22 classic 'Mean Girls' quotes still commonly referenced, ranked
Editor’s note: This story was originally published in 2018.
Nearly 15 years after Regina George and Mean Girls first personally victimized the masses, the movie has become a cult classic with moments from it now seamlessly integrated into our culture. People probably unknowingly quote it, from those who adopted a funny phrase because they simply heard it from someone else to the people who were toddlers when the 2004 film came out and think these are things people just say.
Mean Girls is everywhere — in sports, on Twitter, in GIF libraries and new Ariana Grande music videos.
Tina Fey’s creation has become a staple in popular culture, and in a 2014 New York Times reflection on the then-decade-old film, there’s one reason why she thinks it’s still so popular: “I think we mostly have TBS to thank. It’s always on TBS.”
While lines from the movie are ingrained in our vocabulary, the actors are the ones who probably hear about it the most. From the same New York Times story, Lacey Chabert, who played Gretchen Wieners, said, “Probably about a hundred times a day, people will write the ‘fetch’ line to me on Twitter,” while Rachel McAdams, the villainous queen bee, recalled:
“I recently stayed at a bed-and-breakfast in Europe, and the owner’s young granddaughter asked me to write down a few lines from the movie at breakfast. I was like a deer in headlights. I couldn’t remember any. And she proceeded to give me 12 direct quotes.”
Not surprising.
So we’re celebrating Mean Girls‘ monumental cultural impact over the last 15 years by ranking the top-22 quotes still commonly cited today.
22. “I have really bad breath in the morning.”
Said by: Cady
21. “One time, she punched me in the face. It was awesome.”
Said by: Bethany Byrd
20. “Your hair looks so sexy pushed back. Cady, will you please tell him his hair looks sexy pushed back.”
Said by: Regina
19. “Don’t have sex. Because you will get pregnant and die.”
Said by: Coach Carr
18. The inventor of Toaster Strudel
Note: This one is actually two lines, because while they’re not often directly quoted, they are frequently referenced.
“That’s Gretchen Wieners. She’s totally rich because her dad invented Toaster Strudel.” Said by: Damian
“And I don’t think my father, the inventor of Toaster Strudel, would be too pleased to hear about this.” Said by: Gretchen
17. “Looks like he’s headed for the projection room above the auditorium!”
Said by: Cady
16. “Boo, you whore!”
Said by: Regina
15. “Grool.”
Said by: Cady
What? “I meant to say ‘cool,’ and then I started to say ‘great.'”
14. “Army of skanks”
Technically, no one said this line. The film cuts to it after Janice describes Gretchen and Karen as Regina’s “ignorant band of loyal followers” as they plot to take her down.
13. “I saw Cady Heron wearing Army pants and flip-flops, so I bought Army pants and flip-flops.”
Said by: Bethany Byrd
12. “She’s a life-ruiner. She ruins people’s lives.”
Said by: Janice
11. “Ex-boyfriends are just off-limits to friends. I mean, that’s just, like, the rules of feminism.”
Said by: Gretchen
(It’s really the last four words of that line.)
10. “There are no rules in this house. I’m not like a regular mom. I’m a cool mom.”
Said by: Regina’s mom
9. “How many of you have ever felt personally victimized by Regina George?”
Said by: Ms. Norbury
8. “On Wednesdays, we wear pink.”
Said by: Karen
7. “Get in, loser. We’re going shopping.”
Said by: Regina
6. “The limit does not exist.”
Said by: Cady
5. “It’s so fetch.”
Said by: Gretchen, obviously, and any variation of “fetch” lines are in this group.
Regina: What is fetch?
Gretchen: Oh, it’s like, slang, from England.
And later…
Regina: Gretchen, stop trying to make fetch happen. It’s not going to happen.
4. “You can’t sit with us!”
Said by: Gretchen
3. “It’s October 3rd.”
Said by: Cady
Preceded by: “On October 3rd, he asked me what day it was.”
This line has become so iconic and embedded in our culture that Oct. 3rd is officially designated as Mean Girls Day.
2. “Four for you, Glen Coco! You go, Glen Coco!”
Said by: Damian
“And none for Gretchen Wieners. Bye.”
1. “She doesn’t even go here!”
Said by: Damian
Once you get down to the top-5 quotes, Mean Girls fans could probably order them a number of different but acceptable ways. But regardless of how you feel about the top five or overall order of these quotes, the movie’s impact on our jargon and popular culture is undeniable.