--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Everyone thinks that Fight Club is a very…" description: "\"Everyone thinks that Fight Club is a very important and successful film, but it was a massive box-office failure. Massive. It was a big flop by any com..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f8/edward-norton-2203_box-office_everyone-thinks-that-fight-club-is-a-ver_2400428.jpg" --- # Everyone thinks that Fight Club is a very important and… ![“Everyone thinks that Fight Club is a very important and successful film, but it was a massive box-office failure. Massive. It was a big flop by any commercial-release standard. And it's been a huge hit on DVD. Everything that movie has become has been on DVD. So you can't stake your sense of…” quote by Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f8/edward-norton-2203_box-office_everyone-thinks-that-fight-club-is-a-ver_2400428.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f8/edward-norton-2203_box-office_everyone-thinks-that-fight-club-is-a-ver_2400428.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f8/edward-norton-2203_box-office_everyone-thinks-that-fight-club-is-a-ver_2400428.jpg) > “Everyone thinks that Fight Club is a very important and successful film, but it was a massive box-office failure. Massive. It was a big flop by any commercial-release standard. And it's been a huge hit on DVD. Everything that movie has become has been on DVD. So you can't stake your sense of creative success on this whole box-office-performance matrix, because if you do, you're going to be disappointed most of the time.” [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The film’s cultural impact grew despite poor box‑office performance, showing success isn’t solely measured by initial revenue. **In simple terms:** A flop can become a cult classic later. Key Takeaway Don’t judge success only by early sales. Themes film culture success metrics Mood critical insightful Type analytical contemplative When to use this quote - film studies courses - marketing analysis - creative risk assessment Key Concepts cult status long‑term influence media reception Questions to Reflect On - Why do some failures become beloved later? - How should creators value long‑term impact? A Different Perspective Box‑office numbers don’t capture lasting cultural value. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Box office](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/box-office/) [Creative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creative/) [Disappointed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disappointed/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Fight club](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fight-club/) [Fighting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fighting/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Film Massive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film-massive-1747144/) [Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important/) [Important Successful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important-successful-985268/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Successful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/successful/) [Successful Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/successful-film-322799/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [I'll never do a film because it's a massive budget and I'm gonna get lots of publicity for it and it will bring something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maisie-williams/i-ll-never-do-a-film-because-it-s-a-massive-budget-and-i-m-gonna-get/) [Maisie Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maisie-williams/) > [If you try to make interesting films, you're going to be disappointed most of the time. I choose just not to look at it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/if-you-try-to-make-interesting-films-you-re-going-to-be-disappointed/) [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) > [ To me, Fight Club was a comedy. When \[David\] Fincher sent me the book and I read it, the first thing I asked him… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/to-me-fight-club-was-a-comedy-when-david-fincher-sent-me-the-book-and/) [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) > [It's important to be successful, and not just because there is competition, but also because it leads to better work for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arjun-kapoor/it-s-important-to-be-successful-and-not-just-because-there-is/) [Arjun Kapoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arjun-kapoor/) > [It's so important to always be yourself. If you do that, you will be successful as you, instead of worrying about trying to conform.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leighton-meester/it-s-so-important-to-always-be-yourself-if-you-do-that-you-will-be/) [Leighton Meester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leighton-meester/) > [Not having to constantly remind everyone what's required is an important part of being successful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jupp-heynckes/not-having-to-constantly-remind-everyone-what-s-required-is-an/) [Jupp Heynckes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jupp-heynckes/) > [It's important to be successful enough to be able to keep doing what you love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyle-lovett/it-s-important-to-be-successful-enough-to-be-able-to-keep-doing-what/) [Lyle Lovett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyle-lovett/) > [“It is not important how successful you are, the only thing that matters is how good a person you are...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vedang-sati/it-is-not-important-how-successful-you-are-the-only-thing-that/) [Vedang Sati](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vedang-sati/) > [“Throughout my life, I have not done things just because somebody deemed important; this why I am successful today.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-taskinsoy/throughout-my-life-i-have-not-done-things-just-because-somebody/) [JOHN TASKINSOY](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-taskinsoy/) > [I can't tell you how important it was for us to be successful in japan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trip-hawkins/i-can-t-tell-you-how-important-it-was-for-us-to-be-successful-in-japan/) [Trip Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trip-hawkins/) > [I believe that being fit is more important than being successful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahesh-manjrekar/i-believe-that-being-fit-is-more-important-than-being-successful/) [Mahesh Manjrekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahesh-manjrekar/) > [To be successful in struggle requires remembrance of the Creator and the doing of good deeds. This is important because successful struggle demands that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-rap-brown/to-be-successful-in-struggle-requires-remembrance-of-the-creator-and/) [H. Rap Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-rap-brown/) > [I feel like I have been a quick study in terms of picking up the different offensive schemes I have been exposed to. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-fitzpatrick/i-feel-like-i-have-been-a-quick-study-in-terms-of-picking-up-the/) [Ryan Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-fitzpatrick/) > [I am a forward and want to score many goals but for me that is not important. What is important is to be successful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-gomez/i-am-a-forward-and-want-to-score-many-goals-but-for-me-that-is-not/) [Mario Gomez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-gomez/) > [“The most important part of a successful business is a thriving culture.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-reese/the-most-important-part-of-a-successful-business-is-a-thriving-culture/) [Brian Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-reese/) ## More by Edward Norton > [I don't feel insecure about any of this work anymore. Maybe I don't have what I had when I was younger. I'm not really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/i-don-t-feel-insecure-about-any-of-this-work-anymore-maybe-i-don-t/) [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) > [ As an actor, if you step to the side and you look at \[Thornton's performance\] technically, and you try to imagine doing what he… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/as-an-actor-if-you-step-to-the-side-and-you-look-at-thornton-s/) [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) > [It's better for people to miss you than to have seen too much of you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/it-s-better-for-people-to-miss-you-than-to-have-seen-too-much-of-you/) [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) > [You can't control everything that comes to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/you-can-t-control-everything-that-comes-to-you/) [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) > [The incentive for business is not, and cannot, be anything other than the root incentive for all business: they must profit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/the-incentive-for-business-is-not-and-cannot-be-anything-other-than/) [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) > [My greatest hope is that we transcend the most fearful thing, which is that we are rapidly degrading the ecological systems on this planet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/my-greatest-hope-is-that-we-transcend-the-most-fearful-thing-which-is/) [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) > [David Fincher is probably the best comprehensive director in terms of being a manger of a process that must drive forward. He has such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/david-fincher-is-probably-the-best-comprehensive-director-in-terms-of/) [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) > [Sometimes their oppression of emotion and the weird way it comes out is more interesting than painting it in bold primary colors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/sometimes-their-oppression-of-emotion-and-the-weird-way-it-comes-out/) [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) > [The thing I'm absolutely convinced of, no matter how crazy - technological the world is getting, is that people feel more connected through the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/the-thing-i-m-absolutely-convinced-of-no-matter-how-crazy/) [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) > [Making really great music, making really great films, writing great books is an antidote to all of that. And, as people, as artists, some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/making-really-great-music-making-really-great-films-writing-great/) [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) > [I like music, but I need to get outside more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/i-like-music-but-i-need-to-get-outside-more/) [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) > [I've always liked the idea of taking old dramatic ideas and devices and making them feel relevant or contemporary or whatever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/i-ve-always-liked-the-idea-of-taking-old-dramatic-ideas-and-devices/) [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) > [I don't think you should sit around and wait for people to give you an opportunity to express yourself or do your work, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/i-don-t-think-you-should-sit-around-and-wait-for-people-to-give-you/) [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) > [To cite my own alma mater, it's shocking to me that Yale University can teach what it teaches at the Yale School of Environmental…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/to-cite-my-own-alma-mater-it-s-shocking-to-me-that-yale-university/) [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) > [I had a huge advantage with Edward Norton because he's directed a movie before, so one thing he appreciates is how hard my job…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/i-had-a-huge-advantage-with-edward-norton-because-he-s-directed-a/) [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) [Explore all 179 Edward Norton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) ## More Box office quotes > [I don't think that 'Just Mohabbat' or 'Tarzan' were a hindrance. 'Tarzan' didn't do well at the box office but I would say the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vatsal-sheth/i-don-t-think-that-just-mohabbat-or-tarzan-were-a-hindrance-tarzan/) [Vatsal Sheth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vatsal-sheth/) > [When I was young I didn't care about education, just money and box office.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-chan/when-i-was-young-i-didn-t-care-about-education-just-money-and-box/) [Jackie Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-chan/) > [The box office in an arthouse film is always going to be small. We have to face this and overcome this.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiran-rao/the-box-office-in-an-arthouse-film-is-always-going-to-be-small-we/) [Kiran Rao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiran-rao/) > [I believe in my privacy. I always have, and I always will. I don't think that my private life needs to be on display…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kajol/i-believe-in-my-privacy-i-always-have-and-i-always-will-i-don-t-think/) [Kajol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kajol/) > [Film is not just about the art form but also how it fares at the box office.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamannaah/film-is-not-just-about-the-art-form-but-also-how-it-fares-at-the-box/) [Tamannaah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamannaah/) > [You know how many movies it took Tom Cruise before he was making 5, 6 million dollars? It probably took a billion dollars in box office.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-patric/you-know-how-many-movies-it-took-tom-cruise-before-he-was-making-5-6/) [Jason Patric](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-patric/) > [If I or any other black can deliver at the box office, I'll get a lot of work. Too many young actors, regardless of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-van-peebles/if-i-or-any-other-black-can-deliver-at-the-box-office-i-ll-get-a-lot/) [Mario Van Peebles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-van-peebles/) > [And yes, it is harder to make movies because budgets are getting smaller, and the companies stocks are down. The only good news on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-bruckheimer/and-yes-it-is-harder-to-make-movies-because-budgets-are-getting/) [Jerry Bruckheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-bruckheimer/) > [I guess I judge my films by how pleased I am with the work I do, so it's kind of on another level. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-weaving/i-guess-i-judge-my-films-by-how-pleased-i-am-with-the-work-i-do-so-it/) [Hugo Weaving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugo-weaving/) > [Women were real box office stars in the '40s, more so than men. People loved to see women's films. I think it was better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwyneth-paltrow/women-were-real-box-office-stars-in-the-40s-more-so-than-men-people/) [Gwyneth Paltrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwyneth-paltrow/) > [For a broad, star-powered picture like 'The Interview,' a big-tent release in 2,000 to 3,000 theaters is the top choice for a movie studio…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-stelter/for-a-broad-star-powered-picture-like-the-interview-a-big-tent/) [Brian Stelter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-stelter/) > [When you have box-office results, Hollywood treats you different. Hollywood stands up. Once you get to the point where Hollywood sees that you create…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-hart/when-you-have-box-office-results-hollywood-treats-you-different/) [Kevin Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-hart/) > [I would never want to do a content-driven film with a box office life of Rs 20 crore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/farah-khan/i-would-never-want-to-do-a-content-driven-film-with-a-box-office-life/) [Farah Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/farah-khan/) > [I would do 'John Carter' again tomorrow. I'm very proud of 'John Carter.' Box office doesn't validate me as a person, or as an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-kitsch/i-would-do-john-carter-again-tomorrow-i-m-very-proud-of-john-carter/) [Taylor Kitsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-kitsch/) > [Box office success definitely matters. I will be lying if say it does not matter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-penty/box-office-success-definitely-matters-i-will-be-lying-if-say-it-does/) [Diana Penty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-penty/) [Browse all 292 Box office quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/box-office/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Everyone thinks that Fight Club is a very important and successful film, but it was a massive box-office failure. Massive. It was a big flop by any commercial-release standard. And it's been a huge hit on DVD. Everything that movie has become has been on DVD. 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