Top 10… Action Hero One-Liners

10. “He’s dead tired” – Commando (1985)

Retired elite commando John Matrix (Arnie) has only a few hours to rescue his kidnapped daughter from an evil, exiled dictator. While on board a plane to the destination of the man Matrix is being forced to assassinate, he breaks the neck of the evil henchman assigned to escort him. Just before leaving the plane, he tells the air hostess, “Please do not disturb my friend, he’s dead tired.” Awful, but brilliant.

9. “Say hello to my little friend” – Scarface (1983)

Holding his dead sister in his arms, gangster Tony Montana (Pacino) witnesses his friend Chi-Chi’s death by the hitmen sent to kill him. Hefting an M16 with an under-mounted grenade launcher Tony yells “say hello to my little friend” and blows the door to pieces, killing four of the henchmen. Iconic.

8. “Yo she-bitch, let’s go”  – Army of Darkness (1993)

After convincing the medieval inhabitants of
England that he is the ‘chosen one’, Ash (Bruce Campbell) consults with the wisemen on how to return to his own time. When all of a sudden, the Deadites inhabit the body of a witch, Ash steps in. “Yo she-bitch”, he says, whipping his shotgun from its holster. “Let’s go!”

7. “I came here to kick ass and chew bubble-gum. And I’m all outta gum.” – They Live! (1988)

Homeless drifter Nada (Roddy Piper. Yes, the wrestler) has just donned special sunglasses revealing an invasion of skeletal aliens disguised as humans, subtly brainwashing the human population. Armed to the teeth, he enters a bank filled with the concealed aliens. “I came here to kick ass and chew bubble-gum,” he says. “And I’m all out of gum.” Hilarious!  

6. “You’re one ugly motherfucker” – Predator (1987)

After pinning down Dutch (Arnie again), the Predator removes his shoulder cannon and helmet to reveal his true face. And it’s pretty nasty. Always the astute one, Dutch is quick to point out the alien’s displeasing disposition. “You’re one ugly mudafucka!”

5. “Shocking! Positively shocking!” – Goldfinger (1964)

James Bond (Sean Connery) is locked in mortal combat with one of Goldfinger’s henchman when he knocks a lamp into a bathtub, electrocuting him. Ignoring the implications of killing a man, Bond is quick to let loose a vintage quip. “Shocking! Positively shocking.” Pure Bond.

4. “Groovy!” – Evil Dead 2 (1987)

After chopping off his possessed hand with a chainsaw, Ash (Bruce Campbell) retreats to the workshed to gear himself up in one of the coolest montages ever. Strapping a chainsaw to his stump and a shotgun on his back, he simply says, “Groovy!” So. Fucking. Cool.

3. “I ain’t got time to bleed” – Predator (1987)

Hard-ass tobacco-chewing Blain (Jesse Ventura) is ‘relaxing’ after an intense gun-fight with local guerrillas. “You’re bleeding,” one of his comrades remarks. Bleeding? Pah. He doesn’t have time for that, he’s too busy being super-cool. He’ll probably throw a Band-Aid on it later.

2. “Do I feel lucky? Well, do ya, punk?” – Dirty Harry (1971)

“I know what you’re thinking, punk. ‘Did he fire six shots or only five?’ Well, to tell you the truth, I’ve forgotten myself in all this excitement. But being as this is a .44 Magnum, the most powerful handgun in the world, and would blow your head clean off, you’ve got to ask yourself a question: ‘Do I feel lucky?’ Well, do ya, punk?”

1. “Yipee-ki-yay MuthaFucka” – Die Hard (1988)

The coolest action hero EVER and the coolest catchphrase ever. John McClane (Bruce Willis) is the right guy at the wrong place at the wrong time. Astutely noticing McClane’s similarity to the all-American action hero, Hans Gruber tells McClane that he’s seen too many John Wayne films. “Do you really think you have a chance against us, Mr Cowboy?” he taunts. The only response: “Yipee-ki-yay mutha-fucka!”

And the worst… “Put the bunny back in the box” – Con Air (1997)

Accused of a crime that he only committed to protect the woman he loves, good guy Cameron Poe is embarrassingly wholesome. And when one of his fellow cons discovers the bunny that he bought for his daughter, he’s so fucking pissed off that he….. asks him nicely to put it back in the box. Don’t mess with that guy!

Have we missed any? Let us know below.

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