Top 10 Teen Movie Lines We Use All The Time

“Napoleon Dynamite” (2004)
2004 was a weird time. No movie captured super random 2000s humor like “Napoleon Dynamite.” While “Tina, you fat lard, come get some dinner” had some mileage, it’s this weird, non-insult from the title character’s brother, Kip, that probably showed up the most in casual conversation. When a girl named Deb comes to their door trying to raise money for college, this was Kip’s smug response from the comfort of his couch. Does it make much sense to use it out of context? Well, to be fair, it barely makes sense in context. But it gave the classic adolescent insult “your mom” an upgrade for the new millennium.

“Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets” (2002)
If you were a millennial anywhere near the Internet over the past decade and a half, you’ve probably seen this immortal “Harry Potter” line from the second movie. The boy wizard is his muggle family’s dirty little secret. While his nasty uncle’s business associates are over for dinner, he’s instructed to stay out of sight. Well, leave it to the Internet denizens of the 2000s and 2010s to repurpose his pain into an introvert’s calling card. Relatives you don’t like are over? The Super Bowl is on? There’s a burglar in the house? You’re gonna be in your bedroom, making no noise and pretending you don’t exist.

“American Pie” (1999)
Alyson Hannigan plays the chatty band nerd, Michelle, who never stops talking about what she and her nerdy band friends get up to at band camp. Let’s just say this line prefaces increasingly risqué and bizarre tales as the movie goes on. For a certain generation, though, it became the classic setup for a nonsensical, and often crude, non sequitur. When you want to try to make your friends laugh, a simple “this one time, at Band Camp” followed by something grotesque is still a pretty reliable way to get some laughs. More than two decades later, Hannigan says strangers still scream one of the more graphic versions of the line at her on the street. It’s another reminder that great art lives forever.

“The Breakfast Club” (1985)
For a teen movie, John Hughes’ story about five high schoolers in detention has more than its fair share of tense moments. Two young men, played by Emilio Estevez and Paul Gleason, lock horns throughout the movie, and crack off some pretty biting insults. The phrase, “Do I stutter?” is asked twice. It was soon adopted into pop culture as a threatening or sarcastic retort to someone who doesn’t understand what was just said. The phrase took such a hold with audiences that some disability activists have spoken out against its usage as recently as 2022.

“The Perks of Being a Wallflower” (2012)
Pop psychology and laptop stickers were forever changed when this absolute banger dropped. This particular dose of young adult wisdom first appeared in Stephen Chbosky’s novel of the same name. When it was spoken by the English teacher played by Paul Rudd, it became the movie’s most memorable quote. It’s a fairly honest, uncomplicated, and perceptive take on relationships and self-esteem that clearly resonated with people who’ve never even seen the movie. There are entire essays devoted to explaining it. But like every earnest movie quote, we repeat it and make fun of it in equal measure.

“Heathers” (1989)
Before Regina George, there was Heather. “Heathers,” actually, considering there are three of them. This 1989 dark comedy took on many social issues of the day, and didn’t exactly treat them with kid gloves. Though it may not have as much mainstream appeal as other teen movies, its most iconic line is pretty universal. When you need a safe for work alternative to “what’s wrong with you?” Winona Rider has the answer. “What is your damage” is so hilariously dismissive and indignant. But also, like most of what Rider’s character says in the movie, it just sounds so cool.

“Dazed and Confused” (1993)
He may have played a 20-something burnout who chases high school girls around town, but Matthew McConaughey forever cemented himself in pop culture with this one. As David Wooderson, he uttered the now immortal, very simple line that he describes as his first words ever spoken on screen. Though it seems like filler dialogue, it instantly became his calling card. Now, it seems like McConaughey can’t help but say it whenever he’s in front of a crowd. Anyone who does an impression of him just has to say “alright alright alright.” The rest takes care of itself.

“Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” (1986)
John Hughes’ love letter to Chicago features righteous dude Ferris Bueller as he skips school with his friends for a day in the city. One of its most memorable scenes occurs when his teacher takes attendance and finds him truant. It could’ve just been a forgotten part of a fun movie, but the deadpan Ben Stein’s unforgettable delivery activated something in our brains. At some point in our lives, we’ve all had to fight the urge to say “Bueller… Bueller” when we’re being ignored or feel like we’re shouting into the void. Some of us lose that battle every time.

“Clueless” (1995)
Yet another movie that generated great one-liners faster than we could remember them. This time, it’s Alicia Silverstone’s devastatingly stylish Cher. She may be a virgin who can’t drive, but she spouted one-liners with a quickness that seems like a lost art. This iconic reply to a handsy high school boy, who doesn’t even get to speak on screen by the way, penetrated pop culture and became actual 90s teen speak. Writer-director Amy Heckerling said she had heard it in the gay community and thought it would fit perfectly in the world of “Clueless.” It became for 90s teens what “dream on” was for 70s teens.

“Mean Girls” (2004)
Raise your hand if you’ve ever felt personally victimized by MsMojo. Whether you’re a Glen Coco partisan or you’re still trying to make fetch happen, there’s something for everybody in “Mean Girls.” Damian’s outburst during the all-girls assembly is too good to pass up. Someone on the Internet isn’t staying in their lane? Just bust out this GIF, and congratulations, you’ve contributed to the discourse. You just like saying it for no reason? That works too. You could even make a case for the lines directly before and after it. The problem with Tina Fey’s screenplay is that there are a hundred lines you could put here. But one thing’s for sure. “Mean Girls” belongs in the top spot.