Alternate Versions
The Canadian DVD version of the film includes the two alternate scenes mentioned above, plus a few additional ones. A longer scene of Vincent Vega purchasing heroin at Lance (Eric Stoltz)'s house, complaining about how rude people are. Eric's character complains about how he had asked for directions one time and was given incorrect instructions. Another additional scene takes place in Esmarelda's cab, where Butch does a lengthier explanation of how he feels about killing the man in the boxing ring. The other scene included on this DVD takes place at the auto parts yard, where Winston Wolf and the yard owner's daughter flirt and make plans for breakfast. All of the deleted scenes are shown in a separate section of the DVD, introduced by Tarantino, and are not included in the actual film.
A Special Collector's Edition has been released on video in the Spring of 1996. This edition includes a supplementary 11-minute section that features director Quentin Tarantino introducing two never-before-seen scenes, not included in the original theatrical release. The two scenes are as follows:
- Vincent Vega and Mia Wallace's first encounter in her apartment is longer. Before leaving to have dinner to the Jackrabbit Slim's, Mia interviews Vincent while shooting with a hand-held video camera. Mia asks Vincent if he's related to folk singer Suzanne Vega and then proceeds with a series of trivia-like questions on his personal preferences ("Brady Bunch or the Partridge Family?") and asks him if he's an "Elvis man or a Beatles man". This explains a later comment ("An Elvis man should love this") that Mia makes in the theatrical version.
- The taxi ride and conversation between Butch and driver Esmarelda are longer and there's additional dialogue where Butch explains his feelings about being a boxer and killing his opponent Floyd.
The 2011 UK blu-ray is the full uncut version of the film. The scene in which John Travolta's character shoots up show the needle piercing his arm in clear full instead of the optical reframe.
Most network television prints eliminate (or at least blank out) profanity and dialogue to an absurd degree. For example, the aftermath of the scene where Vincent shoots Marvin by accident is replaced by a fade to black and a John Travolta sound-alike saying "Oh man I just shot Marvin in the face", and Butch's profane outburst in the hotel room is silenced (both making his physical rage unintentionally comical and neutralizing the actual punchline, "It's not your fault.").
Although uncut in UK cinemas, the video versions were all reframed to remove the sight of the needle piercing John Travolta's arm. This reframed version is the one which was also shown on network TV (BBC 2). The 2011 blu-ray waives all previous cuts.
Italian DVD version is a slightly cut television version that omits some footage showing Marcellus Wallace being sodomized by Zed.
The network television version makes the following alterations:
- Dubbed dialogue in Pumpkin and Honey Bunny's opening conversation
- Omission of the entire scene after Vincent and Jules get off the elevator talking about foot massages
- Omission of a part of the drug transaction scene starting with Vincent's discussion of how his car was keyed
- Omission of the "shooting-up" sequence
- The audio of Uma Thurman snorting cocaine as "Son of a Preacher Man" plays is absent
- Inclusion of the "Mia Wallace" interview scene
- Omission of the scene where Vincent finds Mia in her overdosed condition
- Omission of the "oral pleasure" scene
- When Butch opens the door to reveal the sodomy of Marsellus, an image of Maynard has been superimposed to prevent from seeing Zed's actual thrusting
- Omission of the entire scene where Jules and Vincent argue after blowing Marvin's head off (both in the car and in Jimmy's bathroom)
- Omission of the entire scene of Jules and Vincent cleaning up the back of the car
- Among the list of words cut out: all variations of "fuck", "shit", "God damn", and "nigger". The use of the word "bitch" is permitted in some cases ("Does he look like a bitch?") but not in others ("Tell that bitch ['babe' in the TV version] to be cool!")
In the United Arab Emirates, a completely different version of the film was released theatrically. The film was re-edited so that each story was told without intercutting. The Vincent Vega/Jules Winnfield story and the Bonnie Situation were first, then the story concerning Vincent Vega and Marcellus Wallace's wife was told, and finally the Gold Watch story was told. The film ended with Butch and Fabian riding off on the chopper.
The special edition U.S. DVD contains the following deleted scenes:
- Lance/Vince drug deal is longer and Lance delivers a monologue about being given wrong directions.
- The extended Butch/Esmerelda cab scene.
- Longer Monster Joe's Truck yard sequence.
- Vince on Mia's camera scene.
- Extended Vince/Mia dinner sequence.
In the Spanish Dubbed Version, when Butch and Fabianne are talking after the shower, the line, "But I do not speak Spanish," was changed to, "I do not speak Portuguese."
The video version released in Saudi Arabia was similar to the one released theatrically in the United Arab Emirates.
In the television version, all mentions of The Gimp and all his scenes are deleted. In one scene with Zed talking, where in the original film a small portion of The Gimp's shoulder is visible, the television version removes it by zooming in on Zed.
During the scene where Bruce Willis is drying himself off after the shower, the TV version digitally stretches his towel so it covers him up.
