10 Best Michael Madsen Movies and Shows to Watch & Honor ‘Reservoir Dogs’ Star

It might be a sad reason for Quentin Tarantino’s fans to revisit his biggest hits as the news about the director’s friend and frequent movie star Michael Madsen spread around the world just yesterday.

The actor was found dead in his Malibu house on July 3 after being unresponsive for suspiciously long; his cause of death is yet to be determined, with early predictions suggesting that Madsen suffered a cardiac arrest.

To the entire world the actor was mostly known for his roles in Tarantino’s numerous movies, varying from minor to leading roles in the director’s cult classic films.

Here we recollect Michael Madsen’s best works on TV and in movies that became the true highlights of his career.

‘Kill Me Again’ (1989)

• On Rotten Tomatoes, Kill Me Again holds scores of 100% and 48% from critics and viewers
• On IMDb, the movie is rated 6.3/10

In this neo-noir crime thriller, Michael Madsen portrays Vince Miller, a violent and obsessive criminal ex-boyfriend of the female lead who hires a private detective to help her fake her death.

‘The Garden Left Behind’ (2019)

• On Rotten Tomatoes, The Garden Left Behind has scores of 91% and 88% from critics and audiences
• On IMDb, the movie rates 6.1/10

The drama movie sees Madsen taking on the supporting role of Dr. Cleary, a compassionate physician who provides the film’s lead, Mexican trans woman Tina, with medical care and becomes one of few figures to give her his full support.

‘Reservoir Dogs’ (1992)

• On Rotten Tomatoes, Reservoir Dogs keeps scores of 90% and 94% from critics and viewers
• On IMDb, the movie’s rating is 8.3/10

Quentin Tarantino’s directorial breakthrough stars Madsen as Mr. Blonde (Vic Vega), a calm yet sadistic criminal and a part of a group of criminals who suspect one of them might be a traitor.

‘Donnie Brasco’ (1997)

• On Rotten Tomatoes, Donnie Brasco has scores of 88% and 89% from critics and audiences
• On IMDb, the movie is rated 7.7/10

Based on real events, this biography drama sees Madsen as Sonny Black, a mob leader who starts suspecting something after an FBI agent infiltrates the mafia and forms a dangerous bond with Black himself.

‘Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood’ (2019)

• On Rotten Tomatoes, Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood holds scores of 86% and 70% from critics and viewers
• On IMDb, the movie rates 7.6/10

In the Leonardo DiCaprio-led comedy drama, also directed by Quentin Tarantino, Madsen gets a cameo role and portrays a sheriff in one of Rick Dalton’s fictional Western TV shows.

‘Thelma & Louise’ (1991)

• On Rotten Tomatoes, Thelma & Louise has scores of 86% and 82% from critics and audiences
• On IMDb, the movie’s rating is 7.6/10

The adventure crime drama stars Madsen as Jimmy, a caring boyfriend of Louise who, alongside her friend, flees across the American Southwest after a violent incident.

‘Kill Bill: Vol. 1’ (2003)

• On Rotten Tomatoes, Kill Bill: Vol. 1 holds scores of 85% and 81% from critics and viewers
• On IMDb, the movie rates 8.2/10

Quentin Tarantino’s martial arts masterpiece doesn’t feature Madsen physically, though his character — a brother of Bill, The Bride’s former boss and lover — is mentioned throughout the first volume.

‘Kill Bill: Vol. 2’ (2004)

• On Rotten Tomatoes, Kill Bill: Vol. 2 has scores of 84% and 89% from critics and audiences
• On IMDb, the movie’s rating is 8/10

In the second part of Tarantino’s hit action movie, Madsen appears as Budd, Bill’s brother who leads a pretty miserable life as a bouncer when he meets the revenge-fuelled Bride.

‘The Hateful Eight’ (2015)

• On Rotten Tomatoes, The Hateful Eight keeps scores of 74% and 77% from critics and viewers
• On IMDb, the movie is rated 7.8/10

In Quentin Tarantino’s star-studded mystery crime thriller, Madsen portrays Joe Gage, a soft-spoken cowboy who hides a major deadly secret as he and other strangers are caught in a snowstorm in post–Civil War Wyoming.

‘The Boonies’ (2016 — )

• On Rotten Tomatoes, The Boonies holds scores of 76% and 81% from critics and audiences
• On IMDb, the show is rated 7.2/10

This comedy adventure TV series features Michael Madsen as a narrator recounting the story of a quirky group of small-town misfits who embark on often ridiculous adventures across rural America.