--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I can tell you as a fact that if you'd…" description: "\"I can tell you as a fact that if you'd asked anyone in Hollywood one year before 'Pirates of the Caribbean' had come out, they'd have told you the pira..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2c/dean-devlin-5090_bad_i-can-tell-you-as-a-fact-that-if-you-d-a_1426160.jpg" --- # I can tell you as a fact that if you'd asked anyone in… ![“I can tell you as a fact that if you'd asked anyone in Hollywood one year before 'Pirates of the Caribbean' had come out, they'd have told you the pirate movie was a dead genre. And it's not that it's a dead genre. If you make a bad pirate movie, no one will want to see it. If you make a good one…” quote by Dean Devlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2c/dean-devlin-5090_bad_i-can-tell-you-as-a-fact-that-if-you-d-a_1426160.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2c/dean-devlin-5090_bad_i-can-tell-you-as-a-fact-that-if-you-d-a_1426160.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2c/dean-devlin-5090_bad_i-can-tell-you-as-a-fact-that-if-you-d-a_1426160.jpg) > “I can tell you as a fact that if you'd asked anyone in Hollywood one year before 'Pirates of the Caribbean' had come out, they'd have told you the pirate movie was a dead genre. And it's not that it's a dead genre. If you make a bad pirate movie, no one will want to see it. If you make a good one, everyone will want to see it.” [Dean Devlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-devlin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The success of a genre depends on quality, not its perceived popularity; a good pirate film can revive interest. **In simple terms:** Good work revives dead genres. Key Takeaway Focus on quality to revive interest. Themes film industry genre cycles quality audience perception Mood optimistic analytical Type industry insight motivational When to use this quote - movie production - studio decision making - marketing strategy - audience testing Key Concepts creative risk market dynamics storytelling brand revival Questions to Reflect On - How can studios gauge true audience appetite? - What role does timing play in genre revivals? A Different Perspective Even a good film may fail if marketing is poor. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Caribbean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/caribbean/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Genre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genre/) [Hollywood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hollywood/) [Movie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movie/) [Pirate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pirate/) [Pirates Of The Caribbean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pirates-of-the-caribbean/) ## Related quotes > [To some degree, I was very dubious of the 'Pirates of the Caribbean' idea - taking a theme park ride and turning into a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-jackson/to-some-degree-i-was-very-dubious-of-the-pirates-of-the-caribbean/) [Peter Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-jackson/) > [Oh yeah, that's the Holy Grail, Pirates of the Caribbean. Johnny Depp, he's the real deal, isn't he? He doesn't get the girl, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-macy/oh-yeah-that-s-the-holy-grail-pirates-of-the-caribbean-johnny-depp-he/) [William H. Macy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-macy/) > [I've always been a huge fan of the 'Pirates of the Caribbean' movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abigail-breslin/i-ve-always-been-a-huge-fan-of-the-pirates-of-the-caribbean-movies/) [Abigail Breslin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abigail-breslin/) > [Most films I've worked on have had large casts, but they've been wonderful people. I think the monkey in Pirates of the Caribbean is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-rush/most-films-i-ve-worked-on-have-had-large-casts-but-they-ve-been/) [Geoffrey Rush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-rush/) > [“Pirates of the Caribbean.)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/pirates-of-the-caribbean/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [This is really embarrassing, but I was inspired by Johnny Depp in 'Pirates of the Caribbean.' And it struck an eyeliner moment for me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chloe-fineman/this-is-really-embarrassing-but-i-was-inspired-by-johnny-depp-in/) [Chloe Fineman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chloe-fineman/) > [Pirates of the Caribbean, move over! Make room for a crew of mouse-privateers who will capture your hearts and stop your breath with their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-reid-banks/pirates-of-the-caribbean-move-over-make-room-for-a-crew-of-mouse/) [Lynne Reid Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-reid-banks/) > [I never think about the next movie. I always think about the situation I'm in now, but you do think about an arc someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-pettyfer/i-never-think-about-the-next-movie-i-always-think-about-the-situation/) [Alex Pettyfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-pettyfer/) > [I didn't know this about myself, but when 'Pirates of the Caribbean' came out I realised that I didn't enjoy a huge amount of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keira-knightley/i-didn-t-know-this-about-myself-but-when-pirates-of-the-caribbean/) [Keira Knightley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keira-knightley/) > [I really, really loved Elizabeth and Will from 'Pirates of the Caribbean.' I think a lot of people did.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-langford/i-really-really-loved-elizabeth-and-will-from-pirates-of-the/) [Josephine Langford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-langford/) > [The action comedy 'Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl' raises one of the most overlooked and important cinematic questions of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-mitchell/the-action-comedy-pirates-of-the-caribbean-curse-of-the-black-pearl/) [Elvis Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-mitchell/) > [Prior to 'Pirates of the Caribbean' - the first one in 2003 - I had been essentially known within the confines of Hollywood as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-depp/prior-to-pirates-of-the-caribbean-the-first-one-in-2003-i-had-been/) [Johnny Depp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-depp/) > [Literary fiction, as a strict genre, is all but dead. Meanwhile, most genres flourish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/literary-fiction-as-a-strict-genre-is-all-but-dead-meanwhile-most/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [All the big successes of my career have been ideas that, on paper, you think, 'Well nobody's going to go for this because that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-murphy/all-the-big-successes-of-my-career-have-been-ideas-that-on-paper-you/) [Ryan Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-murphy/) > [My agent called and said, 'How do you feel about a pirate movie? I mean, how often are you going to get that call?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-verbinski/my-agent-called-and-said-how-do-you-feel-about-a-pirate-movie-i-mean/) [Gore Verbinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-verbinski/) ## More by Dean Devlin > [Television is like speed chess, as you have no time and no money. It is like trying to play Grandmaster chess with a 20…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-devlin/television-is-like-speed-chess-as-you-have-no-time-and-no-money-it-is/) [Dean Devlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-devlin/) > [The truth is, we were sick of, every time we finished a movie, having to start all over again from nothing, going to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-devlin/the-truth-is-we-were-sick-of-every-time-we-finished-a-movie-having-to/) [Dean Devlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-devlin/) > [We're often accused of trying to manipulate opinion or that we're trying to elevate society. I think that the greatest thing we can do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-devlin/we-re-often-accused-of-trying-to-manipulate-opinion-or-that-we-re/) [Dean Devlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-devlin/) > [“And if we succeed... If we somehow accomplish this thing that seems so impossible, it will be the most glorious victory imaginable. The Fourth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-devlin/and-if-we-succeed-if-we-somehow-accomplish-this-thing-that-seems-so/) [Dean Devlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-devlin/) > [I think if we did 'Stargate' right, the fans would like it, and we could do something really good. But if we screw it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-devlin/i-think-if-we-did-stargate-right-the-fans-would-like-it-and-we-could/) [Dean Devlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-devlin/) > [Portland has all the accoutrements of a big city, but the heart and soul of it is a small town, so that creates an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-devlin/portland-has-all-the-accoutrements-of-a-big-city-but-the-heart-and/) [Dean Devlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-devlin/) > [I've always said that I don't believe in Santa Claus, but I could make a great movie about him if I set my mind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-devlin/i-ve-always-said-that-i-don-t-believe-in-santa-claus-but-i-could-make/) [Dean Devlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-devlin/) > [As for 'Independence Day,' we never intended to do any films in that series beyond the first one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-devlin/as-for-independence-day-we-never-intended-to-do-any-films-in-that/) [Dean Devlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-devlin/) > [There's a real difference now in what you can get out of film and the rise of digital platforms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-devlin/there-s-a-real-difference-now-in-what-you-can-get-out-of-film-and-the/) [Dean Devlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-devlin/) > [I just make the movies I want to see. I've always been that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-devlin/i-just-make-the-movies-i-want-to-see-i-ve-always-been-that-way/) [Dean Devlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-devlin/) > [Stories about travelers coming into town and doing good have been part of our storytelling since the Bible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-devlin/stories-about-travelers-coming-into-town-and-doing-good-have-been/) [Dean Devlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-devlin/) > [Just to be back in the world of 'The Librarian' again was such a joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-devlin/just-to-be-back-in-the-world-of-the-librarian-again-was-such-a-joy/) [Dean Devlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-devlin/) > [I haven't had the egomaniac star yet in any of my films. It's always been a pleasure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-devlin/i-haven-t-had-the-egomaniac-star-yet-in-any-of-my-films-it-s-always/) [Dean Devlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-devlin/) > ['Stargate' has always had this empty hole. When we made the first one, we always intended on doing part two and three, and we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-devlin/stargate-has-always-had-this-empty-hole-when-we-made-the-first-one-we/) [Dean Devlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-devlin/) > [I love what they do with 'Doctor Who,' where they have the series, and then they do a big Christmas movie special.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-devlin/i-love-what-they-do-with-doctor-who-where-they-have-the-series-and/) [Dean Devlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-devlin/) [Explore all 103 Dean Devlin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-devlin/) ## More Bad quotes > [If I am going to be phased out by whatever powers, then I want people to know that it is not because I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parvathy/if-i-am-going-to-be-phased-out-by-whatever-powers-then-i-want-people/) [Parvathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parvathy/) > [Sometimes I'm in a bad mood, sometimes I'm in a good mood. It's like everyone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tricky/sometimes-i-m-in-a-bad-mood-sometimes-i-m-in-a-good-mood-it-s-like/) [Tricky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tricky/) > [Unfortunately, we all go through bad phases.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sushmita-sen/unfortunately-we-all-go-through-bad-phases/) [Sushmita Sen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sushmita-sen/) > [The Derby experience had not been good for me and the way it finished left a very bad taste in my mouth so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-pearson/the-derby-experience-had-not-been-good-for-me-and-the-way-it-finished/) [Nigel Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-pearson/) > [What people tend to forget is the journey that I had getting to Formula One. There were plenty of years where I had to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-hamilton/what-people-tend-to-forget-is-the-journey-that-i-had-getting-to/) [Lewis Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-hamilton/) > [Television, radio, social media. The 24/7 news cycle plows forward mercilessly on our desks, in our cars and in our pockets. Thousands and thousands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-prince/television-radio-social-media-the-24-7-news-cycle-plows-forward/) [Joseph Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-prince/) > [I listen to heavy metal thanks to my son. When I argue with him on the kind of music he is listening to, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeenat-aman/i-listen-to-heavy-metal-thanks-to-my-son-when-i-argue-with-him-on-the/) [Zeenat Aman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zeenat-aman/) > [I've said it before, good people are forced to do bad things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angus-cloud/i-ve-said-it-before-good-people-are-forced-to-do-bad-things/) [Angus Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angus-cloud/) > [“If any woman opens her legs for you, don't feel so lucky to be fed with nonsense, she has been a bitch for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/if-any-woman-opens-her-legs-for-you-don-t-feel-so-lucky-to-be-fed/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [One thing I always tell players is that there are three bad things: Nothing good happens after midnight, nothing good happens when you're around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-saban/one-thing-i-always-tell-players-is-that-there-are-three-bad-things/) [Nick Saban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-saban/) > [Everybody has bad days, but how you respond to it is a testament to whether you are a winner or a loser.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-gordon/everybody-has-bad-days-but-how-you-respond-to-it-is-a-testament-to/) [Aaron Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-gordon/) > [Obviously I'm very grateful 'Bad Guy' is doing so well - it's shocking and surprising and gratifying - but I do think it's important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finneas/obviously-i-m-very-grateful-bad-guy-is-doing-so-well-it-s-shocking/) [Finneas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/finneas/) > [I felt pretty good growing up. I didnt feel a lot of prejudice or racism. But I do remember, if there was going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-henry-hwang/i-felt-pretty-good-growing-up-i-didnt-feel-a-lot-of-prejudice-or/) [David Henry Hwang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-henry-hwang/) > [If you read 'Lord of the Rings' and dismiss it as a lie because it has orcs and elves, you're missing the whole point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-tennapel/if-you-read-lord-of-the-rings-and-dismiss-it-as-a-lie-because-it-has/) [Doug TenNapel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-tennapel/) > [My conscience is really active. So I feel bad about spending excess amount of money on things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/syd/my-conscience-is-really-active-so-i-feel-bad-about-spending-excess/) [Syd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/syd/) Browse all 7,973 Bad quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I can tell you as a fact that if you'd asked anyone in Hollywood one year before 'Pirates of the Caribbean' had come out, they'd have told you the pirate movie was a dead genre. And it's not that it's a dead genre. If you make a bad pirate movie, no one will want to see it. 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