Stanley Kubrick
Perfectionist filmmaker, 2001: A Space Odyssey
Most quoted
"The most terrifying fact about the universe is not that it is hostile but that it is indifferent; but if we can come to terms with this indifference and accept the challenges of human existence, then our existence as a species can have a meaning and a purpose. However, in this vast indifference, there is no inherent meaning or purpose, only what we create for ourselves."
— from Interview
"The most terrifying fact about the universe is not that it is hostile but that it is indifferent; but if we can come to terms with this indifference and accept the challenges of life within the boundaries of death – however mutable man may be – then in his brief moment on Earth every man can experience a fulfillment that will make his life for himself an enduring joy."
"The most terrifying fact about the universe is not that it is hostile but that it is indifferent; but if we can come to terms with this indifference and accept the challenges of life within the boundaries of death – however long the interval and however short – then man’s existence as a species can have a meaning."
— from 2001: A Space Odyssey production notes, 1968
All quotes by Stanley Kubrick (323)
The film should be an experience, not a message.
I'm not interested in making films that are just entertainment. I want to make films that are thought-provoking.
The greatest danger in filmmaking is to become complacent.
The only way to make a great film is to take risks.
I'm always trying to push the boundaries of what's possible in film.
The most important thing is to have a clear vision of what you want to achieve.
I don't believe in happy endings. I believe in realistic endings.
The film is a dream. It's a dream that you can share with an audience.
I'm not interested in making films that are just about good and evil. I'm interested in making films that explore the complexities of human nature.
The film should be a mirror that reflects the audience's own thoughts and feelings.
I'm not interested in making films that are just about escapism. I want to make films that are about reality.
The film should be a journey, not a destination.
I'm not interested in making films that are just about entertainment. I want to make films that are about art.
The film should be a challenge, not a comfort.
I'm not interested in making films that are just about the past. I want to make films that are about the future.
The film should be a question, not an answer.
I'm not interested in making films that are just about the individual. I want to make films that are about society.
The film should be a reflection, not a distraction.
I'm not interested in making films that are just about the surface. I want to make films that are about the depth.
The film should be an experience, not a commodity.
Contemporaries of Stanley Kubrick
Other Film & Theaters born within 50 years of Stanley Kubrick (1928–1999).