--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A good movie is three good scenes and no…" description: "\"A good movie is three good scenes and no bad scenes.\" — Howard Hawks" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e91/howard-hawks-26963_film_a-good-movie-is-three-good-scenes-and-no_625088.jpg" --- # A good movie is three good scenes and no bad scenes. ![“A good movie is three good scenes and no bad scenes.” quote by Howard Hawks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e91/howard-hawks-26963_film_a-good-movie-is-three-good-scenes-and-no_625088.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e91/howard-hawks-26963_film_a-good-movie-is-three-good-scenes-and-no_625088.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e91/howard-hawks-26963_film_a-good-movie-is-three-good-scenes-and-no_625088.jpg) > “A good movie is three good scenes and no bad scenes.” [Howard Hawks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-hawks/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A great film is defined by consistently strong scenes without any weak moments, emphasizing overall quality over occasional flaws. **In simple terms:** Good movies have only strong scenes. Key Takeaway Aim for consistent excellence in storytelling. Themes cinema quality storytelling Mood analytical inspirational Type critical creative When to use this quote - scriptwriting - directing - editing - production reviews Key Concepts film criticism craftsmanship Questions to Reflect On - How can filmmakers maintain high standards throughout? - What makes a scene memorable? A Different Perspective Rarely achievable; most works have minor flaws. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Movie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movie/) ## Related quotes > [For me, in movies, it's always a mixed bag. I've never made a movie where I thought, "You were really good in that movie;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-walken/for-me-in-movies-it-s-always-a-mixed-bag-i-ve-never-made-a-movie/) [Christopher Walken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-walken/) > [I am so impressed with people who can really make a big movie, a good movie. The amount of work that goes into it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-lee/i-am-so-impressed-with-people-who-can-really-make-a-big-movie-a-good/) [Stan Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-lee/) > [If it's a good movie, it's a good movie. I don't care about the genres.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/astro/if-it-s-a-good-movie-it-s-a-good-movie-i-don-t-care-about-the-genres/) [Astro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/astro/) > ['Hustle & Flow' came out, and I was really rooting for 'Hustle & Flow' because, you know, it was a hip-hop movie, and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damon-dash/hustle-flow-came-out-and-i-was-really-rooting-for-hustle-flow-because/) [Damon Dash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damon-dash/) > [Sometimes it's very difficult to do a movie that's good and then have that movie make it to the light of day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-hunter/sometimes-it-s-very-difficult-to-do-a-movie-that-s-good-and-then-have/) [Holly Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-hunter/) > [People can criticise all day long, I think I've proven myself, I think I deliver. And I agree, box office does not mean a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-ratner/people-can-criticise-all-day-long-i-think-i-ve-proven-myself-i-think/) [Brett Ratner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-ratner/) > [When we were doing 'My Three Sons,' I appeared in the movie 'The Apartment.' I played a married businessman who kept a mistress on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-macmurray/when-we-were-doing-my-three-sons-i-appeared-in-the-movie-the/) [Fred MacMurray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-macmurray/) > [You can do a good movie, or you can do a good movie that can help people to feel the idea of what it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-garrel/you-can-do-a-good-movie-or-you-can-do-a-good-movie-that-can-help/) [Louis Garrel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-garrel/) > [I never feel good about a movie not doing well at the box office because, for some reason, that becomes the defining factor of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-barrera/i-never-feel-good-about-a-movie-not-doing-well-at-the-box-office/) [Melissa Barrera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-barrera/) > [To me, what separates a funny movie from a good movie is something personal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-rogen/to-me-what-separates-a-funny-movie-from-a-good-movie-is-something/) [Seth Rogen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-rogen/) > [I think a good movie is a good movie whether that falls into a genre or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-cage/i-think-a-good-movie-is-a-good-movie-whether-that-falls-into-a-genre/) [Nicolas Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-cage/) > [You can be good in a good movie, you can be good in a bad movie, you can be bad in a bad movie,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gielgud/you-can-be-good-in-a-good-movie-you-can-be-good-in-a-bad-movie-you/) [John Gielgud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gielgud/) > [For me, the reason to make the movie is that if people like the comic, then people would like the movie if it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/for-me-the-reason-to-make-the-movie-is-that-if-people-like-the-comic/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I firmly believe that you can't get a good movie without risking a bad movie. A good adaptation of your book is worth it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/i-firmly-believe-that-you-can-t-get-a-good-movie-without-risking-a-2/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“If anything has been my salvation as a human being it is this choice of an activity which is, at the deepest level, out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hare/if-anything-has-been-my-salvation-as-a-human-being-it-is-this-choice/) [David Hare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hare/) ## More by Howard Hawks > [John Wayne represents more force, more power than anyone else on the screen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-hawks/john-wayne-represents-more-force-more-power-than-anyone-else-on-the/) [Howard Hawks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-hawks/) > [The western is the simplest form of drama - a gun, death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-hawks/the-western-is-the-simplest-form-of-drama-a-gun-death/) [Howard Hawks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-hawks/) > [Too many actors try to get too much out of scenes that they ought to be leaving alone, just doing them quickly and getting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-hawks/too-many-actors-try-to-get-too-much-out-of-scenes-that-they-ought-to/) [Howard Hawks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-hawks/) > [When you've got some talent, your job is to use it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-hawks/when-you-ve-got-some-talent-your-job-is-to-use-it/) [Howard Hawks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-hawks/) > [I guarantee you that two directors that are any good can take the same story, change the name of the characters, change the name…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-hawks/i-guarantee-you-that-two-directors-that-are-any-good-can-take-the/) [Howard Hawks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-hawks/) > [I have a theory that the only way you can be any good is if the camera likes you. If the camera doesn't like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-hawks/i-have-a-theory-that-the-only-way-you-can-be-any-good-is-if-the/) [Howard Hawks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-hawks/) > [I think girls who insult people are very attractive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-hawks/i-think-girls-who-insult-people-are-very-attractive/) [Howard Hawks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-hawks/) > [I made 'Rio Bravo' with John Wayne. It worked out pretty well and we both liked it, so a few years later we decided…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-hawks/i-made-rio-bravo-with-john-wayne-it-worked-out-pretty-well-and-we/) [Howard Hawks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-hawks/) > [Fortune favors the prepared.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-hawks/fortune-favors-the-prepared/) [Howard Hawks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-hawks/) > [John Wayne represents more force, more power, than anybody else on the screen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-hawks/john-wayne-represents-more-force-more-power-than-anybody-else-on-the/) [Howard Hawks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-hawks/) > [If you want to make pictures and enjoy making them, you better go out and make something that a lot of people want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-hawks/if-you-want-to-make-pictures-and-enjoy-making-them-you-better-go-out/) [Howard Hawks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-hawks/) > [I find that when you open on a group of people sitting down and talking, the scene sits down with them. The best antidote…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-hawks/i-find-that-when-you-open-on-a-group-of-people-sitting-down-and/) [Howard Hawks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-hawks/) > [You can't fix a bad script after you start shooting. The problems on the page only get bigger as they move to the big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-hawks/you-can-t-fix-a-bad-script-after-you-start-shooting-the-problems-on/) [Howard Hawks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-hawks/) > [I'm such a coward that unless I get a good writer, I don't want to make a picture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-hawks/i-m-such-a-coward-that-unless-i-get-a-good-writer-i-don-t-want-to/) [Howard Hawks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-hawks/) > [I'm a storyteller - that's the chief function of a director. And they're moving pictures, let's make 'em move!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-hawks/i-m-a-storyteller-that-s-the-chief-function-of-a-director-and-they-re/) [Howard Hawks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-hawks/) [Explore all 21 Howard Hawks quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-hawks/) ## More Film quotes > [You have to have a great director to make a great movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thelma-schoonmaker/you-have-to-have-a-great-director-to-make-a-great-movie/) [Thelma Schoonmaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thelma-schoonmaker/) > [I'm trying to write a film with my friend. I'd love to get the thrill of speaking actors making my work even funnier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/i-m-trying-to-write-a-film-with-my-friend-i-d-love-to-get-the-thrill/) [Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/) > [There has got to be a way for me to have a role on TV or in film that is just as normal as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adeel-akhtar/there-has-got-to-be-a-way-for-me-to-have-a-role-on-tv-or-in-film-that/) [Adeel Akhtar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adeel-akhtar/) > [ Brad \[Dourif\] would tell himself that he was not intentionally trying to mimic Jack Nicholson in any way. I think that actually bothers him… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-kirschner/brad-dourif-would-tell-himself-that-he-was-not-intentionally-trying/) [David Kirschner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-kirschner/) > [My only close-to-game-plan is to follow good writing. If the writing is in TV or if it's in theater or in film, that's it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-driver/my-only-close-to-game-plan-is-to-follow-good-writing-if-the-writing/) [Adam Driver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-driver/) > [In the future, I would like to do more films with contemporary themes. Perhaps comedy, which is something I have done in theater but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-evans/in-the-future-i-would-like-to-do-more-films-with-contemporary-themes/) [Luke Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-evans/) > [Making movies seemed so impossible as far as getting my ideas funded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boots-riley/making-movies-seemed-so-impossible-as-far-as-getting-my-ideas-funded/) [Boots Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boots-riley/) > [Movies have power. Power to impact society and the choices we make. I want to entertain, but I also want to say something to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-prince-bythewood/movies-have-power-power-to-impact-society-and-the-choices-we-make-i/) [Gina Prince-Bythewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-prince-bythewood/) > [I'm a big fan of all the Boston guys that are acting - Matt Damon , Ben Affleck, Mark Wahlberg - they made a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-wormald/i-m-a-big-fan-of-all-the-boston-guys-that-are-acting-matt-damon-ben/) [Kenny Wormald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-wormald/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [I love film people and actors and I am in the right world because I am one of those people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ewan-mcgregor/i-love-film-people-and-actors-and-i-am-in-the-right-world-because-i/) [Ewan McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ewan-mcgregor/) > [Personally, I prefer contemporary films, but the market calls for more period choices, especially since China opened up a cinema market in Hong Kong.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donnie-yen/personally-i-prefer-contemporary-films-but-the-market-calls-for-more/) [Donnie Yen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donnie-yen/) > [I'd love to work in the States; I'd love to work anywhere where you get a good script and a good part to play.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-carmichael/i-d-love-to-work-in-the-states-i-d-love-to-work-anywhere-where-you/) [Laura Carmichael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-carmichael/) > [I started out dancing on a reality TV show, but always with the intention of making my way over to film. I transitioned into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-hough/i-started-out-dancing-on-a-reality-tv-show-but-always-with-the/) [Julianne Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-hough/) > [Pakistan now is like a horror film franchise. You know, it's 'Friday the 13th, Episode 63: The Terrorist from Pakistan.' And each time we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohsin-hamid/pakistan-now-is-like-a-horror-film-franchise-you-know-it-s-friday-the/) [Mohsin Hamid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohsin-hamid/) [Browse all 32,254 Film quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A good movie is three good scenes and no bad scenes.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Howard Hawks" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-hawks/a-good-movie-is-three-good-scenes-and-no-bad-scenes/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Film" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-hawks/a-good-movie-is-three-good-scenes-and-no-bad-scenes/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e91/howard-hawks-26963_film_a-good-movie-is-three-good-scenes-and-no_625088.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e91/howard-hawks-26963_film_a-good-movie-is-three-good-scenes-and-no_625088.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e91/howard-hawks-26963_film_a-good-movie-is-three-good-scenes-and-no_625088.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A good movie is three good scenes and no bad scenes.” — Howard Hawks", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Howard Hawks", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-hawks/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A good movie is three good...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-hawks/a-good-movie-is-three-good-scenes-and-no-bad-scenes/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-hawks/a-good-movie-is-three-good-scenes-and-no-bad-scenes/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```