10 Most Relatable Quotes From Reality Bites | ScreenRant
Reality Bites is a classic 90s movie about life after college and features some of timeless quotes that still resonates today.
More than 27 years since its premiere, Reality Bites is still considered the quintessential movie about twenty-somethings and life after college. Since it's a '90s film, there are many elements that capture the nostalgia of the decade including MTV, Melrose Place, dealing with the AIDs epidemic, VHS tapes, pay phones and a soundtrack filled with iconic music.
Reality Bites is one of the best films directed by Ben Stiller and features an all-star cast with Winona Ryder, Ethan Hawke, Janeane Garofalo and Steve Zahn. The movie not only has great acting but its script is almost entirely quotable thanks to its writer Helen Childress. Even after all these years, fans can still relate to it.
10 Lelaina's Graduation Speech
"How Can We Repair All The Damage We Inherited?"
Graduation is full of cliche tropes, including throwing caps and the inevitable valedictorian speech. Most speeches tend to feature corny quotes and questions about life after college. As cheesy as it is, this line is terrifying because it's true.
Lelaina gives the big valedictorian speech at her college graduation and asks the important yet overused question, “What are we going to do now?” However, it's her next question that is still haunting. Every generation has to deal with its the other in regards to consequences and the line hits deeper because just like today, there is no answer. And even Lelaina, experiences a spastic forgetful moment, answers, “I don’t know.”
9 Lelaina Talks About Being Broke
"I Don't Even Have A Dentist."
As a movie that was released several decades ago, Reality Bites has a lot of outdated quotes. Somehow, these same quotes still have some shred of truth, and it's a '90s movie with great acting.
Lelaina and Vicki get in a small car accident with Michael, the successful vice president of regional programming of "In Your Face.” In his office, Lelaina becomes worried that he will sue her. Michael expresses that it's his lawyer’s idea and not his. He then asks Lelaina if she has a lawyer. She promptly answers with a line that a lot of young people can relate to. When she says that she only makes $400 a week, that makes the scene even more relatable.
8 Talking About The American Dream
"That's The American Dream Of The '90s."
While this Reality Bites quote talks about the '90s, it still manages to be relatable, making it another memorable quote from the movie.
After getting fired from the newsstand, Troy has nowhere to go. Unbeknownst to Lelania, Vicki offers their place. Lelaina isn't happy, going as far as calling Troy “the master of the art of time suckage.” But it is her prior quote that remains relevant. After Vicki expresses that Troy just needs to stay until he can find a new job and a place to live, Lelaina says, “That’s the American dream of the 90s,” adding, “That could take years.”
7 Vicki's Gas Station Quote
"Evian Is Naive Spelled Backwards."
Reality Bites has a lot of useless information sprinkled throughout the script, from Lelania’s knowledge of the Big Gulp to Troy’s many philosophies. The movie's free spirited character, Vicki, says something that still rings true.
Her one liner in the gas station remains iconic and can still impress at parties. Loaded with Lelaina’s gas card, the four friends head to the gas store to stock up on food. Vicki is giddy with her revelation and quips that “Evian is naive spelled backwards.” It’s quick and doesn’t leave room for the audience to properly consume it before a memorable scene in which the friends all dance to “My Sharona.”
6 Lelaina Talks About Her Employment Prospects
"I'm Not Going To Work At The Gap."
Throughout the movie, Winona Ryder, who plays Lelaina, delivers a lot of memorable lines in the film. Most are realistic and relevant to any decade. One of them is a line that most young people have probably said before.
After Lelaina gets fired from the morning show Good Morning Grant, she delivers the bad news to her friends. Sammy is clearly upset over the news. On the other spectrum, Vicki is almost ecstatic. She immediately offers her friend a job working for her at the Gap. Lelaina expresses that she has a plan and is working on it. When Vicki questions it, Lelaina quickly lets out her disgust about working at the Gap. This line upsets Vicki and she storms out of the room. Anyone who has ever worked in retail can understand and relate to Lelaina’s feelings.
5 This Romantic Tory And Lelaina Scene
"You And Me And Five Bucks."
Reality Bites is considered one of the most underrated romantic comedies of the '90s. This becomes clear as the movie unfolds and the audience watches Lelaina and Troy together. But one of the things that makes the film stand out is the theme of friendship. Yes, these two will get together, but their friendship is something that fans can love.
In one of the best moments of the film between the two, Lelaina and Troy decide to take a walk after Lelaina reveals to her friends that she’s been fired. Their conversation feels natural. After going down memory lane, Troy reveals, “This is all we need, a couple of smokes, a cup of coffee, and a little bit of conversation,” adding “You and me and five bucks.”
4 Sammy's Heartfelt Quote
"I Wanna Be Let Back In The House."
One of the more honest and revealing moments of the movie comes right after Sammy comes out to his mother. Because Lelaina is making a documentary about her friends, the audience becomes witnesses through her video camera.
In the scene, Sammy sits outside his parents' house. He conveys his feelings towards the camera, revealing that he wants to feel all the emotions. He also expresses that, “I can’t really start my life without being honest with myself,” in another real quote that hits home for anyone who has experienced the same thing.
3 Can Friends Become Something More?
"Sex Is The Quickest Way To Ruin A Friendship."
Mid-way through the movie, Lelaina and Troy finally get together which changes their relationship and proves that they have one of the best movie friendships that becomes romantic. They both feel awkward and weird and while sex usually changes the friendship, this scene also has relevant advice.
When Lelaina shows up at the club where Troy and his band are performing, she is greeted by her friends. Her friends, realizing the tension, express their attitude over it. Sammy questions whether it's true and with a beer in her hand, Vicki lets out the iconic line about sex. Her expression is light and upbeat, as if it was a well known fact which makes the line humorous but true.
2 The Quote About Sylvia Plath's Famous Novel
"You're In The Bell Jar."
Reality Bites has quite a few references that may go over some people’s heads. One quote stands out more today since people have spent almost two years stuck inside, and this line truly resonates with audiences.
After Lelaina gets fired and she becomes distant from Troy, she feels lost. She returns to her apartment and collapses on the couch. She does nothing but watch TV, chain smoke and rack up a $400 phone bill after calling a TV psychic. After a montage, her roommate and friends have had enough. Vicki spits out that she hasn’t left the house in days and remarks the iconic “You’re in the Bell Jar,” a reference to Sylvia Plath’s semi-autobiographical novel.
1 This Smart Quote About Being 23
"All You Have To Be By The Age of 23 Is Yourself."
For anyone in their 20s, one of the movie's relatable quotes of Reality Bites comes towards the end of the film. Anyone who has ever felt lost can understand this quote.
Leading up to the moment when Troy and Lelaina finally get together, Lelaina is lost and needs some reassurance from her best friend. She says, “I was really going to be someone by the age of 23.” Troy quickly comes back with a line that truly is the epitome of what it's like to be young when he says "All you have to be by the age of 23 is yourself.” So many young people put pressure on themselves to have careers or marriages. The screenwriter Childress understands that people need to focus on finding themselves during this decade.