This was the first movie made by Quentin Tarantino that I watched. I didn’t know anything about the movie, apart from a handful of references I observed from memes.
The story was undoubtedly different from other movies yet in a way still entertaining. However I am unbeknownst to what the actual plot of this movie was supposed to be nor what was special about it to be considered so popular. Does the fact that it deviates from traditional storytelling in itself act as a selling point?
As you already found out, the storytelling is very special.
The way of showing of violence was new.
The very weird behaviour of most characters was special.
The nonstandard ending (without a clear morale or meaning) was very special, at least for a Hollywood movie.
The dialogues were also special: characters were mostly talking about mundane subjects but in a unique and very entertaining way. Who else can make a Hollywood movie scene with John Travolta telling that the most interesting thing about a foreign country where they speak a foreign language is that they use different words for fast food menu items. It was unexpected and hilarious at the time.
The dialog also indicated class - this is straight pulp fiction/noir stuff.
Tarantino understood how to re-imagine noir for a 90’s audience.
Yes, to expand on this: each of the characters had enough “story” to make a movie of their own, and there were a lot of characters. But it was paced well enough that it didn’t get overwhelming.
Also the casting was very well done. At the time Travolta was a bit of a has-been, and Samuel L Jackson was getting supporting roles but wasn’t as iconic as he is now.
The movie was very influential, so a lot of the innovations it made have been copied, so it seems more “normal” now.