--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: 'Zero Dark Thirty' raised the stakes. It…" description: "\"'Zero Dark Thirty' raised the stakes. It raised the stakes in cinema, man. I don't think people really know how to grasp what type of film this is.\" — ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f2a/jason-clarke-19894_cinema_zero-dark-thirty-raised-the-stakes-it-ra_491845.png" --- # 'Zero Dark Thirty' raised the stakes. It raised the stakes… ![“'Zero Dark Thirty' raised the stakes. It raised the stakes in cinema, man. I don't think people really know how to grasp what type of film this is.” quote by Jason Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f2a/jason-clarke-19894_cinema_zero-dark-thirty-raised-the-stakes-it-ra_491845.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f2a/jason-clarke-19894_cinema_zero-dark-thirty-raised-the-stakes-it-ra_491845.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f2a/jason-clarke-19894_cinema_zero-dark-thirty-raised-the-stakes-it-ra_491845.png) > “'Zero Dark Thirty' raised the stakes. It raised the stakes in cinema, man. I don't think people really know how to grasp what type of film this is.” [Jason Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-clarke/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker claims the film heightened cinematic tension and genre expectations, suggesting audiences struggle to categorize its unique style. **In simple terms:** The movie raised cinematic stakes. Key Takeaway Recognize genre-blending films. Themes cinema genre innovation audience perception stakes Mood analytical critical Type cinematic opinion When to use this quote - movie reviews - film festivals - academic courses - screenwriting workshops Key Concepts film criticism media analysis cultural impact Questions to Reflect On - What elements define a film’s “stakes”? - How do you classify genre‑bending movies? A Different Perspective The statement may overstate the film’s impact on all viewers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Dark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dark/) [Dark Thirty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dark-thirty-1130956/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Type Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/type-film-963108/) [Zero Dark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/zero-dark-1903420/) [Zero dark thirty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/zero-dark-thirty/) ## Related quotes > [“ZERO DARK THIRTY by Mark Boal”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-boal/zero-dark-thirty-by-mark-boal/) [Mark Boal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-boal/) > [There's this movie, 'Zero Dark Thirty' about the hunt for Osama bin Laden. Some have complained that too many 'secrets' were dished out by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hayden/there-s-this-movie-zero-dark-thirty-about-the-hunt-for-osama-bin/) [Michael Hayden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hayden/) > [Certainly 'Zero Dark Thirty' is not for children!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandre-desplat/certainly-zero-dark-thirty-is-not-for-children/) [Alexandre Desplat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandre-desplat/) > [I remember when I first met Katherine Bigelow for 'Zero Dark Thirty' - actually, we met for another movie, and that never got made,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-ramirez/i-remember-when-i-first-met-katherine-bigelow-for-zero-dark-thirty/) [Edgar Ramirez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-ramirez/) > [It's either some sort of a kismet or something that I've been offered a film like 'Zero Dark Thirty,' which I would have lined…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greig-fraser/it-s-either-some-sort-of-a-kismet-or-something-that-i-ve-been-offered/) [Greig Fraser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greig-fraser/) > [What I want you to know is that ‘Zero Dark Thirty' is a dramatization, not a realistic portrayal of the facts,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-morell/what-i-want-you-to-know-is-that-zero-dark-thirty-is-a-dramatization/) [Michael Morell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-morell/) > [A perfect example is 'Zero Dark Thirty.' That's the closest thing to reportage that I've done because a lot of that was shooting from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greig-fraser/a-perfect-example-is-zero-dark-thirty-that-s-the-closest-thing-to/) [Greig Fraser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greig-fraser/) > [In the case of 'Zero Dark Thirty,' about the hunt for Osama bin Laden, an issue that is central to the film - torture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-gibney/in-the-case-of-zero-dark-thirty-about-the-hunt-for-osama-bin-laden-an/) [Alex Gibney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-gibney/) > ['Zero Dark Thirty' is a disturbing, fantastically-made movie. It will make you hate torture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-moore/zero-dark-thirty-is-a-disturbing-fantastically-made-movie-it-will/) [Michael Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-moore/) > ['Zero Dark Thirty' is a great piece of filmmaking and does a valuable public service by raising difficult questions most Hollywood movies shy away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bergen/zero-dark-thirty-is-a-great-piece-of-filmmaking-and-does-a-valuable/) [Peter Bergen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bergen/) > [The CIA is absolutely out of control. The CIA has been on a killing spree... The CIA has become a death squad and to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/medea-benjamin/the-cia-is-absolutely-out-of-control-the-cia-has-been-on-a-killing/) [Medea Benjamin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/medea-benjamin/) > [There is a real attempt to sanitize the CIA killings and to glorify the CIA and to give it a new face. That's what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/medea-benjamin/there-is-a-real-attempt-to-sanitize-the-cia-killings-and-to-glorify/) [Medea Benjamin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/medea-benjamin/) > [A political decision has been made not to irritate the intelligence community. The spy agencies are really embarrassed, they're really sore - the revelations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/a-political-decision-has-been-made-not-to-irritate-the-intelligence/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [I loved Kathryn Bigelow's 'Zero Dark Thirty;' my favorite films are 'The Godfather,' 'Kill Bill: Volume 2'... I dig Tarantino's works.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sudha-kongara/i-loved-kathryn-bigelow-s-zero-dark-thirty-my-favorite-films-are-the/) [Sudha Kongara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sudha-kongara/) > ['Argo,' 'Lincoln,' and 'Zero Dark Thirty,' three films honored with Best Picture Oscar nominations, lionize their Washington-anchored protagonists as crafty, competent, and virtually incorruptible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-fournier/argo-lincoln-and-zero-dark-thirty-three-films-honored-with-best/) [Ron Fournier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-fournier/) ## More by Jason Clarke > [A lot of my climbing and hiking gear is all wool because I can wear it for a week straight and it doesn't smell.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-clarke/a-lot-of-my-climbing-and-hiking-gear-is-all-wool-because-i-can-wear/) [Jason Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-clarke/) > [As an actor, the first thing you learn in drama school is you never judge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-clarke/as-an-actor-the-first-thing-you-learn-in-drama-school-is-you-never/) [Jason Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-clarke/) > [My father was a sheep shearer, so I grew up in a caravan; we'd go around from shearing shed to shearing shed. My mother…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-clarke/my-father-was-a-sheep-shearer-so-i-grew-up-in-a-caravan-we-d-go/) [Jason Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-clarke/) > [You need mystery. You actually do. I think that's what foreign women, French women in particular, are good at. There's still a sense that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-clarke/you-need-mystery-you-actually-do-i-think-that-s-what-foreign-women/) [Jason Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-clarke/) > [I love a good wool suit, and I appreciate the fact that it's a natural fiber. I know where it comes from, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-clarke/i-love-a-good-wool-suit-and-i-appreciate-the-fact-that-it-s-a-natural/) [Jason Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-clarke/) > [Anytime you're in fear for your life, it's intense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-clarke/anytime-you-re-in-fear-for-your-life-it-s-intense/) [Jason Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-clarke/) > [I'm not against anybody - everyone does what they need to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-clarke/i-m-not-against-anybody-everyone-does-what-they-need-to-do/) [Jason Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-clarke/) > [Look at a guy like Ian McKellen, who is eighty or whatever, and he's just loving his work, and you can see that in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-clarke/look-at-a-guy-like-ian-mckellen-who-is-eighty-or-whatever-and-he-s/) [Jason Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-clarke/) > [Phillip Noyce was not just good to me but an inspiration to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-clarke/phillip-noyce-was-not-just-good-to-me-but-an-inspiration-to-me/) [Jason Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-clarke/) > [In terms of publicity and interviews, well, it's really hard in this modern world to keep a sense of mystery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-clarke/in-terms-of-publicity-and-interviews-well-it-s-really-hard-in-this/) [Jason Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-clarke/) > [I'm an actor doing a job, but I'm also living a life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-clarke/i-m-an-actor-doing-a-job-but-i-m-also-living-a-life/) [Jason Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-clarke/) > [I can remember very clearly sitting in a little room in my apartment going, 'You know what, Jace? I think it's time to go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-clarke/i-can-remember-very-clearly-sitting-in-a-little-room-in-my-apartment/) [Jason Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-clarke/) > [That's one of the challenges of acting. You can't expect that you're going to be successful, but you've got to put your heart and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-clarke/that-s-one-of-the-challenges-of-acting-you-can-t-expect-that-you-re/) [Jason Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-clarke/) > [We're a very judgmental society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-clarke/we-re-a-very-judgmental-society/) [Jason Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-clarke/) > [My favorite part of any project is the preparation. It's where you get to meet the people, the experts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-clarke/my-favorite-part-of-any-project-is-the-preparation-it-s-where-you-get/) [Jason Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-clarke/) [Explore all 32 Jason Clarke quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-clarke/) ## 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": "'Zero Dark Thirty' raised the stakes. It raised the stakes in cinema, man. 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