Everyone wins their Oscars and other awards for their serious, dramatic portrayals, but anyone who has ever spent any time around actors will tell you, 100%, that comedy is the harder genre.
Comedic timing can’t be taught, but it can be perfected, and when you see it come together in a flash of brilliance, there’s nothing to do but laugh (and maybe cheer).
Below are 16 movie burns that would not have required quite so much ice had the delivery not been as perfect.
16. Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl
Image Credit: Disney
Norrington: “You are, without a doubt, the worst pirate I’ve ever heard of.”
Jack Sparrow: “But you have heard of me.”
Jack Sparrow speaks in nothing but comebacks, so it’s a good thing Depp has the chops to pull it off.
15. Legally Blonde
Image Credit: MGM
When Warner says to Elle, incredulously: “You got into Harvard Law?” And she, perfectly innocent, replies: “What, like it’s hard?”
Reese Witherspoon proved her mettle as a comedic actress for all time.
14. Clueless
Image Credit: Paramount Pictures
Tai: “You’re a virgin who can’t drive.”
Best. One. Liner. Ever. Ahhhhhh.
13. Black Panther
Image Credit: Marvel/Disney
Agent Ross: “Is this Wakanda?”
Shuri: “No, it’s Kansas.”
She’s the queen of the comeback, and hits every single delivery like a dance.
12. Mrs. Doubtfire
Image Credit: 20th Century Fox
Stu: “Your accent’s a little muddled.”
Daniel: “Really? Well, so’s your tan.”
I don’t know for sure, but there’s a good chance Robin Williams ad-libbed that one, too.
11. Bridget Jones’ Diary
Image Credit: Universal Pictures
“If staying here means working within 10 feet of you, frankly, I’d rather have a job wiping Saddam Hussein’s arse.”
She definitely deserves the applause she gets as she exits.
10. The Avengers
Image Credit: Disney/Marvel
Loki: “I am a god, you dull creature.”
Hulk: “Puny god.”
Hulk just about made the last, interminable 20 minutes of that movie.
9. Spider-Man: Far From Home
Image Credit: Disney/Marvel
Spider-Man: “But I’m just a friendly neighborhood Spider-Man.”
Fury: “Bitch, please, you’ve been to space.”
Samuel L. Jackson can drop a burn like nobody else…as long as he can curse.
8. Pride & Prejudice
Image Credit: Focus Features
Darcy: “So, what do you recommend to encourage affection.”
Elizabeth: “Dancing. Even if one’s partner is barely tolerable.”
That burn. Man. It just makes that movie even more perfect.
7. Easy A
Image Credit: Screen Gems
Nina: “Perhaps you should embroider a red A on your wardrobe, you abominable tramp.”
Olive: “Perhaps you should get a wardrobe, you abominable twat.”
We were all cheering for Olive standing up for herself, and Emma Stone is a comedy icon.
6. Addam’s Family Values
Image Credit: Paramount Pictures
Amanda: “Is that your bathing suit?”
Wednesday: “Is that your overbite?”
Wednesday Addams is the queen of the comeback and I wish Christina Ricci was still working.
5. Crazy Rich Asians
Image Credit: Warner Bros.
Astrid: “It’s not my job to make you feel like a man. I can’t make you something you’re not.”
Takes your breath away just reading it, right? And the delivery is *chef’s kiss.*
4. Sleeping Beauty
Image Credit: Disney
Merriweather: “It looks awful.”
Flora: “That’s because it’s on you dear.”
I mean. Ouch.
3. Avengers: Infinity War
Image Credit: Marvel/Disney
Tony: “You’re from Earth.”
Peter: “I’m not from Earth, I’m from Missouri.”
Tony: “Yeah, that’s on Earth, dipsh*t.”
Setting aside the argument on whether it is or isn’t, RDJ kills the line.
2. Pretty Woman
Image Credit: Disney/Buena Vista Pictures
Vivian: “Hi, do you remember me?”
Bit*hy Sales Lady: “No, sorry.”
Vivian: “I was in here yesterday, you wouldn’t wait on me.”
BSL: …
Vivian: “You work on commission, right?”
BSL “Yes…”
Vivian: “Big mistake. Big. HUGE.”
BSL: …
Vivian: “I have to go shopping now.”
This scene had us all pumping our fists.
1. Erin Brokovich
Image Credit: Universal Pictures
Rude Lady Lawyer: “I think we got off on the wrong foot here.”
Erin: “That’s all you’ve got, lady – two wrong feet and f*cking ugly shoes.”
It doesn’t have to be a comedy to come with amazing comebacks, and Erin is full of them.
Reading through these makes me want to watch these movies again!
What’s your favorite example of perfect comedic delivery? Share it with us in the comments!
