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The 20 Most Misquoted Movie Lines of All Time

By July 7, 2017February 1st, 2021No Comments


Every movie fan has at least one or two dozen iconic lines of dialogue seared into their cerebral cortex. One-liners, come-backs, zingers – all coming together to form a repertoire of phrases that thrill, inspire, and make us laugh. Great movie lines stick with us forever – when we aren’t misquoting them, that is. 

Yeah – that’s right. As it turns out, the life of an iconic movie quote tends to play out much like the film industry’s version of broken telephone. A slight adjustment here, a word dropped there, until eventually a misquote vaguely resembling Frankenstein’s monster takes unshakeable hold over the collective cultural consciousness.

Don’t believe us? Here are 20 iconic lines that most of us get wrong. Sure, some of these are more egregious than others (we’re sticklers when it comes to tenses), but it’s still hilarious to see just how off-the-mark some of the most oft-quoted movie lines truly are. 

20. All About Eve


Misquote: “Fasten your seat belts, it’s going to be a bumpy ride.”
Actual Quote: “Fasten your seat belts, it’s going to be a bumpy night.”

 

19. Forrest Gump

Misquote: “Mama always said, ‘Life is like a box of chocolates.’”
Actual Quote: “Mama always said life was like a box of chocolates.”

 

18. The Wizard of Oz

Misquote: “Toto, we’re not in Kansas anymore.”
Actual Quote: “Toto, I’ve a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore.”

 

17. The Graduate

Misquote: “Mrs. Robinson, are you trying to seduce me?”
Actual Quote: “Mrs. Robinson, you’re trying to seduce me, aren’t you?”

 

16. Jaws

Misquote: “We’re going to need a bigger boat.”
Actual Quote:You’re going to need a bigger boat.”

 

15. Cool Hand Luke

Misquote: “What we have here is a failure to communicate.”
Actual Quote: “What we’ve got here is a failure to communicate.”

 

14. Wall Street

Misquote: “Greed is good.”
Actual Quote: “The point is, ladies and gentlemen, that greed, for lack of a better word, is good.

 

13. Planet of the Apes

Misquote: “Get your stinking paws off me, you damn dirty ape.”
Actual Quote:Take your stinking paws off me, you damn dirty ape.”

 

12. Field of Dreams

Misquote: “If you build it, they will come.”
Actual Quote: “If you build it, he will come.”

 

11. Silence of the Lambs

Misquote: “Hello, Clarice.”
Actual Quote:Good evening, Clarice.”

 

10. Apocalypse Now

Misquote: “I love the smell of napalm in the morning. It smells like victory!”
Actual Quote: “I love the smell of napalm in the morning. You know, one time we had a hill bombed for 12 hours. When it was all over, I walked up. We didn’t find one of ’em, not one stinkin’ dink body. The smell, you know, that gasoline smell, the whole hill. Smells like victory.”

 

9. Titanic

Misquote: “I’m king of the world!”
Actual Quote: “I’m the king of the world!”

 

8. King Kong

Misquote: “T’was beauty that killed the beast.”
Actual Quote: “It was Beauty killed the Beast.”

 

7. Casablanca

Misquote: “Play it again, Sam”
Actual quote: “Play it, Sam. Play ‘As Time Goes By”

 

6. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

Misquote: “Mirror, mirror, on the wall, who is the fairest of them all?”
Actual quote: “Magic mirror, on the wall, who is the fairest one of all?”

 

5. Apollo 13

Misquote: “Houston, we have a problem.”
Actual Quote: “Ah, Houston, we’ve had a problem.”

 

4. Dirty Harry

Misquote: “Do ya feel lucky, punk?”
Actual Quote:You’ve got to ask yourself one question: ‘Do I feel lucky?’ Well, do ya punk?”

 

3. Aliens

Misquote: “Stay away from her, you bitch.”
Actual Quote:Get away from her, you bitch.”

 

2. Sunset Boulevard

Misquote: “I’m ready for my close-up, Mr. DeMille.”
Actual Quote:All right, Mr. DeMille. I’m ready for my close-up.”

 

1. The Empire Strikes Back

Misquote: “Luke, I am your father.”
Actual Quote:No, I am your father.”

Can you think of any more? Let us know in the comments below or find us on Twitter/Facebook!