Top 10 Most Memorable Catchphrases From the 90s

“The Godfather Part III” (1990)

You could probably make an entire list of memorable quotes from “The Godfather” movies alone. It’s a trilogy of films treasured by millions since its release. This particular line, said by Michael Corleone, shows how despite all he has accomplished, he’s never going to be able to put his organized life of crime behind him. It’s made even more poignant when he suffers a diabetic stroke moments later. The line has been used in other popular media, including a bit on the show “Friends”, where Joey stands in for Al Pacino. And let’s not forget Sil’s solid rendition of the line on the Sopranos.

“South Park” (1997-)

For the first five seasons, “South Park”’s biggest running gag was the killing of Kenny. In practically every episode, we would see the young man in an orange hoodie fall victim to some type of unnatural or natural disaster. In some instances, he’d just run into some plain old bad luck. Each time he’d die, Stan and Kyle would exclaim [b-roll: “Oh My God! They killed Kenny. You bastard!”]. Then, the following episode Kenny would reappear, with no one acknowledging the fact he had died. The “Oh My God” quip became a signature line from the show. Although they retired the gag in season 6, Kenny’s death (and the subsequent exclamation) do pop up from time to time in the later seasons.

“Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson”

Given how popular Dwayne Johnson has become in Hollywood, it’s easy to forget that he was once the mainstay of the squared circle. Even with his countless victorious championships, he decided to take his shot at acting and, like everything he does, landed well on his feet--with perfect form, probably. Much like a wrestler’s intro music, The Rock coined his own share of memorable catch phrases that have stuck with him ever since. (xref Jabroni) Our pick is his own spin on the commonly heard, “Do you know what I am saying?” As a quick one-liner in the earlier years of the WWE, it aged into something far more drawn out than was originally intended. Keep in mind, there are some variations to the line.

“Seinfeld” (1989-98)

If you’re a good storyteller, chances are you’ve skimmed over the boring parts of your anecdote to focus on the more interesting stuff. “Seinfeld” took on this exact concept in a season eight gem of an episode. “Yadda yadda” becomes a substitute for the parts of a story you’d rather glaze over. So, when George’s girlfriend, Marcy, uses it to seemingly cover up sexual relations with her ex-boyfriend, George instantly becomes suspicious. It carries over to several other characters in the episode, whose stories each get misconstrued due to the phrase. Despite already being a commonly used term, Seinfeld propelled it even further into the spotlight. And audiences have been reciting it ever since.

“Family Matters” (1989-98)

Would you have ever thought someone as annoying as Steve Urkel would become as popular as he was? From the moment Jaleel White stepped into those suspenders, audiences became enamored with the quintessential nerd. Forever a clutz, he was a kid who knocked things over, and tripped on virtually everything. And, from all that, he gave us this very quotable line. [b-roll: “Did I do that?”]. His voice easily got on most people’s nerves, but there was something so loveable--and hilarious-- about his antics (and his quotes)! All these years later, kids of the 90s are still quoting him, which we can only assume confuses the “Whoa, Mama” out of Gen-Zers.

“Full House” (1987-95)

How rude would it be for us to forget this line? As the second family sitcom on this list, “Full House” was another show that produced plenty of quotable bits through its eight seasons. Little Michelle was pretty adorable every time she opened her mouth and said [b-roll: “You got it dude”]. And, of course, we’ll never forget Joey’s “cut it out” gag. However, for this entry, we’re going to give it to Stephanie’s short and sweet quip every time she feels wronged by someone. [b-roll: “How rude!”]. They’re two words that were often repeated throughout the show’s run, and in turn, by all those who watched it.

“Terminator 2: Judgment Day” (1991)

All you have to do is google which “Terminator” movie is the best, and you’ll find a pretty common consensus. “Terminator 2: Judgment Day” is hands down the winner of the franchise. With solid action, a great story, and characters you can connect to, this action flick has it all. One of the most quoted lines from this movie is heard while young John Connor rides along with a Model 101 Terminator. Translated from Spanish, it loosely means “See you later”. Arnold Schwarzenegger himself has become synonymous with the saying, even using it during his political career.

“Clueless” (1995)

You guys ever wonder if Cher’s seen this movie? Imagine the Goddess of Pop herself seeing this young woman with the same name as her thwarting the advances of some guy with this iconic quote: [b-roll: “Ew. Get off of me. As if!”]. “Clueless” was the defining teenage movie of the 1990s, much like “Mean Girls” was for the aughts. Like countless other teen comedies, memorable phrases continue to be repeated by audiences long after the film is over. It’s a very simple line, and something that might have easily been overlooked, had it not been for Alicia Silverstone’s fantastic performance. Sure, there are a few other notable bits that could’ve made our list without a hitch, but SB [01:09:25 - Whatever.]: it’s Cher’s delivery of “as if!” and its reiteration over the ages that wins us over every time.

“The Simpsons” (1989-)

Having been on the air for so long, “The Simpsons” has been responsible for countless catchphrases that are still relevant to this day. From Mr. Burns’ famous tagline to pretty much anything Bart has said (xref), it’s a show that was made to be re-quoted by fans. Given the treasure trove of options, you might think it would be difficult to pick one. But alas, Homer Simpson’s most famous shout far exceeds others. Originally written in the script as “annoyed grunt”, “D’oh!” has become so ingrained in our culture that it was even added into the “Oxford English Dictionary” in 2001!



Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

“Isn’t That Special?”, “Saturday Night Live” (1974)

“Gettin’ Jiggy wit’ It”, Will Smith

“Alrighty Then!”, “Ace Ventura: Pet Detective” (1994)

“Friends” (1994-2004)

No one could have ever predicted how one little throwaway line would stand out among so many others. This legendary pick-up line was introduced in season four of “Friends”, when the show’s most loveable goofball was first heard saying it. It very quickly became a favorite among fans and, thus, Joey’s signature catchphrase was born. Matt Leblanc’s delivery of most things kept the audience giggling, but this quote in particular was an instant hit. With “Friends” having seen a resurgence in the streaming era, it’s a quote that has now come full circle. So, we’ve gotta ask: