Blending crime, cool, and classic soul, Jackie Brown (1997) is Quentin Tarantino’s slick homage to 1970s Blaxploitation cinema — and a slow-burn caper full of double-crosses and sharp dialogue. Featuring a powerhouse performance from Pam Grier and a killer supporting cast, this film may be quieter than Pulp Fiction, but it’s just as smart, stylish, and satisfying.
Think you’ve got what it takes to keep up with Jackie’s scheme? Take this 10-question trivia quiz and prove you’re sharp enough to make it out with the cash.
Jackie Brown (1997) Trivia Questions & Answers
1) Who plays the title character Jackie Brown in the film?
Correct Answer: Pam Grier
Pam Grier delivers a stunning performance as Jackie Brown, a middle-aged flight attendant caught in the crosshairs of criminals and cops. Her casting is a tribute to her iconic roles in 1970s Blaxploitation films like Coffy and Foxy Brown, and she brings intelligence, strength, and cool to every scene.
2) Who directed Jackie Brown (1997)?
Correct Answer: Quentin Tarantino
Quentin Tarantino wrote and directed Jackie Brown, adapting Elmore Leonard’s novel Rum Punch. It’s his most restrained and character-driven film, showing a different side of his storytelling — one focused on patience, dialogue, and subtle emotion rather than pure shock value.
3) What is Jackie Brown’s job at the start of the film?
Correct Answer: Flight attendant
Jackie works as a flight attendant for a low-budget Mexican airline. She supplements her meager income by smuggling cash from Mexico into the U.S. for arms dealer Ordell Robbie — a risky side hustle that sets the entire plot in motion.
4) What crime is Jackie accused of?
Correct Answer: Smuggling money
Jackie is arrested for smuggling $50,000 in undeclared cash — money that belongs to Ordell. The DEA catches her, but instead of folding, Jackie starts playing both sides to hatch a plan of her own.
5) Which actor plays arms dealer Ordell Robbie?
Correct Answer: Samuel L. Jackson
Samuel L. Jackson brings his signature menace and charisma to Ordell Robbie, a ruthless yet oddly philosophical gun runner. With his snakeskin ponytail and love of manipulation, Ordell is both dangerous and fascinating to watch.
6) Who is the bail bondsman that falls for Jackie?
Correct Answer: Max Cherry
Max Cherry, played with quiet brilliance by Robert Forster, is the weary, soft-spoken bondsman who helps Jackie — and slowly falls for her. His grounded performance earned him an Oscar nomination and gives the film its emotional center.
7) What is the name of the federal agent investigating Jackie?
Correct Answer: Ray Nicolette
Ray Nicolette is played by Michael Keaton, reprising the role in another Elmore Leonard adaptation (Out of Sight). Nicolette is eager, persistent, and sometimes clueless — a classic Tarantino character who’s both comic and credible.
8) Which actress plays Melanie, Ordell’s surfer-girl girlfriend?
Correct Answer: Bridget Fonda
Bridget Fonda plays Melanie, a lazy, stoned beach bunny who lounges around Ordell’s apartment. She may seem harmless, but her manipulative tendencies and dry sarcasm make her a wild card — and ultimately part of the film’s tragic twist.
9) What type of music is heavily featured in the film’s soundtrack?
Correct Answer: 1970s soul and funk
The soundtrack is loaded with smooth soul and funky grooves, including The Delfonics, Bobby Womack, and Bill Withers. It perfectly matches the film’s tone — cool, laid-back, and nostalgic, with a subtle emotional undercurrent.
10) What is Jackie’s ultimate plan by the end of the film?
Correct Answer: Steal the money and start a new life
Jackie orchestrates an elaborate sting to double-cross both Ordell and the feds. By the end, she walks away with half a million dollars and offers Max a chance to join her. When he declines, she drives off alone — a free woman in control of her future.
