--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There was a time when all that mattered…" description: "\"There was a time when all that mattered was that you were in a good movie.\" — Winona Ryder" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f0/winona-ryder-1469_cinema_there-was-a-time-when-all-that-mattered_2874883.jpg" --- # There was a time when all that mattered was that you were… ![“There was a time when all that mattered was that you were in a good movie.” quote by Winona Ryder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f0/winona-ryder-1469_cinema_there-was-a-time-when-all-that-mattered_2874883.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f0/winona-ryder-1469_cinema_there-was-a-time-when-all-that-mattered_2874883.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f0/winona-ryder-1469_cinema_there-was-a-time-when-all-that-mattered_2874883.jpg) > “There was a time when all that mattered was that you were in a good movie.” [Winona Ryder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winona-ryder/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Artistic fulfillment once centered on the quality of the work itself. **In simple terms:** Good movies mattered most. Key Takeaway Prioritize artistic quality. Themes art fulfillment cinema Mood contemplative nostalgic Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - creative projects - film festivals Key Concepts film appreciation career choices Questions to Reflect On - What defines a good movie for you? - How to keep art central? A Different Perspective Now fame often overshadows art. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Movie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movie/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“Her letter proved it didn’t matter how much time we had; it mattered what we did with it. Love was one thing time could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steph-nuss/her-letter-proved-it-didn-t-matter-how-much-time-we-had-it-mattered/) Steph Nuss > [Nothing really mattered that much, not the good things and not the bad ones. We were in the business of mutual amusement, and we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/nothing-really-mattered-that-much-not-the-good-things-and-not-the-bad/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“I was here. I lived. I mattered. This is a good way to go.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-norris/i-was-here-i-lived-i-mattered-this-is-a-good-way-to-go/) [Elizabeth Norris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-norris/) > [“A man devoted time to what mattered to him—to what he deemed worthy of his attention.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gena-showalter/a-man-devoted-time-to-what-mattered-to-him-to-what-he-deemed-worthy/) [Gena Showalter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gena-showalter/) > [“Such was life that morning: nothing really mattered that much, not the good things and the bad ones. We were in the business of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/such-was-life-that-morning-nothing-really-mattered-that-much-not-the/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [Well, yeah! Now they're considered golden oldies, which is awesome. I was watching Little Women recently, and I didn't want to get up for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winona-ryder/well-yeah-now-they-re-considered-golden-oldies-which-is-awesome-i-was/) [Winona Ryder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winona-ryder/) > [Actors do these really gross, gun-'em-down movies, and I always wonder why. They're not good movies. And it's like, "Why are you doing them?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winona-ryder/actors-do-these-really-gross-gun-em-down-movies-and-i-always-wonder/) [Winona Ryder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winona-ryder/) > [I'm a sucker for a good movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-reynolds/i-m-a-sucker-for-a-good-movie/) [Debbie Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-reynolds/) > [I am so impressed with people who can really make a big movie, a good movie. The amount of work that goes into it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-lee/i-am-so-impressed-with-people-who-can-really-make-a-big-movie-a-good/) [Stan Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-lee/) > [The movies have been so rank the last couple of years that when I see people lining up to buy tickets I sometimes think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pauline-kael/the-movies-have-been-so-rank-the-last-couple-of-years-that-when-i-see/) [Pauline Kael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pauline-kael/) > [A good movie can take you out of your dull funk and the hopelessness that so often goes with slipping into a theatre; a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pauline-kael/a-good-movie-can-take-you-out-of-your-dull-funk-and-the-hopelessness/) [Pauline Kael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pauline-kael/) > [Life is not a PG feel-good movie. Real life often ends badly. Literature tries to document this reality, while showing us it is still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-quick/life-is-not-a-pg-feel-good-movie-real-life-often-ends-badly/) [Matthew Quick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-quick/) > [I firmly believe that you can't get a good movie without risking a bad movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/i-firmly-believe-that-you-can-t-get-a-good-movie-without-risking-a/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Honestly, if it wasn't for 'Beetlejuice,' where would I be? That movie was a big thing for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winona-ryder/honestly-if-it-wasn-t-for-beetlejuice-where-would-i-be-that-movie-was/) [Winona Ryder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winona-ryder/) > [“History mattered. But it could not guarantee what might happen next.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-gable/history-mattered-but-it-could-not-guarantee-what-might-happen-next/) [Michelle Gable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-gable/) ## More by Winona Ryder > [It's also a question of finding good material and interesting roles. I'm not the only actress out there, and good parts just don't fall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winona-ryder/it-s-also-a-question-of-finding-good-material-and-interesting-roles-i/) [Winona Ryder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winona-ryder/) > [I was unusual looking - I didn't have the look of that time. If you look at 'Lucas' - and, basically, my first five…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winona-ryder/i-was-unusual-looking-i-didn-t-have-the-look-of-that-time-if-you-look/) [Winona Ryder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winona-ryder/) > [I definitely count my blessings. I feel like I've had such a great ride. Early on, to be able to work with some of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winona-ryder/i-definitely-count-my-blessings-i-feel-like-i-ve-had-such-a-great/) [Winona Ryder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winona-ryder/) > [If a film is well made, then great, whatever it's about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winona-ryder/if-a-film-is-well-made-then-great-whatever-it-s-about/) [Winona Ryder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winona-ryder/) > [Honestly, if it wasn't for 'Beetlejuice,' where would I be? That movie was a big thing for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winona-ryder/honestly-if-it-wasn-t-for-beetlejuice-where-would-i-be-that-movie-was/) [Winona Ryder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winona-ryder/) > [ I remember realizing, when I did Little Women \[1994\], that that was the only time girls that age were being written about. It was… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winona-ryder/i-remember-realizing-when-i-did-little-women-1994-that-that-was-the/) [Winona Ryder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winona-ryder/) > [I remember when I first started being in magazines, I had pretty thin skin. I was this nerd that read books and stayed home…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winona-ryder/i-remember-when-i-first-started-being-in-magazines-i-had-pretty-thin/) [Winona Ryder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winona-ryder/) > [But I've always felt a need to have a life which is completely separate - at least as far as possible - from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winona-ryder/but-i-ve-always-felt-a-need-to-have-a-life-which-is-completely/) [Winona Ryder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winona-ryder/) > [“(My parents) had always instilled in me that it was way cooler to be an individual and to be unique and that you don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winona-ryder/my-parents-had-always-instilled-in-me-that-it-was-way-cooler-to-be-an/) [Winona Ryder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winona-ryder/) > [I was raised to believe that religion is a beautiful thing, but it's fiction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winona-ryder/i-was-raised-to-believe-that-religion-is-a-beautiful-thing-but-it-s/) [Winona Ryder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winona-ryder/) > [All we want is to be treated like human beings, and not to be patronized, or experimented on like guinea pigs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winona-ryder/all-we-want-is-to-be-treated-like-human-beings-and-not-to-be/) [Winona Ryder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winona-ryder/) > [With 'Ed Wood,' I sobbed. With 'Frankenweenie,' I was crying. With 'Edward Scissorhands,' I always cry. There's always an incredible amount of purity, even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winona-ryder/with-ed-wood-i-sobbed-with-frankenweenie-i-was-crying-with-edward/) [Winona Ryder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winona-ryder/) > [I love getting older. I think it has to do with always being the kid on set.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winona-ryder/i-love-getting-older-i-think-it-has-to-do-with-always-being-the-kid/) [Winona Ryder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winona-ryder/) > [I've always been super-private and protective of certain experiences and certain friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winona-ryder/i-ve-always-been-super-private-and-protective-of-certain-experiences/) [Winona Ryder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winona-ryder/) > [Usually, the roles that you get offered that are the mom roles are very much the mom role.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winona-ryder/usually-the-roles-that-you-get-offered-that-are-the-mom-roles-are/) [Winona Ryder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winona-ryder/) [Explore all 238 Winona Ryder quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winona-ryder/) ## 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": "There was a time when all that mattered was that you were in a good movie.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Winona Ryder" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winona-ryder/there-was-a-time-when-all-that-mattered-was-that-you-were-in-a-good/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cinema" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winona-ryder/there-was-a-time-when-all-that-mattered-was-that-you-were-in-a-good/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f0/winona-ryder-1469_cinema_there-was-a-time-when-all-that-mattered_2874883.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f0/winona-ryder-1469_cinema_there-was-a-time-when-all-that-mattered_2874883.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f0/winona-ryder-1469_cinema_there-was-a-time-when-all-that-mattered_2874883.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“There was a time when all that mattered was that you were in a good movie.” — Winona Ryder", "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": "Winona Ryder", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winona-ryder/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "There was a time when all...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winona-ryder/there-was-a-time-when-all-that-mattered-was-that-you-were-in-a-good/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winona-ryder/there-was-a-time-when-all-that-mattered-was-that-you-were-in-a-good/#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 } } ] } ```