basterd-character-is-the-father-of-true-romance-producer-lee-donowitz/|url-status=live}}</ref> Adam Sandler was originally given the part but had to turn down the role due to scheduling issue with Judd Apatow's ''[[Funny People]]''.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/2008/0814/414269-sandlera/ |title=Sandler won't star in Tarantino film |date=August 14, 2008 |website=RTÉ.ie |accessdate=May 8, 2025}}</ref>
* [[Michael Fassbender]] as Lieutenant Archie Hicox, a [[Commandos (United Kingdom)|British commando]] and former [[film critic]] who assists the Basterds on their mission in France. Hicox was patterned after actor [[George Sanders]].<ref name="QT New Beverly">{{cite interview|last=Morgan|first=Kim|url=https://thenewbev.com/blog/2017/08/inglourious-basterds-2/|title=Quentin Tarantino: Inglourious Basterds Interview|work=[[New Beverly Cinema]]|date=August 27, 2017|access-date=March 6, 2022|archive-date=January 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210121113601/https://thenewbev.com/blog/2017/08/inglourious-basterds-2/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Diane Kruger]] as Bridget von Hammersmark, a German film star turned spy for the [[United Kingdom]]. Tarantino based Hammersmark on [[Hungarians|Hungarian]] actress [[Ilona Massey]]. For her portrayal of the character Kruger was inspired by German actress [[Hildegard Knef]].<ref>{{cite interview|url=https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qlofJ9mlC1Q|title=Inglourious Basterds Press Conference|work=[[2009 Cannes Film Festival]]|date=May 20, 2009|access-date=March 8, 2022|time=19:00-21:00|archive-date=March 8, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220308201648/https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=qlofJ9mlC1Q|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Daniel Brühl]] as Fredrick Zoller, a German army sniper whose story is made into a [[propaganda film]]. Tarantino created Zoller as a Nazi version of [[Audie Murphy]].<ref name="Rose"/>{{rp|11:00–13:00}}
* [[Til Schweiger]] as Sergeant Hugo Stiglitz, a former German army soldier who murdered numerous [[Gestapo]] officers and is recruited by the Basterds.
* [[B. J. Novak]] as Smithson "Little Man" Utivich, a short and slightly built member of the Basterds unit.
* [[Gedeon Burkhard]] as Corporal Wilhelm Wicki, the [[Austrians|Austrian]]-born, deadpan-humored translator of the Basterds unit.
* [[Jacky Ido]] as Marcel, Shosanna's lover and the [[projectionist]] at the cinema
* [[Omar Doom]] as Omar Ulmer, a member of the Basterds unit
* [[Samm Levine]] as Hirschberg,  a member of the Basterds unit
* [[August Diehl]] as ''[[Sturmbannführer]]'' Dieter Hellstrom, an intelligent German officer who is suspicious of Hicox.
* [[Denis Ménochet]] as Perrier LaPadite, a French farmer sheltering the Dreyfus family.
* [[Sylvester Groth]] as [[Joseph Goebbels]]
* [[Martin Wuttke]] as [[Adolf Hitler]]
* [[Mike Myers]] as General Ed Fenech, Hicox's superior officer.
* [[Julie Dreyfus]] as Francesca Mondino, Goebbels' French translator.
* [[Richard Sammel]] as Sergeant Rachtman
* [[Alexander Fehling]] as Master Sergeant Wilhelm
* [[Rod Taylor]] as [[Winston Churchill]], who assists Fenech in briefing Hicox.
* [[Sönke Möhring]] as Private Butz
* [[Paul Rust]] as Andy Kagan, a member of the Basterds unit
* [[Michael Bacall]] as Michael Zimmerman, a member of the Basterds unit
* Carlos Fidel as Simon Sakowitz, a member of the Basterds unit
* [[Ken Duken]] as "[[Mata Hari]]" soldier
* [[Christian Berkel]] as Proprietor Eric
* Anne-Sophie Franck as Mathilda
* [[Léa Seydoux]] as Charlotte LaPadite
* Tina Rodriguez as Julie LaPadite
* Lena Friedrich as Suzanne LaPadite
* [[Jana Pallaske]] as Babette
* [[Rainer Bock]] as General Schonherr, a member of the [[Oberkommando des Heeres]]
* Michael Scheel as General Frank, a member of the Oberkommando des Heeres
* [[Buddy Joe Hooker]] as Gaspar
* [[Christian Brückner]] as Kliest
* Hilmar Eichhorn as [[Emil Jannings]]
* Patrick Elias as Jakob Dreyfus
* [[Eva Löbau]] as Miriam Dreyfus
* Salvadore Brandt as Bob Dreyfus
* Jasper Linnewedel as Amos Dreyfus
* Volker Zack Michalowski as "[[Edgar Wallace]]" soldier
}}
Director [[Enzo G. Castellari]] also makes a [[cameo appearance]] in the film at the movie premiere. He previously cameoed as a German in his own ''[[The Inglorious Bastards]]'' and reprised the same role in this film, but under a different rank and SS organization.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.festival-cannes.com/assets/Image/Direct/029846.pdf|title=Inglourious Basterds|publisher=Cannes Festival|access-date=January 18, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110807195242/http://www.festival-cannes.com/assets/Image/Direct/029846.pdf|archive-date=August 7, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://variety.com/2009/film/markets-festivals/enzo-and-tarantino-basterds-brothers-1118003930/ |title=Enzo and Tarantino: 'Basterds' brothers|first=Nick|last=Vivarelli|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=May 19, 2009|access-date=January 18, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090829123400/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118003930.html?categoryid=13&cs=1|archive-date=August 29, 2009|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Bo Svenson]], who starred in Castellari's ''The Inglorious Bastards'', also has a small cameo in the film as a US colonel in the ''Nation's Pride'' movie.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.screendaily.com/5001437.article|first=Mike|last=Goodridge|title=Inglourious Basterds Review|work=Screen Daily|publisher=EMAP Media|date=May 25, 2010|access-date=January 19, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100201181544/http://www.screendaily.com/5001437.article|archive-date=February 1, 2010|url-status=live}}</ref>

Additionally, [[Samuel L. Jackson]] narrates the film,<ref name=jackson-keitel>{{cite magazine|url=http://popwatch.ew.com/2009/08/19/inglourious-basterds-playing-spot-the-tarantino-reference/ |title='Inglourious Basterds':Playing spot the Tarantino reference |last=Nashawaty |first=Chris |date=August 19, 2009 |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |access-date=February 22, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100105153745/http://popwatch.ew.com/2009/08/19/inglourious-basterds-playing-spot-the-tarantino-reference/ |archive-date=January 5, 2010 |url-status=live  }}</ref> [[Harvey Keitel]] voices the [[Office of Strategic Services]] Commander,<ref name=jackson-keitel /> [[Bela B]] appears as an usher<ref name=bela-b>{{cite news|url=http://www.umagazine.de/artikel.php?ID=510032|title=Bela B. // Fanboy Nr. 1|last=Kaufmann|first=Kathrin|work=uMag|access-date=March 29, 2015|archive-date=April 17, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150417152158/http://www.umagazine.de/artikel.php?ID=510032|url-status=live}}</ref> and Tarantino appears as an American soldier in ''Nation's Pride'' and a scalped German.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Vincent |first1=Alice |last2=Saunders |first2=Tristam Fane |title=Quentin Tarantino: his 10 best cameo roles |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/film/hateful-eight/quentin-tarantino-best-cameo-roles/ |access-date=August 12, 2018 |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |date=December 10, 2015 |archive-date=August 12, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180812215237/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/film/hateful-eight/quentin-tarantino-best-cameo-roles/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Two characters, Mrs. Himmelstein and Madame Ada Mimieux, played by [[Cloris Leachman]] and [[Maggie Cheung]], respectively, were both cut from the final film due to length.<ref name=leachmanscene>{{cite news|url=https://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2009/06/cloris_leachman.html|title=Cloris Leachman on Dancing, Inglourious Basterds, and Her Sex Pact With Ed Asner|work=[[New York (magazine)|New York]]|publisher=New York Media LLC|first=Jada|last=Yuan|date=June 19, 2009|access-date=February 28, 2010|archive-date=June 23, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090623063300/http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2009/06/cloris_leachman.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Sherlock|first=Ben|url=https://screenrant.com/inglourious-basterds-movie-stars-almost-cast/|title=8 Actors Considered for Roles in Inglourious Basterds|work=[[Screen Rant]]|date=April 19, 2021|access-date=October 23, 2021|archive-date=April 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210430011131/https://screenrant.com/inglourious-basterds-movie-stars-almost-cast/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Finn|first=Natalie|url=https://www.eonline.com/news/1066425/a-close-call-deleted-scenes-brad-pitt-s-first-stab-at-redoing-history-10-things-you-forgot-about-inglourious-basterds|title=A Close Call, Deleted Scenes & Brad Pitt's First Stab at Redoing History: 10 Things You Forgot About ''Inglourious Basterds''|work=[[E!]]|date=August 21, 2019|access-date=October 23, 2021|archive-date=November 25, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201125234139/https://www.eonline.com/news/1066425/a-close-call-deleted-scenes-brad-pitt-s-first-stab-at-redoing-history-10-things-you-forgot-about-inglourious-basterds|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Production==
===Development===
[[Quentin Tarantino]] spent just over a decade creating the film's script because, as he told [[Charlie Rose]] in an interview, he became "too precious about the page", meaning the story kept growing and expanding.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7011717003 |title=Quentin Tarantino Spends Decade Writing WWII Drama |work=[[All Headline News]] |publisher=AHN Media |first=Jan |last=Westmark |date=July 24, 2008 |access-date=January 25, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120118202703/http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7011717003 |archive-date=January 18, 2012 |url-status=dead  }}</ref><ref>{{cite video|url=http://www.charlierose.com/view/interview/10567 |people=Quentin Tarantino, Charlie Rose |title=An hour with Filmmaker Quentin Tarantino about his film 'Inglourious Basterds' |time=10min 38s |publisher=Charlie Rose |format=FLV |date=August 21, 2009 |access-date=February 24, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100304205043/http://www.charlierose.com/view/interview/10567 |archive-date=March 4, 2010  }}</ref> Tarantino viewed the script as his masterpiece in the making, so felt it had to become the best thing he had ever written.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.movieweb.com/movie/FI3s3c65CkCR5c/RELc0RMQ2vHwPM |title=Inglourious Basterds: Review By WiseGuy |work=MovieWeb |publisher=Fandango |date=September 2009 |access-date=February 1, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110610221408/http://www.movieweb.com/movie/FI3s3c65CkCR5c/RELc0RMQ2vHwPM |archive-date=June 10, 2011 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> He described an early premise of the film as his "bunch-of-guys-on-a-mission" film,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/10/movies/10hoha.html|title=Bunch of Guys on a Mission Movie|last=Hohenadel|first=Kristin|date=May 6, 2009|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=February 22, 2013|archive-date=October 5, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151005110804/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/10/movies/10hoha.html|url-status=live}}</ref> "my ''[[The Dirty Dozen|Dirty Dozen]]'' or ''[[Where Eagles Dare]]'' or ''[[The Guns of Navarone (film)|Guns of Navarone]]'' kind of thing".<ref>{{cite news | url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/5055906/Battleof-the-blockbusters.html | title= Battle of the blockbusters | work= The Daily Telegraph | first= Marc | last= Lee | date= March 26, 2009 | access-date= February 28, 2010 | location= London | archive-date= March 30, 2009 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090330183604/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/5055906/Battleof-the-blockbusters.html | url-status= live }}</ref>

{{quote box|width=30%|align=right|quote=I'm going to find a place that actually resembles, in one way or another, the Spanish locales they had in spaghetti westerns – a no man's land. With US soldiers and French peasants and the French resistance and German occupation troops, it was kind of a no man's land. That will really be my spaghetti Western but with World War II iconography. But the thing is, I won't be period specific about the movie. I'm not just gonna play a lot of [[Édith Piaf]] and [[The Andrews Sisters|Andrews Sisters]]. I can have [[Rapping|rap]], and I can do whatever I want. It's about filling in the [[viscera]].<ref>{{cite journal|url= http://www.allbusiness.com/services/motion-pictures/4885660-1.html | first=Dylan | last=Callaghan | title=Dialogue with Quentin Tarantino | journal= [[The Hollywood Reporter]] | publisher=[[Nielsen Company|Nielsen]] | date=October 10, 2003|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090301144803/http://www.allbusiness.com/services/motion-pictures/4885660-1.html | archive-date =March 1, 2009}}</ref>|source=—Quentin Tarantino}}

By 2002, Tarantino found ''Inglourious Basterds'' to be a bigger film than planned and saw that other directors were working on [[World War II]] films.<ref name=beijing>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/09/05/movies/tarantino-behind-the-camera-in-beijing.html |title=Tarantino Behind the Camera in Beijing |work=[[The New York Times]] |first=Rick |last=Lyman |date=September 5, 2002 |access-date=January 26, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130602054248/http://www.nytimes.com/2002/09/05/movies/tarantino-behind-the-camera-in-beijing.html |archive-date=June 2, 2013 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> Tarantino had produced three nearly finished scripts, proclaiming that it was "some of the best writing I've ever done. But I couldn't come up with an ending."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2003-10-05-tarantino_x.htm |first=Scott |last=Bowles |title=Tarantino goes for the 'Kill' |work=[[USA Today]] |publisher=[[Gannett Company|Gannet]] |date=October 6, 2003 |access-date=January 26, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040725072955/http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2003-10-05-tarantino_x.htm |archive-date=July 25, 2004 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> He moved on to direct the two-part film ''[[Kill Bill]]'' (2003–2004).<ref name = beijing /> After the completion of ''Kill Bill'', Tarantino went back to his first storyline draft and considered making it a mini-series, but [[Luc Besson]] convinced him to finish it as a film. Instead he trimmed the script, using his script for ''[[Pulp Fiction]]'' (1994) as a guide to length.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,25939754-7642,00.html|title=Tarantino's glorious 'masterpiece'|work=The Courier Mail|first=Rachel|last=Jones|date=August 17, 2009|access-date=February 28, 2010|archive-date=April 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420225941/https://www.couriermail.com.au/?nk=761ee7d389e908ca87f3b0211654b798-1618959581|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://screenrant.com/inglourious-basterds-movie-miniseries-no-quentin-tarantino-response/ | title=Quentin Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds Was Almost a Miniseries | website=[[Screen Rant]] | date=November 8, 2021 }}</ref> The revised premise focused on a group of soldiers who escape from their executions and embark on a mission to help the [[Allies of World War II|Allies]]. He described the men as "not your normal hero types that are thrown into a big deal in the Second World War".<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A1111447| title= Quentin Tarantino – Film Maker| work= H2G2| date= July 16, 2003| publisher= BBC| access-date= February 28, 2010| archive-date= November 30, 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101130180740/http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A1111447| url-status= dead}}</ref>

Tarantino planned to begin production in 2005.<ref name="MTV">{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/movies/news/articles/1510005/20050920/story.jhtml|title=Tarantino Gushes About 'Grind,' Says Next 'Kill Bill' Is 10 Years Away|last=Carroll|first=Larry|date=September 20, 2005|publisher=[[MTV]]|access-date=February 28, 2010|archive-date=February 11, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100211232618/http://www.mtv.com/movies/news/articles/1510005/20050920/story.jhtml|url-status=dead}}</ref> In November 2004, he delayed production and instead took an acting role in [[Takashi Miike]]'s [[Western (genre)|Western]] film ''[[Sukiyaki Western Django]]'' (2007), and intended to make a [[Chinese martial arts|kung fu]] film entirely in [[Standard Chinese|Mandarin]];<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2004/nov/02/china.film |title=Tarantino plans old-style kung fu film – in Mandarin |work=The Guardian |first=Steve |last=Rose |date=November 12, 2004 |access-date=January 26, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091224184205/http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2004/nov/02/china.film |archive-date=December 24, 2009 |location=London |url-status=dead  }}</ref> this project floundered<!-- Foundered is the correct term, please do not change it -->. He directed ''[[Death Proof]]'' (2007), part of the [[double feature]] ''[[Grindhouse (film)|Grindhouse]]'', before returning to work on ''Inglourious Basterds''.<ref name="MTV"/>

{{anchor|title}}The film's title was inspired by the English-language title of director [[Enzo G. Castellari]]'s 1978 [[war film]], ''[[The Inglorious Bastards]]''.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/inglourious-basterds-1.847840 |title=Inglourious Basterds Review |publisher=[[CBC News]] |access-date=January 18, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090826184831/http://www.cbc.ca/arts/film/story/2009/08/20/f-inglourious-basterds-review.html |archive-date=August 26, 2009 |date=August 21, 2009 |url-status=live  }}</ref><ref name="Inglourious Guide">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2009/aug/15/inglourious-basterds-guide |title=Inglourious Basterds Guide |work=The Guardian |access-date=January 19, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090817154535/http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2009/aug/15/inglourious-basterds-guide |archive-date=August 17, 2009 |location=London |first=Damon |last=Wise |date=August 15, 2009 |url-status=dead  }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.today.com/popculture/inglourious-basterds-has-one-tricky-title-wbna32588484 |title=Inglourious Basterds has one tricky title |work=Today.com |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=August 27, 2009 |access-date=January 18, 2010  |archive-date=July 5, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170705211236/http://www.today.com/popculture/inglourious-basterds-has-one-tricky-title-wbna32588484 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Tarantino has said that the film's opening scene, in which Landa interrogates the French dairy farmer, is his "favorite thing" he's "ever written".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/quentin-tarantino-favorite-movie-scenes-2015-7|title=Quentin Tarantino revealed his favourite scene he's written is the start of 'Inglourious Basterds'|website=[[Business Insider]] |date=July 15, 2015|access-date=July 19, 2019|archive-date=July 19, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190719153000/https://www.businessinsider.com.au/quentin-tarantino-favorite-movie-scenes-2015-7|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Casting===
[[File:RothLaurentBenderIBAug09.jpg|thumb|[[Eli Roth]], [[Mélanie Laurent]], and producer [[Lawrence Bender]] at a premiere for the film in August 2009]]
Tarantino originally sought [[Leonardo DiCaprio]] to be cast as Hans Landa,<ref>{{cite news|first=Michael|last=Fleming|url=https://variety.com/2008/film/features/quentin-tarantino-seeks-bastards-1117988993/|title=Quentin Tarantino seeks 'Bastards'|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=July 15, 2008|access-date=July 29, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100322204422/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117988993.html?categoryid=1975&cs=1|archive-date=March 22, 2010|url-status=live}}</ref> before deciding to have the character played by a native German-speaking actor.<ref name=deck>{{cite news|first1=Michael|last1=Fleming|first2=Tatiana | last2=Siegel |url=https://variety.com/2008/film/news/eli-roth-on-deck-for-bastards-1117990111/|title=Eli Roth on deck for 'Bastards'|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=August 5, 2008|access-date=August 6, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090902193732/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117990111.html?categoryid=13&cs=1&nid=2564|archive-date=September 2, 2009|url-status=live}}</ref> The role ultimately went to Austrian [[Christoph Waltz]] who, according to Tarantino, "gave me my movie" as he feared the part was "unplayable".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://variety.com/2009/film/markets-festivals/tarantino-reflects-on-basterds-1118003822/|title=Tarantino Reflects On 'Basterds'|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=May 17, 2009|access-date=December 23, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120303182806/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118003822?refCatId=3628|archive-date=March 3, 2012|url-status=live|first=Michael|last=Fleming}}</ref> Brad Pitt and Tarantino had wanted to work together for a number of years, but they were waiting for the right project.<ref name="CNNPitt">{{cite news|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Movies/08/19/tarantino.pitt.basterds/index.html|title=Tarantino and Pitt: The long-awaited love affair|work=[[CNN]]|publisher=[[Time Warner]]|first=Jim|last=Stenman|date=August 21, 2009|access-date=January 31, 2010|archive-date=January 14, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100114050801/http://edition.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Movies/08/19/tarantino.pitt.basterds/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> When Tarantino was halfway through the film's script, he sensed that Pitt was a strong possibility for the role of Aldo Raine. By the time he had finished writing, Tarantino thought Pitt "would be terrific" and called Pitt's agent to ask if he was available.<ref name="CNNPitt"/>

Tarantino asked [[Adam Sandler]] to play the role of Donny Donowitz, but Sandler declined due to schedule conflicts with the film ''[[Funny People]]'' (2009).<ref name="mtv">{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/movies/news/articles/1619322/story.jhtml|title=Inglourious Basterds Original Cast Plans Called For Leonardo DiCaprio, Adam Sandler|last=Ditzian|first=Eric|work=[[MTV.com]]|publisher=[[Viacom (2005–present)|Viacom]]|date=August 24, 2009|access-date=January 18, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100111231203/http://www.mtv.com/movies/news/articles/1619322/story.jhtml|archive-date= January 11, 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Eli Roth]] was cast in the role instead. Roth also directed the film-within-the-film, ''Nation's Pride'',<ref>{{cite news|url=https://variety.com/2009/film/news/film-faux-draws-a-double-take-1118007314/|title=Film Faux Draws A Double Take|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|first=Justin|last=Kroll|date=August 14, 2009|access-date=January 31, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106032945/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118007314.html?categoryid=13&cs=1&ref=bd_film|archive-date=November 6, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> which used 300 extras.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://collider.com/eli-roth-talks-sci-fi-movie-dangerous-species-and-more/|title=Eli Roth Talks Sci-Fi Movie ENDANGERED SPECIES and More|first=Jonathan |last=Callan |work=Collider.com|date=January 15, 2009|access-date=January 31, 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100114122134/http://www.collider.com/2009/12/15/eli-roth-talks-sci-fi-movie-dangerous-species-and-more/ | archive-date=January 14, 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref> The director also wanted to cast [[Simon Pegg]] in the film as Lt. Archie Hicox, but he was forced to drop out due to scheduling difficulties with ''[[The Adventures of Tintin (film)|The Adventures of Tintin]]'' (2011).<ref name=fassbender>{{cite news|first=Ali|last=Jaafar|url=https://variety.com/2008/film/news/fassbender-in-talks-for-bastards-1117990808/ |title=Fassbender in talks for 'Bastards'|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=August 19, 2008|access-date=August 20, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090830213816/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117990808.html?categoryid=13&cs=1&nid=2564|archive-date=August 30, 2009|url-status=live}}</ref> Irish-German actor [[Michael Fassbender]] began final negotiations to join the cast as Hicox in August 2008,<ref name=fassbender/> although he originally auditioned for the role of Landa.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://elpais.com/elpais/2016/11/30/icon/1480539488_466635.html|title=Michael Fassbender arriesga su dinero y su reputación con 'Assassin's Creed'|last=Guimón|first=Pablo|newspaper=[[El País]]|date=December 23, 2016|language=es|access-date=January 30, 2018|archive-date=January 30, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180130145542/https://elpais.com/elpais/2016/11/30/icon/1480539488_466635.html|url-status=live}}</ref> [[B. J. Novak]] was also cast in August 2008 as Private First Class Smithson Utivich, "a New York-born soldier of 'slight build{{'"}}.<ref>{{cite web|last=Sciretta|first=Peter|title=B.J. Novak Cast in Tarantino's Inglorious Basterds|url=https://www.slashfilm.com/bj-novak-cast-in-tarantinos-inglorious-bastards/|work=SlashFilm|publisher=[[/Film]]|access-date=January 1, 2011|date=August 6, 2008|archive-date=September 27, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120927070940/http://www.slashfilm.com/bj-novak-cast-in-tarantinos-inglorious-bastards/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Tarantino talked to actress [[Nastassja Kinski]] about playing the role of Bridget von Hammersmark and even flew to Germany to meet her, but a deal could not be reached<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/film/news/e3i70662f7dd9d6f3c428c389494a8bc280 |title=Tarantino gets his French girl |first=Borys |last=Kit |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |publisher=[[Nielsen Business Media]] |date=September 2, 2008 |access-date=January 30, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100331200032/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/film/news/e3i70662f7dd9d6f3c428c389494a8bc280 |archive-date=March 31, 2010 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> and Tarantino cast [[Diane Kruger]] instead.<ref name="mtv"/><ref name=KrugerWaltzJoinTarantino>{{cite news |title=Kruger, Waltz join Tarantino film |url=https://variety.com/2008/film/news/kruger-waltz-join-tarantino-film-1117991354/ |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=August 29, 2008 |access-date=January 30, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090923005256/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117991354.html?categoryid=13&cs=1 |archive-date=September 23, 2009 |url-status=live |first=Michael |last=Fleming  }}</ref> [[Rod Taylor]] was effectively retired from acting and no longer had an agent, but came out of retirement when Tarantino offered him the role of [[Winston Churchill]] in the film.<ref name=miamih>{{cite news|first=Scott |last=Eyman |title=Tarantino Comes Calling With A Role For Rod Taylor |url=http://www.miamiherald.com/living/story/1196616.html |work=[[The Miami Herald]] |publisher=[[The McClatchy Company]] |date=August 23, 2009 |access-date=August 20, 2009 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240524123345/https://www.webcitation.org/5kJ4OVKYY?url=http://www.miamiherald.com/living/story/1196616.html |archive-date=May 24, 2024 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> This would be Taylor's last appearance on film before his death on January 7, 2015.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.couriermail.com.au/entertainment/confidential/australian-actor-rod-taylor-dead-at-84-legendary-star-suffers-a-heart-attack-at-la-home/story-fnilxh2s-1227179390543?from=public_rss|title=Australian actor Rod Taylor dead at 84, legendary star suffers a heart attack at LA home|date=January 9, 2015|work=[[The Courier-Mail]]|access-date=January 14, 2015}}</ref> In preparation for the role, Taylor watched dozens of DVDs with footage of Churchill in order to get the Prime Minister's posture, body language, and voice, including a lisp, correct.<ref name=miamih/> Taylor initially recommended British actor [[Albert Finney]] for the role during their conversation, but agreed to take the part because of Tarantino's "passion".<ref name=miamih/> [[Mike Myers]], a fan of Tarantino, had inquired about being in the film since Myers's parents had been in the [[British Armed Forces]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/mike-myers-a-perfect-fit-for-basterds-tarantino-1.425353 |title=Mike Myers a perfect fit for 'Basterds': Tarantino |work=[[The Canadian Press]] |publisher=[[CTV News Channel (Canada)|CTV News]] |date=August 13, 2009 |access-date=January 31, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120929065044/http://www.ctvnews.ca/mike-myers-a-perfect-fit-for-basterds-tarantino-1.425353 |archive-date=September 29, 2012 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> In terms of the character's dialect, Myers felt that it was a version of [[Received Pronunciation]] meeting the officer class, but mostly an attitude of "I'm fed up with this war and if this dude can end it, great because my country is in ruins."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gomolo.in/features/article.aspx?ArticleID=204|title=Mike Myers: I Feel So Honored To Be Able To Do What I Do|publisher=Gomolo.in|date=September 30, 2010|access-date=January 18, 2010 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091004201623/http://www.gomolo.in/features/article.aspx?ArticleID=204|archive-date=October 4, 2009}}</ref>

Tarantino met [[Mélanie Laurent]] in three rounds, reading all the characters on the first round. On the second meeting, he shared the lines with her; the third was a face-to-face dinner. During the dinner, he told Laurent, "Do you know something—there's just something I don't like. It's that you're famous in your country, and I'm really wanting to discover somebody." Laurent replied "No, no, no.&nbsp;... I'm not so famous." After four days, he called to finalize her for the role of Shosanna.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://au.askmen.com/celebs/interview_300/336_inglourious-basterds-interview-melanie-laurent.html|title=''Inglourious Basterds'' Interview: Melanie Laurent|last=Staff|first=AskMen|website=AskMen|access-date=March 27, 2016|archive-date=January 6, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160106232328/http://au.askmen.com/celebs/interview_300/336_inglourious-basterds-interview-melanie-laurent.html|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Samm Levine]] was cast as PFC Hirschberg, because, according to Levine, Tarantino was a big fan of ''[[Freaks and Geeks]]'', which starred Levine.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rosscarey.com/2010/07/27/episode-1-featuring-samm-levine/|title=Episode 1: Featuring Samm Levine|last=Carey|first=Ross|publisher=Conversations with Ross|access-date=January 30, 2018|archive-date=August 1, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120801145731/http://www.rosscarey.com/2010/07/27/episode-1-featuring-samm-levine/|url-status=live}}</ref> Filmmaker [[Tom Tykwer]], who translated parts of the film's dialogue into German, recommended [[Daniel Brühl]] to Tarantino, who recalled that upon seeing the actor's performance in ''[[Good Bye, Lenin!]]'' (2003), he declared, "That's my [Fredrick Zoller] right there. If Daniel's mother had never met Daniel's father, I don't know if we'd ever have the right Zoller".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.filmink.com.au/rewind-the-making-of-inglourious-basterds/ |title=Rewind: The Making Of ''Inglourious Basterds'' |first=Gaynor |last=Flynn |date=May 29, 2016 |access-date=June 14, 2021 |website=[[FilmInk]] |archive-date=November 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221114115714/https://www.filmink.com.au/rewind-the-making-of-inglourious-basterds/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[Isabelle Huppert]] was originally cast in the role of Madame Mimieux<ref name="Huppert">{{cite web|last=Carrière|first=Christophe|url=https://www.lexpress.fr/actualite/indiscret/huppert-rejoint-tarantino_574715.html|title=Huppert rejoint Tarantino|work=[[L'Express]]|date=September 25, 2008|access-date=March 7, 2022|language=French|url-access=subscription|archive-date=January 2, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220102231650/https://www.lexpress.fr/actualite/indiscret/huppert-rejoint-tarantino_574715.html|url-status=live}}</ref> before being fired due to creative differences.<ref>{{cite web|last=Carrière|first=Christophe|url=https://www.lexpress.fr/culture/indiscrets/huppert-tarantino-c-est-fini_580189.html|title=Huppert-Tarantino: c'est fini!|work=[[L'Express]]|date=January 10, 2008|access-date=March 7, 2022|language=French|url-access=subscription|archive-date=April 27, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140427053732/http://www.lexpress.fr/culture/indiscrets/huppert-tarantino-c-est-fini_580189.html|url-status=live}}</ref> It was also reported that [[Catherine Deneuve]] was considered for the role.<ref name="Huppert"/>
According to French musician and actor [[Johnny Hallyday]], Tarantino had originally written a role for him in the film.<ref>{{cite web|last=Lichfield|first=John|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/johnny-goes-to-hallywood-1828781.html|title=Johnny goes Hallywood|work=[[The Independent]]|date=November 27, 2009|access-date=March 7, 2022|url-access=subscription|archive-date=January 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126005543/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/johnny-goes-to-hallywood-1828781.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Huppert"/>

===Filming===
Tarantino teamed with [[the Weinstein Company]] to prepare what he planned to be his film for production.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/film/article1672383.ece |title=Has Tarantino Been Flushed Away? |work=[[The Times]] |publisher=[[News Corporation (1980–2013)|News Corp]] |first=Kevin |last=Maher |date=April 19, 2007 |access-date=January 26, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615061715/http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/film/article1672383.ece |archive-date=June 15, 2011 |location=London |url-status=dead  }}</ref> In July 2008, Tarantino and executive producers [[Harvey Weinstein|Harvey]] and [[Bob Weinstein]] set up an accelerated production schedule to be completed for release at the [[Cannes Film Festival]] in 2009, where the film would compete for the [[Palme d'Or]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mymovies.net/news/news_item.asp?t=Tarantino+Prepping+%22Bastards%22+for+an+October+Start&filmid=1590&nid=5129&s=3&n= |title=Tarantino Prepping "Bastards" for an October Start |publisher=My Movies |date=September 7, 2008 |access-date=January 25, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719121511/http://www.mymovies.net/news/news_item.asp?t=Tarantino+Prepping+%22Bastards%22+for+an+October+Start&filmid=1590&nid=5129&s=3&n= |archive-date=July 19, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8014179.stm |title=Tarantino Up For Top Cannes Prize |work=[[BBC News|News]] |publisher=BBC |date=April 23, 2009 |access-date=January 25, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090820102104/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8014179.stm |archive-date=August 20, 2009 |url-status=live  }}</ref>

The Weinstein Company co-financed the film and distributed it in the United States, and signed a deal with [[Universal Pictures]] to finance the rest of the film and distribute it internationally.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/08/business/media/08weinstein.html|title=Weinstein Company Takes Step to Ease Debt|work=[[The New York Times]]|first=Michael|last=Cieply|date=June 7, 2009|access-date=February 28, 2010|archive-date=May 13, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130513061556/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/08/business/media/08weinstein.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=universal>{{cite journal|first=Borys |last=Kit |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/film/news/e3i0e5e7151b1d77beb5d561526c30d032b |title=Universal, Weinstein Co. negotiating 'Bastards' |journal=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |publisher=[[Nielsen Company|Nielsen]] |date=July 29, 2008 |access-date=July 30, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081123085111/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/film/news/e3i0e5e7151b1d77beb5d561526c30d032b |archive-date=November 23, 2008 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> Germany and France were scheduled as filming locations and [[principal photography]] started in October 2008 on location in Germany.<ref>{{cite web |title=Photos & une vidéo du tournage d'" Inglorious basterds " à Paris dans le 18ème |url=http://www.kdbuzz.com/index.php?2008/12/18/251-photos-et-une-video-du-tournage-d-inglourious-basterds-a-paris-dans-le-18eme |trans-title=Photos and a video of the shooting of "Inglourious Basterds" at Paris in the 18ème ''arondissement'' |publisher=KD buzz |language=fr |date=December 18, 2008 |access-date=January 19, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090828074113/http://www.kdbuzz.com/index.php?2008/12/18/251-photos-et-une-video-du-tournage-d-inglourious-basterds-a-paris-dans-le-18eme |archive-date=August 28, 2009 |url-status=dead  }}</ref><ref name=eyes>{{cite journal |first=Michael |last=Fleming |url=https://variety.com/2008/film/markets-festivals/universal-eyes-tarantino-s-bastards-1117989675/ |title=Universal eyes Tarantino's 'Bastards' |journal=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=July 29, 2008 |access-date=July 29, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090902193727/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117989675.html?categoryid=13&cs=1&nid=2564 |archive-date=September 2, 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.worstpreviews.com/headline.php?id=10430 |title=Quentin Tarantino's "Inglourious Basterds" Began Principal Photography |publisher=WorstPreviews.com |date=October 15, 2008 |access-date=January 20, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120309183536/http://www.worstpreviews.com/headline.php?id=10430 |archive-date=March 9, 2012 |url-status=usurped  }}</ref>

Filming was scheduled to begin on October 13, 2008, and shooting started that week.<ref name=pitt>{{cite journal |first1=Michael |last1=Fleming |first2=Tatiana |last2=Siegel |url=https://variety.com/2008/scene/features/brad-pitt-is-officially-a-bastard-1117990231/ |title=Brad Pitt is officially a 'Bastard' |journal=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=August 7, 2008 |access-date=August 7, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090902193737/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117990231.html?categoryid=13&cs=1&nid=2564 |archive-date=September 2, 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=shooting>{{cite news|url=http://movies.ign.com/articles/919/919660p1.html |title=Inglourious Basterds Begins |date=October 14, 2008 |work=[[IGN Entertainment]] |publisher=News Corp |access-date=October 14, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091214175919/http://movies.ign.com/articles/919/919660p1.html |archive-date=December 14, 2009 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> Special effects were handled by KNB EFX Group with [[Greg Nicotero]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.knbefxgroup.com/knb_alt2.html |title=Contender Q and A With Greg Nicotero |publisher=KNB EFX |date=December 12, 2009 |access-date=February 1, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100125083924/http://www.knbefxgroup.com/knb_alt2.html |archive-date=January 25, 2010 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> and much of the film was shot and edited in the [[Babelsberg Studio]] in [[Potsdam]], Germany,<ref name=Kulish>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/16/world/europe/16germany.html|first=Nicholas|last=Kulish|title=Winslet and Cruise Star in a German Studio's Latest Act|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=February 15, 2009|access-date=January 20, 2010|archive-date=December 30, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171230115358/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/16/world/europe/16germany.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and in [[Bad Schandau]], a small [[spa town]] near Germany's border with the [[Czech Republic]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.atnzone.com/nz/2009/08/27/movie-review-inglourious-basterds |title=Movie Review: Inglourious Basterds |publisher=ATN zone |date=August 27, 2009 |access-date=January 20, 2010 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20100405065508/http://www.atnzone.com/nz/2009/08/27/movie-review-inglourious-basterds |archive-date=April 5, 2010 |url-status=usurped  }}</ref>

Roth said that they "almost got incinerated", during the theater fire scene, as they projected the fire would burn at {{Convert|400|C}}, but it instead burned at {{Convert|1200|C}}. He said the swastika was not supposed to fall either, as it was fastened with steel cables, but the steel softened and snapped.<ref name="roth survives">{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-aug-16-ca-roth16-story.html |title=Eli Roth barely survives acting in Quentin Tarantino's 'Inglourious Basterds' |last=Lee |first=Chris |date=August 16, 2009 |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |access-date=February 5, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100101142733/http://articles.latimes.com/2009/aug/16/entertainment/ca-roth16 |archive-date=January 1, 2010 |url-status=live  }}</ref>

On January 11, 2013, on the BBC's ''[[The Graham Norton Show]]'', Tarantino said that for the scene where Kruger was strangled, he personally strangled the actress, with his own bare hands, in one take, to aid authenticity.<ref>{{Citation | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006xnzc | volume = Series 12 | number = Episode 11 | contribution = Graham Norton Show | title = BBC1 | type = broadcast | date = January 11, 2013 | access-date = January 12, 2013 | archive-date = May 28, 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140528203812/http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006xnzc | url-status = live }}</ref>

Following the film's screening at Cannes, Tarantino stated that he would be re-editing the film in June before its ultimate theatrical release, allowing him time to finish assembling several scenes that were not completed in time for the hurried Cannes première.<ref>{{cite web | last=Thompson | first=Anne | author-link=Anne Thompson (film journalist) | title=Tarantino Update | website=IndieWire | date=May 25, 2009 | url=https://www.indiewire.com/2009/05/tarantino-update-186627/ | access-date=September 13, 2019 | archive-date=August 18, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200818013911/https://www.indiewire.com/2009/05/tarantino-update-186627/ | url-status=live }}</ref>

===Music===
{{main|Inglourious Basterds (soundtrack){{!}}''Inglourious Basterds'' (soundtrack)}}
Tarantino originally wanted [[Ennio Morricone]] to compose the film's soundtrack.<ref name = "Inglourious Guide" /> Morricone was unable to, because the film's sped-up production schedule conflicted with his scoring of ''[[Baarìa (film)|Baarìa]]'' (2009).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.joblo.com/index.php?id=morricone-u-basterd |title=Morricone u Basterd! |work=[[JoBlo.com|JoBlo]] |access-date=September 26, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100408010714/http://www.joblo.com/index.php?id=morricone-u-basterd |archive-date=April 8, 2010 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> However, Tarantino did use eight tracks composed by Morricone in the film, with four of them included on the CD.<ref name="WalesOnlineTarantino" /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/inglourious-basterds-original-soundtrack/1822 |work=[[Slant Magazine]] |title=Inglourious Basterds Original Soundtrack Review |first=Jesse |last=Cataldo |date=August 31, 2009 |access-date=November 23, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100128221111/http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/inglourious-basterds-original-soundtrack/1822 |archive-date=January 28, 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The opening theme is taken from the pseudo-folk ballad "[[The Green Leaves of Summer]]", which was composed by [[Dimitri Tiomkin]] and [[Paul Francis Webster]] for the opening of the 1960 film ''[[The Alamo (1960 film)|The Alamo]]''.<ref name="WalesOnlineTarantino">{{cite news|url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/showbiz-and-lifestyle/film-in-wales/2009/08/23/quentin-tarantino-on-his-ww11-epic-inglourious-basterds-91466-24510448/ |title=Quentin Tarantino on his WW2 epic Inglourious Basterds |work=Wales Online |date=August 23, 2009 |access-date=January 26, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120128115942/http://www.walesonline.co.uk/showbiz-and-lifestyle/film-in-wales/2009/08/23/quentin-tarantino-on-his-ww11-epic-inglourious-basterds-91466-24510448/ |archive-date=January 28, 2012 |url-status=dead  }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://hamptonroads.com/2009/08/inglourious-basterds-great-fun-fans-war-movies |title='Inglourious Basterds' is great fun for fans of war movies |publisher=Hampton Roads |first=Mal |last=Vincent |date=August 22, 2009 |access-date=January 26, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090826134936/http://hamptonroads.com/2009/08/inglourious-basterds-great-fun-fans-war-movies |archive-date=August 26, 2009 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> The soundtrack uses a variety of music genres, including [[Spaghetti Western]] and [[Rhythm and blues|R&B]]. Prominent in the latter part of the film is [[David Bowie]]'s [[Cat People (Putting Out Fire)|theme]] from the 1982 film ''[[Cat People (1982 film)|Cat People]]''.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2009/08/inglourious-basterds-quentin-tarantino.html |title=Quentin Tarantino's method behind 'Inglourious Basterds' soundtrack mix-tape |work=The [[Los Angeles Times]] |publisher=Tribune Co |first=Mark |last=Milian |date=August 22, 2009 |access-date=February 1, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090826135405/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2009/08/inglourious-basterds-quentin-tarantino.html |archive-date=August 26, 2009 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> The soundtrack, the first of Tarantino's not to include dialogue excerpts, was released on August 18, 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://music.barnesandnoble.com/Quentin-Tarantinos-Inglourious-Basterds/e/093624974444 |title=Quentin Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds CD |work=Barnes & Noble |publisher=All Media Guide |access-date=February 1, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100323035201/http://music.barnesandnoble.com/Quentin-Tarantinos-Inglourious-Basterds/e/093624974444 |archive-date=March 23, 2010 |url-status=dead  }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.inglouriousbasterdsmusic.com/ |title = Inglourious Basterds Motion Picture Soundtrack |publisher = Inglourious basterds music |access-date = January 24, 2010 |archive-date = July 22, 2009 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090722134137/http://www.inglouriousbasterdsmusic.com/ |url-status = live }}</ref>

==Release==
[[File:Inglorious Basterds Cannes.jpg|thumb|300px|Cast and crew at the [[2009 Cannes Film Festival]]]]
When the script's final draft was finished, it was [[Internet leak|leaked]] on the Internet and several Tarantino fan sites began posting reviews and excerpts from the script.<ref name="firstshowing.net">{{cite web|url=http://www.firstshowing.net/2008/07/10/script-for-quentin-tarantinos-inglorious-bastards-surfaces |title=Script For Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds Surfaces |work=First Showing |date=July 10, 2008 |access-date=January 18, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100217043508/http://www.firstshowing.net/2008/07/10/script-for-quentin-tarantinos-inglorious-bastards-surfaces/ |archive-date=February 17, 2010 |url-status=dead  }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2008/aug/15/quentintarantino.secondworldwar |title=Tarantino's Nazi 'Reservoir Dogs of War' Leaked Online |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=August 15, 2008 |access-date=January 19, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090812151146/http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2008/aug/15/quentintarantino.secondworldwar |archive-date=August 12, 2009 |location=London |first=Kate |last=Connolly |url-status=dead  }}</ref>

The film's first full [[teaser trailer]] premiered on ''[[Entertainment Tonight]]'' on February 10, 2009,<ref>{{cite journal|url=https://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2009/02/inglorious_basterds.html |title=Your First Look at Inglourious Basterds |journal=[[New York (magazine)|New York]] |publisher=New York Media |date=February 10, 2009 |access-date=January 18, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090214172713/http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2009/02/inglorious_basterds.html |archive-date=February 14, 2009 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> and was shown in US theaters the following week attached to [[Friday the 13th (2009 film)|''Friday the 13th'']].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cinemablend.com/new/Inglourious-Basterds-Trailer-Coming-This-Week-11933.html|title=Inglourious Basterds Trailer Coming This Week|first= Katey|last=Rich|work=Cinema Blend|date=February 9, 2009|access-date=January 21, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090212212024/http://cinemablend.com/new/Inglourious-Basterds-Trailer-Coming-This-Week-11933.html |archive-date=February 12, 2009|url-status=live}}</ref> The trailer features excerpts of Lt. Aldo Raine talking to the Basterds, informing them of the plan to ambush and kill, torture, and scalp unwitting German servicemen, intercut with various other scenes from the film.<ref name="empiretrailer">{{cite journal|url=https://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=24191|title=Inglourious Basterds Trailer Now Online|journal=[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]]|publisher=[[Bauer Media Group]]|access-date=January 20, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120119222319/http://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=24191|archive-date=January 19, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> It also features the spaghetti-westernesque terms ''Once Upon A Time In Nazi Occupied France'',<ref name="empiretrailer"/> which was considered for the film's title,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kpbs.org/news/2009/aug/21/inglourious-basterds/|title=Cinema Junkie: Inglourious Basterds|work=[[KPBS (TV)|KPBS]]|publisher=[[San Diego State University]]|date=August 21, 2009|access-date=January 20, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091106064443/http://www.kpbs.org/news/2009/aug/21/inglourious-basterds/|archive-date=November 6, 2009|url-status=live}}</ref> and ''A Basterd's Work Is Never Done'', a line not spoken in the final film (the line occurs in the script during the Bear Jew's backstory).<ref name="Once Upon a Time">{{cite web|last=Coates|first=Kristen|url=http://thefilmstage.com/2010/03/02/once-upon-a-time-in-nazi-occupied-france-the-basterds-screenplay/|title=Once Upon a Time In Nazi-Occupied France: The 'Basterds' Screenplay|work=The Film Stage|date=March 2, 2010|access-date=March 22, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100310080934/http://thefilmstage.com/2010/03/02/once-upon-a-time-in-nazi-occupied-france-the-basterds-screenplay/|archive-date=March 10, 2010}}</ref>

The film was released on August 19, 2009, in the United Kingdom and France,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.film.com/features/story/inglourious-basterds-uk-review/29694785|title=Inglourious Basterds UK Review|work=Film.com|publisher=RealNetworks|first=Lisa|last=Keddie|date=August 14, 2009|access-date=February 23, 2010|archive-date=March 10, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100310053826/http://www.film.com/features/story/inglourious-basterds-uk-review/29694785|url-status=live}}</ref> two days earlier than the US release date of August 21, 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.empireonline.com/News/story.asp?NID=23938 |title=Inglourious Basterds Gets a Release Date |work=Empire |publisher=Bauer Media |access-date=January 20, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120119170224/http://www.empireonline.com/News/story.asp?NID=23938 |archive-date=January 19, 2012 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> It was released in Germany on August 20, 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.monstersandcritics.com/movies/features/article_1492807.php/In_Pictures_Berlin_Premiere_of_Inglourious_Basterds |title=In Pictures: Berlin Première of Inglourious Basterds |work=Monsters & Critics |publisher=WOTR |access-date=February 1, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100129100535/http://www.monstersandcritics.com/movies/features/article_1492807.php/In_Pictures_Berlin_Premiere_of_Inglourious_Basterds |archive-date=January 29, 2010 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> Some European cinemas, however, showed previews starting on August 15.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/filmblog/2009/aug/25/inglourious-basterds-box-office-previews |title=Inglourious Basterds Box Office Previews |work=The Guardian |publisher=Bauer Media |first=Charles |last=Gant |date=August 25, 2009 |access-date=January 22, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090828022704/http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/filmblog/2009/aug/25/inglourious-basterds-box-office-previews |archive-date=August 28, 2009 |location=London |url-status=dead  }}</ref> In Poland, the artwork on all advertisements and on DVD packaging is unchanged, but the title was translated non-literally to {{lang|pl|Bękarty Wojny}} (Bastards of War), so that Nazi iconography could stylize the letter "O".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bloblo.pl/image/68941/default/Bekarty+wojny.jpg |title=Polish Inglourious Basterds Poster |work=Chomik |access-date=February 9, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100228104419/http://www.bloblo.pl/image/68941/default/Bekarty+wojny.jpg |archive-date=February 28, 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Tarantino did not misspell the title to differentiate his film from the [[The Inglorious Bastards|1978 movie by the same name]]. He said it instead was a creative decision which he initially refused to explain, simply saying that "Basterds" was spelled as such because "that's just the way you say it".<ref>{{cite web|date=August 8, 2020|title=Inglourious Basterds: Why Quentin Tarantino Spelled The Movie Title Wrong|url=https://screenrant.com/inglourious-basterds-tarantino-movie-title-spelling-wrong-reason/|access-date=November 5, 2021|website=ScreenRant|language=en-US|archive-date=November 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211105110414/https://screenrant.com/inglourious-basterds-tarantino-movie-title-spelling-wrong-reason/amp/|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Promotion in Germany and Austria===
[[Universal Pictures]] adjusted the film's publicity materials and website in Germany and Austria to comply with both countries' penal laws, as the [[Strafgesetzbuch section 86a|display of Nazi iconography is restricted there]]: the swastika was removed from the typography of the title, and the steel helmet had a bullet hole in place of the Nazi symbol.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Universal Studios |title=Nazi Symbols removed from German Movie Site |url=http://movies.universal-pictures-international-germany.de/inglouriousbasterds/ |date=July 29, 2009 |access-date=July 29, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100306034918/http://movies.universal-pictures-international-germany.de/inglouriousbasterds/ |archive-date=March 6, 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The site's download section was also revised to exclude wallpaper downloads that openly feature the swastika.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jwire.com.au/gossip/a-non-jewish-german-journalists-take-oninglourious-basterds/|title=A non-Jewish German journalist's take on 'Inglourious Basterds'|last=Bierach|first=Barbara|date=September 13, 2009|work=Jwire|access-date=September 26, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100824184047/http://www.jwire.com.au/gossip/a-non-jewish-german-journalists-take-oninglourious-basterds |archive-date=August 24, 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref> Though advertising posters and wallpapers may not show Nazi iconography, this restriction does not apply to "works of art", according to [[Censorship in the Federal Republic of Germany|German]] and Austrian law, so the film itself was not censored in either Germany or Austria.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://arstechnica.com/old/content/2007/12/german-politician-sues-unsues-wikipedia-over-nazi-symbols.ars|title= German politician sues, unsues Wikipedia over Nazi symbols|last=Anderson|first=Nate|date=December 7, 2007|work=[[Ars Technica]]|publisher=[[Condé Nast Publications]]|access-date=September 26, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090604115451/http://arstechnica.com/old/content/2007/12/german-politician-sues-unsues-wikipedia-over-nazi-symbols.ars | archive-date=June 4, 2009|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Home media===
The film was released on single-disc [[DVD]] and a two-disc special-edition DVD and [[Blu-ray Disc]] on December 15, 2009, by [[Universal Pictures Home Entertainment|Universal Studios Home Entertainment]] in the United States<ref>{{cite web|url=http://backseatcuddler.com/2009/10/20/inglourious-basterds-gets-a-blu-raydvd-release-date/ |title='Inglourious Basterds' Gets a Blu-Ray/DVD Release Date |work=Backseat Cuddler |access-date=January 27, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100125120948/http://backseatcuddler.com/2009/10/20/inglourious-basterds-gets-a-blu-raydvd-release-date/ |archive-date=January 25, 2010}}</ref> and Australia.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ezydvd.com.au/item.zml/809530|title=Inglourious Basterds 2009 DVD|work=Ezy DVD|access-date=January 19, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100131064017/http://www.ezydvd.com.au/item.zml/809530|archive-date=January 31, 2010}}</ref> It was released on DVD and Blu-ray Disc on December 7, 2009, in the United Kingdom.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.whsmithentertainment.co.uk/dvd/inglourious-basterds-inglorious-bastards/10064866.html |title=Inglourious Basterds DVD |publisher=[[W H Smith]] |access-date=January 19, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100121031456/http://www.whsmithentertainment.co.uk/dvd/inglourious-basterds-inglorious-bastards/10064866.html |archive-date=January 21, 2010}}</ref> On its first week of release, the film was number two, only behind ''[[The Hangover]]'', selling an estimated 1,581,220 DVDs, making $28,467,652 in the United States.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.the-numbers.com/dvd/charts/weekly/2009/20091220.php|title=US DVD Sales Chart for Week Ending Dec 20, 2009|publisher=Nash Information Services|work=The Numbers|date=December 20, 2009|access-date=February 26, 2010|archive-date=January 19, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100119161809/http://www.the-numbers.com/dvd/charts/weekly/2009/20091220.php|url-status=live}}</ref>

The German version is 50 seconds longer than the American version. The scene in the tavern has been extended. Although in other countries, the extended scene was released as a bonus feature, the German theatrical, DVD, and Blu-ray versions are the only ones to include the full scene.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.movie-censorship.com/report.php?ID=4237485 |title=Inglorious Basterds |last=Lowrey |first=Michael 'Mike' |date=January 17, 2010 |work=Movie Censorship |access-date=December 5, 2012 |archive-date=February 19, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130219095743/http://www.movie-censorship.com/report.php?ID=4237485 |url-status=live}}</ref>

==Reception==

===Box office===
''Inglourious Basterds'' grossed $120.5 million in the United States and Canada, and $200.9 million in other territories, for a worldwide gross $321.4 million, against a production budget of $70 million.<ref name=BoxOfficeMojo/> It became Tarantino's highest-grossing film, both in the US and worldwide, until ''Django Unchained'' in 2012.<ref>{{cite web|first=Brandon|last=Gray|title=Weekend Report: Moviegoers Feast on 'Meatballs,' Slim Pickings for 'Jennifer'|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=2615&p=.htm|publisher=[[IMDb]]|work=[[Box Office Mojo]]|date=September 21, 2009|access-date=September 27, 2009|archive-date=November 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116213127/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/article/ed3497657348/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Opening in 3,165 screens, the film earned $14.3 million on the opening Friday of its North American release,<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Sperling |first=Nicole |title=Inglourious Basterds gives Quentin Tarantino a box office win on Friday|url=http://hollywoodinsider.ew.com/2009/08/22/inglourious-basterds-gives-quentin-tarantino-a-box-office-win-on-friday/|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|date=August 4, 2009|access-date=August 22, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090825081949/http://hollywoodinsider.ew.com/2009/08/22/inglourious-basterds-gives-quentin-tarantino-a-box-office-win-on-friday/|archive-date=August 25, 2009}}</ref> on the way to an opening-weekend gross of $38 million, giving Tarantino a personal best weekend opening and the number one spot at the box office, ahead of ''[[District 9]]''.<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Nicole | last=Sperling |title=Inglourious Basterds rules the weekend box office|url=http://hollywoodinsider.ew.com/2009/08/23/basterds-wins-box-office/|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|publisher=[[Time Warner]]|date=August 23, 2009|access-date=September 4, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090827032237/http://hollywoodinsider.ew.com/2009/08/23/basterds-wins-box-office/|archive-date=August 27, 2009}}</ref> The film fell to number two in its second weekend, behind ''[[The Final Destination]]'', with earnings of $20 million, for a 10-day total of $73.8 million.<ref>{{cite web|title='Final Destination' slays 'Inglourious Basterds' at the box office|url=http://www.ticketnews.com/Final-Destination-slays-Inglourious-Basterds-at-the-box-office8093181|publisher=Ticket News|date=August 31, 2009|access-date=September 4, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090904042458/http://www.ticketnews.com/Final-Destination-slays-Inglourious-Basterds-at-the-box-office8093181|archive-date=September 4, 2009}}</ref>

''Inglourious Basterds'' opened internationally at number one in 22 markets on 2,650 screens, making $27.49 million. First place openings included France, taking in $6.09 million on 500 screens. The United Kingdom was not far behind making $5.92 million (£3.8 m) on 444 screens. Germany took in $4.20 million on 439 screens and Australia with $2.56 million ([[Australian dollar|A$]]2.8 m) on 266 screens.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.the-numbers.com/interactive/newsStory.php?newsID=4453|title=International Top Five – Glourious Debut for Basterds|date=August 26, 2009|publisher=Nash Information Services|access-date=February 25, 2010|archive-date=August 31, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090831135910/http://www.the-numbers.com/interactive/newsStory.php?newsID=4453|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Critical reception===
[[File:ChristophWaltzCannesMay09.jpg|thumb|Waltz's [[Breakthrough role|breakthrough performance]] as the [[antagonist]] [[Hans Landa]] earned notable acclaim and numerous accolades, including the [[Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor]].]]
Review aggregator [[Rotten Tomatoes]] reports that 89% of 332 critics have given the film a positive review, with a rating average of 7.8/10. The site's critical consensus reads: "A classic Tarantino genre-blending thrill ride, ''Inglourious Basterds'' is violent, unrestrained, and thoroughly entertaining."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/inglourious_basterds/|title=Inglourious Basterds (2009)|work=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|publisher=[[Fandango Media]]|access-date=February 16, 2021}}{{cbignore}}</ref> [[Metacritic]], which assigns a rating on reviews, gives the film a weighted average score of 69 out of 100, based on 36 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/inglourious-basterds |title=Inglourious Basterds Reviews |publisher=[[CNET Networks]] |work=[[Metacritic]] |access-date=October 30, 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Audiences surveyed by [[CinemaScore]] gave the film an average grade of "A−" on an A+ to F scale.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/box-office-once-a-time-hollywood-riding-40m-opening-1227288 |title=Box Office: 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood' Riding Toward $40M Opening; 'Lion King' Stays No. 1 |date=July 26, 2019 |first=Pamela |last=McClintock |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |access-date=July 30, 2019 |archive-date=July 30, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190730071816/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/box-office-once-a-time-hollywood-riding-40m-opening-1227288 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Critics' initial reactions at the [[Cannes Film Festival]] were mixed. The film received an eight- to eleven-minute standing ovation from critics after its first screening at Cannes,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://backseatcuddler.com/2009/05/20/inglourious-basterds-gets-8-minute-standing-ovation-at-cannes/|title=Inglourious Basterds Gets 8 Minute Standing Ovation|publisher=Backseatcuddler.com|date=May 20, 2009|access-date=January 18, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120710143140/http://backseatcuddler.com/2009/05/20/inglourious-basterds-gets-8-minute-standing-ovation-at-cannes/|archive-date=July 10, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theinsider.com/news/2194255__Inglourious_Basterds_Debuts_to_Standing_Ovation|title=Inglourious Basterds Debuts To Standing Ovation|work=[[The Insider (TV series)|The Insider]]|publisher=[[CBS Interactive]]|date=May 20, 2009|access-date=January 18, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100117163234/http://www.theinsider.com/news/2194255__Inglourious_Basterds_Debuts_to_Standing_Ovation|archive-date=January 17, 2010}}</ref> although ''[[Le Monde]]'' dismissed it, saying "Tarantino gets lost in a fictional World War II".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.lemonde.fr/festival-de-cannes/article/2009/05/21/inglourious-basterds-tarantino-s-egare-dans-une-seconde-guerre-mondiale-fictive_1196062_766360.html|title="Inglourious Basterds" Tarantino wanders in a fictional World War II|work=[[Le Monde]]|publisher=La Vie-Le Monde|language=fr|date=May 21, 2009|access-date=July 1, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090522012957/http://www.lemonde.fr/festival-de-cannes/article/2009/05/21/inglourious-basterds-tarantino-s-egare-dans-une-seconde-guerre-mondiale-fictive_1196062_766360.html |archive-date=May 22, 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Despite this, [[Anne Thompson (film journalist)|Anne Thompson]] of ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' praised the film, but opined that it was not a masterpiece, claiming: "''Inglourious Basterds'' is great fun to watch, but the movie isn't entirely engaging ... You don't jump into the world of the film in a participatory way; you watch it from a distance, appreciating the references and the masterful [[Mise-en-scène|mise en scène]]. This is a film that will benefit from a second viewing".<ref>{{cite web |title=Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds Plays Cannes |last=Thompson |first=Anne |author-link=Anne Thompson (film journalist) |website=IndieWire |date=May 20, 2009 |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2009/05/tarantinos-inglourious-basterds-plays-cannes-186634/ |access-date=September 13, 2019 |archive-date=August 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200818013907/https://www.indiewire.com/2009/05/tarantinos-inglourious-basterds-plays-cannes-186634/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

Critic [[James Berardinelli]] gave the film his first four-star review of 2009, stating, "With ''Inglourious Basterds'', Quentin Tarantino has made his best movie since ''Pulp Fiction''", and that it was "one hell of an enjoyable ride".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.reelviews.net/php_review_template.php?identifier=1774|title=Inglourious Basterds Movie Review|work=Reelviews.net|publisher=[[James Berardinelli]]|date=August 18, 2009|access-date=January 19, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110819030350/http://www.reelviews.net/php_review_template.php?identifier=1774|archive-date=August 19, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Roger Ebert]] of the ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]'' also gave the film a four-star review, writing that "Quentin Tarantino's ''Inglourious Basterds'' is a big, bold, audacious war movie that will annoy some, startle others and demonstrate once again that he's the real thing, a director of quixotic delights."<ref>{{cite news |first=Roger |last=Ebert |author-link=Roger Ebert |title=Review: Inglourious Basterds |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/inglourious-basterds-2009 |work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |publisher=RogerEbert.com |date=August 20, 2009 | access-date=August 20, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100128082217/http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090819/REVIEWS/908199995 |archive-date=January 28, 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Author and critic [[Daniel Mendelsohn]] was disturbed by the portrayal of Jewish American soldiers mimicking German atrocities done to European Jews, stating, "In ''Inglourious Basterds'', Tarantino indulges this taste for vengeful violence by—well, by turning Jews into Nazis".<ref>{{cite web | first=Daniel | last=Mendelsohn | title=Review: 'Inglourious Basterds': When Jews Attack | url=http://www.newsweek.com/id/212016/page/2 | work=[[Newsweek]] | date=August 14, 2009 | access-date=August 21, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100212095548/http://www.newsweek.com/id/212016/page/2 | archive-date=February 12, 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Peter Bradshaw]] of ''[[The Guardian]]'' stated he was "struck ... by how exasperatingly awful and transcendentally disappointing it is".<ref>{{cite news |first=Peter |last=Bradshaw |author-link=Peter Bradshaw |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2009/aug/19/inglourious-basterds-review-brad-pitt-quentin-tarantino |title=Film review: Inglourious Basterds |work=[[The Guardian]]|date=September 19, 2009 |access-date=August 20, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327232420/http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2009/aug/19/inglourious-basterds-review-brad-pitt-quentin-tarantino | archive-date=March 27, 2010 |url-status=live| location=London}}</ref>

While praising Christoph Waltz's performance ("a good actor new to American audiences"), [[David Denby]], of ''[[The New Yorker]]'', dismissed the film with the following words: "The film is skillfully made, but it's too silly to be enjoyed, even as a joke. ... Tarantino has become an embarrassment: his virtuosity as a maker of images has been overwhelmed by his inanity as an ''idiot de la cinémathèque''".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/cinema/2009/08/24/090824crci_cinema_denby|title=Americans in Paris|first=David|last=Denby|magazine=[[The New Yorker]]|publisher=[[Condé Nast Publications]]|date=August 24, 2009|access-date=May 23, 2010|archive-date=March 19, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100319223742/http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/cinema/2009/08/24/090824crci_cinema_denby|url-status=live}}</ref> Journalist [[Christopher Hitchens]] likened the experience of watching the film to "sitting in the dark having a great pot of warm piss emptied very slowly over your head".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/interview-christopher-hitchens/asc/|title=Interview: Christopher Hitchens|last=Clayfield|first=Matthew|date=October 3, 2009|work=[[The Punch (Australia)|The Punch]]|publisher=[[News Limited]]|access-date=March 9, 2012|archive-date=December 30, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121230185139/http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/interview-christopher-hitchens/asc|url-status=live}}</ref>

The film also met some criticism from the Jewish press. In ''Tablet'', Liel Liebowitz criticizes the film as lacking moral depth. He argues that the power of film lies in its ability to impart knowledge and subtle understanding, but ''Inglourious Basterds'' serves more as an "alternative to reality, a magical and [[Manichaeism|Manichaean]] world where we needn't worry about the complexities of morality, where violence solves everything, and where the [[Nazi Germany|Third Reich]] is always just a film reel and a lit match away from cartoonish defeat".<ref name="Tablet">{{cite web|url=http://www.tabletmag.com/jewish-arts-and-culture/14057/inglorious-indeed|title=Inglorious Indeed|last=Leibovitz|first=Liel|date=August 21, 2009|work=[[Tablet Magazine]]|publisher=[[Nextbook]]|access-date=September 9, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100224010707/http://www.tabletmag.com/arts-and-culture/14057/inglorious-indeed/ |archive-date=February 24, 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref> Anthony Frosh, writer for the online magazine ''Galus Australis'', has criticized the film for failing to develop its characters sufficiently, labeling the film "Enthralling, but lacking in Jewish content".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://galusaustralis.com/2009/09/1770/inglourious-basterds-enthralling-but-lacking-in-jewish-content/|title=Inglourious Basterds Enthralling But Lacking In Jewish Content|first=Anthony|last=Frosh|work=Galus Australis|date=September 29, 2009|access-date=January 19, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100804063740/http://galusaustralis.com/2009/09/1770/inglourious-basterds-enthralling-but-lacking-in-jewish-content/|archive-date=August 4, 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Daniel Mendelsohn]] was critical of the film's depiction of Jews and the overall revisionist history aspect of the film, writing "Do you really want audiences cheering for a revenge that turns Jews into carboncopies of Nazis, that makes Jews into 'sickening' perpetrators? I'm not so sure."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Mendelsohn |first1=Daniel |title=Tarantino Rewrites the Holocaust |url=https://www.newsweek.com/tarantino-rewrites-holocaust-79003 |website=Newsweek |date=August 13, 2009 |access-date=August 17, 2020 |archive-date=June 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200619002825/https://www.newsweek.com/tarantino-rewrites-holocaust-79003 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Jonathan Rosenbaum]] equated the film to [[Holocaust denial]], stating "A film that didn't even entertain me past its opening sequence, and that profoundly bored me during the endlessly protracted build-up to a cellar shoot-out, it also gave me the sort of malaise that made me wonder periodically what it was (and is) about the film that seems morally akin to Holocaust denial, even though it proudly claims to be the opposite of that."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Rosenbaum |first1=Jonathan |title=Recommended Reading: Daniel Mendelsohn on the New Tarantino |url=https://www.jonathanrosenbaum.net/2019/07/recommended-reading-daniel-mendelsohn-on-the-new-tarantino/ |website=jonathanrosenbaum.net |publisher=Jonathan Rosenbaum |access-date=August 17, 2020 |archive-date=October 11, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201011192016/https://www.jonathanrosenbaum.net/2019/07/recommended-reading-daniel-mendelsohn-on-the-new-tarantino/ |url-status=live }}</ref> When challenged on his opinion, Rosenbaum elaborated by stating, "For me, ''Inglourious Basterds'' makes the Holocaust harder, not easier to grasp as a historical reality. Insofar as it becomes a movie convention – by which I mean a reality derived only from other movies – it loses its historical reality."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Rosenbaum |first1=Jonathan |title=Some Afterthoughts about Tarantino |url=https://www.jonathanrosenbaum.net/2019/05/16606/ |website=jonathanrosenbaum.net |publisher=Jonathan Rosenbaum |access-date=August 17, 2020 |archive-date=September 25, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190925001630/http://www.jonathanrosenbaum.net/2019/05/16606/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

''Inglourious Basterds'' was later ranked #62 on a [[BBC]] critics' poll of the greatest films since 2000.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20160819-the-21st-centurys-100-greatest-films |title=The 21st century's 100 greatest films |publisher=BBC |date=August 23, 2016 |access-date=November 13, 2016 |archive-date=November 24, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161124191856/http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20160819-the-21st-centurys-100-greatest-films |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2010, the ''[[Independent Film & Television Alliance]]'' selected the film as one of the 30 Most Significant Independent Films of the last 30 years.<ref>{{cite web| title = UPDATE: How 'Toxic' Is IFTA's Best Indies?| url = https://deadline.com/2010/09/iftas-toxic-best-indie-film-list-65871/| work = Deadline| date = September 10, 2010| access-date = January 23, 2017| archive-date = February 2, 2017| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170202022156/http://deadline.com/2010/09/iftas-toxic-best-indie-film-list-65871/| url-status = live}}</ref>

In 2013, ''[[GamesRadar+]]'' named Colonel Hans Landa one of the "50 Creepiest Movie Psychopaths".<ref>{{Cite web |author1=Joshua Winning |date=March 14, 2013 |title=50 Creepiest Movie Psychopaths |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/50-creepiest-movie-psychopaths/4/ |access-date=March 8, 2025 |website=gamesradar |language=en}}</ref> In 2021, members of [[Writers Guild of America West]] (WGAW) and [[Writers Guild of America, East]] (WGAE) ranked its screenplay 8th in WGA’s 101 Greatest Screenplays of the 21st Century (so far).<ref>{{Cite web |title=101 Greatest Screenplays of the 21st Century (*so far) |url=https://www.wga.org/writers-room/101-best-lists/101-best-screenplays-of-the-21st-century-so-far/list |access-date=2025-12-26 |website=www.wga.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Pedersen |first=Erik |date=2021-12-06 |title=101 Greatest Screenplays Of The 21st Century: Horror Pic Tops Writers Guild’s List |url=https://deadline.com/2021/12/greatest-screenplays-of-21st-century-list-writers-guild-get-out-1234885622/ |access-date=2025-12-26 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref>

In June 2025, the film ranked number 14 on ''[[The New York Times]]''{{'}} list of "The 100 Best Movies of the 21st Century" and number 11 on its "Readers' Choice" edition of the list.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/movies/best-movies-21st-century.html | title=The 100 Best Movies of the 21st Century | website=[[The New York Times]] | date=June 26, 2025 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Readers Choose Their Top Movies of the 21st Century |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/movies/readers-movies-21st-century.html |website=The New York Times |date=July 2, 2025 |access-date=July 2, 2025}}</ref> In July 2025, it ranked number 59 on ''[[Rolling Stone]]''{{'}}s list of "The 100 Best Movies of the 21st Century."<ref>{{cite magazine | url=https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-lists/best-movies-of-the-21st-century-1235200512/ | title=100 Best Movies of the 21st Century | magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] | date=July 1, 2025 }}</ref>

===Top-ten lists===
''Inglourious Basterds'' was listed on many critics' top-ten lists.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/film/awards/2009/toptens.shtml |title=Metacritic: 2009 Film Critic Top Ten Lists |website=[[Metacritic]] |access-date=February 11, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100211163519/http://www.metacritic.com/film/awards/2009/toptens.shtml |archive-date=February 11, 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref>

{{Div col|colwidth=30em}}
* 1st&nbsp;– [[Mick LaSalle]], ''[[San Francisco Chronicle]]''
* 1st&nbsp;– [[Kyle Smith (critic)|Kyle Smith]], ''[[New York Post]]''
* 1st&nbsp;– Noel Murray, ''[[The A.V. Club]]''
* 2nd&nbsp;– Elizabeth Weitzman, ''[[New York Daily News]]''
* 2nd&nbsp;– [[James Berardinelli]], ''Reelviews''
* 2nd&nbsp;– [[Owen Gleiberman]], ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]''
* 2nd&nbsp;– Scott Foundas, ''[[L.A. Weekly]]''
* 3rd&nbsp;– Rene Rodriguez, ''[[Miami Herald]]''
* 3rd&nbsp;– [[Nathan Rabin]], ''[[The A.V. Club]]''
* 4th&nbsp;– Mark Mohan, ''[[Portland Oregonian]]''
* 5th&nbsp;– Peter Hartlaub, ''[[San Francisco Chronicle]]''
* 5th&nbsp;– [[Roger Ebert]], ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]''
* 5th&nbsp;– [[Richard Roeper]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://blog.richardroeper.com/?p=1454 |title=The best (and worst) of 2009. |date=December 27, 2009 |access-date=August 4, 2019 |archive-date=August 1, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200801203042/http://blog.richardroeper.com/?p=1454 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* 5th&nbsp;– [[Frank Scheck]], ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]''
* 7th&nbsp;– Joe Neumaier, ''[[New York Daily News]]''
* 7th&nbsp;– [[Joe Williams (film critic)|Joe Williams]], ''[[St. Louis Post-Dispatch]]''
* 8th&nbsp;– Claudia Puig, ''[[USA Today]]''
* 8th&nbsp;– [[J. Hoberman]], ''[[The Village Voice]]''
* 8th&nbsp;– Kimberly Jones, ''[[Austin Chronicle]]''
* 9th&nbsp;– Marc Savlov, ''[[Austin Chronicle]]''
* 9th&nbsp;– Mike Scott, ''[[The Times-Picayune]]''
* 10th&nbsp;– Keith Uhlich, ''[[Time Out New York]]''
{{div col end}}

===Accolades===
{{main|List of accolades received by Inglourious Basterds{{!}}List of accolades received by ''Inglourious Basterds''}}

Christoph Waltz was singled out for Cannes honors, receiving the [[Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actor|Best Actor Award]] at the festival's end.<ref>{{cite web|title=Best Actor to Christoph Waltz for his role in "Inglourious Basterds" |url=http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/theDailyArticle/56830.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20100118134058/http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/theDailyArticle/56830.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 18, 2010 |publisher=Cannes Festival |date=May 24, 2009 |access-date=August 21, 2009 }}</ref> Film critic Devin Faraci of ''[[CHUD.com]]'' stated: "The cry has been raised long before this review, but let me continue it: Christoph Waltz needs not an [[Academy Awards|Oscar]] nomination but rather an actual Oscar in his hands. ... he must have gold".<ref>{{cite web|first=Devin | last=Faraci |title=Inglourious Basterds|url=http://www.chud.com/20501/REVIEW-INGLOURIOUS-BASTERDS/|work=[[CHUD.com]]|date=August 18, 2009|access-date=August 20, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100115044719/http://chud.com/articles/articles/20501/1/REVIEW-INGLOURIOUS-BASTERDS/Page1.html|archive-date=January 15, 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref>

The film received four [[Golden Globe Award]] nominations<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/16/movies/awardsseason/16globes.html|title='Up in the Air' Nominated for 6 Golden Globes|work=[[The New York Times]]|first=Brooks|last=Barnes|date=December 15, 2009|access-date=January 26, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180617165253/https://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/16/movies/awardsseason/16globes.html |archive-date=June 17, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> including [[Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Drama|Best Motion Picture – Drama]] and [[Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture|Best Supporting Actor]] for Waltz, who went on to win the award.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://screencrave.com/2010-01-17/golden-globes-2010-winner-for-best-supporting-actor/|title=Golden Globes 2010: Christoph Waltz Wins for Best Supporting Actor|work=Screen Crave|date=January 17, 2010|access-date=January 26, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726072539/http://screencrave.com/2010-01-17/golden-globes-2010-winner-for-best-supporting-actor/|archive-date=July 26, 2011}}</ref>

The film also received three [[Screen Actors Guild Award]] nominations and went on to win the awards for [[Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture|Best Cast]] and [[Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role|Best Supporting Actor]], which was awarded to Waltz.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8476830.stm|title=Inglourious Basterds Wins Top Screen Actors Guild Award|work=[[BBC News]]|date=January 24, 2010|access-date=January 24, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100128005917/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8476830.stm|archive-date=January 28, 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref>

The film was nominated for six [[63rd British Academy Film Awards|BAFTA Awards]], including Best Director for Tarantino,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=26778|title=BAFTA Nominations 2010 Announced!|work=[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]]|publisher=Bauer Consumer Media|date=January 12, 2010|access-date=February 10, 2010|archive-date=January 22, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120122164203/http://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=26778|url-status=live}}</ref> winning only one award—[[BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role|Best Supporting Actor]] for Waltz.

In February 2010, the film was nominated for eight [[82nd Academy Awards|Academy Awards]], including [[Academy Award for Best Picture|Best Picture]], [[Academy Award for Best Director|Best Director]], [[Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor|Best Supporting Actor]] for Waltz, and [[Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay|Best Original Screenplay]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oscars.org/awards/academyawards/legacy/ceremony/82nd-winners.html |title=The 82nd Academy Awards (2010) Nominees and Winners |publisher=[[Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences]] |access-date=November 22, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006110009/http://www.oscars.org/awards/academyawards/legacy/ceremony/82nd-winners.html |archive-date=October 6, 2014  }}</ref> Waltz was awarded the [[Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Binlot|first=Ann|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/abinlot/2016/09/30/academy-award-winner-christoph-waltz-talks-dom-perignon/?sh=42a010443cb7|title=Academy Award Winner Christoph Waltz Talks Dom Pérignon|work=[[Forbes]]|date=September 30, 2016|access-date=October 23, 2021|archive-date=October 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211024044247/https://buy.tinypass.com/checkout/template/cacheableShow?aid=Yj2fRrCPpu&templateId=OTSKWFAWOVON&offerId=fakeOfferId&experienceId=EXZJ3PTI7927&iframeId=offer_a232fd70e90f9cf5fae5-0&displayMode=inline&pianoIdUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fauth.forbes.com%2Fid%2F&widget=template&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.forbes.com|url-status=live}}</ref>

==See also==
* {{annotated link|Bastards (2006 film)|''Bastards''}}
* [[Jewish Brigade]] – A unit of Jewish Soldiers formed by the British to fight the Nazis in WW2
* [[List of films featuring fictional films]]
* [[List of films featuring psychopaths and sociopaths]]
* [[Nakam]] – Also referred to as "The Avengers" or the "Jewish Avengers," a Jewish [[Partisan (military)|partisan]] militia which targeted Nazis
* [[Quentin Tarantino filmography]]
* [[Special Interrogation Group]] – A unit of German-speaking Jewish volunteers formed by the British
* ''[[The Real Inglorious Bastards]]'' – A 2012 Canadian television documentary film about the historical true story

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Wikiquote}}
{{Commons category}}
* {{Official website}}
* {{IMDb title|0361748}}

{{Quentin Tarantino}}
{{Navboxes
|title = [[List of accolades received by Inglourious Basterds|Awards for ''Inglourious Basterds'']]
|list1 =
{{Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Cast}}
{{David di Donatello Best Foreign Film}}
{{Saturn Award for Best Action or Adventure Film}}
{{San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Film}}
{{San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Performance by an Ensemble}}
{{ScreenActorsGuildAward CastMotionPicture 2001-2020}}
{{TFCA Award for Best Film}}}}
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[[Category:2000s war adventure films]]
[[Category:2000s war drama films]]
[[Category:A Band Apart films]]
[[Category:Alternate Nazi Germany films]]
[[Category:American action drama films]]
[[Category:American action thriller films]]
[[Category:American action war films]]
[[Category:American alternate history films]]
[[Category:American political satire films]]
[[Category:American films about revenge]]
[[Category:American multilingual films]]
[[Category:American war adventure films]]
[[Category:American war drama films]]
[[Category:American World War II films]]
[[Category:Babelsberg Studio films]]
[[Category:BAFTA winners (films)]]
[[Category:Cultural depictions of Joseph Goebbels]]
[[Category:Cultural depictions of Winston Churchill]]
[[Category:English-language action drama films]]
[[Category:English-language action thriller films]]
[[Category:English-language German films]]
[[Category:English-language war adventure films]]
[[Category:English-language war drama films]]
[[Category:Films about Adolf Hitler]]
[[Category:Films about anti-fascism]]
[[Category:Films about assassinations]]
[[Category:Films about Jews and Judaism]]
[[Category:Films about Nazi hunters]]
[[Category:Films about Nazis]]
[[Category:Films about the German Resistance]]
[[Category:Films about World War II alternate histories]]
[[Category:Films directed by Quentin Tarantino]]
[[Category:Films featuring a Best Supporting Actor Academy Award–winning performance]]
[[Category:Films featuring a Best Supporting Actor Golden Globe winning performance]]
[[Category:Films produced by Lawrence Bender]]
[[Category:Films set in 1941]]
[[Category:Films set in 1944]]
[[Category:Films set in a movie theatre]]
[[Category:Films set in France]]
[[Category:Films set in London]]
[[Category:Films set in Paris]]
[[Category:Films shot in Germany]]
[[Category:Films shot in Paris]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by Quentin Tarantino]]
[[Category:French-language American films]]
[[Category:French-language German films]]
[[Category:German-language American films]]
[[Category:German alternate history films]]
[[Category:German drama films]]
[[Category:German political satire films]]
[[Category:German films about revenge]]
[[Category:German multilingual films]]
[[Category:German war drama films]]
[[Category:German World War II films]]
[[Category:German-language war films]]
[[Category:Holocaust films]]
[[Category:Satellite Award–winning films]]
[[Category:Saturn Award–winning films]]
[[Category:Universal Pictures films]]
[[Category:The Weinstein Company films]]
[[Category:Films about psychopaths and sociopaths]]