Most quotable movie lines: The top 20
They're lines you've said a million times -- and will say a million times more. Repeated so often that -- admit it -- you sometimes forget what movie they came from.
Welcome to the final 20 quotes from our epic 80 Most Quotable Movie Lines of the 80s list. They're not the greatest lines from 80s movies -- just the ones that you've quoted the most over the years.
(Click here to see Nos. 21-40, 41-60, 61-80.)
Today's big winner: Fan favorites "Caddyshack" and "Top Gun" -- easily two of the most quoted movies of the last 27 years.
But there are some mind-benders in here as well, including everyone's favorite line from one of John Cusack's most obscure movies.
Enjoy the list. Leave some feedback at the end. Check out the other 60 lines linked above, and always remember ... well, "I could tell you, but I'd have to kill you."
80 MOST QUOTABLE MOVIE LINES OF THE 80s: The Top 20
20. "Take me to bed or lose me forever." (Top Gun)
19. "Corn dog!" (Night Shift)
18. "Khhaaaaan!" (Star Trek 2)
17. "Demented and sad, but social." (Breakfast Club)
16. "I could tell you, but I'd have to kill you." (Top Gun)
15. "Cinderella story. Outta nowhere. A former greenskeeper, now, about to become the Masters champion. It looks like a mirac... It's in the hole! It's in the hole! It's in the hole!" (Caddyshack)
14. "I pity the fool." (Rocky 3)
13. "Bueller?...Bueller?" (Ferris Bueller's Day Off)
12."Heeeerrrre's Johnny!" (The Shining)
11. "Go ahead, make my day." (Sudden Impact)
10. "Wax on, wax off." (Karate Kid)
9. "I'll be back" (The Terminator)
8. "Shall we play a game?" (War Games)
7. They're heeere." (Poltergeist)
6. "I must break you!" (Rocky 4)
And the top 5...
5. "Game over, man, game over!" (Aliens): Bill Paxton's bit role in a largely forgettable movie gives him a line for the ages. (And surely a great sound clip for shutting down your computer.)
4. "Be the ball" (Caddyshack): Chevy Chase could have a top 80 list of his very own. But his "Be the ball" advice to Danny in Caddyshack now is a standard piece of advice during any friendly sporting event. ("Where did it land?" "Right in the lumberyard.")
3. "Yippee Ki-yay, motherf@#$%!!" (Die Hard): Bruce Willis, you dirty dog -- this line can't enjoy its full impact on a family-friendly blog. And I nearly cried when he resurrected it for "Live Free or Die Hard."
2. "I want my two dollars!" (Better Off Dead): You remember the line, but probably not the character's or actor's full name. (It was "Johnny Gasparini" played by Demian Slade, whose only other memorable role was Frankie Avalon's son in 1987's "Back to the Beach.)
1. "Say hello to my little friend!" (Scarface): The "f-word" is repeated more than 200 times in the 1983 movie, but it's this "little" line by Al Pacino that people always imitate. Why? Because it can be used a hundred different ways -- including as a punchline on a popular gnome t-shirt.
There we are. Let the debate start. What lines are over-hyped? What lines did we leave out?


Relive the music, movies and culture of the greatest decade ever with Times online editor Steve Spears. A teen during the decade, Steve is obsessed with everything from Duran Duran to Journey, John Hughes to John Cusack, and parachute pants to Reaganomics.
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Great list Steve, but I noticed the lack of any Australian movies. Surely Crocodile Dundee could have made it in for "That's not a knife, this is a knife". Just shows a total disrespect of all things Australian. nah just kidding. Also, one of my favourite lines from Risky Business is in Joel's dream when he is trying to do the do with the baby sitter and his Mum gets on the bullhorn and says "Please Joel, do what they say, just get off the babysitter"
Posted by: Ian from Down Under | November 28, 2007 at 08:47 AM
"Fletch" is grossly under-represented. Steve, surely you've ordered a Bloody Mary, a steak sandwich and a steak sandwich at least once or twice. Tierra Del Fuego!
Posted by: Clark | November 28, 2007 at 08:58 AM
Question for the ladies: How many of you have actually USED #1 "Say hello to my little friend"?
As far as over-used and/or tiresome quotes on the list~For me it's "I'll be Back," "They're heeeeeeeeeere," and "Wax on,Wax off."
I hear "Bueller? Bueller?" far more than anything else. Needs to be in the top five. Just sayin'...
Posted by: Marissa | November 28, 2007 at 09:10 AM
"Bill Paxton's bit role in a largely forgettable movie" Aliens was a largely forgettable movie? That movie ROCKS! I went to see this movie when they were showing it in 70mm (remember when they did that?) and I was totally blown away. the following weekend I took a couple of friends who wanted to see it. When we were walking out of the theater i asked one of them how they liked it. He looked at me and said, "I just have one word...F***!" And he did not mean that in a bad way. My other friend said watching that movie was like riding a rollercoasted for two hours. They loved it, and went to see it again a few days later. there is nothing forgettable about that movie.
Posted by: Bassnote | November 28, 2007 at 10:00 AM
"Aliens" rocks. Spears, you remind me of the guy Paul Reiser played in that movie.
Posted by: Hudson | November 28, 2007 at 10:22 AM
What about, "I know you are, but what am I?" from Pee-wee's Big Adventure?
Posted by: Jeremy | November 28, 2007 at 12:48 PM
What, do you get royalties from "Say Anything"? "We're on a mission from God" is top 5 if anything is. And how about "Toga! Toga! Toga!"
Posted by: The_Lunchbox | November 28, 2007 at 01:37 PM
The "toga!" line is from Animal House, which was a 70s flick.
And let's just say I'm not a fan of the "Aliens" series of movies. Or any horror flick for that matter. But hey, I included that line because it is indeed classic and I use it all the time.
Posted by: Spears | November 28, 2007 at 01:41 PM
"Sometimes you just gotta say, 'What the f***'".
Posted by: Clark | November 28, 2007 at 01:58 PM
You know, Risky Business was really underrepresented on the list. But then again, no one suggested any lines from that.
Among my favorites:
"Looks like University of Illinois!"
"A good time ... in the privacy of your own home."
"Never f--- with another man's livelihood."
Posted by: Spears | November 28, 2007 at 02:42 PM
I thought this list was decent. Definitely too many quotes from Say Anything. I grew up in the 80's and I think I missed the boat with that movie, I didn't think it was all that good or quotable. I would have used several more quotes from Stripes and Fast Times. I mean not to include "Hey Bud Let's Party" I know it was a way over used line but that was quoted by everyone in my 8th grade. I line I always use but nobody ever knows is from the Outsiders. I always tell people to "stay gold" but they have no idea what I am referring to.
Posted by: Neil | November 28, 2007 at 03:17 PM
My favorite quote from Risky Business is the guy in the auto shop.
"Who's the U-boat commander?"
Posted by: Bassnote | November 28, 2007 at 03:31 PM
I was glad to see that I was not the only one who was SHOCKED that Risky Business was unrepresented here. . . .to the lines from the other commenters above I would add
"Joel, be a courageous person -- open the door. That way, you see, I can call a cab."
"It's what you want -- it's what EVERY white boy on the lake wants."
"yes. . .no . . . .maybe"
"Be a Little Enterpriser!"
"It's not quite Ivy League, now is it?"
"Sometimes you just gotta say . . . what the ****
Posted by: Chris | November 28, 2007 at 03:50 PM
I thought there was only two "Say Anything" quotes in the entire list of 80. Unless I'm counting wrong. Help?
Posted by: Spears | November 28, 2007 at 03:51 PM
Don't get me wrong Steve. I think you put together a great list. Everybody is going to find something to complain about because you can't please everyone.
Posted by: Bassnote | November 28, 2007 at 03:58 PM
It's 3 "Say Anthing's" now, I think. I actually was against a couple of them, but they received so many reader votes.
I'm not shedding any tears. No crying myself to sleep on my enormous pillow.
Posted by: Spears | November 28, 2007 at 04:30 PM
Here's a nice Ed Rooney quote for all the malcontents:
"If you don't like my policies you can come on down here and smooch my big old white butt. Pucker up, buttercup!"
Posted by: Brad | November 28, 2007 at 06:26 PM
What? No Valley Girl quotes?
"totally tubular"
"totally trippendicular"
"scarf and barf"
"i'm so sure"
"for sure, like totally"
etc...
Posted by: Six | November 28, 2007 at 08:50 PM
Now, how many of you who are sad that Risky Business or any other movie you think should be represented DID NOT VOTE or give suggestions? Hmm Bueller? Bueller? lol After the fact suggestions don't count (well, maybe they do in Florida).
I hated the Alien movies, too, Steve. Bleah!
Oh, and thanks for adding my suggestions to the list THIS TIME. I'm particularly fond of the one from Weird Science.
Posted by: Marissa | November 28, 2007 at 10:40 PM
Agreed, Marissa. Weird Science is such a guilty, guilty pleasure of mine. Mmm Kelly LeBrock.
I use "Khan!", "Game over man", "Bueller" and a few others quite a lot.
Nothing like a good scream of "KHAN!" to wake up my fellow classmates in the morning.
Posted by: Al | November 29, 2007 at 12:04 AM
Even better is the part in ST II when Kirk says, "Just a moment, Khan" like a bad salesman......it's hilarious. Unfortunately I can't find it on Youtube.
Posted by: Al | November 29, 2007 at 12:08 AM
Sadly, I can pretty much act out any of the Kirk/Khan scenes in their entirety, right down to Ricardo's accent and Shatner's pauses.
Posted by: Spears | November 29, 2007 at 06:45 AM
If only the podcasts had video!
Posted by: Marissa | November 29, 2007 at 07:29 AM
Oh Steve you must do Kirk/Khan on a future podcast!! BRILLIANT!
Posted by: specialk in Germany | November 29, 2007 at 12:26 PM
#1 should be "Corn Dog".
#2 should be "Sweep The Leg" from Karate Kid.
#3 should be "Give Me...A Keg...Of Beer" from Teen Wolf.
Speaking of Teen Wolf...it deserves it's own Podcast.
Posted by: Clyde | November 29, 2007 at 01:31 PM
Sadly? Steve, I don't think you memorizing Star Trek II is a bad thing......it's a great movie.
Star Trek I, on the other hand......
Posted by: Al | November 29, 2007 at 09:53 PM
My namesake: Fletch...totally underrepresented.
"I'll have a steak sandwich and a steak sandwich"
"Are you using the whole fist doc?"
"Fletch...6'5"...6'9" with the afro"
"Name is Nugent...Ted Nugent"
Also...the best of the 80's: The Princess Bride:
"Hello...my name is Inigo Montoya...you killed my father...prepare to die!"
Posted by: Fletch | December 05, 2007 at 02:22 AM