--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Everybody underestimated the universality…" description: "\"Everybody underestimated the universality of the concept of a nightmare or a bad dream. Horror movies travel pretty well anyway. They're like action mo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02c/robert-englund-2458_action_everybody-underestimated-the-universalit_1807712.jpg" --- # Everybody underestimated the universality of the concept… ![“Everybody underestimated the universality of the concept of a nightmare or a bad dream. Horror movies travel pretty well anyway. They're like action movies: People overseas can watch them and enjoy them, and they're not so culturally specific in terms of their references, and they can follow a…” quote by Robert Englund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02c/robert-englund-2458_action_everybody-underestimated-the-universalit_1807712.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02c/robert-englund-2458_action_everybody-underestimated-the-universalit_1807712.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02c/robert-englund-2458_action_everybody-underestimated-the-universalit_1807712.jpg) > “Everybody underestimated the universality of the concept of a nightmare or a bad dream. Horror movies travel pretty well anyway. They're like action movies: People overseas can watch them and enjoy them, and they're not so culturally specific in terms of their references, and they can follow a good scary story.” [Robert Englund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-englund/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Horror’s universal appeal lies in its ability to convey primal fear, transcending language and cultural barriers. **In simple terms:** Scary stories cross cultures easily. Key Takeaway Use horror to explore shared human anxieties. Themes fear storytelling universality culture Mood eerie curious Type analytical entertaining When to use this quote - film festivals - global marketing - cross‑cultural research - creative writing Key Concepts psychology mythology media studies Questions to Reflect On - Why do we seek fear in entertainment? - How does horror reflect societal anxieties? A Different Perspective Horror can also reinforce stereotypes or desensitize audiences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Action movie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action-movie/) [Action movies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action-movies/) [Bad dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-dream/) [Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) [Dream Horror](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream-horror-2086408/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Enjoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enjoy/) [Good Scary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-scary-2086411/) [Horror](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/horror/) [Horror movies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/horror-movies/) [Movies Travel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movies-travel-2086405/) [Nightmare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nightmare/) [Nightmare Bad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nightmare-bad-2086407/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Scary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scary/) [Term](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/term/) [Underestimated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/underestimated/) ## Related quotes > [Horror movies travel pretty well anyway. They're like action movies: People overseas can watch them and enjoy them, and they're not so culturally specific…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-englund/horror-movies-travel-pretty-well-anyway-they-re-like-action-movies/) [Robert Englund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-englund/) > [Everybody underestimated the universality of the concept of a nightmare or a bad dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-englund/everybody-underestimated-the-universality-of-the-concept-of-a-2/) [Robert Englund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-englund/) > [I got the one, the dream of horror! Dreams of blood, dreams of war! Rudest eyes have seen the fright Welcome to the eternal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/children-of-bodom/i-got-the-one-the-dream-of-horror-dreams-of-blood-dreams-of-war/) [Children Of Bodom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/children-of-bodom/) > [I'm going to do more movies and travel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-wiseau/i-m-going-to-do-more-movies-and-travel/) [Tommy Wiseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-wiseau/) > [In the dark of the night I was tossing and turning, and the nightmare I had was as bad as can be. It scared…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anastasia/in-the-dark-of-the-night-i-was-tossing-and-turning-and-the-nightmare/) [Anastasia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anastasia/) > [I enjoy getting riled up, and nothing's gonna do that for you like a good scary movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophia-bush/i-enjoy-getting-riled-up-and-nothing-s-gonna-do-that-for-you-like-a/) [Sophia Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophia-bush/) > [You shoot yourself in the foot when you think, 'We have to get a good scary movie director to do a script by another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-blum/you-shoot-yourself-in-the-foot-when-you-think-we-have-to-get-a-good/) [Jason Blum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-blum/) > [“Praise for L.E. Edwards' MONSTER LAKE: A(n) entertaining story that kids won't want to put down... a good scary story.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-monster-librarian/praise-for-l-e-edwards-monster-lake-a-n-entertaining-story-that-kids/) [The Monster Librarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-monster-librarian/) > [I think that everyone would agree that something that Marvel has done brilliantly is weave comedy into all of their action movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-filoni/i-think-that-everyone-would-agree-that-something-that-marvel-has-done/) [Dave Filoni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-filoni/) > [I think action movies bring more excitement than tears, but I always want to take it to another level. I mean, I think if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donnie-yen/i-think-action-movies-bring-more-excitement-than-tears-but-i-always/) [Donnie Yen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donnie-yen/) > [I think we have to get beyond the idea that we have to categorize people. We can now have action movies with two stars…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/i-think-we-have-to-get-beyond-the-idea-that-we-have-to-categorize/) [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) > [I love watching sports and action movies but if we're gonna date you gotta suck it up and watch say yes to the dress…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-love-watching-sports-and-action-movies-but-if-we-re-gonna-date-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I tend to think of action movies as exuberant morality plays in which good triumphs over evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvester-stallone/i-tend-to-think-of-action-movies-as-exuberant-morality-plays-in-which/) [Sylvester Stallone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvester-stallone/) > [I always have humour in my action movies. I think characters that make jokes under fire are more real. It somehow helps put you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-black/i-always-have-humour-in-my-action-movies-i-think-characters-that-make/) [Shane Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-black/) > [I always wanted to make big action movies as a kid, and that was my dream. In a way, 'Swingers' was the thing I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-liman/i-always-wanted-to-make-big-action-movies-as-a-kid-and-that-was-my/) [Doug Liman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-liman/) ## More by Robert Englund > [There's plenty of great stuff out there. I think it's just what we do is we all spend our allowance on the thing that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-englund/there-s-plenty-of-great-stuff-out-there-i-think-it-s-just-what-we-do/) [Robert Englund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-englund/) > [I was quite a snob when I was a theatre actor earlier in my career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-englund/i-was-quite-a-snob-when-i-was-a-theatre-actor-earlier-in-my-career/) [Robert Englund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-englund/) > [Any film you make is a crap shoot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-englund/any-film-you-make-is-a-crap-shoot/) [Robert Englund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-englund/) > [I didn't make good money on 'Nightmare' until part three. I eventually got some nice merchandising checks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-englund/i-didn-t-make-good-money-on-nightmare-until-part-three-i-eventually/) [Robert Englund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-englund/) > [I used to drive up from theatre in Michigan to Stratford, Ontario to watch every show. I idolized the actors from Stratford. I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-englund/i-used-to-drive-up-from-theatre-in-michigan-to-stratford-ontario-to/) [Robert Englund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-englund/) > [I make a star's salary when I do horror, because I can still open a movie in Italy or Spain or Germany.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-englund/i-make-a-star-s-salary-when-i-do-horror-because-i-can-still-open-a/) [Robert Englund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-englund/) > [Surfing is real private. It's a solo, loner sport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-englund/surfing-is-real-private-it-s-a-solo-loner-sport/) [Robert Englund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-englund/) > [I've worked with pythons and such in a couple of movies, and I had to wrangle around, but I was okay. Still, if I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-englund/i-ve-worked-with-pythons-and-such-in-a-couple-of-movies-and-i-had-to/) [Robert Englund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-englund/) > [I was trained to serve the writer and director as an actor before I serve myself. Not to say that's gotten in my way,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-englund/i-was-trained-to-serve-the-writer-and-director-as-an-actor-before-i/) [Robert Englund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-englund/) > [I do a lot of stuff in my career, but I like to keep a hand in horror.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-englund/i-do-a-lot-of-stuff-in-my-career-but-i-like-to-keep-a-hand-in-horror/) [Robert Englund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-englund/) > [By the time I'm out of makeup, I'm ready to act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-englund/by-the-time-i-m-out-of-makeup-i-m-ready-to-act/) [Robert Englund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-englund/) > [The roughest make-up I ever wore was for 'Phantom of the Opera' because the phantom's face was all disfigured, and he's trying to pass…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-englund/the-roughest-make-up-i-ever-wore-was-for-phantom-of-the-opera-because/) [Robert Englund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-englund/) > [I don't choose roles. I go where I'm wanted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-englund/i-don-t-choose-roles-i-go-where-i-m-wanted/) [Robert Englund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-englund/) > [I'm at that stage in my career, especially now where I go where I am wanted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-englund/i-m-at-that-stage-in-my-career-especially-now-where-i-go-where-i-am/) [Robert Englund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-englund/) > [Jeff Bridges taught me a lot about how to keep a scene fresh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-englund/jeff-bridges-taught-me-a-lot-about-how-to-keep-a-scene-fresh/) [Robert Englund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-englund/) [Explore all 165 Robert Englund quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-englund/) ## More Action quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [You'd be surprised how hard it can often be to translate an action into an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/you-d-be-surprised-how-hard-it-can-often-be-to-translate-an-action/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/) [William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/) > [Every thought I have imprisioned in expression I must free by my deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/every-thought-i-have-imprisioned-in-expression-i-must-free-by-my-deeds/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [For comedy action, I must know the language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammo-hung/for-comedy-action-i-must-know-the-language/) [Sammo Hung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammo-hung/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Action is a powerful thing. When you smile through your sadness, it can completely change your outlook. Try it! Smile :) Now hold onto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leticia-rae/action-is-a-powerful-thing-when-you-smile-through-your-sadness-it-can/) [Leticia Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leticia-rae/) > [I reject criticism because the last thing I wanted was to sit there and look at people talking. I think people are conditioned to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tyrnauer/i-reject-criticism-because-the-last-thing-i-wanted-was-to-sit-there/) [Matt Tyrnauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tyrnauer/) > [“I take my actions because of my passion not because of compulsion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/i-take-my-actions-because-of-my-passion-not-because-of-compulsion/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) [Browse all 14,940 Action quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Everybody underestimated the universality of the concept of a nightmare or a bad dream. 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