In the film industry, Peter Bart is well-known for his profound understanding of entertainment and narrative. His statement captures a core feature of movies: their capacity to keep viewers guessing with surprising turns.

Think of movies as an emotional and experiential roller coaster. Viewers enter a movie theater full of anticipation, ready for the exciting journey that awaits them, much like how you approach a roller coaster with excitement but not knowing exactly what lies ahead. Bart's observation emphasizes that a film's ability to surprise is one of the main components that makes it captivating.

He highlights that the essence of filmmaking is about creating moments that surprise, delight, or even upset viewers in unexpected ways, rather than merely presenting a series of events. These surprises can be anything from character revelations that alter our perception of the story to plot twists that alter the trajectory of a story.

Filmmakers can more fully engage their audience and elicit emotional responses and intellectual curiosity by incorporating surprise into their narratives. Bart's observation emphasizes how crucial unpredictability is to maintaining audience interest and engagement.

Essentially, Peter Bart's viewpoint exhorts filmmakers to use surprise as a potent technique for producing unforgettable cinematic moments. Adding unexpected elements to movies keeps viewers interested from beginning to end, much like how each twist on a roller coaster adds excitement and keeps riders engaged.