Making films can't be easy. Lucky for script writers, there's always a cliché on hand if they ever get stuck...
"Bond. James Bond." "I'll be back." "Show me the money!" "Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn." "You talkin' to me?"
Done right, a well-crafted one-liner can outgrow its film and enter the annals of cinema, not to mention the vocabulary any well-versed film buff. But, if you're here hoping to find the next "Life is like a box of chocolates", we strongly advise you look elsewhere. This list's not about quality, it's all quantity.
As let's face it, originality is overrated. And rather than spend hours poring over and adjective or pronoun, sometimes scriptwriters need something quick, familiar and hugely clichéd. And there are no finer examples/worse offenders than the following 20 lines, which are quite possibly the most overused in the history of cinema.
"Is that all you've got?"
As heard in: Ali (2001), Alien 3 (1992), American Pie: The Wedding (2003), Date Movie (2003), Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006), Rocky II (1979), Scary Movie 2 (2001), The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (2003), The Mummy Returns (2001),Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009), Up in the Air (2009), Righteous Kill (2008), Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (2010), Hanna (2011), Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011), Rango (2011), Speed Racer(2008), Cheaper by the Dozen (2003), Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo (1999), Employee of the Month (2006), Fool's Gold (2008), Hackers (1995), Little Man (2006), Mortal Kombat: Annihilation (1997), Scooby-Doo (2002), Scooby-Doo! The Mystery Begins (2009), The Hot Chick (2002), The People vs. Larry Flynt (1996), The Scorpion King (2002), The Scorpion King: Rise of a Warrior (2008), The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning (2006),Two for the Money (2005), Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian (2009), She's All That (1999), The Bounty Hunter (2010), Bulletproof (1996), Highlander: Endgame (2000), Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over (2003), Wrong Turn 2: Dead End (2007), The Collector(2009), G-Force (2009), Jonah Hex (2010), Harlem Nights (1989), Muppets From Space(1999), Death Race 2 (2010), The Glimmer Man (1996), Bring It on Again (2004), Green Street 2 (2009), Imagine That (2009), Van Wilder: Freshman Year (2009), Mean Girls 2 (2011), St Trinian's 2: The Legend of Fritton's Gold (2009), House Party 2 (1991),StreetDance 3D (2010).
"(S)he's behind me, isn't (s)he?"
As heard in: Around the World in 80 Days (2004), Boat Trip (2002), City Slickers (1991), City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold (1994), Doom (2005), Miss Congeniality (2000), Scooby-Doo (2002), Shark Tale (2004), My Life in Ruins (2009), When in Rome (2010), Return to Halloweentown (2006), GoldenEye (1995), UHF (1989), American Pie: The Wedding (2003), The Scorpion King (2002), The American President (1995).
"It's/she's gonna blow!"
As heard in: Armageddon (1998), Apocalypse Now (1979), Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997), Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999), Bandits (2001), Batman Begins (2005), Definitely, Maybe (2008), Dreamcatcher (2003), Frequency (2000), Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), Mrs. Doubtfire (1993), The Dirty Dozen (1967), Speed 2: Cruise Control (1997), Die Another Day (2002), Enemy of the State (1998), Nightbreed (1990), The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear (1991), Notes on a Scandal (2006), Dance of the Dead (2008), Dante's Peak (1997), Ticker (2001), Career Opportunities (1991), Retroactive (1997), Skeleton Man (2004), Thr3e (2006), Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie (1997), Operation Endgame (2010), Cheaper by the Dozen (2003), Cheaper by the Dozen 2 (2005), Driven (2001), I Spy (2002), Ladder 49 (2004), Pushing Tin (1999), The 'burbs (1989), Vertical Limit (2000), Volcano (1997), The Final Destination (2009), Hard Rain (1998), Journey to the Center of the Earth (2008), Spy Hard (1996) Head Over Heels (2001), Nightbreed (1990), On Deadly Ground (1994), Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles (2001), Knock Off (1998), The Big Easy (1986), Hunt to Kill (2010), Python (2000), Cars (2006), Land Raiders (1969), American Graffiti (1973), Chicken Run (2000), Meet the Robinsons (2007), National Treasure (2004), Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983).
"We've got company!"
As heard in: Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001), Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999), Batman & Robin (1997), Bridge to Terabithia (2007), Con Air (1997), Grease 2 (1982), Halloween (1978), Hot Shots! (1991), Legends of the Fall (1994), Secondhand Lions (2003), Shrek 2 (2004), Starship Troopers 2: Hero of the Federation (2004), Tron (1982), Treasure Planet (2002), Where Eagles Dare (1968), G-Force (2009), Your Highness (2011), Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole (2010), Agent Cody Banks 2: Destination London (2004), Herbie Rides Again (1974), Laurel Canyon (2002), Saboteur (1942), Jerry Maguire (1996), The Comancheros (1961), Desperate Hours (1990), Switchback (1997), White Fang (1991), Muppet Treasure Island (1996), Boa vs. Python (2004), Lassie (2005), Air Buddies (2006), Deep Core (2000), Weekend (2011)
"Don't die on me!"
As heard in: Beverly Hills Cop III (1994), Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (2004), Backdraft (1991), Cold Mountain (2003), Con Air (1997), Evolution (2001), Four Brothers (2005), Hidalgo (2004), Hollow Man (2000), Jacob's Ladder (1990), Kindergarten Cop (1990), Planet Terror (2007), Practical Magic (1998), Proof of Life (2000), Pulp Fiction (1994), Starship Troopers (1997), The Edge (1997), The Number 23 (2007), True Romance (1993), Punisher: War Zone (2008), A Perfect Getaway (2009), The Outsiders (1983), Above the Law (1988), Scorched (2003), The Day After (1983), The Gauntlet (1977), Wing Commander (1999), Eden Lake (2008), Mo' Money (1992), Nine (2009), Iron Will (1994), Ticker (2001), You Don't Know Jack (2010), Brothers in Arms (2005), On the Line (2001), The Dukes of Hazzard: The Beginning (2007), Children of the Corn: The Gathering (1996), Damage (2009), Shrek (2001), The Butterfly Effect (2004).
"We can do this the easy way, or the hard way."
As heard in: Back to the Future Part II (1989), Belly of the Beast (2003), Boot Camp (2008), Catch Me If You Can (2002), Goldfinger (1964), Gone in Sixty Seconds (2000), Little Man (2006), Mercenary for Justice (2006), Racing Stripes (2005), Night at the Museum (2006), Seed of Chucky (2004), Who's Your Caddy? (2007), The A-Team (2010), The Blind Side (2009), Shoot 'Em Up (2007), Tactical Force (2011), The Patriot (1998), Self-Medicated (2005), Jack Falls (2011), Out of the Blue (1980), Inside Man (2006).
"Get outta there!"
As heard in: Apocalypse Now (1979), Armageddon (1998), Finding Nemo (2003), Independence Day (1996), Iron Man (2008), Platoon (1986), Reservoir Dogs (1992), The Rock (1996), X-Men (2000), X-Men: The Last Stand (2006), Twelve Monkeys (1995), Cinderella Man (2005), Frequency (2000), Gone in Sixty Seconds (2000), National Treasure (2004), Ransom (1996), Rocky II (1979), Rocky III (1982), Rocky IV (1985), Starship Troopers (1997), Dick Tracy (1990), Daylight (1996), Doctor Dolittle (1998), Jaws 2 (1978), Six Days Seven Nights (1998), Volcano (1997), Dante's Peak (1997), Windtalkers (2002), Bachelor Party (1984), Blown Away (1994), Confidence (2003), Dangerous Minds (1995), Herbie Fully Loaded (2005), Popeye (1980), Reindeer Games (2000), The Kid (2000), The Rocketeer (1991), Fear (1996), An American Werewolf in Paris (1997), Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie (1995), Oliver! (1968), Rollerball (1975), Piranha (1978), White Noise 2: The Light (2007), Housesitter (1992), Easy Money (1983), Old Yeller (1957), Mean Girls 2 (2011), Alien (1979), Aliens (1986), Alien 3 (1992), Gladiator (2000), Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989), The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002), The Matrix (1999), The Matrix Reloaded (2003), Avatar (2009), King Kong (2005), Jaws (1975), Million Dollar Baby (2004), The Bourne Ultimatum (2007), Die Hard: With a Vengeance (1995), Mission: Impossible II, Pearl Harbour (2001), The Aviator (2004), Sunshine (2007), Top Gun (1986), Speed Racer (2008), Public Enemies (2009), Lethal Weapon (1987), Lethal Weapon 3 (1992), Hollow Man (2000), Bad Boys II (2003), The Fifth Element (1997), Enemy of the State (1998), Fast Five (2011), Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011), Airplane! (1980), Deep Impact (1998), Ghostbusters II (1989), Antz (1998), G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (2009), The A-Team (2010), The Firm (1993), The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 (2009), Labyrinth (1986), Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan (1982), Cliffhanger (1993), Revolver (2005), Rambo III (1988).
"You just don't get it, do you?"
As heard in: Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997), Breaking and Entering (2006), Cliffhanger (1993), Daylight (1996), Hitch (2005), Norbit (2007), Payback (1999), The Frighteners (1996), The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (2005), The Prestige (2006), Wrong Turn 2: Dead End (2007), Daylight (1996), Platoon (1986), Tooth Fairy (2010), The General's Daughter (1999), Cruel Intentions 3 (2004), The Devil Wears Prada (2006), Laws of Attraction (2004), Stigmata (1999), Space Truckers (1996), Speed (1994), Unthinkable (2010), The Rookie (1990), Kangaroo Jack (2003), Four Lions (2010), Insomnia (2002), Jumper (2008), Scary Movie 4 (2006), Shaft (2000), Toy Story (1995), The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976), Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian (2009), Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005), The Terminator (1984), Mission: Impossible II (2000), Monsters vs Aliens (2009), Side Effects (2005), The Karate Kid, Part III (1989).
"I could tell you, but I'd have to kill you"
As heard in: A Walk To Remember (2002), American Psycho (2000), Basic Instinct 2 (2006), Coyote Ugly (2000), Eraser (1996), John Tucker Must Die (2006), Johnny English (2003), Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001), Top Gun (1986), Wolf Creek (2005), Dorian Gray (2009), Replicant (2001), Beverly Hills Ninja (1997), G.I. Joe: Rise of the Cobra (2009).
"You look like shit."
As heard in: 28 Days Later... (2002), Basic Instinct (1992), Die Hard: With a Vengeance (1995), Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004), Full Metal Jacket (1987), Grindhouse (2007), Lost Highway (1997), Once Upon a Time in America (1984), The Bucket List (2007), The Fifth Element (1997), The Rock (1996), The Truman Show (1998), True Romance (1993), Unforgiven (1992), We Were Soldiers (2002), Waterworld (1995), Wild Wild West (1999), Twelve Monkeys (1995), The Hangover Part II (2011), Arlington Road (1999), Bring It On (2000), Good Morning, Vietnam (1987), Green Street (2005), Point Break (1991), Poltergeist (1982), Showgirls (1995), Stigmata (1999), Swingers (1996), The Break-Up (2006), The French Connection (1971), The People vs. Larry Flint (1996), The Score (2001), Push (2009), He's Just Not That Into You (2009), Love and Other Drugs (2010), Blood Work (2002), Cashback (2006), My Super Ex-Girlfriend (2006), Stepmom (1998), Tango & Cash (1989), The Flintstones (1994), Wicker Park (2004), Crazy Heart (2009), She's Out of My League (2010), Flashdance (1983), Romper Stomper (1992), The Dilemma (2011), Vampires Suck (2010), Repo Man (1984), American Gigolo (1980), The Business (2005), House Party 2 (1991).
"It's not what it looks like."
As heard in: American Pie (1999), American Pie: The Wedding (2003), Bad Boys (1995), Breach (2007), Dude, Where's My Car? (2000), Chinatown (1974), Go (1999), John Tucker Must Die (2006), One Night at McCool's (2001), Spartan (2004), The Whole Ten Yards (2004), Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story (2007), Wild Hogs (2007), Working Girl (1988), You, Me and Dupree (2006), Sex Drive (2008), The Bounty Hunter (2010), Love and Other Drugs (2010), Very Bad Things (1998), Alien Autopsy (2006), Another Gay Movie (2006), Capricorn 1 (1978), For Love or Money (1993), Johnson's Family Vacation (2004), Kangaroo Jack (2003), National Lampoon Presents Dorm Daze (2003), National Lampoon's Dirty Movie (2011), The Man (2005), The Out-of-Towners (1999), What Just Happened (2008), Doghouse (2009), Love & Sex (2000), Bachelor Party 2: The Last Temptation (2008), Getting Played (2006), Magicians (2007), Fraternity House (2008), Stealing Candy (2003), The Break-Up Artist (2009)
"____ is my middle name."
As heard in: Antz (1998), Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997), Cars (2006), Fantastic Four (2005), Flushed Away (2006), Good Morning, Vietnam (1987), Grandma's Boy (2006), Lethal Weapon (1987), Manhattan (1979), Predator 2 (1990), The Goonies (1985), The Last Boy Scout (1991), The 'burbs (1989), At Close Range (1986), Bottoms Up (2006), Cheaper by the Dozen (2005), Man of the Year (2006), Smiley Face (2007), Teen Wolf (1985), The Fog of War (2003), The King of Comedy (1982), Wrong Turn 2: Dead End (2007), Krull (1983), Gnomeo & Juliet (2011), I'm Still Here (2010), Rugrats in Paris: The Movie (2000), The Newton Boys (1998), Doctor Detroit (1983), Dracula III: Legacy (2005), Hardbodies (1984), Kung Fu Panda: Secrets of the Furious Five (2008).
"We're not so different, you and I."
As heard in: Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997), Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002), Beerfest (2006), Capote (2005), Meatballs (1979), Memoirs of an Invisible Man (1992), October Sky (1999), Postal (2007), Spider-Man (2002), Spider (2002), The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002), The Net (1995), Fast and Furious 4 (2009), The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008), Mulholland Falls (1996), Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (2010), Atlantis: Milo's Return (2003), Behind Enemy Lines II: Axis of Evil (2006), Duma (2005), The Ballad of Jack and Rose (2005), Descent (2007), The Perfect Host (2010), Dark Shadows (1966), Scary Movie 3 (2003), The Outrage (1964), Behind Enemy Lines 2: Axis of Evil (2006), Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), Gladiator (2000), Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011), Falling Down (1993), Ivanhoe (1982).
"If you touch one hair on his/her head..."
As heard in: Big (1988), Mickey Blue Eyes (1999), Support Your Local Gunfighter (1971), The Cooler (2003), The Great Race (1965), The Shining (1980), The Marine 2 (2009), Brighton Rock (2010), Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist (2008), Wake (2010), The Man from Nowhere (2010), The Green Mile (1999), Bringing Down the House (2003), The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938), Last Action Hero (1993), The Rocker (2008), Natural Born Killers (1994), The Manchurian Candidate (2004), Man on Fire (2004), Species II (1998), Mission: Impossible II (2000), The Whole Ten Yards (2004).
"Sit down and shut up."
As heard in: All Quiet on the Western Front (1930), American Gangster (2007), Adaption (2002), American History X (1998), Any Given Sunday (1999), Beavis and Butt-Head Do America (1996), Chicago (2002), Day of the Dead (1985), Dogma (1999), Donnie Brasco (1997), Grease (1978), Heat (1995), Idiocracy (2006), Meet Joe Black (1998), Mystery Men (1999), Pi (1998), Planet Terror (2007), S.W.A.T. (2003), Snatch (2000), The School of Rock (2003), The Sting (1973), The Warriors (1979), True Romance (1993), U.S. Marshals (1998), Kick-Ass (2010), Generation Kill (2008), Hollywood Homicide (2003), Passenger 57 (1992), Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment (1985), Taxi (1998), The Wind That Shakes the Barley (2006), Brooklyn's Finest (2009), Jeepers Creepers II (2003), Nixon (1995), Fire Down Below (1997), Harlem Nights (1989), Paint Your Wagon (1969), The Thomas Crown Affair (1968), Toy Soldiers (1991), Looking for Eric (2009), Death Race 2 (2010), Bunny and the Bull (2009), Carry on at Your Convenience (1971).
"There's a storm coming."
As heard in: Alien vs. Predator (2004), Batman Begins (2005), Die Hard 2 (1990), Lars and the Real Girl (2007), Night at the Museum (2006), Point Break (1991), Poltergeist (1982), Resident Evil: Extinction (2007), Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (2004), The Terminator (1984), Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003), The Gift (2000), The Hurricane (1999), The Island (2005), Unforgiven (1984), Vertical Limit (2000), Sherlock Holmes (2009), The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008), The Twilight Saga: Eclipse (2010), Shutter Island (2010), Bridge of Frankenstein (1935), House of the Dead (2003), I Still Know What You Did Last Summer (1998), Christmas with the Kranks (2004), FeardotCom (2002), I'm Still Here (2010). Skyfall (2012), The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King (2003), Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007), Donnie Darko (2001), The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008).
"Don't do anything stupid."
As heard in: From Dusk Til Dawn (1996), Blood Diamond (2006), A Simple Plan (1998), Empire Records (1995), Happy Gilmore (1996), Hitman (2007), Layer Cake (2004), Midnight Express (1978), Panic Room (2002), Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003), Risky Business (1983), Scream 2 (1997), The Hitcher (1986), The Rock (1996), The Wind That Shakes the Barley (2006), Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971), The 6th Day (2000), Avatar (2009), Gamer (2009), Captain America: The First Avenger (2011), Hobo with a Shotgun (2011), Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday (1999), You Don't Know Jack (2010), The Net 2.0 (2006), Essex Boys (2000).
"Tell ____ I love him/her/them."
As heard in: Crocodile Dundee (1986), Scary Movie (2000), The Notebook (2004), The Pursuit of Happyness (2006), True Romance (1993), The Invention of Lying (2009), Black Hawk Down (2001), Independence Day (1996), No Country for Old Men (2007), Scarface (1983), Any Given Sunday (1999), Ghost (1990), High Fidelity (2000), United 93 (2006), Sucker Punch (2011), My Best Friend's Wedding (1997), Willow (1988), World Trade Center (2006), An American Werewolf in London (1981), Ladder 49 (2004), That Thing You Do! (1996), Fool's Gold (2008), Frantic (1988), The Wind That Shakes the Barley (2006), Birth (2004), Ladyhawke (1985), Oscar (1991), Deep Impact (1998).
"I wouldn't do that if I were you."
As heard in: Be Cool (2005), Bringing Down the House (2003), Click (2006), Dead Man (1995), Flyboys (2006), Oscar (1991), Revolver (2005), Scream (1996), Scream 2 (1997), The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift (2006), Two Brothers (2004), Unknown (2006), What Women Want (2000), Blazing Saddles (1974), Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (2009), Meet John Doe (1941), Sherlock Holmes (2009), Barb Wire (1996), Inception (2010), Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (2010), G-Force (2009), Hellboy II: The Golden Army (2008), Labyrinth (1986), Paul (2011), Boomerang! (1947), Destiny Rides Again (1939), Space Chimps (2008).
"Yeah, you better run!"
As heard in: Back to the Future Part III (1990), Batman Begins (2005), Click (2006), Deliverance (1972), Gone Baby Gone (2007), Madagascar (2005), Night at the Museum (2006), Rocky III (1982), The Notebook (2004), The Shining (1980), Twister (1996), Bolt (2008), Death Proof (2007), Rango (2011), Drillbit Taylor (2008), Freddy Got Fingered (2001), My Super Ex-Girlfriend (2006), Open Range (2003), The Benchwarmers (2006), The Flintstones (1994), The Whole Ten Yards (2004), Paul Blart: Mall Cop (2009), Where the Wild Things Are (2009), Are We There Yet? (2005), Open Season (2006), Undercover Brother (2002), Wonderland (2003), Super (2010), The Dilemma (2011), The Last Seduction (1994), Paint Your Wagon (1969), Vampire in Brooklyn (1995), Wonderfalls (2004), Shrink (2009), D3: The Mighty Ducks (1996).
