Quote of the Day by Alfred Hitchcock: “A good movie is when the price of dinner, admission to the theater and…” | Today’s news
“A good movie is when the price of dinner, admission to the theater and the babysitter was worth it.”
Often attributed to legendary filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock, the quote remains one of the clearest and most accessible reflections on what makes cinema meaningful to audiences.
The meaning of the quote
Decades after Hitchcock transformed suspense filmmaking with classics like Psycho, Vertigo and Rear Window, this note still resonates with its simplicity and honesty.
At its core, the quote suggests that a film’s success is not only measured by awards, critical acclaim, or box office numbers. Instead, Hitchcock frames cinema from the perspective of ordinary viewers who invest money and time in the experience.
By mentioning dinner, theater admission and babysitting, it captures the wider effort of viewers to see a film – especially at a time when going to the cinema was more of a planned social outing than casual entertainment.
The meaning of a statement is rooted in value. Hitchcock suggests that a truly successful film leaves the audience satisfied enough to feel that all the expense and inconvenience of the evening was justified. It is a practical yet deeply human definition of art that places emotional fulfillment and engagement above technical perfection.
The relevance of the quote today
The quote also remains strikingly relevant in the modern entertainment landscape. Today’s audiences are faced with a vast array of viewing options across theaters and streaming platforms.
With rising ticket prices and increasing competition for viewers’ attention, the expectation that a film or series should feel “worth it” became even more pronounced. Whether discussing blockbuster franchises, prestige dramas or streaming originals, viewers continue to judge entertainment based on the quality of the overall experience.
Another quote closely related to Hitchcock’s observation comes from filmmaker Martin Scorsese, who once said, “Cinema is a question of what’s in and what’s out.”
While Scorsese’s words focus on artistic perspective and narrative possibilities, both quotes ultimately point to the same idea: effective cinema depends on creating a meaningful connection with the audience.
Hitchcock approaches it through audience satisfaction, while Scorsese approaches it through artistic construction, yet both emphasize the importance of intentional filmmaking.
Hitchcock’s quote persists because it cuts through abstract discussions of cinema and returns to a straightforward truth – audiences remember films that move, amuse, or challenge them enough to justify the investment they put into seeing them. In an industry constantly shaped by changing technologies and surveillance habits, this standard remains remarkably unchanged.
