Daily Dirt: The best quotes from the best movies of the best era

Daily Dirt for Sunday, June 22, 2025

As I’ve been saying for the past two days, I think it would be difficult — maybe impossible — to find back-to-back decades having produced as many quality films as the 1980s and 1990s. With that in mind, here’s a combined top 10 from those two 10-year periods. Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 1,321 of The Daily Dirt.

1. “Clueless” edges “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” for the best overall film from that 1980s-1990s block, but how about the most memorable quote from those films?

I’ve included what I felt were the best lines from the following movies, and I feel like it’s possible to make a case for any of the first eight of as the best line from any film in that era. 

• 1. “Clueless” (1995): “Fashion victim, or ensemble challenged?” — Cher Horowitz (Alicia Silverstone)
• 2. “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” (1986): “Bueller? … Bueller? … Bueller?” — Economics teacher (Ben Stein).
• 3. “When Harry Met Sally” (1989): “But when you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.” — Harry Burns (Billy Crystal)
• 4. “Fast Times At Ridgemont High” (1982): “All I need are some tasty waves, a cool buzz, and I’m fine.” — Jeff Spicoli (Sean Penn)
• 5. “Bull Durham” (1988): “I believe in the Church of Baseball. I’ve tried all the major religions, and most of the minor ones. And the only church that truly feeds the soul, day-in day-out, is the Church of Baseball.” — Annie Savoy (Susan Sarandon)
• 6. “Austin Powers: International Man Of Mystery” (1997): (tie) “Yeah, baby!” and “Oh, behave!” — Austin Powers (Mike Myers)
• 7. “Sleepless In Seattle” (1993): “Destiny is something we’ve invented because we can’t stand the fact that everything that happens is accidental.” — Annie Reed (Meg Ryan)
• 8. “Major League” (1989): “Ju-u-u-ust a bit outside.” — Harry Doyle (Bob Uecker).
• 9. “Jerry Maguire” (1996): “Show me the money!” — Rob Tidwell (Cuba Gooding Jr.)
• 10. “Beverly Hills Cop” (1984): “You know, this is the cleanest and nicest police car I’ve ever been in in my life. This thing’s nicer than my apartment.” — Axel Foley (Eddie Murphy)

2. Did you know (Part 401) …

• A good rule for drive-through etiquette in the morning would be to limit customers to one drink and one breakfast sandwich. Any more than that, you should be required to go inside the fast-food establishment in question.
• According to reports, Jimi Hendrix hated the following bands for a variety of reasons: Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, the Monkees, Jim Morrison and the Doors and most Motown groups.
• Boanthropy is a psychological disorder in which patients believe they are a cow.
• Sonic the Hedgehog’s full name is Ogilvie Maurice Wentworth Hedgehog.
• Most toilet paper sold in France is pink.

3. One more thought on those 1980s and 1990s films. Here are my five favorite characters from those movies:

• 1. Jeff Spicoli, “Fast Times At Ridgemont High”
• 2. Cher Horowitz, “Clueless”
• 3. Annie Savoy, “Bull Durham”
• 4. Ferris Bueller, “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”
• 5. Harry Doyle, “Major League”

Steve Thought O’ The Day
I’ve always wondered why “Clueless,” “Fast Times at Ridgemont High” and “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” never had a sequel. A natural part two for each of those would have been “The College Years.” You’re welcome.

Steve Eighinger writes daily for Muddy River News. Of course, Steve left the 1980s classic “Fletch” off his lists. Chevy Chase as reporter Irwin “Fletch” Fletcher was hysterical, and he easily could have one of the top 10 quotes. How about “Mooooooon River … ever serve time, Doc?” — DA