50 Movies That Sounded Great In Theory But Failed Us With Their Poor Execution

Director John Jacobsen writes that it's not a good concept that moves us, it's a good story. "Concepts do not move us, stories do. They are the currency of human exchange and how we touch and move each other," he claims. According to him, people go to the movies to learn something, and in order for that to happen, they need to find the characters and the story relatable.

"I look at it this way – a concept is the promise you make, but the story is how you deliver on that promise, or a concept is something that asks a question, and the answer to the question is your story," he writes.

An example that does both the concept and its execution right is Good Will Hunting, Screencraft writes. It has a compelling concept, as well as characters that go through their respective arcs as the movie progresses.

Interestingly, the original idea Affleck and Damon pitched was about a mathematics genius pursued by the government. But, after reading the draft, filmmaker Rob Reiner told them to get rid of that plotline and focus on the characters.

Another two examples they give are genre movies Get Out and A Quiet Place. Both have interesting, original concepts, as well as great character stories. A good concept, according to Screencraft, is what gets you noticed. "Yes, the more compelling your concept is, the more doors may open. But always remember that there's a place for every type of screenplay — as long as it's written well."