Quentin Tarantino’s Reservoir Dogs was theatrically released in 1992.
The crime film was Tarantino’s feature directorial debut. It follows a group of diamond robbers identified by color-coded aliases after a jewelry heist collapses because one member is suspected of being an undercover police officer.
The cast includes Harvey Keitel as Mr. White, Tim Roth as Mr. Orange, Michael Madsen as Mr. Blonde, Steve Buscemi as Mr. Pink and Tarantino as Mr. Brown. The color names are aliases rather than the characters’ real identities, a detail that is central to the film’s structure.
Reservoir Dogs premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 1992 and later screened at the Cannes Film Festival. It became known for its nonlinear storytelling, sharp dialogue and extensive use of popular music, establishing Tarantino as a major new filmmaker.