20 Terrible Film Lines That Had No Right Being Memorable

There have been some unforgettable movie lines throughout cinematic history. There are delicious selections to choose from, some of the most famous including Clark Gable's blunt remark in Gone with the Wind, Marlon Brando's nasally offer that the bandleader couldn't refuse in The Godfather, and the beginning of a beautiful friendship in Casablanca. Nothing beats a great movie line. When you look back over your list of favourite films of all time, there'll often be one trait they all have in common - and that will be a slick and unique script, packed with fresh and exciting dialogue. Many moments from the best movie scripts have been incorporated into common culture; being used for advice, support, and comic effect. Everyone has their own personal favorite movie line, along with many others that they consider to be truly memorable. But just because something is memorable doesn't necessarily mean it's good. And that goes doubly for movie dialogue. Dig deep enough and you'll find some absolute corkers. Thankfully, many of the worst lines remain buried in cinematic obscurity with the movies that spawned them, but then there are some quotes that just refuse to go away. Here we take a look at some of the worst movie lines in history that had the audacity to stick around for way, way longer than they should have.

20. "Take Your Stinkin' Paws Off Me, You Damn Dirty Ape!"

Before the Dawn and Rise of the Planet of the Apes, and before Tim Burton's 2001 re-imagining, came the classic Charlton Heston original in 1968. The films most memorable line arrives during the scene in which main character George Taylor is captured by the apes, clamped within a huge net to contain him, and lowered down from a high ledge. As the apes consider what to do with George, they reach into the net, only for Heston's character to wriggle and grimace; screaming at the damn dirty apes to take their stinkin' paws off him. It's hardly the most inventive line of all time (sounding like something a drunk and disorderly man would say upon arrest), but it eventually came to define the Planet of the Apes; appearing in new forms in the Burton and Wyatt reboots as a testimony to the 1968 original.