Jean-Claude Van Damme was truly one of the brightest action stars of his generation. And these are some of his most memorable quotes.
Van Damme is insanely quoted not only in real life but also on screen. His career did not reach the same heights as other action stars, so his best moments were often lost in time. So, here are the most memorable lines ever spoken on screen by The Muscles from Brussels.
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“Hunting Season… Is Over.” – Hard Target (1993)
It’s the law of action movies: Van Damme more than fills his quota in Hard Target, especially with this line he tells Emile Fouchon, the main villain. It’s a great quote because it’s simple and yet manages to sum up the whole movie in a simple sentence. That’s 97 minutes reduced to four words, after which a live grenade was thrown into the guy’s pants.
“I Don’t Pay, I Don’t Punk!” – Death Warrant (1990)
An inmate offers Louis Burke two options for getting a bunk bed when he first goes to jail in “Death Sentence”. The first is obviously to pay for it. The second is punk. This option is useful to define as something that can be done on all fours. Forced to make a knife-to-throat decision, Burke quickly disarms his new acquaintance and explains that none of the options will work.
“I’m The Parking Attendant. And You’re Bothering My Customers.” – Nowhere To Run (1993)
Nowhere to Run is one of the smaller films in Van Damme’s filmography, and it’s worth noting that he doesn’t play the world’s most dangerous parking attendant. But when a woman and her children are stalked by bad guys as they hide in her pickup truck, it becomes a pretty solid dating line.
“Have You Had Any Contact With The Aggressors?” “I killed Two, Is That Contact?” – Sudden Death (1995)
The Sudden Death movies follow similar rhythms, so it goes without saying that at some point the agent in charge of the scene outside the arena spoke to firefighter hero Darren McCord. That’s when we get this dialogue, which illustrates two things: McCord is a man of action, but he also underestimates himself.
“It’s Stupid To Kill People… They Are So Beautiful.” – JCVD (2008)
Look no further than his almost 7-minute monologue in the JCVD of the same name. A monologue, improvised by Van Damme, takes us through his entire career, drug problems and multiple marriages. It manages to be both touching and incredibly dumb at the same time, largely due to Van Damme’s signature cryptic suggestions. Towards the end of his improvisation class, he says this sentence, which is so simple and innocent that it becomes elegant.RELATED:
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“Wrong Bet.” – Lionheart (1990)
Abdel Kissi has built a solid career thanks to his unique talent: It was the Lionheart who set the pattern for them, in which Kissi prevailed to ensure Van Damme’s triumph. The catalyst for this comeback was his own friend, who reminded him that the situation is so dire that he even bet the other guy to win. But with two simple words and kicks, Van Damme lets him know it was a bad idea.
“Who Wants To Go Home? And Who Wants To Go With Me!” – Street Fighter (1994)
And yet, when someone gives him the right words, he can be a persuasive leader. It’s amazing that this speech, which could perhaps be placed just below Bill Pullman’s Independence Day monologue, comes from a terrible adaptation of all the Street Fighter locations. The whole speech is worth at least one viewing, but by the time he says, “Who wants to come with me?”, most people would follow him all the way.
“Because Of My Big Legs, And Karate, I Can Do The Splits… No Problem!” – Double Impact (1991)
This line is included because it is the perfect summary of everything that defines Van Damme as a person and actor. In fact, the whole scene is Van Damme’s peak. Between the outfit, signature moves, you only need to show these 30 seconds to a beginner so that he understands what JCVD is. The rest of the film also tries to showcase its acting range by playing two brothers who are completely opposite personalities.
“I’m Still Kicking! I Must Be On Broadway!” – Timecop (1994)
McComb, the film’s main villain, used his previous clash with Van Damme’s Max Walker by mocking his “freaky kicks” by saying that he would be better off on Broadway. So, when it comes time to get rid of McComb, what could be better than this line followed by a precise kick? It’s just poetic justice.