Released in 1997, Luc Besson’s The Fifth Element was a bizarre sci-fi comedy that was unlike anything at the time. While it was a moderate success at the box office and among critics, it has since gone on to become a beloved cult classic.

A large part of what makes The Fifth Element still beloved is the delightfully over-the-top characters who all deliver impactful dialogue across the film’s runtime; whether it’s a memorable one-liner or a character bringing laughter through a hilarious punchline.

10 When Leeloo Eats Chicken

“Chicken! Good!” — Leeloo.

Being from ancient times, Leeloo would obviously be both terrified and intrigued by the distant future of 2259. However, Leeloo shows to be a fast learner and she takes full advantage of the perks that come with the advanced technology of the future.

One of which happens to be a food synthesizer that provides her a full plate of chicken in seconds. As she receives her food, she responds with a joyful, “Chicken! Good!” Not only does Milla Jovovich, in one of her best roles,  deliver it in such a cute yet funny way, but it also shows the child-like personality of Leeloo as she experiences everything for the first time.

9 When Vito Cornelius Sees Leeloo’s Tattoo

“It’s The Fifth… Element.” — Vito Cornelius.

The late Ian Holm often steals the show as Vito Cornelius, one of the funniest roles he ever had. When Korben Dallas first meets him, he’s holding an unconscious Leeloo in his arms which gives the wrong impression to the priest, until Korben explains that there is no info on the strange woman.

The only detail is the strange tattoo on her arm. When Vito observes it, he is shocked and simply stutters to Korben, “It’s the Fifth… Element.” If that’s not funny enough, in the same shot Vito falls back and collapses on the ground resulting in an even more confused Korben Dallas.

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8 When Vito Cornelius Tells Zorg He Is A Monster

“I Know.” — Zorg.

Jean-Baptiste Emmanuel Zorg proves to be one of Gary Oldman’s many stand-out characters. From his strange outfits to his quirky Southern drawl that showcases Gary Oldman’s talent to play any type of role. As a villain, Zorg is equally as menacing as he is hilarious.

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After nearly dying by choking on one little cherry, Zorg is saved by Vito allowing him to be spared by the villain, at least for now, as he says. Vito simply tells him, “You’re a monster, Zorg.” This is followed by a proud little response from Zorg, “I know.” Zorg is so full of himself that his evil is just second nature to him.

7 When Vito Cornelius Sees The Bomb

“It’s A, It’s A, It’s A…” — Vito Cornelius.

Zorg has planted a bomb on Fhloston Paradise that Ruby Rhod and Vito discover. Ruby tells Vito to look at the device counting down, asking him what it is and after they humorously lean in towards it, Vito turns to repeat in horror, “It’s a, it’s a, It’s a…”

Ian Holm stutters the line so perfectly that it almost sounds like a cartoon character reacting to a bomb yet it fits his character. Vito is a priest, not an action hero so it makes sense for him to freak out, especially when the bomb detection alarms start blaring.

6 When Korben Dallas Asks Ruby Rhod If Everything’s “Green”

“Super Green.” — Ruby Rhod.

Chris Tucker is no stranger to playing wild characters and Ruby Rhod might be his most bombastic. One of the character’s many catchphrases is the term, “Green.” It’s not quite explained in this future what this is slang for but it seems to be a positive response similar to, “Cool” or “Nice.”

However, that doesn’t stop it from being funny both in and out of context. Especially when Korben has had enough of Ruby’s over-the-top persona and tells him to handle the talk show himself and leave Korben be, “Green?” Korben asks, leading to Ruby gurgling the words comedically, “Super Green.” This line is often found in GIFs and memes.

5 When Korben Dallas Challenges The Cops

“Wanna Play It Hard? Let’s Play It Hard.” — Korben Dallas.

Back in the 1990s, Bruce Willis was still one of the biggest action stars so it’s no surprise that Luc Besson took full advantage of that, especially with one-liners. Trying to save Leeloo from the police, Korben Dallas gets his taxi cab shot up by multiple officers thus making it a bit more personal for him.

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Korben kicks things up a notch, readying himself to give the cops the biggest chase of their lives, muttering the words, “Want it soft? We’ll play it soft. Wanna play it hard? Let’s play it hard.” It’s similar to lines that Bruce Willis would deliver as his iconic John McClane role in Die Hard but equally as badass and gritty.

4 When Zorg Gets His Hands On A Flamethrower

“My Favorite.” — Zorg.

During Zorg’s first appearance, he shows off to his mercenary alien goons his company’s newest weapon which is the prime example of overkill. The ZF-1 features everything from a rocket launcher to tracking rounds to even poison arrows. It’s considered one of the coolest sci-fi weapons for a reason.

One of the attachments is, as Zorg says, “The always efficient flamethrower.” Before he burns a training dummy with a stream of flames then turns to the mercenaries, “My favorite.” His love for the flamethrower comes out with that silly Southern drawl that helps make Zorg so iconic as a villain.

3 When Korben Dallas Is A Meat Popsicle

“I Am A Meat Popsicle.” — Korben Dallas.

One of The Fifth Element‘s most famous lines actually happens to be one of the most random and bizarre lines. After hiding both Leeloo and Vito, Korben is visited by Police Control who ask him through the intercom, “Sir, are you classified as human?”

There are many sarcastic ways that Korben could have responded to that question but it’s unlikely anyone watching for the first time would predict the line, “Negative. I am a meat popsicle.” That is just so strange and out of the blue that it became one of the most famous lines, especially on the internet thanks to memes.

2 After Korben Dallas Shoots The Mangalore Leader In The Head

“Anybody Else Want To Negotiate?” — Korben Dallas.

The Fifth Element is without a doubt a sci-fi comedy, there are a lot of great serious action sequences as well. After having dealt with Aknot’s legion of Mangalores mercenaries, Korben meets the seemingly indestructible leader himself who is holding Vito hostage.

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Aknot demands that the humans send someone to negotiate, leading to Korben volunteering as he casually walk out and sends a bullet perfect between Aknot’s eyes. As Aknot dies, Korben finishes the scene perfectly by asking, “Anybody else want to negotiate?” It’s a perfect one-liner that helps solidify Korben Dallas as one of Bruce Willis’ best characters.

1 Whenever Leeloo Shows Her Multi Pass

“Multi Pass.” — Leeloo.

Leeloo still doesn’t understand how the future works fully when she is trying to get to Fhloston Paradise. All she does know is that the Multi Pass will get her there and that it is called a Multi Pass. As a result, Leeloo is quick to show off and announce her Multi Pass many times throughout her time with it.

Once again, it shows off the child-like nature of Leeloo as she repeats herself similar to a toddler learning new words for the first time. It’s cute and it’s funny, leading to “Multi Pass” becoming another famous meme and is often the line that most fans will use when reminiscing about The Fifth Element.

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