--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think that's my favorite thing about…" description: "\"I think that's my favorite thing about making scary movies, watching people watch them. When my films come out, I like to cinema hop and know what mome..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/213/james-wan-7118_cinema_i-think-that-s-my-favorite-thing-about-m_3100583.jpg" --- # I think that's my favorite thing about making scary… ![“I think that's my favorite thing about making scary movies, watching people watch them. When my films come out, I like to cinema hop and know what moments are coming up, I pop my head in and watch people squirm or slide down in their seats. I like that sadism!” quote by James Wan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/213/james-wan-7118_cinema_i-think-that-s-my-favorite-thing-about-m_3100583.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/213/james-wan-7118_cinema_i-think-that-s-my-favorite-thing-about-m_3100583.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/213/james-wan-7118_cinema_i-think-that-s-my-favorite-thing-about-m_3100583.jpg) > “I think that's my favorite thing about making scary movies, watching people watch them. When my films come out, I like to cinema hop and know what moments are coming up, I pop my head in and watch people squirm or slide down in their seats. I like that sadism!” [James Wan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-wan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The director enjoys seeing audiences react viscerally to horror, finding pleasure in their fear and discomfort. **In simple terms:** He loves watching people get scared. Key Takeaway Embrace the audience’s fear to sharpen your craft. Themes horror audience reaction filmmaking psychology entertainment Mood thrilling darkly humorous reflective Type observational analytical When to use this quote - film premieres - test screenings - live reactions - genre analysis Key Concepts catharsis sadism spectatorship Questions to Reflect On - What does it say about us that we enjoy others’ fear? - How can fear be used responsibly in art? A Different Perspective Some viewers may find such enjoyment ethically troubling. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Favorite thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/favorite-thing/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Horror](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/horror/) [Like Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-cinema-273925/) [Making Scary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/making-scary-668441/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Movies Watching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movies-watching-427309/) [My favorite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/my-favorite/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Scary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scary/) [Scary movie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scary-movie/) [Scary movies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scary-movies/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [I'm terrified of the supernatural things, which is why I'm very grateful that I don't see things like that. Because if I did see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-wan/i-m-terrified-of-the-supernatural-things-which-is-why-i-m-very/) [James Wan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-wan/) > [Making scary movies and creating tension is very technical and it require a lot of coverage. It requires the stretching of time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franck-khalfoun/making-scary-movies-and-creating-tension-is-very-technical-and-it/) [Franck Khalfoun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franck-khalfoun/) > [I'm not interested in making horror-comedies, but I'm very interested in making scary movies with funny parts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-blum/i-m-not-interested-in-making-horror-comedies-but-i-m-very-interested/) [Jason Blum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-blum/) > [For me, the sound design and the musical score is a big part of what makes scary movies work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-wan/for-me-the-sound-design-and-the-musical-score-is-a-big-part-of-what/) [James Wan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-wan/) > [I like scary movies. I like the mystery that leaves you wanting to watch the next one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kentavious-caldwell-pope/i-like-scary-movies-i-like-the-mystery-that-leaves-you-wanting-to/) [Kentavious Caldwell-Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kentavious-caldwell-pope/) > [Special effects movies have taken over the universe. That and scary movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jami-gertz/special-effects-movies-have-taken-over-the-universe-that-and-scary/) [Jami Gertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jami-gertz/) > [I was scared of everything growing up. I still don't like scary movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-burrow/i-was-scared-of-everything-growing-up-i-still-don-t-like-scary-movies/) [Joe Burrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-burrow/) > [I don't really like scary movies. I don't seek them out. I'm very sensitive and impressionable. I'm the kind of person who will sleep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalia-dyer/i-don-t-really-like-scary-movies-i-don-t-seek-them-out-i-m-very/) [Natalia Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalia-dyer/) > [I am terrified of things that go bump in the night. I don't like scary movies. I am a scaredy cat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/letoya-luckett/i-am-terrified-of-things-that-go-bump-in-the-night-i-don-t-like-scary/) [LeToya Luckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/letoya-luckett/) > [I wasn't a fanboy of horror. I didn't grow up on horror movies. I grew up loving all movies. I still love all movies,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-blum/i-wasn-t-a-fanboy-of-horror-i-didn-t-grow-up-on-horror-movies-i-grew/) [Jason Blum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-blum/) > [I think people would be most surprised to know that I love scary movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-holt/i-think-people-would-be-most-surprised-to-know-that-i-love-scary/) [Olivia Holt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-holt/) > [I always loved scary movies, and my dad was a film professor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-flynn/i-always-loved-scary-movies-and-my-dad-was-a-film-professor/) [Gillian Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-flynn/) > [I always get scared. I can't read scripts. I'm scared, scary movies and stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-ferlito/i-always-get-scared-i-can-t-read-scripts-i-m-scared-scary-movies-and/) [Vanessa Ferlito](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-ferlito/) > [I want a boyfriend who would take cute pictures with me and cuddle with me all night long watching scary movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-want-a-boyfriend-who-would-take-cute-pictures-with-me-and-cuddle/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [And we've read scary books and watched scary movies and TV shows together. He's met monsters, ghouls, and demons on the page and on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/and-we-ve-read-scary-books-and-watched-scary-movies-and-tv-shows/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) ## More by James Wan > [I come from a very straight and adjusted suburban background.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-wan/i-come-from-a-very-straight-and-adjusted-suburban-background/) [James Wan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-wan/) > [I realized that my camera work could help me in a lot of ways to put the audience in the driver's seat, so to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-wan/i-realized-that-my-camera-work-could-help-me-in-a-lot-of-ways-to-put/) [James Wan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-wan/) > [I've always said that with a lot of the horror franchises that I've started, it's like directing a pilot. I come in, I direct…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-wan/i-ve-always-said-that-with-a-lot-of-the-horror-franchises-that-i-ve/) [James Wan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-wan/) > ['Fast and Furious' is the only franchise that I've directed that I did not create from scratch. So it definitely was an eye-opening experience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-wan/fast-and-furious-is-the-only-franchise-that-i-ve-directed-that-i-did/) [James Wan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-wan/) > [I grew up loving X-Men, Spider-Man and Batman. Those are obviously the key big ones, but there's always something kind of cool about Aquaman…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-wan/i-grew-up-loving-x-men-spider-man-and-batman-those-are-obviously-the/) [James Wan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-wan/) > [I guess, deep down, there's a dark side to us. I guess that's why movie fans really love the revenge drama. We like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-wan/i-guess-deep-down-there-s-a-dark-side-to-us-i-guess-that-s-why-movie/) [James Wan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-wan/) > [You can never have too much good blessing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-wan/you-can-never-have-too-much-good-blessing/) [James Wan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-wan/) > [Whether it's a popcorn movie or some really intellectual sociopolitical movie, I think to some degree they're all influenced by the social climate that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-wan/whether-it-s-a-popcorn-movie-or-some-really-intellectual/) [James Wan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-wan/) > [I don't like talking about sequels or spinoffs or franchise until they actually happen, until they actually work with the audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-wan/i-don-t-like-talking-about-sequels-or-spinoffs-or-franchise-until/) [James Wan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-wan/) > [We live in a world that relies on technology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-wan/we-live-in-a-world-that-relies-on-technology/) [James Wan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-wan/) > [I always felt that what is scary is actually hearing someone tell you what they think they see. That sense of invisibility makes things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-wan/i-always-felt-that-what-is-scary-is-actually-hearing-someone-tell-you/) [James Wan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-wan/) > [I grew up loving X-Men, Spider-Man and Batman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-wan/i-grew-up-loving-x-men-spider-man-and-batman/) [James Wan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-wan/) > [I think I'm a very sentimental person. Conscious or not, that's what draws me to the kind of films I want to make.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-wan/i-think-i-m-a-very-sentimental-person-conscious-or-not-that-s-what/) [James Wan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-wan/) > ['Death Sentence' really is a throwback to the '70s style revenge drama with moments of action. It's like a contemporary 'Death Wish' with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-wan/death-sentence-really-is-a-throwback-to-the-70s-style-revenge-drama/) [James Wan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-wan/) > [When you work with an actor and then you discover new things that are better, I think you gotta be free to be able…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-wan/when-you-work-with-an-actor-and-then-you-discover-new-things-that-are/) [James Wan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-wan/) [Explore all 94 James Wan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-wan/) ## More Cinema quotes > [I made, like, five movies while I was in college. I think they just weren't memorable movies. I've taken breaks as the years have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/i-made-like-five-movies-while-i-was-in-college-i-think-they-just/) [Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) > [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/) > [I wasn't attracted to American cinema, but I fell in love with Los Angeles the minute I arrived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-varda/i-wasn-t-attracted-to-american-cinema-but-i-fell-in-love-with-los/) [Agnes Varda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-varda/) > [There was a time in the 1980s when I worked in 22 films a year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/radha-ravi/there-was-a-time-in-the-1980s-when-i-worked-in-22-films-a-year/) [Radha Ravi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/radha-ravi/) > [To an ever greater extent out experience is governed by pictures, pictures in newspapers and magazines, on television and in the cinema. Next to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-crimp/to-an-ever-greater-extent-out-experience-is-governed-by-pictures/) [Douglas Crimp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-crimp/) > [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/) > [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 even see the cinema itself as a woman, with its alternation of light and darkness, of appearing and disappearing images](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/federico-fellini/i-even-see-the-cinema-itself-as-a-woman-with-its-alternation-of-light/) [Federico Fellini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/federico-fellini/) > ['Rear Window' isn't really a horror film, but it is a psychological drama, which I love. It is very tense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-silvers/rear-window-isn-t-really-a-horror-film-but-it-is-a-psychological/) [Diana Silvers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-silvers/) > [What a thrill. You know you've entered new territory when you realise that your outfit cost more than your film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-yu/what-a-thrill-you-know-you-ve-entered-new-territory-when-you-realise/) [Jessica Yu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-yu/) > [I am not interested in churning out a certain number of films every year. For me, it's about the quality of work. I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepika-padukone/i-am-not-interested-in-churning-out-a-certain-number-of-films-every/) [Deepika Padukone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepika-padukone/) [Browse all 23,940 Cinema quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think that's my favorite thing about making scary movies, watching people watch them. When my films come out, I like to cinema hop and know what moments are coming up, I pop my head in and watch people squirm or slide down in their seats. 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