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National Film and Sound Archive
National Film and Sound Archive
National Film and Sound Archive
Articles

Muriel's Wedding: Best Quotes

Celebrating Australia's 'terrible' bride

We head back down the aisle for special celebration of Muriel's Wedding.

Written by Mel Bondfield
09 December, 2019
2 minute read

Muriel's Wedding made household names and international stars of its lead actors, kicked off an ABBA revival, sparked a hit musical and launched one of the most famous quotes in Australian film history, 'You're terrible, Muriel!'.

Our Muriel's Wedding collection features exclusive interviews with producers Lynda House and Jocelyn Moorhouse, rare publicity and marketing materials, behind-the-scenes footage and deleted scenes, plus Terry Ryan's amazing costumes.

We've also compiled some of our favourite Muriel quotes in the following clip. How many do you remember?

After 25 years, 'You're terrible, Muriel!' holds a rightful place alongside Mick Dundee's 'That's not a knife' and Daryl Kerrigan's 'Tell him he's dreaming' as catchphrases that have entered the Australian vernacular.

Australian advertising poster for Muriel's Wedding featuring Muriel (Toni Collette) smiling in her wedding dress

Original Daybill poster for the cinema release of Muriel's Wedding (1994). NFSA title 482425.

But PJ Hogan's memorable script produced more than just a single catchphrase, which is made obvious in the above clip. This delightful montage, taken from the movie, contains many of the best lines and memorable quotes that elevated the film to the iconic status it holds today.

Interestingly, 'You're terrible, Muriel!', was almost cut from the film during editing when writer-director Hogan felt he'd heard it so many times it was no longer funny.

Fortunately, editor Jill Bilcock convinced him to include it and it's become so entrenched in our lexicon that Toni Collette has said she has it quoted to her nearly every day.

Muriel's Wedding producer Lynda House told the NFSA in a 2014 interview, 'The film somehow translates now just as powerfully as it did then'.

We hope you enjoy this journey back down the aisle to celebrate Muriel's Wedding.

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