The Most Over-Used Lines in Movies

The wonderful screenwriters’ blog Go Into the Story has assembled a terrific list of the most over-used lines of dialog we have heard far too often in movies.  The lines usually mentioned as the most frequent: “Let’s get out of here,” “Please, try to understand,” and “Try to get some rest.”  But those are said all the time in real life, so it makes sense that they would occur a lot in movies.  The wonderful old Rotten Tomatoes show used to have hilarious compilations of lines like “This wasn’t part of the plan” and “I have a bad feeling about this.”

These are ones that writers should be careful to skip, unless they are making the point that the character is unimaginative or trying to present him/herself as a type.

Here are some of the best/worst from the list.

I was born ready.

Is that all you got?

I’m just getting started.

Are you thinking what I’m thinking?

Don’t you die on me!

He’s standing right behind me, isn’t he?

Let’s do this thing!

What part of _____ don’t you understand?

We’ve got company.

Wait! I can explain! This isn’t what it looks like.

f we make it out of this alive . . .

You’re either very brave . . . or very stupid.

Not on my watch!

Listen to me, and listen good, ’cause I’m only gonna say it once.