--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I believe thrillers work if the story is…" description: "\"I believe thrillers work if the story is good. It is not easy to make a thriller because the audience is making their own story in their minds as they ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18b/sriram-raghavan-12665_believe_i-believe-thrillers-work-if-the-story-is_2172720.jpg" --- # I believe thrillers work if the story is good. It is not… ![“I believe thrillers work if the story is good. It is not easy to make a thriller because the audience is making their own story in their minds as they watch the film. You have to break that expectation and still make them like the film.” quote by Sriram Raghavan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18b/sriram-raghavan-12665_believe_i-believe-thrillers-work-if-the-story-is_2172720.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18b/sriram-raghavan-12665_believe_i-believe-thrillers-work-if-the-story-is_2172720.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18b/sriram-raghavan-12665_believe_i-believe-thrillers-work-if-the-story-is_2172720.jpg) > “I believe thrillers work if the story is good. It is not easy to make a thriller because the audience is making their own story in their minds as they watch the film. You have to break that expectation and still make them like the film.” [Sriram Raghavan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sriram-raghavan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A thriller succeeds when its narrative is strong; viewers actively imagine outcomes, so breaking expectations while keeping them engaged is essential. **In simple terms:** Good stories keep audiences mentally involved and surprised. Key Takeaway Craft compelling plots that subvert expectations. Themes storytelling audience engagement expectation management Mood intrigued thoughtful Type analytical inspirational When to use this quote - film production - screenwriting - marketing - viewer analysis Key Concepts narrative structure psychology of suspense Questions to Reflect On - How can you surprise without alienating? - What narrative techniques maintain immersion? A Different Perspective Balancing surprise with coherence can confuse viewers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Believe Thrillers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe-thrillers-4658759/) [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Easy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/easy/) [Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good/) [Make Thriller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make-thriller-1574812/) [Story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/story/) [Thriller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thriller/) [Thriller Audience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thriller-audience-3951344/) [Thrillers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thrillers/) [Thrillers Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thrillers-work-4658758/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [It is unlike the quintessential thriller where someone is up to something and the audience is speculating. 'Johnny Gaddaar' is the opposite of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sriram-raghavan/it-is-unlike-the-quintessential-thriller-where-someone-is-up-to/) [Sriram Raghavan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sriram-raghavan/) > [ When you make a thriller/horror, darkness is \[your\] friend, because it lets the imagination go wild and what not. So you always end up… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaume-collet-serra/when-you-make-a-thriller-horror-darkness-is-your-friend-because-it/) [Jaume Collet-Serra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaume-collet-serra/) > [In love stories you have to establish the mood and then you can go on. Writing thrillers are difficult because every scene needs a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sriram-raghavan/in-love-stories-you-have-to-establish-the-mood-and-then-you-can-go-on/) [Sriram Raghavan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sriram-raghavan/) > [I'd love to make a thriller.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-taylor-johnson/i-d-love-to-make-a-thriller/) [Sam Taylor-Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-taylor-johnson/) > [When James Cameron brought me the script, which I developed with both Cameron and Jay Cocks, I wanted to make it a thriller, an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-bigelow/when-james-cameron-brought-me-the-script-which-i-developed-with-both/) [Kathryn Bigelow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-bigelow/) > [It will be a killer, and a chiller, and a thriller, when I get the gorilla in Manila.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/it-will-be-a-killer-and-a-chiller-and-a-thriller-when-i-get-the/) [Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) > [It's interesting how thrillers reflect the times we live in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hitchens/it-s-interesting-how-thrillers-reflect-the-times-we-live-in/) [Peter Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hitchens/) > [“I write thrillers for the same reason that people read them – it's escapism.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-mcclure/i-write-thrillers-for-the-same-reason-that-people-read-them-it-s/) [Ken McClure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-mcclure/) > [This is much more than your typical thriller. Tim Johnston has written a book that makes Gone Girl seem gimmicky . . . Johnston…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cheuse/this-is-much-more-than-your-typical-thriller-tim-johnston-has-written/) [Alan Cheuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cheuse/) > [There are certain tenets set in place for all different types on genres. For thrillers, women usually die first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-aselton/there-are-certain-tenets-set-in-place-for-all-different-types-on/) [Katie Aselton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-aselton/) > [For escape, I love popcorn thrillers that you can read in a weekend, like 'Sharp Objects' and 'The Woman in Cabin 10.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krysten-ritter/for-escape-i-love-popcorn-thrillers-that-you-can-read-in-a-weekend/) [Krysten Ritter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krysten-ritter/) > [I'm not 100% sure 'Rebecca' qualifies as a thriller, given it's three parts screwed-up love story and two parts ghost-story-without-a-ghost, but the mystery at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-ware/i-m-not-100-sure-rebecca-qualifies-as-a-thriller-given-it-s-three/) [Ruth Ware](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-ware/) > [I love the idea of a movie hero in a thriller who is able to get ahead by just his brilliance, and not with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-strong/i-love-the-idea-of-a-movie-hero-in-a-thriller-who-is-able-to-get/) [Danny Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-strong/) > [If you're going to reach for it, reach all the way for it. Albums like 'Purple Rain' and 'Thriller' and those kind of records,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-sitek/if-you-re-going-to-reach-for-it-reach-all-the-way-for-it-albums-like/) [Dave Sitek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-sitek/) > [No Time For Goodbye is a deliciously smart thriller, full of surprises and perfect pacing. I'm jealous I didn't write it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alafair-burke/no-time-for-goodbye-is-a-deliciously-smart-thriller-full-of-surprises/) [Alafair Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alafair-burke/) ## More by Sriram Raghavan > [Frankly, you cannot match the action in a Bond or a Bourne film. Forget budgets, it needs an expertise which I probably lacked.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sriram-raghavan/frankly-you-cannot-match-the-action-in-a-bond-or-a-bourne-film-forget/) [Sriram Raghavan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sriram-raghavan/) > [The stories I read or get attracted to have a kind of thrill element, or a crime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sriram-raghavan/the-stories-i-read-or-get-attracted-to-have-a-kind-of-thrill-element/) [Sriram Raghavan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sriram-raghavan/) > [I love songs but am inhibited to have my characters burst out to express themselves through songs. I use the route of using old…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sriram-raghavan/i-love-songs-but-am-inhibited-to-have-my-characters-burst-out-to/) [Sriram Raghavan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sriram-raghavan/) > [With 'Agent Vinod', there was a lot of chaos with schedules and the film took a year and a half to shoot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sriram-raghavan/with-agent-vinod-there-was-a-lot-of-chaos-with-schedules-and-the-film/) [Sriram Raghavan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sriram-raghavan/) > [For me, 'Badlapur' is a terrifically emotional film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sriram-raghavan/for-me-badlapur-is-a-terrifically-emotional-film/) [Sriram Raghavan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sriram-raghavan/) > [When people watch good films they want other films to be of that calibre as well particularly when you cater to the same core…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sriram-raghavan/when-people-watch-good-films-they-want-other-films-to-be-of-that/) [Sriram Raghavan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sriram-raghavan/) > [As a filmmaker, I tilt towards stories which are crime-led.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sriram-raghavan/as-a-filmmaker-i-tilt-towards-stories-which-are-crime-led/) [Sriram Raghavan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sriram-raghavan/) > [If I work with Shah Rukh, it will be as an actor, not a star. Whenever I have thought of making a film with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sriram-raghavan/if-i-work-with-shah-rukh-it-will-be-as-an-actor-not-a-star-whenever-i/) [Sriram Raghavan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sriram-raghavan/) > [Songs definitely add to the excitement about a movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sriram-raghavan/songs-definitely-add-to-the-excitement-about-a-movie/) [Sriram Raghavan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sriram-raghavan/) > [Raman Raghav' was shot on location, but there are many stylistic things in it. I like this mixture of documentary and extreme stylization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sriram-raghavan/raman-raghav-was-shot-on-location-but-there-are-many-stylistic-things/) [Sriram Raghavan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sriram-raghavan/) > [We all are scared of bad things... So when you are watching a film, you see your fears on the screen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sriram-raghavan/we-all-are-scared-of-bad-things-so-when-you-are-watching-a-film-you/) [Sriram Raghavan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sriram-raghavan/) > [With 'Badlapur', I wasn't even thinking about casting. I was wondering whether any producer will want to make a film with a story like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sriram-raghavan/with-badlapur-i-wasn-t-even-thinking-about-casting-i-was-wondering/) [Sriram Raghavan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sriram-raghavan/) > [As a filmmaker, I want to bring some value, some thought in the mind of my audience. When I embark on the journey of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sriram-raghavan/as-a-filmmaker-i-want-to-bring-some-value-some-thought-in-the-mind-of/) [Sriram Raghavan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sriram-raghavan/) > [In love stories you have to establish the mood and then you can go on. Writing thrillers are difficult because every scene needs a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sriram-raghavan/in-love-stories-you-have-to-establish-the-mood-and-then-you-can-go-on/) [Sriram Raghavan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sriram-raghavan/) > [I am partial to thrillers but if somebody gives me a script like 'King's Speech' to do, I would love to do it too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sriram-raghavan/i-am-partial-to-thrillers-but-if-somebody-gives-me-a-script-like-king/) [Sriram Raghavan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sriram-raghavan/) [Explore all 54 Sriram Raghavan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sriram-raghavan/) ## More Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) [Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I believe thrillers work if the story is good. It is not easy to make a thriller because the audience is making their own story in their minds as they watch the film. 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