Movie comebacks & wisecracks

Film


Movie comebacks & wisecracks

By Stylist Team

Updated 5 years ago

There's nothing quite like the world of movies for a slick comeback line. While in real life we often find ourselves lost for words at just the wrong moment, characters in films are teeming with sassy retorts and smooth put-downs, usually guaranteed to reduce their opponents to gibbering wrecks, or make themselves look supremely cool. So prime yourself for battle - or simply store up a few killer lines for a rainy day - with a look at our greatest movie comeback and wisecrack lines, below. A one-way ticket to respect...

Simply click on an image below to launch the gallery

Picture credit: Rex Features

Clueless

"Why should I listen to you, anyway? You're a virgin who can't drive."

- Clueless, 1995


Gone with the Wind

"Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn."

- Gone with the Wind, 1939


Dirty Dancing

"Nobody puts Baby in a corner."

- Dirty Dancing, 1987


Taxi Driver

"You talkin' to me?"

- Taxi Driver, 1976


She Done Him Wrong

"Is that a pistol in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?

- She Done Him Wrong, 1933


Grease

Danny (seeing her sexy makeover for the first time): "Sandy!"

Sandy: "Tell me about it... stud"

- Grease, 1978


Planet of the Apes

"Take your stinkin' paws off me, you damn dirty ape."

- Planet of the Apes, 1968


Who Framed Roger Rabbit

"I'm not bad. I'm just drawn that way."

- Who Framed Roger Rabbit, 1988


Erin Brockovich

Ed Masry: "What makes you think you can just walk in there and take whatever you want?"

Erin Brockovich:'' "They're called boobs, Ed."

- Erin Brockovich, 2000


The Graduate

"Mrs. Robinson, you're trying to seduce me, aren't you?"

- The Graduate, 1967


When Harry Met Sally

"I'll have what she's having."

- When Harry Met Sally, 1989


The Wizard of Oz

"Toto, I've got a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore."

- The Wizard of Oz, 1939


Some Like It Hot

Jerry: "I'm a man!"

Osgood: "Well, nobody's perfect."

- Some Like It Hot, 1959


Thelma & Louise

"You shoot off a guy's head with his pants down, believe me, Texas ain't the place you want to get caught."

- Thelma & Louise, 1991


All About Eve

"Fasten your seatbelts. It's going to be a bumpy night."

- All About Eve, 1950


Kill Bill

"Those of you lucky enough to have your lives, take them with you. However, leave the limbs you've lost. They belong to me now."

Kill Bill: Vol. 1, 2003


To Have and Have Not

"You know you don't have to act with me, Steve. You don't have to say anything, and you don't have to do anything. Not a thing. Oh, maybe just whistle. You know how to whistle, don't you, Steve? You just put your lips together and... blow."

- To Have and Have Not, 1944


Jaws

"We're gonna need a bigger boat."

- Jaws, 1975


Terminator

"Hasta la vista, baby."

- Terminator 2: Judgment Day, 1991


Annie Hall

"Hey, don't knock masturbation. It's sex with someone I love."

- Annie Hall, 1977


Pretty Woman

"Did I mention, my leg is 44" from hip to toe? So basically we are talking about 88" of therapy, wrapped around you for the bargain price of $3000 dollars."

- Pretty Woman, 1990


Sixteen Candles

"I can't believe I gave my panties to a geek."

Sixteen Candles, 1984


The Social Network

''If you guys were the inventors of Facebook, you'd have invented Facebook."

- The Social Network, 2010


Fatal Attraction


Apocalypse Now

"I love the smell of napalm in the morning!"

- Apocalypse Now, 1979


Share this article

undefined

By signing up you agree to occasionally receive offers and promotions from Stylist. Newsletters may contain online ads and content funded by carefully selected partners. Don’t worry, we’ll never share or sell your data. You can opt-out at any time. For more information read Stylist’s Privacy Policy

Thank you!

You’re now subscribed to all our newsletters. You can manage your subscriptions at any time from an email or from a MyStylist account.