--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But then when I'm in a halfway successful…" description: "\"But then when I'm in a halfway successful movie, it irritates the hell out of the critics in New York, because they'd like to kill my pictures if they ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2c/burt-reynolds-9553_critics_but-then-when-i-m-in-a-halfway-successfu_505032.jpg" --- # But then when I'm in a halfway successful movie, it… ![“But then when I'm in a halfway successful movie, it irritates the hell out of the critics in New York, because they'd like to kill my pictures if they could. So maybe I'm pretty good in the movie. Then they use all these words like I'm 'surprisingly' good, or 'shockingly enough,' I'm good. It's…” quote by Burt Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2c/burt-reynolds-9553_critics_but-then-when-i-m-in-a-halfway-successfu_505032.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2c/burt-reynolds-9553_critics_but-then-when-i-m-in-a-halfway-successfu_505032.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2c/burt-reynolds-9553_critics_but-then-when-i-m-in-a-halfway-successfu_505032.jpg) > “But then when I'm in a halfway successful movie, it irritates the hell out of the critics in New York, because they'd like to kill my pictures if they could. So maybe I'm pretty good in the movie. Then they use all these words like I'm 'surprisingly' good, or 'shockingly enough,' I'm good. It's like I crawled out from under a magazine and they're surprised I can act.” [Burt Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burt-reynolds/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Critics in New York react harshly to moderately successful movies, yet they praise the actor's performance as surprisingly good, highlighting a paradox of criticism and acclaim. **In simple terms:** Critics are harsh but still praise the actor. Key Takeaway Recognize that praise can coexist with criticism. Themes criticism recognition paradox media celebrity Mood defensive reflective Type observational analytical When to use this quote - film promotion - career management - media interviews - public relations Key Concepts selfesteem public perception artistic merit Questions to Reflect On - How do you separate genuine feedback from sensationalism? - What impact does media bias have on an actor’s self‑image? A Different Perspective Critics may be biased, and praise can be backhanded. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hell/) [Movie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movie/) [New york](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-york/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Successful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/successful/) ## Related quotes > ['Jaws' freed me to discover that a successful movie didn't make a damn bit of difference to my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorraine-gary/jaws-freed-me-to-discover-that-a-successful-movie-didn-t-make-a-damn/) Lorraine Gary > [I hope to be involved in a successful movie script.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kareem-abdul-jabbar/i-hope-to-be-involved-in-a-successful-movie-script/) [Kareem Abdul-Jabbar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kareem-abdul-jabbar/) > [For you to do more films in a certain industry, you need a successful movie. Unluckily, that also didn't happen in Hindi and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramya-krishnan/for-you-to-do-more-films-in-a-certain-industry-you-need-a-successful/) [Ramya Krishnan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramya-krishnan/) > [Hopefully, after 'Victorious' has lived a long and beautiful life, I would like to go into movies. And I'd like to have a very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gillies/hopefully-after-victorious-has-lived-a-long-and-beautiful-life-i/) [Elizabeth Gillies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gillies/) > [I've done a movie and a TV series, and someday I'd like to do a successful movie and a successful TV series. That would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-yankovic/i-ve-done-a-movie-and-a-tv-series-and-someday-i-d-like-to-do-a/) [Al Yankovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-yankovic/) > [The Cable Guy was underbudgeted, so it was always a debate about whether we could have more days or certain things that we needed,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judd-apatow/the-cable-guy-was-underbudgeted-so-it-was-always-a-debate-about/) [Judd Apatow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judd-apatow/) > [It doesn't even matter how successful a movie like 'Up' is: you'll never sell a lot of toy walkers. But that's the way we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-catmull/it-doesn-t-even-matter-how-successful-a-movie-like-up-is-you-ll-never/) [Edwin Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-catmull/) > [Recognition has brought me more work, because your name suddenly comes to mind when some directors are trying to cast a character. And my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/recognition-has-brought-me-more-work-because-your-name-suddenly-comes/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [Sometimes things work out, sometimes they don't. I never know how successful a movie is going to be - when you make a movie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-walken/sometimes-things-work-out-sometimes-they-don-t-i-never-know-how/) [Christopher Walken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-walken/) > [I think to me the biggest mark of a successful movie is when you can tell a universal story. That to me is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/da-vine-joy-randolph/i-think-to-me-the-biggest-mark-of-a-successful-movie-is-when-you-can/) [Da'Vine Joy Randolph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/da-vine-joy-randolph/) > [If you have a successful movie, No. 2 is always a little bit bigger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-duffer/if-you-have-a-successful-movie-no-2-is-always-a-little-bit-bigger/) [Ross Duffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-duffer/) > [I think everybody's goal was to make something that was really broad for a big audience, which was my goal too. But my main…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-dawson/i-think-everybody-s-goal-was-to-make-something-that-was-really-broad/) [Shane Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-dawson/) > [You can't be successful throughout in your movie career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramya-krishnan/you-can-t-be-successful-throughout-in-your-movie-career/) [Ramya Krishnan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramya-krishnan/) > [I think 'The Lost World' could've been a successful movie except for the fact that it pre-dated the good special effects and computer graphics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rhys-davies/i-think-the-lost-world-could-ve-been-a-successful-movie-except-for/) [John Rhys-Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rhys-davies/) > [Along with loving the script, the reason I did 'Aeon Flux' was because I needed the job, and I couldn't find $5 million to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karyn-kusama/along-with-loving-the-script-the-reason-i-did-aeon-flux-was-because-i/) [Karyn Kusama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karyn-kusama/) ## More by Burt Reynolds > [The most important thing to remember is: to protect your quarterback - ME!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burt-reynolds/the-most-important-thing-to-remember-is-to-protect-your-quarterback-me/) [Burt Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burt-reynolds/) > [If I hadn't been an actor, I would have been a coach, and I would have been a good one. All teaching is is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burt-reynolds/if-i-hadn-t-been-an-actor-i-would-have-been-a-coach-and-i-would-have/) [Burt Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burt-reynolds/) > [I thought 'Deliverance' was a very good film. But it didn't have the success financially that 'Smokey and the Bandit' did, although that film…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burt-reynolds/i-thought-deliverance-was-a-very-good-film-but-it-didn-t-have-the/) [Burt Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burt-reynolds/) > [You can only hold your stomach in for so many years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burt-reynolds/you-can-only-hold-your-stomach-in-for-so-many-years/) [Burt Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burt-reynolds/) > [If I want to be up for an Academy Award, I'm either going to have to play a tour de force of some kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burt-reynolds/if-i-want-to-be-up-for-an-academy-award-i-m-either-going-to-have-to/) [Burt Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burt-reynolds/) > [“Marriage is about the most expensive way for the average man to get his laundry done.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burt-reynolds/marriage-is-about-the-most-expensive-way-for-the-average-man-to-get/) [Burt Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burt-reynolds/) > [Florida is a very healing place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burt-reynolds/florida-is-a-very-healing-place/) [Burt Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burt-reynolds/) > [I hate prejudice of any kind, whether it be color or sexual preference.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burt-reynolds/i-hate-prejudice-of-any-kind-whether-it-be-color-or-sexual-preference/) [Burt Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burt-reynolds/) > [I'm just trying desperately to hang on to my true friends. Like Jon Voight. We laugh all the time at how stupid we are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burt-reynolds/i-m-just-trying-desperately-to-hang-on-to-my-true-friends-like-jon/) [Burt Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burt-reynolds/) > [That's a big responsibility, and the details obsess me. And, also, I no longer feel I have to do the Tonight Show every time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burt-reynolds/that-s-a-big-responsibility-and-the-details-obsess-me-and-also-i-no/) [Burt Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burt-reynolds/) > [ We got Sally Field onboard \[in Smokey and the Bandit\] and it changed the entire dynamic. About a third of the way into filming,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burt-reynolds/we-got-sally-field-onboard-in-smokey-and-the-bandit-and-it-changed/) [Burt Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burt-reynolds/) > [ Smokey and the Bandit was the first picture \[Hal Needham \] directed, and I knew he could handle it. I had just directed Gator,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burt-reynolds/smokey-and-the-bandit-was-the-first-picture-hal-needham-directed-and/) [Burt Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burt-reynolds/) > [The audience will always forgive you for being wrong and exciting, but never for being right and dull.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burt-reynolds/the-audience-will-always-forgive-you-for-being-wrong-and-exciting-but/) [Burt Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burt-reynolds/) > [I'm proud of 'Deliverance' because it was a very dangerous film to make, and they all said it couldn't be done, and we did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burt-reynolds/i-m-proud-of-deliverance-because-it-was-a-very-dangerous-film-to-make/) [Burt Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burt-reynolds/) > [I'm paying the third highest alimony and child support in the world. And the only two ahead of me are sheiks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burt-reynolds/i-m-paying-the-third-highest-alimony-and-child-support-in-the-world/) [Burt Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burt-reynolds/) [Explore all 72 Burt Reynolds quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burt-reynolds/) ## More Critics quotes > [The worst advice? 'Don't listen to the critics.' I think that you really ought to listen to the critics, because sometimes they're telling you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/the-worst-advice-don-t-listen-to-the-critics-i-think-that-you-really/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [Critics are biased, and so are readers. (Indeed, a critic is a bundle of biases held loosely together by a sense of taste.) But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whitney-balliett/critics-are-biased-and-so-are-readers-indeed-a-critic-is-a-bundle-of/) Whitney Balliett > [I reject criticism because the last thing I wanted was to sit there and look at people talking. I think people are conditioned to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tyrnauer/i-reject-criticism-because-the-last-thing-i-wanted-was-to-sit-there/) [Matt Tyrnauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tyrnauer/) > [Popular culture as a whole is popular, but in today's fragmented market it's a jostle of competing unpopular popular cultures. As the critic Stanley…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-steyn/popular-culture-as-a-whole-is-popular-but-in-today-s-fragmented/) [Mark Steyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-steyn/) > [There was a cultural war going on, the '60s was going on. All the film critics were square.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/there-was-a-cultural-war-going-on-the-60s-was-going-on-all-the-film/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [Capitalists have done more good for society through their charitable giving, philanthropy and generosity than all their critics combined.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/capitalists-have-done-more-good-for-society-through-their-charitable/) [James Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/) > [I get that the media wants us to play theater critics and critique every other proposal. What I'm focusing on are my own policy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/i-get-that-the-media-wants-us-to-play-theater-critics-and-critique/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [The Yippies, their lifestyle is different from mine. But I consider Jerry Rubin and Abbie Hoffman inspired critics of the kind of society that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-dellinger/the-yippies-their-lifestyle-is-different-from-mine-but-i-consider/) [David Dellinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-dellinger/) > [This one goes out to all my critics: don't you feel stupid? Look how I did it. Look how it came to pass when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicki-minaj/this-one-goes-out-to-all-my-critics-don-t-you-feel-stupid-look-how-i/) [Nicki Minaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicki-minaj/) > [There's a lot of stuff I want to do, just things that I want to explore that don't involve show business. I'm going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-sheen/there-s-a-lot-of-stuff-i-want-to-do-just-things-that-i-want-to/) [Charlie Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-sheen/) > [Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong. There are always difficulties arising which tempt you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/whatever-course-you-decide-upon-there-is-always-someone-to-tell-you/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Nearly all the writing of our time is likely to disappear in a hundred years. Certainly most readers - and nearly all critics -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-dirda/nearly-all-the-writing-of-our-time-is-likely-to-disappear-in-a/) [Michael Dirda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-dirda/) > [David Rockefeller is the most conspicuous representative today of the ruling class, a multinational fraternity of men who shape the global economy and manage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/david-rockefeller-is-the-most-conspicuous-representative-today-of-the/) [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) > [The boundaries between contemporary art and cinema are so rigid. It's unbelievable. The film critics don't know my artwork and the art world doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-varda/the-boundaries-between-contemporary-art-and-cinema-are-so-rigid-it-s/) [Agnes Varda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-varda/) > [A certain type of critic doesn't really want French movies to be visual. They think movies started from books and they forgot this part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-tautou/a-certain-type-of-critic-doesn-t-really-want-french-movies-to-be/) [Audrey Tautou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-tautou/) Browse all 2,637 Critics quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "But then when I'm in a halfway successful movie, it irritates the hell out of the critics in New York, because they'd like to kill my pictures if they could. So maybe I'm pretty good in the movie. Then they use all these words like I'm 'surprisingly' good, or 'shockingly enough,' I'm good. 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