In addition to becoming one of the most iconic characters in pop culture history, Wednesday Addams has uttered some extremely memorable quotes across various movie and TV adaptations of The Addams Family. While the character debuted in Charles Addams’ 1930s cartoons, Wednesday Addams’ major screen debut was in 1964 for The Addams Family sitcom, which massively launched the kooky family’s popularity with many film and television iterations to follow. Including the original sitcom, seven actresses have played Wednesday Addams in movies and TV shows so far, with each bringing their own nuance and deadpan humor to the macabre character.
The eccentricities and gothic interests of the titular group, especially Wednesday, have led to some iconic lines from The Addams Family movies and TV shows that brilliantly capture the characters’ spirit. Wednesday’s surprising quotes and deliveries of such lines are part of what makes her most iconic portrayals so popular, with The Addams Family sitcom’s Lisa Loring, The Addams Family movies’ Christina Ricci, and Wednesday’s Jenna Ortega having spoken some of the character’s most notable quotes over the past 60 years. Considering Wednesday Addams is best remembered for her obsessions with death, antisocial attitudes, darkness, and biting deadpan humor, many of her best quotes encapsulate these unforgettable qualities.
10 “I Do Like Stabbing. The Social Part, Not So Much.” – Wednesday
Jenna Ortega’s Wednesday Addams quickly establishes her macabre viewpoints when becoming enrolled in the outcast school Nevermore Academy. When her bubbly, social roommate Enid tries to get Wednesday to step out of her shell, she suggests that Wednesday’s Addams family tree member “take a stab at being social.” The titular character reluctantly responds in the affirmative, “I do like stabbing. The social part, not so much.” While reminding those around her that knives and death pique her interest more, Wednesday does end up trying to be social without the threat of any actual stabbing.
9 “I’ll Clean My Room In Exchange For Your Immortal Soul.” – Addams Family Values
Christina Ricci’s line deliveries for Wednesday Addams in the 1991 and 1993 Addams Family movies are unmatched, with the actress being integral to popularizing the character for several new generations before Netflix’s Wednesday came along. In the film sequel, Addams Family Values, Ricci’s pre-teen Wednesday is just as biting with her remarks as ever, which never fails to frighten the “normal” people who come into contact with the family. With the deadpan delivery, devil puppet in hand, and frightening look on her face, Wednesday tells a prospective nanny for the Addams family’s new baby Pubert, “I’ll clean my room in exchange for your immortal soul.” It’s safe to say that this nanny did not take the job.
8 “You Might Find A Nice Girl To Be Miserable With.” – The Addams Family (1964-66)
The original screen version of Wednesday Addams was played by Lisa Loring, who brought a brilliant juxtaposition of sweetness and childlike naiveté to the 1960s sitcom character’s macabre darkness. In one of her most memorable quotes, Wednesday gives Lurch a line of hope that also perfectly represents how the Addams family itself operates. After Lurch remarks that he likes being miserable in The Addams Family season 1, episode 13, Wednesday tries to encourage him by saying, “You might find a nice girl to be miserable with.” Despite her youth, Wednesday recognizes that even if Lurch wants to be miserable, he can still find love and companionship by doing so with someone who wants to be equally miserable.
7 “It Seems I’ve Offended Two People At Once. How Fortuitous.” – The Addams Family 2
While the animated Addams Family movies from 2019 and 2021 may not have been received as fondly as the 1990s live-action films, MGM’s outings still managed to capture Wednesday’s spirit in some iconic lines. In The Addams Family 2, Wednesday (voiced by Chloe Grace Moretz) confronts a biker gang and manages to insult two of them by falsely identifying one. When Big Bad Ronny walks up to Wednesday, she asks him if he’s “Miss Lurleen,” leading to a growl from Ronny and an “Excuse me?” response from the real Lurleen. Wednesday relishes in the fact that the mistaken identification has angered both parties, remarking, “It seems I’ve offended two people at once. How fortuitous.”
6 “We Don’t Hug.” – Addams Family Values
While not every family shows affection physically through hugs, the Addamses at large are especially averse to this practice. Showing an act of affection and emotion such as hugging is a rare occurrence for Wednesday Addams, and she makes sure that others know this in Addams Family Values. When the camp counselors attempt to incite a group hug involving siblings Wednesday and Pugsley Addams, the former matter-of-factly retorts, “We don’t hug.” The counselors respond by suggesting that the siblings are shy, leading Pugsley and Wednesday to explain that the reason they don’t hug is that they’re “contagious,” which finally brings the group hug insistence to a stop.
5 “For The Record, I Don’t Believe That I’m Better Than Everyone Else. Just That I’m Better Than You.” – Wednesday
One of the most brutal lines uttered by Jenna Ortega’s Wednesday in Tim Burton’s 2022 Addams Family series is connected to her brief rivalry with her peer Bianca. After overhearing Bianca say that Wednesday thinks she’s better than everyone else, the psychic-powered character reveals that isn’t the case. In Wednesday season 1, episode 2, Wednesday pointedly tells Bianca, “For the record, I don’t believe that I’m better than everyone else. Just that I’m better than you.” Just minutes later, Wednesday would take down Bianca to win the Poe Cup, though the two would make amends by Wednesday season 1’s ending.
4 “So We Can Play A Game… It’s Called, ‘Is There A God?’” – The Addams Family (1991)
One of the biggest running gags in The Addams Family movies from the 1990s features siblings Wednesday and Pugsley Addams willingly torturing one another. It turns out that torturous, deadly acts between the two are really displays of sibling love that translate to other families’ minor roughhousing or light-hearted game-playing. Of course, Wednesday and Pugsley’s are much more disturbing, with lines that become even more so for mature audiences. In one memorable scene from The Addams Family (1991), Wednesday straps Pugsley to an electric chair. After the latter asks why, Wednesday responds, “So we can play a game… it’s called, ‘Is There A God?’” With a frightening smile on her face, Wednesday’s “game” intends to kill Pugsley to see if god truly exists in the afterlife.
3 “Nice Knife! Can I Play Autopsy With It?” – The Addams Family (1964-66)
Among the most iconic quotes from The Addams Family’s 1960s sitcoms is spoken by the young Wednesday, who similarly engaged in some eccentric “games” as a child. In The Addams Family season 1, episode 7, Wednesday is with her father Gomez Addams when he unsheathes a large knife that both appreciate. Wednesday remarks, “Nice knife! Can I play autopsy with it?,” with Gomez informing her that’s intended for carving pieces of art. Considering the sitcom’s Wednesday Addams also has a Marie Antoinette doll and guillotine that she plays with, the notion that she plays a game called “autopsy” with real knives isn’t too surprising.
2 “I Don’t Believe In Heaven Or Hell. But I Do Believe In Revenge. I Usually Serve It Warm With A Side Of Pain.” – Wednesday
Netflix’s Wednesday cast and characters didn’t back down from portraying vengeful, dark plans enacted by both protagonists and antagonists. In Wednesday season 1, episode 3, the titular Jenna Ortega’s Wednesday Addams is playing cello as Thing helps kickstart her fiery scheme on Outreach Day. Before the statue of Joseph Crackstone burns, Wednesday states in a voiceover, “I don’t believe in Heaven or Hell. But I do believe in revenge. I usually serve it warm with a side of pain.” Since Crackstone was still glamorized by Jericho despite his legacy as a murderer and prejudiced man against outcasts, Wednesday decided to get some revenge for her ancestors, which was certainly served up “warm” with a fiery explosion.
1 “This Is My Costume. I’m A Homicidal Maniac. They Look Just Like Everyone Else.” – The Addams Family (1991)
One of the most iconic quotes from any of The Addams Family movies and TV shows is uttered by Christina Ricci’s Wednesday in 1991’s The Addams Family. At the end of the movie, the family gathers with many in elegant costumes for Halloween. When Wednesday shows up in an everyday outfit and is asked why she isn’t dressed up, she responds point-blank, “This is my costume. I’m a homicidal maniac. They look just like everyone else.” While the Addamses’ macabre nature may lead others to stereotypically believe them more capable of homicide, Wednesday reminds them that clothing isn’t the best indication of whether someone is a “homicidal maniac.”
