Houston, we have a problem! The most misquoted movie quotes revealed

Virgin Radio

24 Oct 2022, 11:47

Credit: Rex / Universal Pictures

We all think we know some of the most iconic lines in movie history, but it turns out we’re not feeling particularly lucky (Punk!) when it comes to getting those iconic quotes right. 

In new research by Clipology, the new TV and film streaming board game, the most misquoted line in film history is Apollo 13’s ‘Houston, we have a problem’, with less than half of those asked getting the line right. 

Prepare to have your mind blown as the correct line is actually, “Ah Houston, we’ve had a problem.” Who knew?

Other famous quotes that made it into the top 10 include “Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the fairest of them all,” from Disney classic, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. 

The actual line includes a “magic mirror” rather than a theatrical repeat of mirror, and rather than telling Luke Skywalker about being his dad, Darth Vader never said “Luke, I am your father,” but instead said: “No I am your father.”

In potentially the biggest difference from commonly used quote to actual movie line, Dirty Harry’s infamous sentence, “do you feel lucky, Punk? Do Ya?” isn’t what Clint Eastwood actually says. 

Surprisingly, the full quote is much longer, “You’ve got to ask yourself one question: ‘Do I feel lucky?’ Well, do ya punk?’”

TV and film expert, Boyd Hilton, said on behalf of Clipology: “When there are so many brilliant movie quotes to remember, it’s understandable for people to get some muddled up, even some of the classics from the golden era of world cinema. 

“Even when a line has only been slightly altered, it can change the context of the whole movie. For example, “Oh, no, it wasn't the airplanes, it was Beauty killed the beast” is the final line from the King Kong film. You need to remember the whole sentence to get the full effect. There are many ways to remember the classic movie quotes of all time, whether that’s through games such as Clipology, online or simply watching them on television.”

Top 10 correct movie lines which are often misquoted:

  • Ah Houston, we’ve had a problem – Apollo 13

  • If you build it, he will come – Field of Dreams

  • Magic mirror, on the wall, who is the fairest one of all – Snow White and the Seven Dwarves

  • Play it Sam play ‘As Time Goes By’ – Casablanca

  • You’re going to need a bigger boat – JAWS

  • It was Beauty killed the Beast – King Kong (1933)

  • No, I am your father – Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back

  • You’ve got to ask yourself one question: ‘Do I feel lucky?’ Well, do ya punk? – Dirty Harry

  • Fasten your seat belts, it’s going to be a bumpy night

  • Take your stinking paws off me, you damn dirty ape

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