--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Not every movie has to serve as every…" description: "\"Not every movie has to serve as every audience member's need for completion.\" — Todd Phillips" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ed/todd-phillips-10339_audience_not-every-movie-has-to-serve-as-every-au_820635.jpg" --- # Not every movie has to serve as every audience member's… ![“Not every movie has to serve as every audience member's need for completion.” quote by Todd Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ed/todd-phillips-10339_audience_not-every-movie-has-to-serve-as-every-au_820635.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ed/todd-phillips-10339_audience_not-every-movie-has-to-serve-as-every-au_820635.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ed/todd-phillips-10339_audience_not-every-movie-has-to-serve-as-every-au_820635.jpg) > “Not every movie has to serve as every audience member's need for completion.” [Todd Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-phillips/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Suggests films need not satisfy every viewer's desire for closure; variety in storytelling is okay. **In simple terms:** Films can be open‑ended; not all need to finish every story. Key Takeaway Accept diverse narrative styles. Themes art audience expectation storytelling film theory Mood thoughtful analytical Type critical philosophical When to use this quote - movie reviews - film studies - creative writing Key Concepts Narrative ambiguity viewer interpretation creative freedom Questions to Reflect On - Do you prefer open or closed endings? - How does ambiguity affect your engagement? A Different Perspective Some audiences may feel unsatisfied without closure. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Audience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience/) [Completion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/completion/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Members](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/members/) [Movie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movie/) [Movie Serve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movie-serve-469885/) [Need Completion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/need-completion-469887/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [Serve Audience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/serve-audience-469886/) ## Related quotes > [You become so obsessed, and that's not a bad thing for a movie. Serve it with that sense that it's the whole world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-l-brooks/you-become-so-obsessed-and-that-s-not-a-bad-thing-for-a-movie-serve/) [James L. Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-l-brooks/) > [I think about the audience in the sense that I serve as my own audience. I have to please myself the way, if I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-black/i-think-about-the-audience-in-the-sense-that-i-serve-as-my-own/) [Shane Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-black/) > [I can really serve the audience instead of making this about me and about serving myself and my pocketbook.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-lampanelli/i-can-really-serve-the-audience-instead-of-making-this-about-me-and/) [Lisa Lampanelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-lampanelli/) > [You shouldn't fear your audience, you should serve your audience, serve them the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-stelter/you-shouldn-t-fear-your-audience-you-should-serve-your-audience-serve/) [Brian Stelter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-stelter/) > [The audience is the most revered member of the theater. Without an audience, there is no theater. Everything done is ultimately for the enjoyment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-spolin/the-audience-is-the-most-revered-member-of-the-theater-without-an/) [Viola Spolin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-spolin/) > [I'm an audience member first. My inspiration is still based on hunger. Often, when people try to tell me "nobody wants that story; I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-mahoney/i-m-an-audience-member-first-my-inspiration-is-still-based-on-hunger/) [Victoria Mahoney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-mahoney/) > [The audience is a very curious animal. It is shrewd rather than intelligent. Its mental capacity is less than that of its most intellectual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/the-audience-is-a-very-curious-animal-it-is-shrewd-rather-than/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [ When we were making it \[Star Wars\], none of the effects were in. So the first time, I thought it was, you know, that… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harrison-ford/when-we-were-making-it-star-wars-none-of-the-effects-were-in-so-the/) [Harrison Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harrison-ford/) > [At the beginning of my TV and movie stuff, I would be really critical of myself, but I've gotten better and better. There's always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mireille-enos/at-the-beginning-of-my-tv-and-movie-stuff-i-would-be-really-critical/) [Mireille Enos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mireille-enos/) > [ Gene \[Siskel\] often mentioned something François Truffaut once told him: the most beautiful sight in a movie theater is to walk down to the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/gene-siskel-often-mentioned-something-fran-ois-truffaut-once-told-him/) [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) > [During Mr. Reagan's trip to Europe...members of the traveling press corps watched him doze off so many times--during speeches by French President Francois Mitterrand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-hertsgaard/during-mr-reagan-s-trip-to-europe-members-of-the-traveling-press/) [Mark Hertsgaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-hertsgaard/) > [Audience members are only concerned about the story, the concept, the bells and whistles and the noise that a popular film starts to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/audience-members-are-only-concerned-about-the-story-the-concept-the/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [I've been an audience member for friends in plays that I don't enjoy and I have to lie to their faces. It's just part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-lister-jones/i-ve-been-an-audience-member-for-friends-in-plays-that-i-don-t-enjoy/) [Zoe Lister-Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-lister-jones/) > [ As an actor, if you step to the side and you look at \[Thornton's performance\] technically, and you try to imagine doing what he… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/as-an-actor-if-you-step-to-the-side-and-you-look-at-thornton-s/) [Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/) > [I think I can recognize when a piece is at a state of completion. I always say to my wife, "Oh yeah, it's roughly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-dyer/i-think-i-can-recognize-when-a-piece-is-at-a-state-of-completion-i/) [Geoff Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-dyer/) ## More by Todd Phillips > [I just thinks it's interesting what it takes an actor to find their characters through the wardrobe, or the hair, or the way a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-phillips/i-just-thinks-it-s-interesting-what-it-takes-an-actor-to-find-their/) [Todd Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-phillips/) > [I remember that when I got to NYU, everyone was writing scripts. But I was 18 at the time, and when you write a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-phillips/i-remember-that-when-i-got-to-nyu-everyone-was-writing-scripts-but-i/) [Todd Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-phillips/) > [I think people like comedies and I think concept driven comedies seem to be working when it's a clear concept and you deliver funny…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-phillips/i-think-people-like-comedies-and-i-think-concept-driven-comedies-seem/) [Todd Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-phillips/) > [With comedy especially, it feels like such a clear-cut thing to be a writer-director. There is so much nuance and tone in a comedy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-phillips/with-comedy-especially-it-feels-like-such-a-clear-cut-thing-to-be-a/) [Todd Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-phillips/) > [The worst thing you can do as a comedy director is be on set and think of something ridiculous, or an actor comes up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-phillips/the-worst-thing-you-can-do-as-a-comedy-director-is-be-on-set-and/) [Todd Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-phillips/) > [It's heartbreaking when you hear a kid buying a ticket for... I don't know, whatever movie you're up against. And you see them sneaking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-phillips/it-s-heartbreaking-when-you-hear-a-kid-buying-a-ticket-for-i-don-t/) [Todd Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-phillips/) > [There's a darkness under 'The Hangover' because ultimately there's a missing person and it's not really that funny. There's a sort of darkness under…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-phillips/there-s-a-darkness-under-the-hangover-because-ultimately-there-s-a/) [Todd Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-phillips/) > [I think that 'Hangover II' is as funny as 'The Hangover I,' honest to God, but I think that it's a little bit darker,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-phillips/i-think-that-hangover-ii-is-as-funny-as-the-hangover-i-honest-to-god/) [Todd Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-phillips/) > [I just love the look of film. But I have nothing against HD.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-phillips/i-just-love-the-look-of-film-but-i-have-nothing-against-hd/) [Todd Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-phillips/) > [I really got into filmmaking through photography.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-phillips/i-really-got-into-filmmaking-through-photography/) [Todd Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-phillips/) > [Comedy is so subjective. You could be in a room with 400 people laughing at a joke and you could just not think it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-phillips/comedy-is-so-subjective-you-could-be-in-a-room-with-400-people/) [Todd Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-phillips/) > [I never had a ton of male friends and it's always been something that's really interesting to me, what brings guys together? The bonding.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-phillips/i-never-had-a-ton-of-male-friends-and-it-s-always-been-something-that/) [Todd Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-phillips/) > [I was raised by my mom. She taught me how to be a gentleman; nobody in the movies taught me. I think people are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-phillips/i-was-raised-by-my-mom-she-taught-me-how-to-be-a-gentleman-nobody-in/) [Todd Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-phillips/) > [Reality television hasn't killed documentaries, because there are so many great documentaries still being made, but it certainly has changed the landscape. There is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-phillips/reality-television-hasn-t-killed-documentaries-because-there-are-so/) [Todd Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-phillips/) > [I think reviewers have become particularly venomous because, in a way, the power has been sucked from them. A 15-year-old can write a review…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-phillips/i-think-reviewers-have-become-particularly-venomous-because-in-a-way/) [Todd Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-phillips/) [Explore all 66 Todd Phillips quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-phillips/) ## More Audience quotes > [If the audience likes your work, if they like you, they don't think whether you are married or have children or not. I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimple-kapadia/if-the-audience-likes-your-work-if-they-like-you-they-don-t-think/) [Dimple Kapadia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimple-kapadia/) > [It's those moments, those odd moments that you look for and sometimes by creating this kind of loose atmosphere you find those little moments…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-levinson/it-s-those-moments-those-odd-moments-that-you-look-for-and-sometimes/) [Barry Levinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-levinson/) > [I can skate beautifully. While performing on ice I always try to please the audience and to win as well. Being artistic is very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evgeni-plushenko/i-can-skate-beautifully-while-performing-on-ice-i-always-try-to/) [Evgeni Plushenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evgeni-plushenko/) > [One of the best moments of any Liars show is hearing the crowd squawk 'We're doomed! We're doomed!' on cue during 'We Fenced Other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-sheffield/one-of-the-best-moments-of-any-liars-show-is-hearing-the-crowd-squawk/) [Rob Sheffield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-sheffield/) > [It's the adrenaline rush you only get from being in front of an audience. It's addictive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raphael-saadiq/it-s-the-adrenaline-rush-you-only-get-from-being-in-front-of-an/) [Raphael Saadiq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raphael-saadiq/) > [If I had to speak in front of a Korean audience, I would be hard pressed to sound other than a little girl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/an-na/if-i-had-to-speak-in-front-of-a-korean-audience-i-would-be-hard/) [An Na](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/an-na/) > [The liveness of theater, and the excitement of experiencing it alongside an audience, is something you can't get at home. That makes the theater…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-blaemire/the-liveness-of-theater-and-the-excitement-of-experiencing-it/) [Nick Blaemire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-blaemire/) > [One of the things that touches me most when I play for an audience is that although we may be unable to communicate in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hough/one-of-the-things-that-touches-me-most-when-i-play-for-an-audience-is/) [Stephen Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hough/) > [I have to feel the audience. I enjoy that feeling of community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-gahan/i-have-to-feel-the-audience-i-enjoy-that-feeling-of-community/) [Dave Gahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-gahan/) > [When you lived it for years and years and years and seen different characters just get pummeled and squashed because 'I said so,' it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arn-anderson/when-you-lived-it-for-years-and-years-and-years-and-seen-different/) [Arn Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arn-anderson/) > [“During the first few minutes of your presentation, your job is to assure the audience members that you are not going to waste their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-ludwig-and-greg-owen-boger/during-the-first-few-minutes-of-your-presentation-your-job-is-to/) [Dale Ludwig and Greg Owen-Boger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-ludwig-and-greg-owen-boger/) > [Donald Trump is a different ball of wax. I've been trying to say for I don't know how many months now that the traditional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/donald-trump-is-a-different-ball-of-wax-i-ve-been-trying-to-say-for-i/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [I don't think about who the audience is for my books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/i-don-t-think-about-who-the-audience-is-for-my-books/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) > [I feel I have been playing all primary characters. And if your character forms a connect with the audience, it doesn't matter if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angad-bedi/i-feel-i-have-been-playing-all-primary-characters-and-if-your/) [Angad Bedi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angad-bedi/) > [When I was playing piano, it was like, 'I'm going to write a song using all the white keys.' My music director, who knew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tesh/when-i-was-playing-piano-it-was-like-i-m-going-to-write-a-song-using/) [John Tesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tesh/) [Browse all 9,118 Audience quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Not every movie has to serve as every audience member's need for completion.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Todd Phillips" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-phillips/not-every-movie-has-to-serve-as-every-audience-member-s-need-for/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Audience" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-phillips/not-every-movie-has-to-serve-as-every-audience-member-s-need-for/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ed/todd-phillips-10339_audience_not-every-movie-has-to-serve-as-every-au_820635.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ed/todd-phillips-10339_audience_not-every-movie-has-to-serve-as-every-au_820635.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ed/todd-phillips-10339_audience_not-every-movie-has-to-serve-as-every-au_820635.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Not every movie has to serve as every audience member's need for completion.” — Todd Phillips", "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": "Todd Phillips", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-phillips/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Not every movie has to serve...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-phillips/not-every-movie-has-to-serve-as-every-audience-member-s-need-for/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-phillips/not-every-movie-has-to-serve-as-every-audience-member-s-need-for/#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 } } ] } ```