Robert Zemeckis Quotes

Powerful Robert Zemeckis for Daily Growth

About Robert Zemeckis

Robert Zemeckis, an acclaimed American filmmaker, was born on May 14, 1952, in Chicago, Illinois. Known for his innovative blend of live-action and visual effects, he is a three-time Academy Award nominee, recognized for his exceptional contributions to the film industry. Zemeckis's passion for storytelling was ignited at an early age, influenced by science fiction novels and classic films like "2001: A Space Odyssey" and "Citizen Kane." He studied directorial techniques from the works of Alfred Hitchcock, Steven Spielberg, and George Lucas. His breakthrough came with the writing and directing of the time-traveling hit "Back to the Future" (1985), which launched a trilogy that has become an iconic piece of pop culture. The film showcased Zemeckis's ability to blend humor, action, and emotional depth. In 1988, he directed "Who Framed Roger Rabbit," a groundbreaking live-action/animated hybrid film that won the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects. His subsequent works include "Death Becomes Her" (1992), "Forrest Gump" (1994), and "Contact" (1997). Zemeckis made a significant leap with motion capture technology in films like "The Polar Express" (2004) and "Beowulf" (2007), creating lifelike, CGI characters that moved and interacted realistically. His latest works include "Flight" (2012) and "The Walk" (2015). Throughout his career, Zemeckis has demonstrated a unique ability to blend genre and style while maintaining a strong focus on character development and storytelling. His innovative approach to filmmaking has left an indelible mark on cinema and continues to inspire future generations of filmmakers.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"We don't have to travel at 80 percent the speed of light to make time travel possible, we just have to go forward in time and come back."

This quote by Robert Zemeckis is a creative exploration of the concept of time travel. He suggests that instead of attempting to physically traverse vast distances through space at incredible speeds (80% the speed of light), we can achieve time travel if we simply move forward in time and return. In essence, he's implying that time travel isn't necessarily about changing physical locations but rather manipulating or experiencing different points in temporal sequences. This could be interpreted as a metaphor for personal growth and self-discovery where one experiences life, learns, and evolves (moves forward in time), before reflecting upon those experiences (coming back) - essentially time traveling within one's own consciousness.


"I've been lucky that I've had the opportunity to do a variety of things, but if you really want to know who Robert Zemeckis is, just watch 'Back to the Future.'"

This quote suggests that for Robert Zemeckis, his identity as a filmmaker can be encapsulated by the iconic movie "Back to the Future". Although he has a diverse body of work, this specific film is seen as a key representation of who he is as an artist. It might imply a deep personal connection or a strong sense of pride in the creative journey behind that film, which resonates with audiences and defines his style as a director.


"I always try to make my movies look like they were made tomorrow."

Robert Zemeckis' quote, "I always try to make my movies look like they were made tomorrow," encapsulates his vision of pushing the boundaries of filmmaking technology to create a sense of futurism in his work. Essentially, he strives to employ innovative techniques and aesthetics that feel ahead of their time or as if they were created for an imagined future, contributing to his distinctive style as a director.


"There are no rules in filmmaking. Only sins. And the cardinal sin is dullness."

This quote by director Robert Zemeckis emphasizes that there are no hard-and-fast rules in the art of filmmaking, only deviations or mistakes from captivating storytelling. The most grievous mistake a filmmaker can make is creating something dull or uninteresting. Instead, it's essential to aim for originality and creativity in every aspect of film production while engaging audiences emotionally.


"It's not about being realistic, it's about being emotionally truthful."

This quote emphasizes that authenticity in storytelling lies not in mere replication of reality but in capturing the emotional essence of a situation or character. It suggests that when creating movies or any form of art, it is important to prioritize evoking genuine emotional responses from the audience over strict adherence to real-world details. This perspective encourages artists to delve deeper into their characters' emotions, and by doing so, they can create more impactful and relatable stories.


I'm in a constant conflict about having to make a movie for the big and the small screen at the same time, stylistically. So I just basically make it for the large screen.

- Robert Zemeckis

Small, Big, Constant, Stylistically

I grew up on Chicago's South Side in a working-poor family, so I watched everything on television. It was like my window on the world. But we also went to the movies pretty regularly - mostly on Tuesdays, because that was Ladies Night, and my mom could get in for free.

- Robert Zemeckis

Mostly, South, South Side, Ladies

No one can actually define love, but you attempt to, and the closest you can get is longing. And that itself has a melancholy to it. You can say dread, or doom - it's that feeling we all feel when we fall in love with someone: we have this horrible, fearful feeling that maybe we will never have that person in our life.

- Robert Zemeckis

Love, Maybe, Doom, Melancholy

We have this sort of tacit censorship, which is the ratings system, and it's directly tied to box office, so it is censorship. Like, if you make an R-rated movie, you know that only a certain amount of people are going to go see it under any circumstance.

- Robert Zemeckis

Office, Box, Movie, Ratings

The thing that makes love stories work, in my opinion, in movies and novels and country & western songs, is the feeling of longing.

- Robert Zemeckis

Love, Country, Stories, Novels

I think that technological tools that filmmakers use to tell stories, in a perfect world, need to become invisible. When it's brand new and it's never been seen before and you're birthing this stuff, it's very much on people's minds.

- Robert Zemeckis

Been, I Think, Very, Perfect World

I can't see any reason why a dramatic story can't be in 3-D. I think 'Lawrence of Arabia' would have been fabulous in 3-D.

- Robert Zemeckis

Think, Reason, Been, Lawrence

Good directing is good writing and good casting.

- Robert Zemeckis

Writing, Good Writing, Casting

From where I sit, I see the digital cinema creating sloppiness on the part of filmmakers because they know if they really get in trouble, they can fix it later. So they don't pay that much attention, and of course it costs a lot more money.

- Robert Zemeckis

I See, Part, Lot, Much Attention

When they invented the Steadicam, every movie had to have a fight in a stairwell. Whenever there's a new thing, it's abused until artists realize what a Steadicam as a tool can be. And now I defy people to be able to see Steadicam shots, because we know how to do them and make them invisible.

- Robert Zemeckis

Invisible, Movie, Had, Tool

I'm addicted to documentaries. That's all I watch on television.

- Robert Zemeckis

Television, Watch, Addicted, Documentaries

Most actors that I work with are wonderful. Jodie Foster or Tom Hanks will make anything work.

- Robert Zemeckis

Work, Wonderful, Will, None

I don't know any filmmaker who can deconstruct their own work.

- Robert Zemeckis

Work, Know, Own, Filmmaker

It's the most unrealistic thing you can do to shoot a close-up, and it's the most unrealistic place you can be as a performer. And yet actors grouse about having to do visual effect shots, but they love doing close-ups.

- Robert Zemeckis

Love, Doing, Performer, Shoot

I'm really tired of making these huge, over-$100 million movies where they literally mean life and death for a studio. It's really rough making these expensive movies. Everyone is hysterical.

- Robert Zemeckis

Making, Studio, Rough, Life And Death

'I Wanna Hold Your Hand' and 'Used Cars' were absolute failures at the box office. Complete disasters. I learned some sad news: it's not an automatic thing that, if you make a good movie, everyone wants to see it.

- Robert Zemeckis

Box, Some, Movie, Box Office

Favorite movie lists are impossible for me to do.

- Robert Zemeckis

Impossible, Me, Movie, Lists

In the next couple of years, part of every film's process is going to be to adjust the images. And it'll be to change the color of an actor's tie or change the little smirky thing he's doing with his mouth. Or you can put in more clouds or move the tree a little bit.

- Robert Zemeckis

Movies, Next, Couple, Adjust

I think the only thing filmmakers can do is try to make good movies and make them as long as they allow us to keep making them. But at the end of the day, it is a business, and if audiences don't care, there's nothing we can do. It'll just go away, I guess.

- Robert Zemeckis

Away, I Think, Allow, Filmmakers

Working with actors who are directors is magnificent. Because they understand the art form intimately, and they know exactly how everything works.

- Robert Zemeckis

Art, Directors, Works, Art Form

USC Film School always had a real sense of drama and lineage.

- Robert Zemeckis

Drama, Always, Lineage, USC

I have no complaints about 'The Walk.' I made it, and I'm very happy with what happens.

- Robert Zemeckis

Happy, Made, Very, Complaints

We don't function well as human beings when we're in isolation.

- Robert Zemeckis

Well, Human Beings, Function, Beings

You can't legislate sobriety.

- Robert Zemeckis

Sobriety, You, Legislate

When I was a kid, I loved action, war, horror, monster movies... Anything with special effects. I was fascinated with how'd they do that.

- Robert Zemeckis

Kid, Horror, Special Effects, Action

We are ultimately alone in that we are ultimately responsible for ourselves.

- Robert Zemeckis

Alone, Ultimately, Ourselves, Responsible

No matter how many obstacles that are thrown in our path, there are ways to except them and to live through them.

- Robert Zemeckis

Obstacles, Through, Them, Thrown

Because movies have gotten so expensive, and they're so expensive to market, that means that for a movie to break even or to make its money back, everybody has to go see the movie, and if everybody has to go see the movie, then it can't be about anything.

- Robert Zemeckis

Everybody, Means, Gotten, Expensive

Understand life's mysteries - as mysteries to be lived.

- Robert Zemeckis

Life, Understand, Lived, Mysteries

I'm very concerned that we don't make movies that are original anymore.

- Robert Zemeckis

Movies, Original, Very, Concerned

If you're searching for quotes on a different topic, feel free to browse our Topics page or explore a diverse collection of quotes from various Authors to find inspiration.