--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But 'Memento' was so successful, such a…" description: "\"But 'Memento' was so successful, such a huge cult hit, almost on the scale of a large film. If that had happened, with all the acclaim, before the next..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0a/christopher-nolan-2670_almost_but-memento-was-so-successful-such-a-hug_1113913.jpg" --- # But 'Memento' was so successful, such a huge cult hit… ![“But 'Memento' was so successful, such a huge cult hit, almost on the scale of a large film. If that had happened, with all the acclaim, before the next job, I'd have found it very difficult to figure out what to do next.” quote by Christopher Nolan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0a/christopher-nolan-2670_almost_but-memento-was-so-successful-such-a-hug_1113913.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0a/christopher-nolan-2670_almost_but-memento-was-so-successful-such-a-hug_1113913.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d0a/christopher-nolan-2670_almost_but-memento-was-so-successful-such-a-hug_1113913.jpg) > “But 'Memento' was so successful, such a huge cult hit, almost on the scale of a large film. If that had happened, with all the acclaim, before the next job, I'd have found it very difficult to figure out what to do next.” [Christopher Nolan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-nolan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Success of a hit film can create pressure and uncertainty for future projects. **In simple terms:** Big hits can stall next steps. Key Takeaway Embrace new challenges after success. Themes career creativity pressure Mood thoughtful determined Type inspirational practical When to use this quote - career planning - creative block - project selection - industry expectations Key Concepts Film industry psychology Questions to Reflect On - How do you stay innovative after a hit? - What strategies help transition to new work? A Different Perspective Success may limit creative freedom. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cult/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Job](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/job/) [Successful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/successful/) ## Related quotes > [ By the time I came to do the final ones \[Harry Potter's film\], I was working on something that was massively successful. There was… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hurt/by-the-time-i-came-to-do-the-final-ones-harry-potter-s-film-i-was/) [John Hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hurt/) > ['Aashiqui' became a cult hit film. It was my first film which gave me not just recognition but stardom too, so I will always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahul-roy/aashiqui-became-a-cult-hit-film-it-was-my-first-film-which-gave-me/) [Rahul Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahul-roy/) > [What I'm realizing as I get older is that a movie's mainstream success is just as unpredictable as a movie's cult success. Plenty of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patton-oswalt/what-i-m-realizing-as-i-get-older-is-that-a-movie-s-mainstream/) [Patton Oswalt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patton-oswalt/) > [I think the films Insomnia and Memento share all sorts of thematic concerns, such as the relationship between motivation and action, and the difficulty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-nolan/i-think-the-films-insomnia-and-memento-share-all-sorts-of-thematic/) [Christopher Nolan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-nolan/) > [I always thought the joy of reading a book is not knowing what happens next. (Leonard Shelby, Memento)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-nolan/i-always-thought-the-joy-of-reading-a-book-is-not-knowing-what/) [Christopher Nolan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-nolan/) > [I have to believe that when my eyes are closed, the world's still there. (Leonard Shelby, Memento)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-nolan/i-have-to-believe-that-when-my-eyes-are-closed-the-world-s-still/) [Christopher Nolan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-nolan/) > [Memory can change the shape of a room; it can change the color of a car. And memories can be distorted. They're just an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-nolan/memory-can-change-the-shape-of-a-room-it-can-change-the-color-of-a/) [Christopher Nolan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-nolan/) > [One of the things that we talked about was this idea of 'Memento Mori' - like the reminder of our own mortality - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rostam-batmanglij/one-of-the-things-that-we-talked-about-was-this-idea-of-memento-mori/) [Rostam Batmanglij](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rostam-batmanglij/) > [Never forget that you must die; that death will come sooner than you expect... God has written the letters of death upon your hands.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-furniss/never-forget-that-you-must-die-that-death-will-come-sooner-than-you/) John Furniss > [When I got the script for Memento, I read it and I got killed off on page one and I fired my agent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-pantoliano/when-i-got-the-script-for-memento-i-read-it-and-i-got-killed-off-on/) [Joe Pantoliano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-pantoliano/) > [I keep mementos from everything I've done. I've got my cab driver's license from 'Happiness.' I've got a pair of glasses and a belt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-harris/i-keep-mementos-from-everything-i-ve-done-i-ve-got-my-cab-driver-s/) [Jared Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-harris/) > [In a sense, Open City is a kind of Wunderkammer, one of those little rooms assembled with bric-a-brac by Renaissance scholars. I don't mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teju-cole/in-a-sense-open-city-is-a-kind-of-wunderkammer-one-of-those-little/) [Teju Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teju-cole/) > [Each wedding picture was less of a memento than a scar. Proof of some horror movie scenario Katherine Kenton has survived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/each-wedding-picture-was-less-of-a-memento-than-a-scar-proof-of-some/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [“My life is like a memento more painting from European art: there is always a grinning skull at my side to remind me of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yann-martel/my-life-is-like-a-memento-more-painting-from-european-art-there-is/) [Yann Martel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yann-martel/) > [“Wir sollten feiern, was wir feiern können.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianna-baggott/wir-sollten-feiern-was-wir-feiern-k-nnen/) [Julianna Baggott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianna-baggott/) ## More by Christopher Nolan > [In Hollywood there's a great openness, almost a voracious appetite for new people. In England there's a great suspicion of the new. In cultural…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-nolan/in-hollywood-there-s-a-great-openness-almost-a-voracious-appetite-for/) [Christopher Nolan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-nolan/) > [“COBB: You're waiting for a train. A train that will take you far away. You know where you hope this train will take you,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-nolan/cobb-you-re-waiting-for-a-train-a-train-that-will-take-you-far-away/) [Christopher Nolan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-nolan/) > [When you play a videogame, you could be a completely different person than you are in the real world, certain aspects of the way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-nolan/when-you-play-a-videogame-you-could-be-a-completely-different-person/) [Christopher Nolan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-nolan/) > [The structural notions to me always have to be worked out very carefully in the script stage. Whatever a particular structure is. Whether it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-nolan/the-structural-notions-to-me-always-have-to-be-worked-out-very/) [Christopher Nolan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-nolan/) > [I made 'Batman' the way I made every other film, and I've done it to my own satisfaction - because the film, truly, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-nolan/i-made-batman-the-way-i-made-every-other-film-and-i-ve-done-it-to-my/) [Christopher Nolan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-nolan/) > [The quality of racing continues to excel with starters increasing to 1496,.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-nolan/the-quality-of-racing-continues-to-excel-with-starters-increasing-to/) [Christopher Nolan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-nolan/) > [I remember the initial genesis quite clearly. My interest in dreams comes from this notion of realizing that when you dream you create the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-nolan/i-remember-the-initial-genesis-quite-clearly-my-interest-in-dreams/) [Christopher Nolan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-nolan/) > [If I could steal someone's dream myself, I'd have to go for one of Orson Welles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-nolan/if-i-could-steal-someone-s-dream-myself-i-d-have-to-go-for-one-of/) [Christopher Nolan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-nolan/) > [To me, any kind of filmmaking that's reactive is not going to be as good as something more inventive and original.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-nolan/to-me-any-kind-of-filmmaking-that-s-reactive-is-not-going-to-be-as/) [Christopher Nolan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-nolan/) > [Why do we Fall? So we can learn to pick ourselves back up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-nolan/why-do-we-fall-so-we-can-learn-to-pick-ourselves-back-up/) [Christopher Nolan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-nolan/) > [Every great story deserves a great ending](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-nolan/every-great-story-deserves-a-great-ending/) [Christopher Nolan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-nolan/) > [“(On "Following") We've got a pretty serious claim on being the cheapest film ever made.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-nolan/on-following-we-ve-got-a-pretty-serious-claim-on-being-the-cheapest/) [Christopher Nolan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-nolan/) > [Particularly, the actors, to have analyzed the script in great detail from the point of view of their specific character. So that they have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-nolan/particularly-the-actors-to-have-analyzed-the-script-in-great-detail/) [Christopher Nolan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-nolan/) > [I've never read Joseph Campbell, and I don't know all that much about story archetypes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-nolan/i-ve-never-read-joseph-campbell-and-i-don-t-know-all-that-much-about/) [Christopher Nolan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-nolan/) > [I'm taking a bit of a wait-and-see attitude towards 3D.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-nolan/i-m-taking-a-bit-of-a-wait-and-see-attitude-towards-3d/) [Christopher Nolan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-nolan/) [Explore all 155 Christopher Nolan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-nolan/) ## More Almost quotes > [My mother worked in the white world, but I lived almost exclusively in a black world. I don't think I had ever seen a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-p-jones/my-mother-worked-in-the-white-world-but-i-lived-almost-exclusively-in/) [Edward P. Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-p-jones/) > [The shelves of many evangelicals are full of books that point out the flaws in evolution, discuss it only as a theory, and almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-collins/the-shelves-of-many-evangelicals-are-full-of-books-that-point-out-the/) [Francis Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-collins/) > [Music is almost like a therapy for me. It helps keep me centered and think straight. Before I discovered it, I was walking around,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banks/music-is-almost-like-a-therapy-for-me-it-helps-keep-me-centered-and/) [Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banks/) > [My favourite designers always create a strong silhouette, like McQueen and Tom Ford and Alaia. I like structured things that you can throw on,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liberty-ross/my-favourite-designers-always-create-a-strong-silhouette-like-mcqueen/) [Liberty Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liberty-ross/) > [Harry Truman wrote scathing letters, but he almost never sent them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-dallek/harry-truman-wrote-scathing-letters-but-he-almost-never-sent-them/) [Robert Dallek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-dallek/) > [It's almost inevitable there's going to be an escalation on both sides.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-luther/it-s-almost-inevitable-there-s-going-to-be-an-escalation-on-both-sides/) Bill Luther > [I like men who are very cool but who are also so brilliant that they are almost insane. Sean Penn, Gary Oldman, Bob Dylan,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jolene-blalock/i-like-men-who-are-very-cool-but-who-are-also-so-brilliant-that-they/) [Jolene Blalock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jolene-blalock/) > [If you watch wrestling, you now know the hip-hop culture is being represented with wrestling. For the longest time, the cultures have almost been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cena/if-you-watch-wrestling-you-now-know-the-hip-hop-culture-is-being/) [John Cena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cena/) > [Almost every Monday I have a charity thing. I like that. I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yogi-berra/almost-every-monday-i-have-a-charity-thing-i-like-that-i-do/) [Yogi Berra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yogi-berra/) > [Pete Seeger is a modest, unassuming, cheerful, and kind-natured man. He's a good folk singer, if you can stand folk singing. And he's such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/pete-seeger-is-a-modest-unassuming-cheerful-and-kind-natured-man-he-s/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Almost immediately, I remember right when Tikrit even fell, a few days after Baghdad fell, there was talks of insurgency, there was talks of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/farnaz-fassihi/almost-immediately-i-remember-right-when-tikrit-even-fell-a-few-days/) Farnaz Fassihi > [While it is often true that the enemy of my enemy is my friend, it seems like Yahoo's almost obsessive focus on Google is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kara-swisher/while-it-is-often-true-that-the-enemy-of-my-enemy-is-my-friend-it/) [Kara Swisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kara-swisher/) > [I'd had episodes before, but I swept them under the carpet. This time, I couldn't do that because everyone knew. I got on with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margot-kidder/i-d-had-episodes-before-but-i-swept-them-under-the-carpet-this-time-i/) [Margot Kidder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margot-kidder/) > [I was hit by a car. I almost died. My show was taken away from me. I was frightened.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eileen-brennan/i-was-hit-by-a-car-i-almost-died-my-show-was-taken-away-from-me-i-was/) [Eileen Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eileen-brennan/) > [With \*NSYNC, we shopped our deal for a year in America, sang a capella in everybody's office, then moved to Germany for almost two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jc-chasez/with-nsync-we-shopped-our-deal-for-a-year-in-america-sang-a-capella/) [JC Chasez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jc-chasez/) Browse all 1,672 Almost quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "But 'Memento' was so successful, such a huge cult hit, almost on the scale of a large film. 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