--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I started in the late 1950s, every…" description: "\"When I started in the late 1950s, every film I made - no matter how low the budget - got a theatrical release. Today, less that 20-percent of our films..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6fe/roger-corman-16514_cinema_when-i-started-in-the-late-1950s-every-f_1060683.png" --- # When I started in the late 1950s, every film I made - no… ![“When I started in the late 1950s, every film I made - no matter how low the budget - got a theatrical release. Today, less that 20-percent of our films get a theatrical release.” quote by Roger Corman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6fe/roger-corman-16514_cinema_when-i-started-in-the-late-1950s-every-f_1060683.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6fe/roger-corman-16514_cinema_when-i-started-in-the-late-1950s-every-f_1060683.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6fe/roger-corman-16514_cinema_when-i-started-in-the-late-1950s-every-f_1060683.png) > “When I started in the late 1950s, every film I made - no matter how low the budget - got a theatrical release. Today, less that 20-percent of our films get a theatrical release.” [Roger Corman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-corman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Film distribution has shifted from theatrical dominance to limited releases, reflecting industry changes. **In simple terms:** Movies now often skip theaters. Key Takeaway Adapt distribution strategies to new platforms. Themes film industry distribution technology economics Mood reflective pragmatic Type industry strategic When to use this quote - independent filmmaking - budget constraints - digital streaming - festival circuits Key Concepts media evolution market dynamics Questions to Reflect On - What alternative channels can sustain indie films? - How does streaming affect creative decisions? A Different Perspective Reduced theatrical releases limit audience reach and revenue. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Theatrical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatrical/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) ## Related quotes > [In an old model, the way a film would imprint itself on the public's consciousness is to get a theatrical run. But now there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-powers/in-an-old-model-the-way-a-film-would-imprint-itself-on-the-public-s/) [Thom Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-powers/) > [When I started, every film got a full theatrical distribution. Today, almost no low budget films, maybe two or three a year, will get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-corman/when-i-started-every-film-got-a-full-theatrical-distribution-today/) [Roger Corman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-corman/) > [I'm not a theater rat, so I never got a theatrical agent and did a play. I came really close though.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-love/i-m-not-a-theater-rat-so-i-never-got-a-theatrical-agent-and-did-a/) [Courtney Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-love/) > [I'm always open to new, innovative stuff and people trying to do stuff in a different way. I knew that the theatrical release would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spike-lee/i-m-always-open-to-new-innovative-stuff-and-people-trying-to-do-stuff/) [Spike Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spike-lee/) > [There's S-VOD, which is 3 1/2 months after the theatrical release. The windows are going to get closer and closer, and the sooner they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-blum/there-s-s-vod-which-is-3-1-2-months-after-the-theatrical-release-the/) [Jason Blum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-blum/) > [Every film may not be appropriate for a theatrical release, and the theatrical business is not a very good business for anybody except the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-gibney/every-film-may-not-be-appropriate-for-a-theatrical-release-and-the/) [Alex Gibney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-gibney/) > [Anytime you make a movie, the goal is a wide theatrical release, with the right distributor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-roth/anytime-you-make-a-movie-the-goal-is-a-wide-theatrical-release-with/) [Eli Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-roth/) > [This limited theatrical release was a nice little bonus that I never expected.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-corddry/this-limited-theatrical-release-was-a-nice-little-bonus-that-i-never/) [Rob Corddry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-corddry/) > [It's easy to get a theatrical release that shows in one theater for a week. But there's no advertising, and no one sees the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-blum/it-s-easy-to-get-a-theatrical-release-that-shows-in-one-theater-for-a/) [Jason Blum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-blum/) > [Qismat 2' has been one of my favourite films. Ever since its theatrical release, the love and appreciation we have received have been absolutely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sargun-mehta/qismat-2-has-been-one-of-my-favourite-films-ever-since-its-theatrical/) [Sargun Mehta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sargun-mehta/) > [Sometimes people are surprised to learn that most of the films I've made don't work. They've been released but nobody has ever seen them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lucas/sometimes-people-are-surprised-to-learn-that-most-of-the-films-i-ve/) [George Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lucas/) > [If two percent of all the films made in Hollywood are really artistically worthy - and I think it's a lot more than two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-horwitz/if-two-percent-of-all-the-films-made-in-hollywood-are-really/) [Murray Horwitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murray-horwitz/) > [I have made a career of flop films. And yet, 90 percent of my films are celebrated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manoj-bajpayee/i-have-made-a-career-of-flop-films-and-yet-90-percent-of-my-films-are/) [Manoj Bajpayee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manoj-bajpayee/) > [Ninety percent of films are pretty mediocre, but they have a built-in audience and open on 3,000 screens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-clooney/ninety-percent-of-films-are-pretty-mediocre-but-they-have-a-built-in/) [George Clooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-clooney/) > [All I know is that Salman has signed 80 percent of my films without reading the script, and almost all our films have done well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sajid-nadiadwala/all-i-know-is-that-salman-has-signed-80-percent-of-my-films-without/) [Sajid Nadiadwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sajid-nadiadwala/) ## More by Roger Corman > [When I started I had no knowledge of films whatsoever. I was an engineering major at Stanford. And I found out as a senior…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-corman/when-i-started-i-had-no-knowledge-of-films-whatsoever-i-was-an/) [Roger Corman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-corman/) > [I'm not going to shoot seven days a week. I think it's counterproductive. I think you're going to have people stumbling around after a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-corman/i-m-not-going-to-shoot-seven-days-a-week-i-think-it-s/) [Roger Corman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-corman/) > [I was young, so I was part of youth culture. The years went by, I became older and no longer part of youth culture,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-corman/i-was-young-so-i-was-part-of-youth-culture-the-years-went-by-i-became/) [Roger Corman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-corman/) > [I think anybody who's working in a creative medium is working partially with their conscious mind, partially with their unconscious mind. So, my unconscious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-corman/i-think-anybody-who-s-working-in-a-creative-medium-is-working/) [Roger Corman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-corman/) > [There was a fairly big difference between Detroit and Beverly Hills. I remember this. Detroit actually was a prosperous bustling city when we moved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-corman/there-was-a-fairly-big-difference-between-detroit-and-beverly-hills-i/) [Roger Corman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-corman/) > [I do believe motion pictures are the significant art form of our time. And I think the main reason is, they're an art form…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-corman/i-do-believe-motion-pictures-are-the-significant-art-form-of-our-time/) [Roger Corman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-corman/) > [Jim Cameron is proof that if you are good, you'll get promoted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-corman/jim-cameron-is-proof-that-if-you-are-good-you-ll-get-promoted/) [Roger Corman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-corman/) > [You can make a movie about anything, as long as it has a hook to hang the advertising on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-corman/you-can-make-a-movie-about-anything-as-long-as-it-has-a-hook-to-hang/) [Roger Corman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-corman/) > [As a producer, I probably am a little stronger than most, since I was a director originally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-corman/as-a-producer-i-probably-am-a-little-stronger-than-most-since-i-was-a/) [Roger Corman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-corman/) > [Other writers, producers, and directors of low-budget films would often put down the film they were making, saying it was just something to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-corman/other-writers-producers-and-directors-of-low-budget-films-would-often/) [Roger Corman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-corman/) > [I remember the first film I reviewed for the Daily was a John Ford Western. I think it was My Darling Clementine, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-corman/i-remember-the-first-film-i-reviewed-for-the-daily-was-a-john-ford/) [Roger Corman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-corman/) > [There's always something that draws you away from the original script.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-corman/there-s-always-something-that-draws-you-away-from-the-original-script/) [Roger Corman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-corman/) > [Somebody who moved up very fast was Jim Cameron, who was a young guy out of - I think he came from Arizona, from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-corman/somebody-who-moved-up-very-fast-was-jim-cameron-who-was-a-young-guy/) [Roger Corman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-corman/) > [People gravitate occasionally to the brilliantly made art low budget films, which is maybe one out of every five hundred low budget films made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-corman/people-gravitate-occasionally-to-the-brilliantly-made-art-low-budget/) [Roger Corman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-corman/) > [In science-fiction films the monster should always be bigger than the leading lady.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-corman/in-science-fiction-films-the-monster-should-always-be-bigger-than-the/) [Roger Corman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-corman/) [Explore all 39 Roger Corman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-corman/) ## 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 > [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": "When I started in the late 1950s, every film I made - no matter how low the budget - got a theatrical release. 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