---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: At the end of the day, what really…"
description: "\"At the end of the day, what really matters in 'Poltergeist' is that Carol Anne is missing and they have to go through a portal in the closet to get her..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3f/ross-duffer-10611_day_at-the-end-of-the-day-what-really-matter_478560.jpg"
---

#  At the end of the day, what really matters in…

![“At the end of the day, what really matters in 'Poltergeist' is that Carol Anne is missing and they have to go through a portal in the closet to get her back. That matters more than the backstory.” quote by Ross Duffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3f/ross-duffer-10611_day_at-the-end-of-the-day-what-really-matter_478560.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3f/ross-duffer-10611_day_at-the-end-of-the-day-what-really-matter_478560.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3f/ross-duffer-10611_day_at-the-end-of-the-day-what-really-matter_478560.jpg)

> “At the end of the day, what really matters in 'Poltergeist' is that Carol Anne is missing and they have to go through a portal in the closet to get her back. That matters more than the backstory.”

[Ross Duffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-duffer/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The core focus is the urgent rescue of a missing child, outweighing background details.

**In simple terms:** Rescuing the child is the main priority.

Key Takeaway

Prioritize immediate, human concerns over backstory.

Themes

family danger heroism

Mood

tense dramatic

Type

narrative plot-driven

When to use this quote

- searching for missing child
- emergency response
- family crisis

Key Concepts

parental love sacrifice urgency

Questions to Reflect On

- What would you do if a loved one vanished?
- How does urgency shape decision making?

A Different Perspective

Neglecting backstory may reduce narrative depth.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/day/) [End of the day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/end-of-the-day/) [Poltergeist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poltergeist/)

## Related quotes

> [“Do you really think I’ve been murdered?” Michael’s voice was soft, but I still heard it from across the bedroom. He stood in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyoko-m/do-you-really-think-i-ve-been-murdered-michael-s-voice-was-soft-but-i/)

[Kyoko M](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyoko-m/)

> ['Poltergeist' terrifies me! When the little girl Carol Anne is talking to the TV, I get shivers every time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willow-shields/poltergeist-terrifies-me-when-the-little-girl-carol-anne-is-talking/)

[Willow Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willow-shields/)

> [I like the old, classic scary movies. I love 'Psycho,' 'The Sixth Sense,' and 'Poltergeist.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-cosgrove/i-like-the-old-classic-scary-movies-i-love-psycho-the-sixth-sense-and/)

[Miranda Cosgrove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-cosgrove/)

> [“MUST LOOK LIKE SCARY GUY FROM POLTERGEIST 2. Jeez. Dr.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-e-taylor/must-look-like-scary-guy-from-poltergeist-2-jeez-dr/)

[Dennis E. Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-e-taylor/)

> [“He smiled at her with sharp teeth, not at all bothered by her voices poltergeist act. Oh my god, he’s crazy. Just like me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-langlais/he-smiled-at-her-with-sharp-teeth-not-at-all-bothered-by-her-voices/)

[Eve Langlais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-langlais/)

> [Ever since Poltergeist terrified me when I was 12, I can't watch horror films, I'm a real wuss.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-hartnett/ever-since-poltergeist-terrified-me-when-i-was-12-i-can-t-watch/)

[Josh Hartnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-hartnett/)

> [“This house … is clean. —POLTERGEIST (1982)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-grahame-smith/this-house-is-clean-poltergeist-1982/)

[Seth Grahame-Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-grahame-smith/)

> [I really love 'Poltergeist.' I think that's a great, terrific movie. I did really love the first 'Friday the 13th.' I thought that was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-blum/i-really-love-poltergeist-i-think-that-s-a-great-terrific-movie-i-did/)

[Jason Blum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-blum/)

> [“Personally, I don’t mind a good cry. In fact, if I cry while chopping onions, I’ll run to the bathroom mirror and recite one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clinton-kelly/personally-i-don-t-mind-a-good-cry-in-fact-if-i-cry-while-chopping/)

[Clinton Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clinton-kelly/)

> [Steven Spielberg's name was all over 'Poltergeist,' and 'E.T.' was out the same year, which every single parent took their child to. So despite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pedro-pascal/steven-spielberg-s-name-was-all-over-poltergeist-and-e-t-was-out-the/)

[Pedro Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pedro-pascal/)

> ['Poltergeist' was really the film that really scarred but fascinated me with puppets and dolls, clowns, and stuff like that. I've always been afraid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-wan/poltergeist-was-really-the-film-that-really-scarred-but-fascinated-me/)

[James Wan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-wan/)

> [I loved The Ring and I loved the remake of Texas Chainsaw Massacre. When I was little we tortured ourselves watching Poltergeist and then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophia-bush/i-loved-the-ring-and-i-loved-the-remake-of-texas-chainsaw-massacre/)

[Sophia Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophia-bush/)

> [I've never seen a poltergeist, but I do believe there is more than what we see, that there is more than just this.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-spall/i-ve-never-seen-a-poltergeist-but-i-do-believe-there-is-more-than/)

[Timothy Spall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-spall/)

> [“It is my greatest wish that victims of paranormal attack are treated with the respect and compassion they deserve, and that by writing this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-mitchell/it-is-my-greatest-wish-that-victims-of-paranormal-attack-are-treated/)

[Caroline Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-mitchell/)

> [At the end of the day, 'Hidden' was a great experience. Because we know what it's like to fail. And we know it will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-duffer/at-the-end-of-the-day-hidden-was-a-great-experience-because-we-know/)

[Ross Duffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-duffer/)

## More by Ross Duffer

> [I love the early days of seasons, because you are filled with all of these possibilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-duffer/i-love-the-early-days-of-seasons-because-you-are-filled-with-all-of/)

[Ross Duffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-duffer/)

> [Jaws' was a big one. It's a classic. The shark not working while making that movie made it much better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-duffer/jaws-was-a-big-one-it-s-a-classic-the-shark-not-working-while-making/)

[Ross Duffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-duffer/)

> [We're from North Carolina originally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-duffer/we-re-from-north-carolina-originally/)

[Ross Duffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-duffer/)

> [Some of our favorite movies, like 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind' and 'Breaking Away,' were set in Indiana.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-duffer/some-of-our-favorite-movies-like-close-encounters-of-the-third-kind/)

[Ross Duffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-duffer/)

> [At the end of the day, 'Hidden' was a great experience. Because we know what it's like to fail. And we know it will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-duffer/at-the-end-of-the-day-hidden-was-a-great-experience-because-we-know/)

[Ross Duffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-duffer/)

> [We wanted it to have a simplicity to it, so that if you're a 12-year-old and you're watching the show and you get inspired,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-duffer/we-wanted-it-to-have-a-simplicity-to-it-so-that-if-you-re-a-12-year/)

[Ross Duffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-duffer/)

> [In college, even, we shot on film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-duffer/in-college-even-we-shot-on-film/)

[Ross Duffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-duffer/)

> [We had this idea, and I think a lot of people did going in, that you can make some short film and it's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-duffer/we-had-this-idea-and-i-think-a-lot-of-people-did-going-in-that-you/)

[Ross Duffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-duffer/)

> [If you look back at a lot of these Spielberg movies and Stephen King books, even though there's a lot of fun and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-duffer/if-you-look-back-at-a-lot-of-these-spielberg-movies-and-stephen-king/)

[Ross Duffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-duffer/)

> [Tim Burton - he's not exactly a subtle filmmaker. I mean that in a good way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-duffer/tim-burton-he-s-not-exactly-a-subtle-filmmaker-i-mean-that-in-a-good/)

[Ross Duffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-duffer/)

> [When you look at it and see, 'Oh,they made their first movie at 27,' you feel like a jerk saying it felt like forever,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-duffer/when-you-look-at-it-and-see-oh-they-made-their-first-movie-at-27-you/)

[Ross Duffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-duffer/)

> [We started making movies when we were really young, in the fourth grade... if you can call them movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-duffer/we-started-making-movies-when-we-were-really-young-in-the-fourth/)

[Ross Duffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-duffer/)

> [We hung out with a group of nerdy friends playing games.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-duffer/we-hung-out-with-a-group-of-nerdy-friends-playing-games/)

[Ross Duffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-duffer/)

> [It was Tim Burton's 'Batman' in, what, '89, I think? What we could see was there was someone behind the curtain controlling all of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-duffer/it-was-tim-burton-s-batman-in-what-89-i-think-what-we-could-see-was/)

[Ross Duffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-duffer/)

> [The minute you start calculating and trying to figure out what a huge audience is going to think, you're going to fail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-duffer/the-minute-you-start-calculating-and-trying-to-figure-out-what-a-huge/)

[Ross Duffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-duffer/)

[Explore all 64 Ross Duffer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-duffer/)

## More Day quotes

> [On Sundays, that's my pig out day and I do the pizza and the beer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-silvstedt/on-sundays-that-s-my-pig-out-day-and-i-do-the-pizza-and-the-beer/)

[Victoria Silvstedt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-silvstedt/)

> [I don't drink much anymore, but when I traveled with Frank Sinatra, God rest his soul, I used to drink like I could do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-rickles/i-don-t-drink-much-anymore-but-when-i-traveled-with-frank-sinatra-god/)

[Don Rickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-rickles/)

> [I would borrow money all day long, if the cost of borrowing is less than the expected return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-schneider/i-would-borrow-money-all-day-long-if-the-cost-of-borrowing-is-less/)

[Brad Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-schneider/)

> [I had developed a relationship with one of the anti-abortion sidewalk counselors who stood in front of my facility. We talked regularly through the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abby-johnson/i-had-developed-a-relationship-with-one-of-the-anti-abortion-sidewalk/)

[Abby Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abby-johnson/)

> [I loved the game so much that even though our playing field was muddy and we had many trees on it, I used to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-clemente/i-loved-the-game-so-much-that-even-though-our-playing-field-was-muddy/)

[Roberto Clemente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-clemente/)

> [Television, radio, social media. The 24/7 news cycle plows forward mercilessly on our desks, in our cars and in our pockets. Thousands and thousands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-prince/television-radio-social-media-the-24-7-news-cycle-plows-forward/)

[Joseph Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-prince/)

> [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 want to make my music and be a happy woman, a good wife, a good mom and one day hopefully have a child…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leann-rimes/i-want-to-make-my-music-and-be-a-happy-woman-a-good-wife-a-good-mom/)

[LeAnn Rimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leann-rimes/)

> [Valentine's Day: Rubbing singles' noses in their lack of a mate and the noses of couples in their lack of time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-mclaughlin/valentine-s-day-rubbing-singles-noses-in-their-lack-of-a-mate-and-the/)

[Emma McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-mclaughlin/)

> [One day I woke up and Juventus wanted me, another Manchester United and what I know is that there were approaches made. But an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raul-jimenez/one-day-i-woke-up-and-juventus-wanted-me-another-manchester-united/)

[Raul Jimenez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raul-jimenez/)

> [I think naturally I've been kind of a lead-by-doing guy. Just showing up to work every day. You never ask teammates something you wouldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrell-suggs/i-think-naturally-i-ve-been-kind-of-a-lead-by-doing-guy-just-showing/)

[Terrell Suggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrell-suggs/)

> [For 11 straight years, I woke up pretty much every single day with nothing to do unless I created something to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-rife/for-11-straight-years-i-woke-up-pretty-much-every-single-day-with/)

[Matt Rife](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-rife/)

> [I have tremendous admiration for companies with the kind of pioneering spirit and innovation eBay has demonstrated from day one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-hammer/i-have-tremendous-admiration-for-companies-with-the-kind-of/)

[Bonnie Hammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-hammer/)

> [Being under-recruited coming out of Highland, I've carried that with me. I keep pushing forward, keep working hard every day, keep my head on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-daniels/being-under-recruited-coming-out-of-highland-i-ve-carried-that-with/)

[Mike Daniels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-daniels/)

> [You can't cheat comedy. You know, it either is going to be there on the day you capture or it's not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-lin/you-can-t-cheat-comedy-you-know-it-either-is-going-to-be-there-on-the/)

[Justin Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-lin/)

[Browse all 18,587 Day quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/day/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "At the end of the day, what really matters in 'Poltergeist' is that Carol Anne is missing and they have to go through a portal in the closet to get her back. That matters more than the backstory.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Ross Duffer"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-duffer/at-the-end-of-the-day-what-really-matters-in-poltergeist-is-that/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Day"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-duffer/at-the-end-of-the-day-what-really-matters-in-poltergeist-is-that/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3f/ross-duffer-10611_day_at-the-end-of-the-day-what-really-matter_478560.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3f/ross-duffer-10611_day_at-the-end-of-the-day-what-really-matter_478560.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3f/ross-duffer-10611_day_at-the-end-of-the-day-what-really-matter_478560.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“At the end of the day, what really matters in 'Poltergeist' is that Carol Anne is missing and they have to…” — Ross Duffer",
                "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": "Ross Duffer",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-duffer/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "At the end of the day,...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-duffer/at-the-end-of-the-day-what-really-matters-in-poltergeist-is-that/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-duffer/at-the-end-of-the-day-what-really-matters-in-poltergeist-is-that/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
