The movie cost only $8 million to make. The initial budget was reportedly even lower until Bruce Willis was added to the cast (he had a recent string of domestic flops but was still a box-office draw overseas). Five million dollars went to pay the actors' and actresses' salaries. The film was already profitable when its worldwide rights were sold for $11 million (again, mainly on the strength of Willis' presence). It went on to gross over $200 million at the box office.
Uma Thurman originally turned down the role of Mia Wallace. Quentin Tarantino was so desperate to have her as Mia, he ended up reading her the script over the phone, finally convincing her to take on the role.
The 1964 Chevelle Malibu convertible driven by Vincent Vega (John Travolta) belonged to writer and director Quentin Tarantino, and was stolen during production of the film. In 2013, a police officer saw two kids stripping an older car. He arrested them, and while looking up the owner of the vehicle he found the VIN had been altered. It turned out that it was Tarantino's stolen car. The owner had recently purchased it and had no idea it was stolen.
Uma Thurman did not actually like the song that was played in the Jack Rabbit Slim's Twist Contest (Chuck Berry's "You Never Can Tell"), and she told Quentin Tarantino about this, saying it just did not sound right. Tarantino simply replied, "Trust me, it's perfect."
Mr. Blonde, a.k.a. Vic Vega, played by Michael Madsen in Reservoir Dogs (1992), is the brother of Vincent Vega. Quentin Tarantino even had a spin-off film in development, titled "Double V Vega," which was a prequel to both movies. This film was scrapped, because both actors were too old to play younger versions of themselves.
Steve Buscemi: Having to refuse the role of Jimmie due to scheduling conflicts, Buscemi appears as the Buddy Holly waiter in Jack Rabbit Slim's. As Mr. Pink in Reservoir Dogs (1992), he refused to tip wait staff.
Quentin Tarantino: [long take] When Jules and Vincent step out of the elevator for their "foot massage" debate, we follow them all the way through the labyrinthine hallways to Brett's door, past Brett's to a window and finally, back to Brett's door, all in a single take.
Quentin Tarantino: [The Netherlands] Tarantino wrote the script in Amsterdam, in a hotel room and in the "coffee shop" (Dutch euphemism for a hash bar) Betty Boop. He stayed for several months, and left the video rental store "Cult Video" with an unpaid bill of about $150. This stay explains the references to Dutch culture and customs at the beginning of the movie. Vincent tells his heroin dealer that "I just got back from Amsterdam," and discusses it with Jules in their opening scene. In the conversation in the Jack Rabbit Slim's restaurant, Mia mentions that she goes to Amsterdam to "chill out" for a month or two every now and again. In the same restaurant, Vincent smokes Drum, which is a Dutch rolling tobacco. Also, the book version of the movie's screenplay includes some cut dialogue between Vincent and Mia. He realizes that she was "the girl in the cowboy hat" in a photo at a hash bar they both visited, "The Cobra," which is right across from the Anne Frank house in Amsterdam. Also, Butch often calls Fabienne "tulip," a cultural symbol of the Netherlands.
Quentin Tarantino: [Red Apple cigarettes] Butch smokes "Red Apple" cigarettes, as does Mia Wallace. Pumpkin also has a pack of Red Apples lying in front of him in the opening scene. The red apple and the green worm can be made out when looking closely.
Quentin Tarantino: [Shin'ichi "Sonny" Chiba] During an interview, Tarantino admitted that Jules' Samuel L. Jackson Bible quote of Ezekiel 25:17 was something he remembered from the Shin'ichi Chiba movie Le garde du corps (1973), a.k.a. The Bodyguard. He said he never read it in the Bible, and it is taken almost word for word from that film. Tarantino has always been a Chiba fan, and has included references to him in True Romance (1993), and a cameo by Chiba in Kill Bill: Volume I (2003).