Matthew Lillard thanks fans and friends after Tarantino comments

Matthew Lillard is embracing the outpour of love he’s received following recent criticism from filmmaker Quentin Tarantino.

Speaking exclusively to People, the 56-year-old actor joked that the support felt like being part of his own eulogy. “It felt like I had died and was in heaven watching everyone send out their RIP tweets,” Lillard said. “I mean, it was really being a part of your own wake, sort of sitting there living through all the nice things people say after you die. So it was really, really lovely.”

Lillard’s comments came after Tarantino, 62, stated on The Bret Easton Ellis Podcast that he didn’t “care for” Lillard, as well as actors Paul Dano and Owen Wilson.

Lillard first addressed the criticism during a GalaxyCon appearance in Columbus, Ohio, in December. “Yeah, whatever. Who gives a s---,” he told the crowd. “Listen, the point is that it hurts your feelings. It f----ing sucks. And you wouldn't say that to Tom Cruise. You wouldn’t say that to somebody who’s a top-line actor in Hollywood.”

Despite the criticism, Lillard says the response from his Hollywood peers and fans has been overwhelming. 

“Everyone, from the people at the mall this weekend with my kids to George Clooney and James Gunn and Mike Flanagan, I mean, people have sort of been really generous with telling me how much they loved me and liked my work,” he said.

Lillard called the criticism a “bummer” because he admires Tarantino and would love to work with him. 

“I think he’s a lovely filmmaker, and to just sort of get punched in the mouth just was kind of a bummer,” Lillard said. Still, he emphasized that the support he received made the experience positive. “At the end of the day, it was kind of lovely.”

Fans will soon see Lillard back on the big screen as he reprises his role as Stu Macher in Scream 7, releasing February 27, 2026. 

He described the upcoming installment as “fantastic” and reassured fans that it “isn’t gonna ruin the franchise, that’s the good news. I don’t think!”

Joining him in the return are franchise stars Neve Campbell as Sidney Prescott, David Arquette as Dewey Riley, and Courteney Cox as reporter Gale Weathers.