Fullscreen button
12 Clich; Movie and TV Lines That Get Reused All the Time
12 Clich; Movie and TV Lines That Get Reused All the Time
© Provided by MovieWeb
After more than a century of cinema, certain recurring themes have become inevitable in films. Screenwriters, in their varying degrees of imitation or representation of the past, have consistently resorted to reusing lines already associated with other films or that have altogether become clich;s. These clich;s persistently find their way into numerous screenplays and movies. While an adept presentation of a repeated line or situation can add significant cinematic value, more often than not, it feels overused and lazy.
These lines sometimes surface without writers consciously considering them, as they are so deeply ingrained in the collective memory that their use becomes almost standardized. However, they could also be intentionally placed, whether to achieve an obvious intended effect and generate satire or to convey some other form of reference.
Great or groan-worthy, here are the 12 most clich; movie lines — you'd better come take a look at them.
"There’s a Storm Coming"
Observations of nature have been exhaustively employed as metaphors for impending events in movies. The phrase "There's a storm coming" has been used in a vast number of films, especially action flicks, and is typically employed when a group of characters confronts an impending threat, mobilizing preparations to contend with future complications.
Your Schedule, Your Control - Call Storage Unit Experts
www.gominis.com/Storage/Units
Your Schedule, Your Control - Call Storage Unit Experts
Ad
What Makes It So Clich;
The phrase is quite visual, as the idea of a storm on the horizon is familiar to people. By equating an upcoming complication with dark skies and harsh weather conditions, the idea of what’s to come isn’t entirely described, it's just alluded to in a certain way. This has become quite overused, as it sets up expectation and engagement with the narrative. Surely there is a better metaphor?
Check out Jukka-Pekka Bohm's supercut video below to see a compilation of this line:
"It’s Not What It Looks Like."
It's highly probable that you don't remember when "It's not what it looks like" first appeared in your life. One of the most overused lines in history, it is frequently employed in situations where someone is caught engaging in behavior they shouldn't, often involving cheating on their partner or participating in illegal activities. From Chinatown to American Pie, this phrase crosses genres and boasts a lengthy film history, and is likely to persist for years to come.
We Offer Size Versatility - Call Storage Unit Experts
www.gominis.com/Storage/Units
We Offer Size Versatility - Call Storage Unit Experts
Ad
What Makes It So Clich;
Sometimes it is exactly what it looks like, sometimes it is genuinely just a situation that looks bad but isn't. Either way, there are probably a dozen other things that could be said first — like the real explanation. But even in real life, this line seems to persist, because the first thing the guilty party wants to do is assure the other person that what they're assuming is happening is definitely not happening — regardless of how true that may or may not be.
This line is likely so ingrained in popular culture because it conveys the guilt and embarrassment of the person so quickly. Regardless of when it's used, it will likely prompt the viewer to associate it with a notion they've held for a very long time. It is precisely for this reason that the line will probably endure indefinitely.
Check out The Back Focus' supercut video below to see a compilation of this line:
"Sit Down and Shut Up."
The phrase "Sit down and shut up" typically serves as a prelude to a character delivering a stern lecture to another. It can be harsh, humorous, or even endearing sometimes, encompassing a range of emotional tones. Whether it's Dennis Farina delivering a colorful rebuke in Snatch or Adam Sandler instructing on football in The Longest Yard, this line consistently appears across various genres, prominently featuring in action and comedy films.
What Makes It So Clich;
The phrase is both unimaginative and relatable. Despite its reception varying depending on delivery, it serves as a go-to concept for indicating a shift in attention within the narrative. Additionally, it provides a straightforward means of establishing a character's sense of authority. Its resonance lies in being something that everyone has felt at some point, or perhaps even said — when you just want someone to take a moment and listen rather than continue speaking, this is the go-to line.
Check out dondrapersayswhat's supercut video below to see a compilation of this line:
"Get Out of There!"
From Jimmy Stewart’s distress and helplessness in Rear Window, to Judi Dench trying to save 007, this urgent command is often used in action or thriller films when a character finds themselves in imminent danger. Whether it's an exploding building, a collapsing bridge, or a rapidly approaching threat, "Get out of there!" serves as a straightforward directive from a character in relative safety, meant to heighten the stakes and create a sense of urgency.
Related: Best Movies With Predictable Endings That We Love Anyway
What Makes It So Clich;
It’s once again one of those lines which is just too obvious to be realistic. It’s bound to show up in certain kind of movies and its constant use has already established it as one of the most used in action films, especially ones involving espionage. This line is usually completely unnecessary, as either the person in danger can't hear it, already knows they need to leave, or is actively engaged in fleeing. But sometimes it is a useful warning to a character who is in a compromised situation — though often that warning comes too late.
Check out hh1edits' supercut video below to see a compilation of this line:
"You Look Like Sh*t."
"You look like sh*t" has become a staple in films to convey a character's disheveled appearance or emotional state. Whether it's uttered by a concerned friend, a "frenemy," a lover, or even the character themselves looking in a mirror, the phrase is usually followed by a recommendation for rest or relaxation. It can also have a comedic effect depending on how the moment is framed, and the phrase enunciated. Sometimes the character is sick, sometimes they've been in a recent fight and it shows, in more comedic moments, they look normal.
Related: 10 Tired Horror Tropes That Make Their Films Predictable
What Makes It So Clich;
This is one of those lines that is probably used a lot in real life, too — especially among friends who are comfortable being straightforward in that rude kind of way. In movies, viewers can easily discern that the character being referred to is not at their best. In other instances, it might merely be a character joking or genuinely insulting someone else. Among all the possible insults or ways of conveying that someone doesn't appear well, this one seems to be the easiest and most uninspired way of saying it.
"S(he) Is Behind Me, Isn’t S(he)?"
"She's right behind me, isn't she?" — or he — is synonymous with uncomfortable situations in which someone inadvertently shares sensitive information in the presence of an unintended audience that approaches from behind. The use of this line intensifies the discomfort that someone might experience in such situations. Most often used in comedy situations to amplify the laughter and the cringe-factor, this situation is one that we love to laugh at and would hate to experience.
What Makes It So Clich;
This is one of those nightmare scenarios that probably teaches most people not to ever talk about others — they could be right behind you. In movies, the person talking somehow knows when this happens. Either the person they're talking to reveals it in their expression, or they just feel the presence of that person behind them. More often than not, these scenarios rank among the most relatable moments in movies, and they are also some of the most genuinely cringe-inducing.
Check out Zach Prewitt's supercut video below to see a compilation of this line:
"Is That All You Got?!"
Often delivered by a defiant character in the midst of a physical or verbal confrontation, "Is that all you got?!" is an impressive show of either power, bravado, or incredulity. It’s also less frequently, and in a less clich; way, used when a character is surprised by another’s lack of money, resources or information. The phrase is meant either to evoke strength, or to openly complain. This duality has led it to be constantly used throughout film history. It has appeared in innumerable productions, everything from Rocky to Scary Movie.
What Makes It So Clich;
In an actual fight, it is highly unlikely someone would say this bravado line. It’s a common dramatic resource used to emphasize that the contender that seems to be losing is not backing down — similar to Captain America's spin on this line, "I can do this all day." It's a combative and entertaining way to show that either the stronger character is unphased by the attack, or the weaker character has what is perhaps a foolish amount of courage. Either way, we love to see it and also groan when we do.
Check out supercutonline's supercut video below to see a compilation of this line:
"Don’t Die on Me!"
"Don't die on me!" or conversely, "Don't you die on me" is a desperate and emotional cry often uttered by a character witnessing a loved one in a life-threatening situation. It encapsulates the fear and helplessness felt by the speaker, as it aims to convey a deep emotional connection. Most often used in drama or action movies, this is a line that instantly communicates the emotional pain in the speaker, and the desperate situation of the person who may or may not be dying. Rarely, this line can be used in a comedy to mock the use of it in more dramatic scenarios.
What Makes It So Clich;
Its frequent use in various contexts, from action films to romantic dramas, has diluted its emotional potency. Under the right conditions, it can be as powerful as it aims to be, but its constant use has made the phrase to be synonymous with diluted notions of what real emotional pain can be. It simply doesn't feel like an honest thing someone would say in such a scenario (as if it's the dying character's fault somehow), and so its use tends to drain the moment from emotional depth, rather than add to it.
Check out supercutonline's supercut video below to see a compilation of this line:
"Don’t Do Anything Stupid."
“Don’t do anything stupid” seems destined to be instantly forgotten advice every time it’s uttered. It is usually directed towards a character who is prone to mess up whatever task is being asked, or one who has to deal with some complex situations in which mental sharpness is required. It is usually delivered by a superior, friend or ally. If this phrase is heart, it is guaranteed that something stupid is about to be done.
What Makes It So Clich;
One of the biggest reasons this is so clich; is that it's so vague, as if the character is just supposed to know what to do and what not to do. The line almost becomes a taunt sometimes, asking the receiver to do exactly that — something stupid. And there probably isn't a single instance in all of movie and TV history where what followed after this line wasn't a stupid action.
"I Wouldn’t Do That If I Were You."
"I wouldn't do that if I were you" is often spoken as a cautionary warning, advising or threatening a character. Whoever says it is either someone with more experience and knowledge, or someone who will provide certain consequences of said action. In the latter, it's not always clear if the character who utters it is actually looking for the other to do what they are urging them not to do.
What Makes It So Clich;
More often than not, the phrase is a precursor to trouble. Much like "Don't do anything stupid," this line is usually said right before the thing the character shouldn't do is definitely going to be done. It's almost a promise to the audience — like putting a button in front of us that says "Do not press," we want to see it pressed pretty much instantly.
"You'd Better Come Take A Look At This."
This line works as a classic setup for a possible revelation. A character, having discovered something unexpected or shocking, urgently calls others to witness it. It is quite commonly used in detective and procedural dramas, and generates brief suspense before the impending reveal.
What Makes It Clich;
It’s quite a formulaic way of introducing new information into stories. Usually it is something that doesn't need to be looked at, and the character could simply tell them what they are seeing. It's especially groan-worthy as a clich; line the more unnecessary it is for the person to have to walk over and look themselves, rather than simply having the information conveyed.
"You Just Don't Get It, Do You?"
Now this is one that just appears and appears over and over again, without any apparent self-awareness about it. “You just don’t get It, do you?” has appeared in a vast quantity of films, and is just as clich; as it gets. Often spoken in moments of frustration or exasperation, the line emphasizes a character's perceived lack of understanding.
What Makes It Clich;
The line is basically the go-to expression for tension and misunderstanding. It’s more clich; than one would think, as it appears to fly under the radar, hopping from film to film, transcending genres and styles. Its constant use makes it one of the most overused lines in film. What is especially cliche about it is that it's one of those phrases that only exists in movies and TV — either the explanation was already fine, or the person will expand on their thoughts. In real life, no one says this phrase, making it the worst clich; line.
Check out FilmDrunk Frotcast's supercut video below to see a compilation of this line: