"If your movies don't perform, they just stop calling you"
About this Quote
The intent is both warning and confession. Damon, a bona fide star, is admitting that even bankability doesn’t buy security; it just buys time. The subtext is about how precarious creative labor remains at the top. Actors are marketed as brands, but brands are only as good as their last quarter. When a movie underperforms, the narrative around you flips fast: from “leading man” to “risky,” from “gets butts in seats” to “maybe we’ll pass.” No dramatic confrontation required - just fewer meetings, fewer scripts, fewer offers. Social exclusion becomes the business model.
Context matters because Damon came up in an era when mid-budget adult dramas still existed and star power could anchor them. As budgets ballooned and studios chased franchise certainty, the tolerance for a “miss” shrank, especially for projects that aren’t pre-sold IP. The line lands because it describes a modern status system: you’re not exiled with a headline; you’re erased with a missed call.
Quote Details
| Topic | Movie |
|---|---|
| Source | Help us find the source |
| Cite |
Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
Damon, Matt. (2026, January 16). If your movies don't perform, they just stop calling you. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/if-your-movies-dont-perform-they-just-stop-127750/
Chicago Style
Damon, Matt. "If your movies don't perform, they just stop calling you." FixQuotes. January 16, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/if-your-movies-dont-perform-they-just-stop-127750/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"If your movies don't perform, they just stop calling you." FixQuotes, 16 Jan. 2026, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/if-your-movies-dont-perform-they-just-stop-127750/. Accessed 18 Feb. 2026.