Walton Goggins Steals Quentin Tarantino's 'The Hateful Eight' With Unforgettable Performance

Quentin Tarantino's 2015 Western mystery 'The Hateful Eight' is often ranked among the director's weakest films, but it features one of his most compelling characters in Chris Mannix, played by Walton Goggins. The film traps eight strangers in a Wyoming haberdashery during a blizzard, and Goggins' Mannix—a boastful, self-proclaimed sheriff—becomes the story's unlikely moral compass. While critics and fans debate the movie's pacing, dialogue, and violence, Goggins' performance stands out for its humor, nuance, and surprising depth. He balances the character's bigotry and bluster with moments of vulnerability that make Mannix oddly sympathetic. This role helped elevate Goggins from a respected character actor to a scene-stealing lead, proving he could hold his own alongside Tarantino veterans like Samuel L. Jackson and Kurt Russell. His work in 'The Hateful Eight' remains a masterclass in making an unlikable character magnetic, and it's a key reason to revisit the film despite its flaws. For fans of great acting, Goggins' turn is worth the three-hour runtime.