Even if you’re not a horror fan, you’ve probably heard these lines before.
Horror movies have been the source of some truly unforgettable aftershocks.
Warner Bros./Universal/Via YouTube
Whether in print, parody, or simple conversation, these lines have endured for years and years due to their memorability and overall quotability. So, seeing how there is no escaping them, let’s dare to look at the 15 horror movie quotes you hear all the time.
WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD!!!
15.
“Whatever you do, don’t… don’t fall asleep…!” —freddie
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Cinema New Line / Via youtube.com This is the most important rule to remember when dealing with dream demon Freddy Krueger. However, this line applies to just about any horror movie situation.
14.
“Sensational!” —Evil Dead 2
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Renaissance Images / Via youtube.com Ash first utters his famous catchphrase when he arms himself with his shotgun and chainsaw to take on the Deadites. Not only is it a killer line, but its use in this epic scene marks his transformation from a scared victim of horror into a cool and daring action hero.
13.
“You must be a fucking joke.” —The thing
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Universal / Via youtube.com This line came from Chuck Norris after he saw the Thing transform into a spider made from Palmer’s severed head. This quote expresses what almost everyone thinks after seeing this alien monstrosity crawling across the ground, and it’s been in our minds ever since. It was even used by Bill Hader’s character in a chilling homage to that movie in It: Chapter 2.
12.
“One of us. One of us.” —Monsters
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MGM / Via youtube.com In this horror classic, Cleopatra attends a party to celebrate her marriage to the dwarf Hans, where all the other carnival “monsters” welcome her as one of their own. But what begins as a joyful song of acceptance is twisted by Cleopatra’s fear and prejudice, and has since been repeated and riffed on many times, including by Jordan Belford and his team in The wolf of Wall Street.
11.
“Do you like horror movies? —Yell
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Dimension Movies / Via youtube.com At the start of Wes Craven’s meta-horror masterpiece, Casey talks to a strange caller on her phone, who creepily asks her if she likes horror movies before she gets murdered. You’ve probably heard someone ask you this before, and most likely they weren’t quoting the movie it’s used in. There’s always a friend who can’t stand watching horror movies, so you have to ask if the genre is their thing.
ten.
“Exit!” —get out
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Universal / Via youtube.com After encountering kidnapped Andre Hayworth at the Armitage home, suspect Chris accidentally triggers the flash on his camera phone while trying to take a picture. Regaining control of his body, Andre runs to Chris and frantically tells him to “get out” to try to spare him from the horrors the Armitage family has in store for him. What really sets this line apart for all of us is how it encapsulates what each person should be doing in a horror movie moment. Just get out of there!
9.
“He puts the lotion on his skin or he takes the hose back.” —Thesilenceofthelambs
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Orion / Via youtube.com Anyone who has seen this film remembers when Buffalo Bill mocks Catherine as she is trapped at the bottom of her well. The poor woman begs him to let her go, but Bill ruthlessly demands that she rub lotion on her skin, talking to her like she’s not even a person, making this scene incredibly haunting. Whenever people think of a serial killer or they just put on some lotion, chances are that phrase comes to mind.
8.
“I see dead people.” —The sixth sense
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Hollywood Pictures/Via youtube.com We’ve heard that phrase so many times that anyone who hasn’t seen the movie already knows the twist. When Malcolm visits young Cole in the hospital, the latter finally reveals his dark secret. The reveal that he can see spirits is chilling enough, but Haley Joel Osment’s smooth yet chilling delivery made this line one of horror cinema’s most unforgettable scenes.
7.
“Misunderstanding.” —Thesilenceofthelambs
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Orion / Via youtube.com When Clarice asks Hannibal Lecter for help with the Buffalo Bill case, the evil doctor asks for something in return: a story from Clarice’s traumatic past. The Latin phrase Hannibal uses to make his requests has since been commonly associated with him and this disturbing scene.
6.
“They are there!” —Fighting spirit
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MGM / Via youtube.com After Carol Anne speaks to the spirits inside her television, they come out of the screen and shake the house in a frightening display of power. But when her parents wake up from their sleep, wondering what happened, she just says those two words, and her quiet, chilling speech elevates it to even scarier levels.
5.
“Be afraid, be very afraid.” —Fly
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Brooksfilms/Via youtube.com Many people have repeated this phrase before, but chances are they don’t even know where it comes from. After Seth Brundle fuses himself with a fly, he relishes his newfound superhuman abilities, eventually becoming power drunk. He ends up having an affair with a woman in a bar who is amazed by his extraordinary powers. Although Seth tries to reassure his new friend, Geena Davis’ Veronica shows up and gives him a warning so terrifying it’s become the movie’s famous catchphrase.
4.
“The power of Christ compels you!” —The Exorcist
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Warner Bros. / Through youtube.com During the film’s climactic exorcism, Merrin and Karass throw holy water on the possessed Regan and attempt to drive the demon from her body with this famous chant. The line has been parodied so many times it might be the closest thing most people have seen The Exorcistgiven its reputation as the scariest horror movie of all time.
3.
“There’s Johnny!” —the brilliant
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Warner Bros. / Through youtube.com This line practically ruined Johnny Carson for all of us. After a long and haunting stay at the Overlook Hotel, Jack Torrance takes an ax and smashes his wife’s room. This quote is scary, hilarious, and completely unexpected all at once, which is why it’s been used over and over by anyone who’s seen this Stanley Kubrick classic.
2.
“You’re going to need a bigger boat.” —Jaws
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Universal / Via youtube.com Chief Brody utters this legendary line after first seeing the villainous Great White Shark in the film, effectively summing up the threat they sorely underestimated. By simply replacing the word “boat”, people have repeatedly used this quote for virtually every situation, making it one of the greatest in movie history.
1.
“It’s alive! It’s alive!” —Frankenstein
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Universal / Via youtube.com We all know this one. When Frankenstein’s monster comes to life, the deranged doctor shouts his achievement to the heavens with this iconic line. For nearly a hundred years it has been repeated and parodied in every corner of pop culture, cementing Frankenstein like a movie classic. Overall, this line alone is an essential part of movie history, and its legacy will live on for years to come.
Do you agree with this list? Are there any other horror movie lines I missed? Please let me know in the comments section below.
