--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If the movie's not communicating, it's…" description: "\"If the movie's not communicating, it's not working.\" — Judd Apatow" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/454/judd-apatow-1471_cinema_if-the-movie-s-not-communicating-it-s-no_1711620.jpg" --- # If the movie's not communicating, it's not working. ![“If the movie's not communicating, it's not working.” quote by Judd Apatow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/454/judd-apatow-1471_cinema_if-the-movie-s-not-communicating-it-s-no_1711620.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/454/judd-apatow-1471_cinema_if-the-movie-s-not-communicating-it-s-no_1711620.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/454/judd-apatow-1471_cinema_if-the-movie-s-not-communicating-it-s-no_1711620.jpg) > “If the movie's not communicating, it's not working.” [Judd Apatow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judd-apatow/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A film that fails to convey its message is ineffective, regardless of other qualities. **In simple terms:** Communication is key. Key Takeaway Ensure clear storytelling. Themes communication art effectiveness Mood analytical critical Type critical educational When to use this quote - movie reviews - scriptwriting - directing - audience reception Key Concepts film criticism creative process Questions to Reflect On - How can you test a film’s communication? - What elements most affect audience understanding? A Different Perspective Technical excellence cannot compensate for unclear narrative. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Communicate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communicate/) [Communicating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communicating/) [Communicating Working](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communicating-working-1252802/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Movie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movie/) [Movie Communicating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movie-communicating-1252801/) [Working](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/working/) ## Related quotes > [I could say that making clothes is my way of communicating, because I was always so shy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-gaultier/i-could-say-that-making-clothes-is-my-way-of-communicating-because-i/) [Jean Paul Gaultier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-gaultier/) > [All our feelings, like the artist's paints and brush, are ways of communicating and sharing something meaningful from us to the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rollo-may/all-our-feelings-like-the-artist-s-paints-and-brush-are-ways-of/) [Rollo May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rollo-may/) > [You can only succeed when people are communicating, not just from the top down, but in complete interchange. Communication comes from fighting off my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-walsh/you-can-only-succeed-when-people-are-communicating-not-just-from-the/) [Bill Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-walsh/) > [Communicating our questions, hopes, and fears in prayer makes them-even to ourselves-more open and clear...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/communicating-our-questions-hopes-and-fears-in-prayer-makes-them-even/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [We are in a world that is connected, but is not communicating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ramadan/we-are-in-a-world-that-is-connected-but-is-not-communicating/) [Tariq Ramadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ramadan/) > [One thing that has made a big comeback just recently is this business of speaking with the dead. To my innocent mind, 'dead' implies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-randi/one-thing-that-has-made-a-big-comeback-just-recently-is-this-business/) [James Randi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-randi/) > [ In the judgment of design engineers, the ordinary means of communicating with a computer are entirely inadequate. \[...\] Graphical communication in some form or… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-wilkes/in-the-judgment-of-design-engineers-the-ordinary-means-of/) [Maurice Wilkes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-wilkes/) > [The weirdest thing with friends, the way you measure it is if you go without communicating for months at a time, you can sit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-weiner/the-weirdest-thing-with-friends-the-way-you-measure-it-is-if-you-go/) [Matthew Weiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-weiner/) > [Communicating with God is the most extraordinary experience imaginable, yet at the same time it's the most natural one of all, because God is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eben-alexander/communicating-with-god-is-the-most-extraordinary-experience/) [Eben Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eben-alexander/) > [Friction and misunderstandings often occur when communicating across generations. It gets even more challenging when working across virtual settings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-arroyo/friction-and-misunderstandings-often-occur-when-communicating-across/) [Raymond Arroyo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-arroyo/) > [When communicating results to non-technical types there is nothing better than a clear visualization to make your point.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tukey/when-communicating-results-to-non-technical-types-there-is-nothing/) [John Tukey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tukey/) > [The art of communicating is to speak with a non judging sensitivity and mean it rather than impulsively verbalizing whatever feelings arise; there's no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-orloff/the-art-of-communicating-is-to-speak-with-a-non-judging-sensitivity/) [Judith Orloff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-orloff/) > [The serialization through the Internet or through digital portals, means of ways of communicating, and I think that's great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keanu-reeves/the-serialization-through-the-internet-or-through-digital-portals/) [Keanu Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keanu-reeves/) > [We live in a world in which we are able to communicate very quickly in many different ways, and yet we find communicating more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-cruise/we-live-in-a-world-in-which-we-are-able-to-communicate-very-quickly/) [Tom Cruise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-cruise/) > [When awareness is completely balanced, communicating with the outside world is instantaneous and automatic. It happens with the touch of thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/when-awareness-is-completely-balanced-communicating-with-the-outside/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) ## More by Judd Apatow > [I was in the recording studio when Pink was recording for a part of the gay rights anthem. It was just amazing to watch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judd-apatow/i-was-in-the-recording-studio-when-pink-was-recording-for-a-part-of/) [Judd Apatow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judd-apatow/) > [Just trying to tell the truth about, you know, the struggle of - being alive is funny, it's just inherently tragic and also hilarious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judd-apatow/just-trying-to-tell-the-truth-about-you-know-the-struggle-of-being/) [Judd Apatow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judd-apatow/) > [I feel like everybody's waiting for a job y'know, you can make a movie on your phone. And so there really is no reason…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judd-apatow/i-feel-like-everybody-s-waiting-for-a-job-y-know-you-can-make-a-movie/) [Judd Apatow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judd-apatow/) > [It's funny, now there are so many bands that I can never remember any of their names. Maybe it's because I'm old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judd-apatow/it-s-funny-now-there-are-so-many-bands-that-i-can-never-remember-any/) [Judd Apatow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judd-apatow/) > [I like human comedies - or dramedies. More than anything, I'm interested in people just dealing with everyday things that are difficult, and there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judd-apatow/i-like-human-comedies-or-dramedies-more-than-anything-i-m-interested/) [Judd Apatow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judd-apatow/) > [ My dad was a big fan of comedy. He wanted to be a stand-up. He loved Lenny \[Bruce\]. He also loved Lord Buckley and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judd-apatow/my-dad-was-a-big-fan-of-comedy-he-wanted-to-be-a-stand-up-he-loved/) [Judd Apatow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judd-apatow/) > [ It's so funny, all the similarities that we have \[with David Copperfield\] of being obsessed young people and finding a way to be around… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judd-apatow/it-s-so-funny-all-the-similarities-that-we-have-with-david/) [Judd Apatow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judd-apatow/) > [I've made movies on every part of the spectrum, and you do understand when you go into certain movies that you're trying to elicit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judd-apatow/i-ve-made-movies-on-every-part-of-the-spectrum-and-you-do-understand/) [Judd Apatow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judd-apatow/) > [I love the Lonely Island. I wish there was more Lonely Island movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judd-apatow/i-love-the-lonely-island-i-wish-there-was-more-lonely-island-movies/) [Judd Apatow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judd-apatow/) > [Parents don't realize that when they teach you about the Holocaust too early, it ruins you for life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judd-apatow/parents-don-t-realize-that-when-they-teach-you-about-the-holocaust/) [Judd Apatow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judd-apatow/) > [People talk about universal intelligence ... I'm reticent to believe almost anything, just because my parents weren't religious at all, but that's when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judd-apatow/people-talk-about-universal-intelligence-i-m-reticent-to-believe/) [Judd Apatow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judd-apatow/) > [You can work on a movie for years, and you won't know until you show it to an audience for the first time if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judd-apatow/you-can-work-on-a-movie-for-years-and-you-won-t-know-until-you-show/) [Judd Apatow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judd-apatow/) > [I literally cannot remember one joke.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judd-apatow/i-literally-cannot-remember-one-joke/) [Judd Apatow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judd-apatow/) > [You hear people say: "One day, when I'm in a good position I can make my passion project." I've seen a lot of people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judd-apatow/you-hear-people-say-one-day-when-i-m-in-a-good-position-i-can-make-my/) [Judd Apatow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judd-apatow/) > [If we really talked about what's wrong with you, you'd need a 7-1/2-hour movie and nobody would know what category to put it in!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judd-apatow/if-we-really-talked-about-what-s-wrong-with-you-you-d-need-a-7-1-2/) [Judd Apatow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judd-apatow/) [Explore all 238 Judd Apatow quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judd-apatow/) ## 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": "If the movie's not communicating, it's not working.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Judd Apatow" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judd-apatow/if-the-movie-s-not-communicating-it-s-not-working/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cinema" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judd-apatow/if-the-movie-s-not-communicating-it-s-not-working/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/454/judd-apatow-1471_cinema_if-the-movie-s-not-communicating-it-s-no_1711620.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/454/judd-apatow-1471_cinema_if-the-movie-s-not-communicating-it-s-no_1711620.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/454/judd-apatow-1471_cinema_if-the-movie-s-not-communicating-it-s-no_1711620.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If the movie's not communicating, it's not working.” — Judd Apatow", "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": "Judd Apatow", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judd-apatow/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If the movie's not communicating, it's...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judd-apatow/if-the-movie-s-not-communicating-it-s-not-working/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judd-apatow/if-the-movie-s-not-communicating-it-s-not-working/#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 } } ] } ```