Top 20 Funniest Disney Insults & Comebacks
#20: Pleakley’s Freaky Appearance
“Lilo & Stitch” (2002)
When Experiment 626 breaks loose and wreaks havoc on planet Earth, his creator, Dr. Jumba Jookiba, and Earth Specialist Agent Pleakley are tasked with bringing him back. Like any two erm, competent agents, the duo goes undercover to blend in while on their mission. At one point, just as they think they’ve accomplished their challenge, things take a sharp turn, and Pleakley finds his head jammed in Stitch’s jaw. Nani comes to the rescue and, like any good server, checks in with her customer’s wellbeing. Unfortunately, Jumba is a little less caring in his response. Ouch! We can only imagine that Pleakley’s laughter is masking his pain.
#19: “It’s Called a Hustle, Sweetheart”
“Zootopia” (2016)
Top 10 Funniest Disney Insults & Comebacks
Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde don’t exactly get off on the right paw— no one likes getting hustled, after all, right? Nevertheless, Judy quickly shows Nick that she’s definitely not just “a dumb bunny” by out-hustling the hustler. While Nick thinks he’s untouchable, Judy’s sleuth police work soon has him standing with his tail between his legs. The look on his face as it dawns on him that he’s messed with the wrong bunny is priceless. The best moment is when she caps it off by parroting Nick’s earlier words back to him. If anyone’s going to know when they’ve been outfoxed, it’s, well, a fox.
#18: “Ever Defeat a Lava Monster?”
“Moana” (2016)
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When Motunui’s food supply dwindles, Moana sets out to save the day. Her mission: journey beyond the reef, locate the demigod Maui, and recover Te Fiti’s heart. Simple, right? Well, no. Maui’s not exactly on board with the plan, even after Moana shows she can more than hold her own in the face of danger. Anyway, Maui explains to Moana why he won’t be joining her on this perilous expedition, but she ever-so-sweetly, with a hint of snideness, brings his ego down several pegs. Her words hit Maui like a tidal wave, capsizing his ego and leaving him floundering in the depths of his own arrogance.
#17: Who’s That “Strong, Confident, Beautiful Young Lady” in the Mirror?
“Tangled” (2010)
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There’s a lot we could say about Mother Gothel’s parenting style— if you can even call it that. She kidnaps the princess for her magical hair and keeps her in a tall, secluded tower that doesn’t even seem to have a door! And why? All in the pursuit of eternal youth and beauty. In one scene, Gothel returns home in a… playful mood and relentlessly teases Rapunzel. Just as it seems she might throw a compliment Rapunzel’s way, she ends up showering herself with praise instead. We’re all for loving what we see in the mirror; heck, we wouldn’t oppose ribbing someone with this punchline either (affectionately only, of course.)
#16: “Ladies Don’t Start Fights…”
“The Aristocats” (1970)
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Anyone with siblings will relate to this moment hard. If you grew up with brothers, you may have even found yourself channeling Marie to get out of scuffles. These adorable kittens lead a very comfortable life in the home of the aristocrat Madame Adelaide Bonfamille. Nevertheless, despite living in the lap of luxury, these fluffballs can get pretty wild. As they race around the room, jumping on and off furniture, things get a tad out of control. When their mother enters the scene, each is quick to blame the other. Marie then defends herself with every fiber of sass in her cute little being. This kitty’s got claws and then some!
#15: “Cruel Irony”
“The Emperor’s New Groove” (2000)
As we’ll see later on, Kuzco isn’t the easiest guy to root for, at least not at first. If we put a pin in the whole overthrowing the Emperor thing, wouldn’t you be mad if you were in Yzma’s shoes? Toward the end of the movie, it seems like retribution is within reach in a satisfying moment of poetic justice. When Kronk, bless his heart, points out the parallels, she delivers a brilliant comeback [1]. No offense to Kronk, but does he even know he’s been insulted? Anyway, when he starts grappling with his conscience, she turns on him once more, this time hitting him where it really hurts.
#14: A Hurl Worth Pausing For
“Mulan” (1998)
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In one of the lighter moments of “Mulan,” the soldiers raise their spirits by singing about their dream partners. Their romanticized ideals might prompt a scoff from a modern viewer, much like their dismissive reaction to Mulan’s ‘unconventional’ input. Anyway, throughout the song, we get plenty of hilarious lines and some truly epic banter. Still, in one of the most savage moments, Chi-Fu brags that he already has a special lady waiting for him back home. Yao takes no pain, voicing his skepticism within the royal advisor’s earshot. If wars could be fought with biting remarks, Yao could’ve single-handedly taken down the enemy.
#13: Amelia: Captain of Sass
“Treasure Planet” (2002)
If we ever need to jet off on a space mission, we’d want someone like Captain Amelia at the helm. She uses her quick wit and self-assuredness to keep her crew in line. She’s not one to sugarcoat her words and isn’t afraid to speak her mind, no matter who might overhear her. Luckily, this means we’re treated to a treasure trove of excellent zingers. Thanks to her, we have a repertoire of sharp quips for navigating less-than-ideal group situations. While we may not have her confidence to deliver them out loud, having Captain Amelia’s arsenal of sharp retorts in our lexicon definitely makes us feel a bit sassier.
#12: “The Only Frozen Heart Around Here Is Yours”
“Frozen” (2013)
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Poor Princess Anna had a rough time to begin with in “Frozen.” First, both her parents died at sea, then her superpowered sister, Elsa shut herself away in their castle. Things started looking up for Anna when Elsa ascended to the throne, but once the Queen’s ice powers became public knowledge, she fled into the tundra, leaving Anna alone again. Thank goodness Anna still had her new beau, Prince Hans. Especially when a stray blast of Elsa’s magic left Anna’s heart threatening to freeze over. Sadly for Anna, it was soon after this that Hans showed his villainous side. Thanks to the power of sisterhood, though, Anna powered through to scold her traitorous ex with this burn: [“The only frozen heart around here is yours.”]
#11: “I’m the Greatest Good You Are Ever Gonna Get!”
“The Incredibles” (2004)
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We may never see Frozone’s wife, Honey, on screen, but she steals this entire scene with just a single sentence. When Lucius, a.k.a Frozone, senses danger in Metroville, he scrambles to find his suit, only to discover it missing. Where could it be? Honey certainly doesn’t seem to know… or does she? The pair argue over whether Lucius should save the day or spend the evening with his wife. She then delivers the ultimate comeback, leaving Frozone momentarily frozen. If you’ve ever used this line to win an argument with your significant other, we hope it felt as “Incredible” as you imagined.
#10: “He’s a Guy!”
“Hercules” (1997)
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When it comes to dishing out insults and comebacks, “Hercules” has some strong contenders. Starting with Hermes, who can’t help but deliver some savagery as he comments on the joyous celebration of Hercules’s birth. Then there’s Megara, who doesn’t need any Wonderboy to come in and save the day. Still, Hades’ fiery burns could light up the whole Underworld. He keeps his wisecracks simple and straight to the point, providing some of the movie’s funniest and most quotable moments. The delivery is perfect, it’s incredibly memorable, and you know what, it’s even somewhat relatable. When it comes to throwing shade, Hades truly reigns supreme—talk about a helluva talent!
#9: “It’s Not Every Day That You See a Horse with 2 Rear-Ends”
“Aladdin” (1992)
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Aladdin might have to steal to live, but Disney doesn’t want you to think he’s a bad person. Early on in the film, we see him give up a hunk of bread he worked hard to swipe to a pair of starving, homeless kids. Aww! Aladdin dreams of one day having the finer things in life and is frustrated that people who are morally inferior to him seem to have it all, like Princess Jasmine’s snooty suitor. [Jasmine’s suitor arrives] After helping those kids again, Aladdin can't let the rude Prince go without delivering this stinging blow: [“It’s not every day you see a horse with TWO rear ends”] You can take the diamond out of the rough but you can’t get the rough off of the diamond!
#8: “Gaston, You Are Positively Primeval”
“Beauty and the Beast” (1991)
She’s a lonely bookworm sick of her “provincial” life and he’s a cocky, muscle-man sick of being rejected. Gaston clearly thought that he was supposed to be Belle’s love interest in “Beauty and the Beast,” but, through her rolling eyes all we could see was a French meathead who was far too in love with himself to love anyone else. Despite her clear distaste for him, Gaston is relentless in his pursuit of Belle at the start of the movie, putting on a full-on charm offensive to try and turn her around… but, to no avail. Luckily for his massive ego, Belle’s snide comments are far too intellectual for him to appreciate.
#7: “Rather Dangerous to Use One’s Entire Vocabulary in a Single Sentence”
“Oliver & Company” (1988)
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Loosely based on the classic Dickens novel, “Oliver Twist,” “Oliver & Company” swaps streetwise humans for canine strays and the streets of Victorian London for the streets of modern-day New York. Oliver is an orphaned kitty in a dog’s world.To survive, he joins Fagin’s street gang of wayward pooches. Fagin is a desperate thief with a good heart who owes a considerable debt to the slimy loan-shark, Sykes. Sykes’ Dobermans, Roscoe and DeSoto, are far less loveable than Fagin’s ragtag gang, but they’re much more formidable. What they have in viciousness though, they lack in wits. It’s all too easy for intellectual bulldog, Francis, to verbally bite back when they get too close.
#6: “You Fight Almost as Well as a Man...”
“The Hunchback of Notre Dame” (1996)
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Out of all of Disney’s heroines, none are quite as unconventional as Esmeralda. The Gypsy dancer gives as good as she gets in “The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” even in the face of widespread prejudice against her people in the film’s historic Parisian setting. At the Festival of Fools, she attracts the attention of Judge Frollo, a religious extremist who can’t decide if he wants her at his side or burned at the stake. While sheltering from Frollo’s guards in the cathedral, Esmeralda bumps into one of them inside. Phoebus is charmed by her and her fighting skills, but she was quick with a comeback for his backhanded compliment towards her.
#5: “Living Proof That Dinosaurs Once Roamed the Earth”
“The Emperor’s New Groove” (2000)
Most of the time, we root for a Disney protagonist, even when they’re delivering a crushing smack-down. Emperor Kuzco, though? Not so much. The young South American ruler is selfish, rude, and… just a real jerk. He has no problem with demolishing a poor farmer’s village or telling a line-up of female suitors exactly what he thinks of them. And although we know that his most senior advisor, Yzma, harbors a barely concealed plot to snatch the throne, Kuzco certainly doesn’t when he introduces her to us as: [“Living proof that dinosaurs once roamed the Earth”] Ooof. Don’t worry, Yzma gets her own back, while Kuzco gets taught a valuable lesson about respect. That sharp tongue never loses its edge, though.
#4: “You Are a Sad, Strange Little Man...”
“Toy Story” (1995)
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Pixar’s “Toy Story” is a beloved part of the company’s canon, as is this classic put-down. In the world of “Toy Story,” toys are sentient beings that come to life whenever our backs are turned. They have conversations, adventures, friendships, and sometimes rivalries with one another just like humans do. When vintage cowboy toy Woody becomes paranoid that his owner, Andy has swapped him for astronaut toy, Buzz Lightyear, his jealousy causes him to lash out at the space hero. It later becomes clear that Buzz also doesn’t know the truth about what he is. But, Woody’s revelation falls on a deaf dome.
#3: “Dishonor on You! Dishonor on Your Cow!”
“Mulan” (1998)
A cricket that may or may not be lucky, a horse, a cross-dressing young woman and a tiny, talking red dragon. What could possibly go wrong for this rag-tag group in “Mulan?” Well, a lot, but things could have been a little easier if Mushu had been able to keep his mouth shut for a hot minute. Mulan barely spends five minutes in Captain Shang’s camp before her so-called Guardian riles up the short-tempered soldier, Yao: [“Say that to my face, ya limp noodle!”] Even on their first meeting, Mushu clashes with Mulan, who is skeptical of how much help he can be to her. This leads to this hilarious rant - our pick for this entry - which is made all the funnier by his confusion between horses and cows.
#2: “It Looks Awful...” “That’s Because It’s on You, Dear”
“Sleeping Beauty” (1959)
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After Princess Aurora is cursed as a child by the evil Maleficent, her parents agree to hide their daughter away in the woods to be raised by her three “aunts”: Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather. Unbeknownst to Aurora - or Briar Rose, as she’s renamed - her trio of guardians are really the three Good Fairies. They give up their identities and magic to protect the princess, but they still can’t stop bickering - just like typical siblings. When Flora and Merryweather butt heads over a dress they’re making for Briar Rose’s birthday, their sewing frustrations end up getting taken out on each other. [“It looks awful…”] Even after Aurora gets her happy ending, their arguing does not.
Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
“A Fuzzy Maraca,” “The Lion King II: Simba's Pride” (1998)
We Can’t Shake Off the Hilarity of Timon’s Insult
Bagheera’s Burn, “The Jungle Book” (1967)
We Hope Baloo Could Bear the Pain of That Zinger
“Jafar, Jafar, He’s Our Man,” “Aladdin” (1992)
2, 4, 6, 8, Genie Really Throws the Bait!
“Uncultured Swine,” “Toy Story” (1995)
The Only Cubism He Knows Are the Building Blocks in Andy’s Room
“If You Don’t Think, You Shouldn’t Talk,” “Alice in Wonderland” (1951)
You’ll Get No Arguments Here from Us
#1: “I’m Surrounded by Idiots”
“The Lion King” (1994)
Top 10 Funniest Movie Insults
Scar might not be the true King of the Pride Lands, but he’ll always be the king of sass to us. Mufasa’s brother has it made as part of the lion royal family, but he still longs for more. The problem is, he just can’t get any respect from anyone - even his little nephew, Simba,or his pack of loyal hyena followers: For Scar, the strain of being the smartest person he knows is just too much to bear, which is how this classic insult was born. The line is greatly enhanced by the character’s major eye-roll and English thespian, Jeremy Irons’ deadpan delivery, making it one of Disney’s most memorable quotes.
Have you used any of these wisecrack quips in your life? Let us know in the comments.
