Fans usually go to action movies for the car chases and explosions, but the genre can offer more fun beyond the spectacle. While these types of movies are not known for their dialogue, a well-placed line in an action movie can really stick with audiences and become iconic in its own right.
Some of the most memorable movie catchphrases of all time come from action movies. Some of them become so popular it is the first thing people think of when the movie is mentioned. Other lines become trademarks of the franchise. And these standout action movie catchphrases help make those movies just a little more fun.
“Bond. James Bond” – Dr. No (1962)
At the moment James Bond appears on screen in Dr. No for the first time, he utters this now-iconic line. On the surface, it might seem rather unimaginative, as it is simply a man introducing himself, but it caught on and became a staple of the franchise.
While it is hard to analyze exactly what makes the line so memorable, it’s likely the way it speaks to Bond’s confidence. He says his name as if it is one everyone will already know and certainly one they will remember.
“Dodge This” – The Matrix (1999)
It’s true that The Matrix is a visually stunning and groundbreaking movie, but it also just exists as a badass action movie. A great example of both of these aspects colliding comes just after the famous bullet-time sequence.
After Neo shoots at one of the powerful agents, the villain impossibly dodges every bullet. But then Trinity steps up, putting a gun to the agent’s head, and coolly says, “Dodge this.” Hopefully, the upcoming fourth Matrix movie will include more of this fun sense of humor.
“You’re One Ugly Mother F***er” – Predator (1987)
The titular alien in Predator is one of the most interesting monster designs in movie history. When seen with its armor on throughout the movie, it looks like a sleek and intimidating extraterrestrial foe, but when it removes its helmet, it reveals a terrifying creature underneath.
While the reveal of the monster’s true face is terrifying, it is followed by the perfect tension-breaking line. Dutch (Arnold Schwarzenegger) looks at this unsettling beast and dryly comments on his less-than-handsome appearance. It’s a line so memorable that it became a running joke in the franchise.
“Dead Or Alive, You’re Coming With Me” – RoboCop (1987)
It feels like RoboCop is sometimes forgotten amidst some of the other action classics of the 1980s, but it is certainly one of the best. It is also remarkable that the movie works so well with a mindless, robotic hero in the lead role.
But there is something tragic about RoboCop, including his catchphrase “Dead or alive, you’re coming with me.” It sounds like something he is forced to say rather than his own thought, but when he says it at the end of the movie, it feels like he has real agency for the first time.
“I’ll Be Back” – The Terminator (1984)
Though he became a hero in the later movies, the first Terminator movie saw the T-800 as a relentless killer that felt like a slasher movie villain. His coldness, even when killing, made him so chilling and effective.
The iconic police station scene finds the T-800 asking to see Sarah Connor but being told by the guard he’ll have to wait. He casually looks around at the defenses and says “I’ll be back.” After leaving, he drives his car into the building and starts killing everyone in sight. It is a classic line, even though they didn’t need to force it in every subsequent sequel.
“They Drew First Blood” – First Blood (1982)
Those who have only seen the later Rambo movies might be surprised by how small the original movie is. However, its simpler story is incredibly intense, as it deals with John Rambo taking revenge on the brutal cops who harassed him.
When Rambo speaks to his former commanding officer who tries to calm him down, Rambo gives his rational answer. He tells him that “they drew first blood” and his actions are just in response to their corruption. It is both badass and unsettling for a character who just wanted to be left alone.
“I’m Here To Chew Bubblegum And Kick Ass … And I’m All Out Of Bubblegum” – They Live (1988)
John Carpenter has created so many classics over the years and They Live is one that gets overlooked quite a bit. It tells the story of a working-class man named Nada, who finds a pair of sunglasses that allow him to see aliens living in and controlling the society around him.
In the movie’s most memorable scene, Nada walks into a bank with the sunglasses and a shotgun. Seeing the place filled with aliens, he announces this iconic line. It is a perfectly silly yet fantastic line for such a wild movie as this.
“Yeah, I’m Thinking I’m Back” – John Wick (2014)
Keanu Reeves re-established his legacy as one of the greatest action movie stars of all time thanks to the John Wick movies. The first John Wick movie, especially, helped establish this much-feared assassin who comes out of retirement to get revenge on the men who killed his puppy.
Throughout the movie, various characters see the body count John is piling up and they keep asking if he’s back in his old line of work. John remarks on this when he comes face to face with the villain and finally decides, “Yeah, I’m thinking I’m back.”
“Hasta La Vista, Baby” – Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991)
While the first Terminator was a great thriller, James Cameron took things in a newer and bigger direction for the sequel. Not only did he ramp up the action and the spectacle of the follow-up, but he also gave the T-800 a totally new catchphrase.
Young John Connor tries to teach him some modern slang to help him fit in, including this iconic dismissive line. It’s questionable if this was ever a cool line before the movie came out, but when T-800 delivers it just before shooting the T-1000, it’s impossible not to smile.
“Yippee Ki-yay Mother F***er” – Die Hard (1988)
In an era where action heroes were muscle-bound one-man-armies, John McClane became an icon for being the ultimate underdog. And part of the reason Die Hard became as beloved as it did was McClane’s way of insulting and making fun of the terrorist villains.
In one of Die Hard‘s most-watched, unforgettable scenes, McClane talks to Hans Gruber over the radio, taunting the sophisticated bad guy. When Gruber dismissively calls him a cowboy, McClane leans into it with this iconic line that seems to say “Bring it on.”
