We are all guilty of repeating the best lines from our favorite blockbusters, some lines are so good they’re still used decades later, unfortunately you’re probably not saying it right. Some things get lost in translation fairly easily and is a simple matter of switching “We’re” to “You’re” or a mix-up of word order but some of these quotes will surprise you by just how wrong you got it. Honestly, some of these just don’t work the same way if said properly, but we all know Darth Vader never actually said “Luke” before dropping the parentage bomb…right?
9. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Disney movies have spanned decades and many are forever engrained in our memories, however not as correctly as we thought. The Evil Queen from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is often misquoted as saying, “Mirror, mirror on the wall- who is the fairest of them all?” She doesn’t even say mirror twice, a mistake that has become so common the 2012 Snow White film was even called “Mirror Mirror.”
Actual Quote: “Magic mirror on the wall- who is the fairest one of all?”
8. The Wizard of Oz
Much like 1937’s Snow White, The Wizard of Oz has been quoted for quite a long time since it’s 1939 debut, so in fairness a mistake of words is forgiveable after all these years. Many believe Dorothy says, “Toto, I don’t think we’re in Kansas anymore,” and in many cases Toto’s name is left out entirely when it is being repeated.
Actual Quote: “Toto, I’ve a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore.”
7. Field Of Dreams
In the movie, Kevin Costner’s character hears a voice telling him to build a baseball stadium in a quote that many repeat as “If you build it, they will come.” In all actuality however, the movie had no interest in several people showing up, just one in particular.
Actual Quote: “If you build it, he will come.”
6. A Few Good Men
In one of the most memorable courtroom scenes in movie history many a person has quoted this Tom Cruise-Jack Nicholson interaction defined by Nicholson’s lines, “You want the truth? You can’t handle the truth!” In reality though the lines are split up by dialogue between the two, it was all not delivered in one swift verbal smackdown and Nicholson says “You want answers?” not “You want the truth?”
5. Silence of the Lambs
Creepy whichever way you say it, Anthony Hopkins character is often quoted as saying “Hello, Clarice,” in 1991’s Silence of the Lambs. Luckily of all the things to repeat from this movie, this is probably the least creepy, but still often misquoted. He does however say “Hello, Clarice” in the 2001 movie.
Actual Quote: “Good evening, Clarice.”
4. The Graduate
In the 1967 film The Graduate Benjamin’s line is often twisted in one of two ways: “Mrs. Robinson, are you trying to seduce me?” or “Are you trying to seduce me, Mrs Robison.” Regardless, both are wrong.
Actual Quote: “Mrs. Robinson, you’re trying to seduce me. Aren’t you?”
3. Dirty Harry
No one will ever say this with the same effectiveness as Clint Eastwood but that doesn’t stop almost everyone from saying, “Do you feel lucky, punk?” at least once. Of course Dirty Harry has a whole bada– speech but at no point does he ask the question like that.
Actual Quote: “You’ve got to ask yourself one question: Do I feel lucky? Well, do ya, punk?”
2. Star Trek
Whether you consider yourself a Star Trek fan or not you have either said or heard someone say “Beam me up, Scotty!” in reference to Captain Kirk’s famous line, but he never actually says that and the real quote is much less exciting.
Actual Quote: “Scotty, beam us up.”
1. Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back
By now you have to know you are getting this one wrong, but you’re probably still saying it the wrong way anyway. As the most iconic franchise probably ever, it is really fascinating that many people still quote Darth Vader as saying, “Luke, I am your father.”
Actual Quote: “No. I am your father.”
