Robert Altman's McCabe & Mrs. Miller (1971) is widely regarded as one of the most groundbreaking revisionist Westerns ever made—a film that deliberately upends nearly every convention of the genre. But not everyone was an immediate fan. Quentin Tarantino, a noted Western enthusiast who has himself subverted cowboy tropes in films like Inglourious Basterds and Django Unchained, had a famously rocky first encounter with Altman's masterpiece.
On the Pure Cinema Podcast, Tarantino described his complicated relationship with the film, which stars Warren Beatty and Julie Christie. He declared that the first reel features "the worst-mixed reel in the history of Hollywood cinema," adding that "there's a level of incompetence to the mix that Hollywood never really goes below." He admitted that when he first watched it on VHS, the opening act was so "ugly" he gave up. A second attempt also failed. It wasn't until he tracked down a 35mm print—intending to gift it to Richard Linklater—that he finally gave the film another chance and had a completely different reaction.
"I really, really liked it," Tarantino said. "The first 20 minutes, the sound mix is still dreadful. It's abysmal. But you get caught up in the movie, and it envelops you and Beatty envelops you and Christie envelops you, and then the whole end—I think it's just perfect."
Now, audiences can judge for themselves without spending a dime. McCabe & Mrs. Miller is streaming for free on Tubi in July 2026. This is a perfect opportunity for fans of the Western genre—or those curious about its subversion—to experience a film that continues to influence directors like Tarantino and the creators behind flawless Western TV shows.
Tarantino, meanwhile, is preparing his long-rumored final film. Cinematographer Robert Richardson recently revealed that production is slated to begin in 2027. Before that, fans can look forward to The Adventures of Cliff Booth, the sequel to Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. Written by Tarantino and directed by David Fincher, the film will have an IMAX run in November before hitting Netflix in December.
For those who prefer their Westerns with a more traditional sound mix, there are plenty of other options. Liam Neeson's underrated neo-Western 'In the Land of Saints and Sinners' hits Netflix in August 2026, and Tim Blake Nelson's overlooked Western 'Old Henry' finally gets its due on Netflix. But for a true classic that challenged the genre from the inside out, McCabe & Mrs. Miller remains essential viewing—even if its first 20 minutes are, by Tarantino's own admission, a bit of an acquired taste.
