It happens to the best of us. We’re writing a scene, and we get stuck, so we don’t write the best line of dialogue to get out of it. Maybe it’s something expository, or you just want to get an idea out, or maybe it’s an overused line you’ve heard 100 times.
But as we get deeper into the script, we forget about the line, and then later, we cringe hard when reading it. Or we hear a note about the line later.
Trust me, I’ve been there.
Today, I wanted to make a list of some cliche lines of dialogue that can cause readers to bump on you’re script.
This doesn’t mean these lines don’t work ever, or that you should never use them, it just means you should examine if they reflect your best work.
Take a look below.
A List of Cliche Lines in Dialogue
These overused movie lines and pieces of dialogue may have instances that stand out in your mind as great or even interesting.
But they also may have been used so many times that they just don’t hold water anymore.
Your writing should reflect your unique voice, so think of different ways to spice up your dialogue.
Here’s a bunch I came up with that bump me:
- “We’ve got company!”
- “I have a bad feeling about this.”
- “He’s right behind me, isn’t he?”
- “It’s quiet. Too quiet.”
- “We’re not so different, you and I.”
- “You just don’t get it, do you?”
- “I’m getting too old for this.”
- “This is where we draw the line!”
- “Cover me!”
- “Don’t die on me!”
- “Go on without me!”
- “Let’s split up.”
- “Who’s there?”
- “We shouldn’t be here.”
- “Something’s not right.”
- “It’s not over yet.”
- “You’re the one.”
- “Is this a date?”
- “Kiss me.”
- “Why are you dressed like that?”
- “That’s what she said!”
- “Here’s the plan.”
- “Nobody move!”
This is by no means an exhaustive list, but these examples should give you a good idea of the types of overused lines and dialogue that are often found in movies and TV shows.
Let me know which ones I missed in the comments.
Author: Jason Hellerman
This article comes from No Film School and can be read on the original site.
