Paul Dano FINALLY addresses Quentin Tarantino's 'weakest actor' jibe amid mass Hollywood backlash

Paul Dano has finally reacted to the swipe Quentin Tarantino made about his acting abilities.

In December 2025 the 62-year-old director appeared on an episode of The Bret Easton Ellis Podcast and described Dano, 41, as a 'flaw' in 2007's Oscar-winning movie There Will Be Blood.

He went on to say that the actor is 'just such a weak, weak, uninteresting guy.'

And when host Ellis reasoned that Daniel Day-Lewis' performance may have simply 'overshadowed' Dano's, Tarantino doubled down: 'So you put him with the weakest male actor in SAG? The limpest dick in the world?'

At the Sundance Film Festival on Wednesday, Dano shared how he felt about various famous actors coming to his defense in the wake of the unflattering comments.

'I was incredibly grateful that the world spoke up for me so I didn't have to,' he said, per Variety.

Dano's Little Miss Sunshine co-star Toni Collette was by his side on Wednesday as she also gave her unfiltered reaction to Tarantino's unsavory remarks. 

'F**k that guy!' the 53-year-old actress said. 'He must've been high. It was just confusing. Who does that?'

Of Collette coming to his defense, Dano said, 'That was really nice.'

Meanwhile, Jonathan Dayton labeled Tarantino's takedown – which extended to actors Matthew Lillard and Owen Wilson – an 'embarrassment.'

He mused: 'I can only think that his rawness of his performance made Tarantino uncomfortable.'

And Little Miss Sunshine co-director Valerie Faris said, 'You know, what was interesting was the people coming out to defend Paul. There was immediately… he is loved by so many. He is so smart.'

Dano has earned a spot among the most distinguished stars in entertainment, appearing in The Fabelmans, The Batman, Prisoners, and Love & Mercy among others. 

His accolades include a BAFTA Best Supporting Actor nod for There Will Be Blood, a Golden Globe nomination and two Emmy nominations.

Day-Lewis came to the defense of his There Will Be Blood co-star Dano following Tarantino's criticism.

After a fan-run Daniel Day-Lewis Instagram account posted, 'Paul Dano is one of the best and most talented actors of his generation,' a rep for the retired star told The Guardian he 'endorsed the sentiment.'

The Batman director Matt Reeves joined the conversation, declaring on X in December: 'Paul Dano is an incredible actor, and an incredible person.'

And Escape at Dannemora director Ben Stiller used the app to add: 'idk man i think paul dano is an incredible actor.'

Tarantino added during the controversial podcast appearance: 'I'm not saying he's giving a terrible performance. I'm saying he's giving a non-entity [performance]. 

'I don't care for him. I don't care for Owen Wilson, I don't care for Matthew Lillard.'