I'll Be Back
Encyclopedia
"I'll be back" is a catchphrase associated with Arnold Schwarzenegger
, which he first used in his role as the title character from the 1984 science fiction
thriller film
The Terminator
. In the original shooting script
, the line was written as "I'll come back". On 21 July 2005, it was chosen as #37 on the American Film Institute
list, AFI's 100 Years... 100 Movie Quotes
.
In many of his later films, Schwarzenegger uses the same line, or some variant of it. In the context of The Terminator, Schwarzenegger's character delivers the phrase upon being refused entry to a police station. Moments later, he comes back in a police car, smashing it through the doors, and commences a massacre of almost everyone in the building.
Schwarzenegger has since used the phrase during public speeches as part of his career as the governor
of the U.S. state
of California
.
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger is an Austrian-American former professional bodybuilder, actor, businessman, investor, and politician. Schwarzenegger served as the 38th Governor of California from 2003 until 2011....
, which he first used in his role as the title character from the 1984 science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
thriller film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
The Terminator
The Terminator
The Terminator is a 1984 science fiction action film directed by James Cameron, co-written by Cameron and William Wisher Jr., and starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Michael Biehn, and Linda Hamilton. The film was produced by Hemdale Film Corporation and distributed by Orion Pictures, and filmed in Los...
. In the original shooting script
Shooting script
A shooting script is the version of a screenplay used during the production of a motion picture. Shooting scripts are distinct from spec scripts in that they make use of scene numbers , and they follow a well defined set of procedures specifying how script revisions should be implemented and...
, the line was written as "I'll come back". On 21 July 2005, it was chosen as #37 on the American Film Institute
American Film Institute
The American Film Institute is an independent non-profit organization created by the National Endowment for the Arts, which was established in 1967 when President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act...
list, AFI's 100 Years... 100 Movie Quotes
AFI's 100 Years... 100 Movie Quotes
Part of the AFI 100 Years... series, AFI's 100 Years... 100 Movie Quotes is a list of the top 100 movie quotations in American cinema. The American Film Institute revealed the list on June 21, 2005, in a three-hour television program on CBS...
.
In many of his later films, Schwarzenegger uses the same line, or some variant of it. In the context of The Terminator, Schwarzenegger's character delivers the phrase upon being refused entry to a police station. Moments later, he comes back in a police car, smashing it through the doors, and commences a massacre of almost everyone in the building.
Variations
Since The Terminator, variations of the line have been used by Schwarzenegger in a number of other films in which he appears. The phrase has become so associated with Schwarzenegger that celebrity impression comedians often recite it in a mock Austrian accent.- The TerminatorThe TerminatorThe Terminator is a 1984 science fiction action film directed by James Cameron, co-written by Cameron and William Wisher Jr., and starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Michael Biehn, and Linda Hamilton. The film was produced by Hemdale Film Corporation and distributed by Orion Pictures, and filmed in Los...
(1984) – "I'll be back". Said by the Terminator after being denied entrance to a police station. The character returns by driving a car through the front door. Schwarzenegger has been quoted that he hadn't thought much about the line when filming the movie. James Cameron notes in the DVD features that he expected the line to only get a laugh upon repeat viewings when what the character means is known, and was surprised to see it get a big reaction from first-time audiences who had quickly come to understand the character and immediately anticipated the outrageous violence the nonchalant line signifies. In the novelization of the film script, titled The Terminator by Shaun Hutson the Terminator says "I'll come back," rather than "I'll be back," on page 117. ISBN 0 352 31645 4. - Terminator 2: Judgment DayTerminator 2: Judgment DayTerminator 2: Judgment Day is a 1991 science fiction action film directed by James Cameron and written by Cameron and William Wisher Jr.. It stars Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, Robert Patrick, and Edward Furlong...
(1991) – "Stay here, I'll be back." (1:53:47) Said by The Terminator to Sarah and John Connor during the escape from the Cyberdyne building. The character returns by driving a truck through the front door to rescue the human protagonists trapped inside, referencing the same scene in the first movie. - Terminator 3: Rise of the MachinesTerminator 3: Rise of the MachinesTerminator 3: Rise of the Machines, commonly abbreviated as T3, is a 2003 science fiction action film directed by Jonathan Mostow and starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Nick Stahl, Claire Danes and Kristanna Loken...
(2003) – "She'll be back", said by the Terminator in reference to the enemy T-XT-XThe T-X, also known as the Terminatrix, is a fictional character who appears in the 2003 film Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, which is part of the Terminator franchise. The T-X is a cyborg assassin with a human female appearance; the character was portrayed by Kristanna Loken...
android, and "I'm back!" after flying a helicopter into the antechamber of a military bunker, and emerging from the wreckage. In the latter use, the phrase "I'm back" also refers to his return to loyalty and allegiance with the protagonists, after having been "corrupted" by the villainous T-X. Schwarzenegger also uses it in the DVD introduction. - Terminator SalvationTerminator SalvationTerminator Salvation is a 2009 American science fiction action film directed by McG and starring Christian Bale and Sam Worthington. The fourth installment in the Terminator series, the film is set in 2018 and focuses on the war between Skynet and humanity, with the human Resistance fighting...
(2009) – "I'll be back." Said by John ConnorJohn ConnorJohn Connor is a character appearing in the American science fiction Terminator franchise and he serves as the series main protagonist. Created by writer and director James Cameron, the character is first referred to in the 1984 film The Terminator and first appears portrayed by teenage actor...
after being asked by his wife Kate Brewster "What should I tell your men when they find out you're gone?"
In other films
In addition to being the Terminator's catchphrase, it's also Schwarzenegger's personal catchphrase, and he tries to include it in most of his films and public appearances.- CommandoCommando (film)Commando is a 1985 American action film starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Vernon Wells, Rae Dawn Chong, Alyssa Milano, Bill Duke, Dan Hedaya and James Olson. It was directed by Mark L...
(1985) – "I'll be back, Bennett!", before being put on an airplane against his will at the behest of the film's main villain Bennett (Vernon Wells). Bennett eagerly retorts, "I'll be ready, John." - Raw DealRaw Deal (1986 film)Raw Deal is 1986 action film directed by John Irvin and starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. It is the story of an elderly and embittered high-ranking FBI agent who wants to get revenge against a Mafia organization, and sends a former FBI agent played by Schwarzenegger to destroy the organization from...
(1986) – "I'll be right back", said Mark Kaminski (Schwarzenegger) to Max Keller in 1:14:02 time of film. - The Running ManThe Running Man (film)The Running Man is a 1987 American action film loosely based on Stephen King's 1982 novel of the same name. Directed by Paul Michael Glaser, the film stars Arnold Schwarzenegger, María Conchita Alonso, Jesse Ventura, Jim Brown, and Richard Dawson....
(1987) – "Killian, I'll be back", said to reality/game showGame showA game show is a type of radio or television program in which members of the public, television personalities or celebrities, sometimes as part of a team, play a game which involves answering questions or solving puzzles usually for money and/or prizes...
host Damon Killian (Richard Dawson), who does not expect Schwarzenegger's character to survive the broadcast. Killian's response is, "Only in a rerunRerunA rerun or repeat is a re-airing of an episode of a radio or television broadcast. The invention of the rerun is generally credited to Desi Arnaz. There are two types of reruns—those that occur during a hiatus, and those that occur when a program is syndicated. Reruns can also be, as the...
." - Twins (1988) – "If you're lying to me, I'll be back!" (0:58:40-43), to the doctor who headed the experiment that created him.
- Kindergarten CopKindergarten CopKindergarten Cop is a 1990 American comedy thriller film directed by Ivan Reitman and starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. Schwarzenegger stars as John Kimble, a tough police detective, who must go undercover as a kindergarten teacher to catch drug dealer Cullen Crisp , before Crisp can get to his...
(1990) – "I'm back!", returning from the hospital to his kindergarten class in the ending scene. - Last Action HeroLast Action HeroLast Action Hero is a 1993 American action-comedy-fantasy film directed and produced by John McTiernan. It is a satire of the action genre and its clichés, containing several parodies of action films in the form of films within the film....
(1993) – this phrase is used three times. "I'll be back.... Ha! Bet you didn't expect me to say that!" (0:40:56-0:41:01), said as Jack Slater, a character played by Schwarzenegger in a film-within-the-film. Schwarzenegger also plays himself in the real movie. It was said to the child protagonist, Danny Madigan, who is aware of Schwarzenegger's real-life use of the phrase. Madigan answered: "You always say that." "I do?" "Everybody waits for you to say it. It is like your calling card." The second time it is used, Madigan overtakes Slater and says to him: "I'll be back. I know. I know." (0:46:10-11). In the third instance, Ripper said this phrase to Slater (1:44:45-49). Slater answered: "The hell you will". - Jingle All the WayJingle All the WayJingle All the Way is a 1996 American family comedy film directed by Brian Levant and starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sinbad, Phil Hartman, Rita Wilson, Jake Lloyd, James Belushi and Robert Conrad...
(1996) – In the movie Schwarzenegger says to his character's wife: "I'll be back with the doll later…". - The 6th DayThe 6th DayThe 6th Day is a 2000 American science fiction action thriller film directed by Roger Spottiswoode, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger as family man Adam Gibson, who is cloned against his will in the future of 2015...
(2000) – Schwarzenegger's character is visiting a 're-pet' store and notices a 'sim-pal' stand outside. He turns to the sale assistant: "I might be back." The assistant replies, "Oh, you'll be back."
Schwarzenegger has since used the phrase during public speeches as part of his career as the governor
Governor of California
The Governor of California is the chief executive of the California state government, whose responsibilities include making annual State of the State addresses to the California State Legislature, submitting the budget, and ensuring that state laws are enforced...
of the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
See also
- Hasta la vista, babyHasta la vista, baby (quote)"Hasta la vista, baby" is a catch phrase associated with Arnold Schwarzenegger's title character from the 1991 science fiction thriller film Terminator 2: Judgment Day.- Earlier use/Origin :...
– another of Schwarzenegger's catchphrases.
External links
- The Meaning of I'll Be Back at The New York TimesThe New York TimesThe New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
Tuesday, January 6, 2009. - I'll be back
