"I'll be back" is a catchphrase associated with Arnold Schwarzenegger. It was made famous in the 1984 science fiction film The Terminator. On June 21, 2005, it was placed at No. 37 on the American Film Institute list AFI's 100 Years... 100 Movie Quotes. Schwarzenegger uses the same line, or some variant of it, in many of his later films.

History

Schwarzenegger first used the line in The Terminator. In the scene, his character, the Terminator, a cyborg assassin, is refused entry to the police station where his targets, Sarah Connor and Kyle Reese, are being detained. He surveys the counter, then tells the police desk sergeant: "I'll be back." Moments later, he drives a car into the station, destroying the counter, and massacres the staff.

In an October 1, 2012, interview on Good Morning America, Schwarzenegger revealed that he had difficulty pronouncing the word I'll and asked director James Cameron if it could be changed to "I will be back". Cameron refused but told him that the shot would be taken as many times as he wished and the best would be used in the final cut of the film so Schwarzenegger could vary the line.

Usage in Terminator films

Variations of the line have been used by Schwarzenegger and other actors in each of the Terminator films. Carl, the T-800 that killed John Connor, tells its human family "I won't be back" before leaving with Sarah, Grace and Dani.

Usage in other films

Schwarzenegger has uttered the phrase in other films following The Terminator, including:

  • Commando (1985): John Matrix (Schwarzenegger) says, "I'll be back, Bennett" in a scene wherein Bennett, Cooke, Sully, and Henriques take him to the airport (at 20 minutes).
  • The Running Man (1987): Benjamin Richards (Schwarzenegger) says, "I'll be back!", as he faces off against evil game show host Damon Killian (Richard Dawson), who retorts with "Only in a rerun."
  • Twins (1988): Julius Benedict (Schwarzenegger) says, "If you're lying to me, I'll be back" in a scene in the Los Alamos lab, as a doctor reveals that his mother is still alive and he's the result of a genetic experiment.
  • Last Action Hero (1993): Jack Slater (Schwarzenegger) says, "I'll be back!" three times.
  • The 6th Day (2000): Adam Gibson (Schwarzenegger) says, "I might be back," to a mall sales clerk when deciding whether or not to have his daughter's dog cloned.
  • The Expendables 2 (2012): During a gunfight in an airport, Trench (Schwarzenegger) says, "I'm almost out, I'll be back!" To this, Church (Bruce Willis) replies, "You've been back enough. I'll be back." Trench then mutters, "Yippie-ki-yay", which is Willis's famous line in the Die Hard franchise.
  • FUBAR (2025): While trying to figure out the password on a nuclear missile set by Luke Brunner (Schwarzenegger), another character suggests "I'll be back." However, he immediately shoots that down.

See also

  • "Hasta la vista, baby" – another of Schwarzenegger's catchphrases
  • Girlie men, a pejorative term that was notably used by then-Governor of California Schwarzenegger
  • "I'll Be Back – The Dancefloor Devastation Kick-Up", a 1991 parody song by Arnee and the Terminaters which reached the UK top 5
  • "I shall return" – spoken by Douglas MacArthur as he retreated from the Philippines in World War II

References

  • The Meaning of I'll Be Back at The New York Times Tuesday, January 6, 2009.