From classics like The Big Lebowski to teen parodies like Clueless, the 90s were home to some amazing humor. The comedies spanned from satirical to spy and action, providing a taste of comedy that suited every movie buff. They also provided some of the funniest quotes that many still quote today. If you want some light recommendations to watch this week, try watching a few of our favorite options below. Here are the funniest quotes from 90s comedies to really show how amazing the decade was.
12. “Excuse Me. I Believe You Have My Stapler” Office Space (1999)
Office Space is a 1999 comedy film directed by Mike Judge that satirizes the work-life of a typical 1990s software company. The film focuses on a few individuals within the company who hate their jobs and decide to rebel against their greedy boss. The film stars several great actors such as Ron Livingstone, Jennifer Aniston, Stephen Root, Gary Cole, and more.
For this memorable quote, we focus on Stephen Root who plays Milton Waddams. The often-abused drone of Initech is a shy, neurotic employee who stutters often. He holds one of the most memorable quotes from 90s comedies that still makes us laugh to this day. When the company switches from Swingline staplers to Boston staplers, Milton keeps the original red ones because they work better. But once Lumbergh takes his stapler to be cruel, it pans to Milton softy stuttering “I believe you have my stapler”, in a hilarious, sad tone.
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11. “You’re a Virgin Who Can’t Drive” Clueless (1995)
The 1995 coming-of-age teen comedy was directed by Amy Heckerling and stars Alicia Silverstone, Stacey Dash, Brittany Murphy, and Paul Rudd. Clueless is a loose adaptation of Jane Austen’s 1815 novel Emma with the plot centering on a beautiful, popular, and rich high school student who befriends a new student and decides to give her a makeover as well as play matchmaker.
And with comes an amazing line from Tai, played by Murphy, who is gushing over her newfound crush, Josh, played by Rudd. Cher doesn’t enjoy the idea of the two dating and tries to urge Tai to reconsider, but Tai isn’t pleased with the idea, and insults Cher by saying she’s a “virgin who can’t drive.” The quote is hilarious and off-the-wall, because it’s such a teen-like insult, especially with high-class students.
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10. “You Are a Sad, Strange Little Man, and You Have My Pity” Toy Story (1995)
The love and adoration for Toy Story is unlike anything else. When you think of Disney movies, Toy Story is definitely high on the list, and rightly so with its charm, humor, and characters. The 1995 animated comedy movie is the first of many installments and stars amazing voices from Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Annie Potts, and more. The story follows a world where toys come to life when humans aren’t present, which creates for exciting adventures.
One line comes the new addition to the toy collection, a spaceman named Buzz Lightyear. The cowboy, Woody, is a long-time toy and is incredibly jealous. The interaction between the two is hilarious though, with Buzz belittling Woody by saying that he’s a “sad, strange little man,” and then proceeds to leave. The witty insult sends us chuckling for a bit when watching these movies and is one of the many great quotes from 90s comedies.
9. “Dishonor on You, Dishonor on Your Cow!” Mulan (1998)
Mulan is a 1998 masterpiece to many. The coming-of-age action comedy is based on the Chinese legend of Hua Mulan and was directed by Barry Cook. Starring amazing voices from Ming-Na Wen, Eddie Murphy, BD Wong, Miguel Ferrer, and more, Mulan brought so many amazing songs and lines that so many of us still quote today.
Probably one of the best quotes from 90s comedies goes to Eddie Murphy’s character, Mushu, a Chinese dragon and self-appointed guardian of Mulan. When Mushu was bragging about his immense power, there was a slight innuendo that made Mulan slap him, sending him flying to the ground, where he proceeded to dishonor Mulan, along with her cow!
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8. “What Is a Yute?” My Cousin Vinny (1992)
Sometimes the funniest lines are the unintentional ones. like in My Cousin Vinny, with one of the best quotes from 90s comedies. The 1992 comedy trial film directed by Jonathan Lynn stars Joe Pesci, Ralph Macchio, Marisa Tomei, and more. The film follows two New Yorkers accused of murder in rural Alabama while on their way back to college who call in the help of one of their cousins, a loudmouth lawyer who has no trial experience.
During the trial, Vinny, played by Pesci, struggled to pronounce the word “youths” and called them “yutes” due to his accent. When he says “yutes”, the judge has to take a minute to question what he’s saying, to which Vinny changes his accent to accommodate the judge in a southern accent. The interaction is hilarious and highlights his sarcastic and brash character.
7. “We Get the Warhead and We Hold the World Ransom for… One Million Dollars” Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997)
One of the best quotes from 90s comedies comes from one of the best comedies ever, Austin Powers, specifically the first one. The 1997 comedy spy movie stars Mike Myers, Elizabeth Hurley, Robert Wagner, Seth Green, and more. The film follows Myers who plays Austin Powers himself as a world-class playboy and part-time secret agent from the 1960s who emerges after thirty years in a cryogenic state to battle his nemesis, Dr. Evil.
Dr. Evil is responsible for this classic and hilarious line and shows just how wacky and absurd this movie is. He’s going through his evil plans and finds a great one, saying that he’ll hold the world ransom for “one million dollars”, with a dramatic pause. His colleagues then correct that that’s just not enough money, to which he restates his idea for “one hundred billion dollars”, an outrageous amount. Plus, how does one hold the world ransom?
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6. “T-T-T-Today Jr!” Billy Madison (1995)
Adam Sandler has several amazing comedy films, especially in this decade, and has brought fans some great quotes from 90s comedies. Billy Madison is one movie where he stars as a titular character, along with stars like Bradley Whitford, Bridgette Wilson, and more. The movie follows Billy who is planning on inheriting his father’s hotel empire, but to do so he must go back and complete grades 1-12 again.
While back in school, he struggles to be nice to the school kids, even mocking some of them. One example is when a kid works on reading, and is obviously struggling with it. So of course, Billy’s immaturity shines brightest by yelling at the kid in a mocking tone “t-t-t-today jr”.
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5. “No, It’s a Cardigan, But Thanks for Noticing” Dumb and Dumber (1994)
Sometimes just plain stupidity is all you need to watch to laugh, and that’s what Dumb and Dumber achieves. The 1994 buddy comedy film directed by Peter Farrelly stars Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels as Lloyd Christmas and Harry Dunne respectively and has one of the funniest quotes from 90s comedies. The two dumb but well-meaning characters set on a cross-country trip to Colorado to return a briefcase to its owner, not realizing that it was ransom money.
During their journey, a cop tries to pull the boys over while they’re driving down the road. When he pulls up, he demands them to “pull over”, to which Harry replies with “No, it’s a cardigan” as he tugs on his cardigan jacket. It’s the kind of humor that makes you want to shake your head at how stupid it is, which is also the perfect humor some of us need when watching movies.
4. “You Can Trouble Me for a Warm Glass of Shut the Hell Up” Happy Gilmore (1996)
Happy Gilmore is a hilarious movie starring Adam Sandler with the supporting cast of Ben Stiller. The 1996 comedy sports film was directed by Dennis Dugan and follows Gilmore who has an unsuccessful ice hockey career due to his reoccurring violent streak. But when he realizes he has a talent for golf, he uses that to help his grandmother save her home. But in doing so, she has to stay at a retirement home for a short period while he works on winning a tournament for money.
And of course, we’ve all heard horror stories about retirement homes, and Happy Gilmore really drives it home. When Gilmore brings his mother to a home, she’s met with horror. Ben Stiller is a nurse who quickly changes face when the elders are alone. When Grandma asks for a refreshment, Ben Stiller turns around with a new face saying to shut up, and that she’s now in his world. The two-faced personality is hilarious yet terrifying.
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3. “If I’m Not Back in Five Minutes, Just Wait Longer” Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994)
Jim Carrey is a cooky character, but that just means we have some of the best quotes from 90s comedies thanks to him. Ace Ventura: Pet Detective is a 1994 comedy film starring Carrey as a pet detective who has to find the abducted dolphin mascot for the Miami Dolphins football team. He’s wacky with a crazy personality, like most of his movies, and brings out some hilarious lines.
When exploring the abduction scene, where the dolphin was living in the dolphin tank, he began to climb in. He relays to the others that if he’s not back in 5 minutes just “keep waiting”, then proceeds to jump down a couple of feet below, into the wide-open zoo, where everyone can see him. A line that makes us all laugh to this day thinking about and one that is quoted often.
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2. “Well, That’s Where I See Things Just a Little Differently. Contract or No, I Will Not Bow to Any Sponsor” Waynes World (1992)
Nothing says great quotes from 90s comedies than lines from Wayne’s World. There are so many to choose from that it’s hard to narrow down. The 1992 comedy is based on the SNL sketch sharing the same name that stars Mike Myers and Dana Carvey. The show follows a pair of heavy metal and rock fans who broadcast a public-access television show that eventually gets noticed by a sleazy advertising guy who wants to take over the show.
In doing so, they signed a contract to let him help the show grow. When sponsors start coming in, Wayne interjects by saying that even with a contract, he won’t “bow” to sponsors, even though so many instances in the show advertise these sponsors. Even when saying this line, he’s holding a Pizza Hut box, a little bit of irony that is the perfect humor in this film.
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1. “This is Not ‘Nam. This is Bowling. There Are Rules” The Big Lebowski (1998)
The Big Lebowski is a classic and holds many great quotes from 90s comedies that truly highlight the humor from the decade. The crime comedy stars Jeff Bridges as Jeffrey “The Dude” Lebowski, as an avid bowler, along with John Goodman as Walter, a dear friend of the Dude. When Lebowski is assaulted due to mistaken identity, he learns that a millionaire sharing his name is the intended victim.
One of the best lines that come from the film is from John Goodman, another avid bowler, that pertains to an intense chat about the rules of the game. When Smokey, played by Jimmie Dale Gilmore, a buddy bowler, crosses his feet over the line, Walter proceeds to relay the proper rules of the game. The others try to come to his defense about it, but Walter simply says that this is “not ‘Nam, there are rules”, which is just an uncalled-for line that has you dying with laughter and truly shows Walter’s intense personality. The humor in this film is top-notch and one that everyone should witness.