In iconic films like Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction, Quentin Tarantino personified the spirit of ’90s filmmaking, boldly forging his own opportunities rather than waiting for the movie industry to come knocking on his door. He and his fellow travelers—directors like Richard Linklater (Dazed and Confused), John Singleton (Boyz n the Hood), Guillermo del Toro (The Devil’s Backbone), David Fincher (Seven), Robert Rodriguez (Desperado), Kevin Smith (Clerks), Noah Baumbach (Kicking and Screaming), Wes Anderson (Rushmore), Paul Thomas Anderson (Boogie Nights), Christopher Nolan (Following), Darren Aronofsky (Requiem for a Dream), and Sofia Coppola (The Virgin Suicides)—built their maverick-style careers on the foundation of Generation Tarantino and its cinematic subgenre.

Breaking free from the blockbuster bloat of the 1980s, Generation Tarantino in some ways recalled the era of an earlier wave of pioneers—of Scorsese, Spielberg, Coppola, Altman, and De Palma. But they were uniquely of their time, capturing the attitude of young adults in the 1990s: breaking the rules, setting new standards, mixing tones and genres in a way that no one had before. These were directors who wouldn’t take no for an answer.

Generation Tarantino: The Last Wave of Young Turks in Hollywood is an examination of the films, careers, and artistic styles of the most significant filmmakers to emerge during the 1990s. With interviews from filmmakers, screenwriters, cameramen, producers, and actors, this is a book about a generation of directors who raised the artistic bar and changed cinema forever.