What is an Understatement in Film? Meaning and Examples.

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Published: July 9, 2024 | Last Updated: December 4, 2024

understatement Definition & Meaning

An understatement is a rhetorical device and figure of speech in which a situation or idea is made to seem less important or severe than it is. It’s often used to create humor, emphasize a point, or subtly downplay a situation. Understatements rely on the audience’s understanding of the true magnitude of the situation to work.

One of the most famous understatement comes from the genius Albert Einstein, who said: “I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious.”

Another famous historical example is the often misquoted “[…] Houston, we’ve had a problem,” said Jack Swigert, the command module pilot of the Apollo 13 mission to Mission Control Center in Houston, Texas.

That’s an understatement of the grave situation the astronauts were in after the explosion occurred on board the spacecraft, and it started leaking oxygen into space.

Examples of Understatement in Movies

Now, let’s turn our attention to understatement in movies. As in literature and plays, understatement in film often adds humor to a scene with a lot at stake.

Understatements can also be used as characterization, for example, when they show the hero’s ability to crack a joke and thus seem on top of the situation amid danger or to show the antagonist‘s indifference towards his victims.

Let’s have a look at some examples:

Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)

‘Tis but a flesh wound!

– The Black Knight

This classic sketch from Monty Python and the Holy Grail, where King Arthur meets the Black Knight and cuts off his arms and legs so the blood sprays everywhere, has some of the most hilarious understatements in cinema history.

For example, after Arthur has chopped both of the Black Knight’s arms, the knight insists on keeping the fight going and even mocks Arthur. After all, it is “just a flesh wound.”

Jaws (1975)

You’re gonna need a bigger boat.

– Chief Brody

Here’s another famous line that has become a memorable quote because of its humorous use of understatement.

When Chief Brody sees the shark’s size for the first time, he backs into the cabin of the small fishing vessel and dryly declares to Quint that they will need a bigger boat.

Die Hard (1988)

Come out to the coast, we’ll get together, have a few laughs…

– John McClane

When John McClane struggles through an air vent while being hunted by terrorists, he recalls his wife’s invitation, “Come out to the coast, we’ll get together, have a few laughs…”

He says it in an ironic tone, and it’s an understatement in the context because it juxtaposes the grave danger he’s in with what his wife had in mind for their Christmas holiday.

Summing Up

An understatement in film is a rhetorical device where a significant event or emotion is downplayed or minimized, often for comedic effect or to create a sense of irony.

By underplaying a situation, you can provoke a contrasting reaction from the audience, highlighting the absurdity or seriousness of the scene.

Understatements can also be used as characterization, adding depth and complexity to a character’s dialogue or actions and creating layers of meaning and subtext in a film.

Up Next: What is Subtext?

By Jan Sørup

Jan Sørup is a indie filmmaker, videographer and photographer from Denmark. He owns filmdaft.com and the Danish company Apertura, which produces video content for big companies in Denmark and Scandinavia. Jan has a background in music, has drawn webcomics, and is a former lecturer at the University of Copenhagen.

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