Directed by John Landis from a script he co-wrote with Dan Aykroyd, The Blues Brothers remains one of the all-time funniest '80s American comedies. The chief reason why the film has endured over the decades has everything to do with the hilarious comedic chemistry between SNL alums Aykroyd and John Belushi, who portray Elwood and Jake Blues in the film, two eminently quotable siblings who hit the road in a quest to reunite their old blues band.
As fans await the fate of the long-gestating Blues Brothers animated series and upcoming docuseries chronicling the history of the franchise, there's no better time to reflect on the movie and highlight the most famous quips, quotes, rants, and one-liners that have made Jake and Elwood such an iconic duo. With plenty of excellent options to choose from, here are the most quotable moments in Blues Brothers' history.
8 "We're Putting the Band Back Together."
The easiest way to make a classic movie quote famous is to repeat it over and again. In the case of The Blues Brothers, the entire plot of the movie is articulated multiple times by Jake and Elwood, who constantly tell former band members, "We're putting the band back together." The more they state the quote, the less enthusiastic their former music mates become about the idea of a grand band reunion. Rather than this discouraging the brothers, they continue to double down and repeat the aspirational quote.
Whether repeating the line in a cocktail lounge, fine dining restaurant, or greasy spoon, the sentiment behind the quote literally and figuratively drives the entire plot of the movie each time it's spoken. Jake and Elwood hit the road specifically to round up their old friends and musicians, and it's as if they need a running dialog to keep their focus and ensure their main objective remains on track. Given the repeatability and importance it has to the plot, there's only one quote more famous in the classic John Landis movie.
7 "We're on a Mission from God!"
In a classic refrain uttered throughout the film, the single most famous Blue Brothers quotation relates to the sibling's mission statement. As Jake and Elwood leave Chicago to round up their old bandmates, an explanation of some sort is required to convince their brethren to reunite with them. At every turn, Elwood stoically states, "We're on a mission from God," as if a higher calling would convince the former band members to drop everything in their busy lives to recapture past glory on stage.
Aside from the line being repeated several times in the film, the notion that a higher religious power is behind the Blues Brothers reunion brilliantly encapsulates Elwood's quirky sense of humor. Despite the absurdity of the statement, Aykroyd delivers it with such sober-headed and deadpan austerity that it's impossible not to chuckle each time, which only gets funnier as the movie progresses. If there's one quote fans walk away repeating, it's the godly mission motivating the brothers.
6 "It's 106 Miles to Chicago. We've Got a Full Tank of Gas, Half a Pack of Cigarettes, It's Dark, and We're Wearing Sunglasses."
Following an action-packed chase that leaves Jake and Elwood drenched in sweat, the two race back to their car and quickly climb into the seats. In a rapid-fire delivery, Elwood matter-of-factly quips, "It's 106 miles from Chicago. We've got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark, and we're wearing sunglasses." The long-winded line is perfectly punctuated by the levity of Jake's follow-up, "Hit it."
Although the quote is funny on the page and has its own merits, it's the context that makes it so amusingly famous. The notion that a full tank of gas, cigarettes, darkness, and sunglasses are enough to keep the brothers out of violent danger speaks to their sense of gullibility and naivety, the same qualities that made them want to get the band back together in the first place. Again, it's the effortless rapport between Aykroyd and Belushi in this SNL movie that sells the quotable moment.
5 "I Hate Illinois Nazis."
While on the road, Jake and Elwood become stuck in traffic due to a public Nazi rally. When they ask what the hold-up is, a police officer tells them that the Nazi party won their court case and is celebrating as a result. Elwood scoffs and incredulously grumbles, "Illinois Nazis." Without batting an eye, Jake follows up with the deadpan response, "I hate Illinois Nazis." The line has become so iconic that it easily ranks among the most famous Blues Brothers quotes in 2023.
In a kind of ignorance-is-bliss that defines Jake and Elwood's personalities, the idea that Nazis specifically from Illinois are worth hating more than any other kind of Nazi is downright silly. Every Nazi, no matter where they hail from, deserves equal rejection and idealistic rebuke for their hateful prejudices and past atrocities. Yet, for such a serious topic in an otherwise uplifting comedy, the joke at the heart of the quote proves that while Jake and Elwood may not be the sharpest tools in the shed, they do understand the difference between right and wrong in a moral if not legal sense.
4 "Bring Me Four Fried Chickens and a Coke."
One of the most memorable moments in the movie comes when Jake and Elwood visit a diner run by Mrs. Murphy (the iconic Aretha Franklin). After Elwood politely requests dry white toast, Jake rudely barks, "Bring me four fried chickens and a coke," a quotable quip that underscores Jake's insatiable appetite. While the line is funny on its own, it's the entire exchange with Mrs. Murphy that enables the scene to withstand the test of time.
After making the gluttonous order, Mrs. Murphy incredulously asks Jake if he wants chicken legs or chicken wings. "Four fried chickens and a Coke," he testily repeats. The scene only becomes funnier when Mrs. Murphy goes into the back and insults the brothers for looking like diamond merchants to the chef. Once Mrs. Murphy tells the cook their orders, the chef (and former band member) instantly knows it's Jake and Elwood from their playing days. The idea that someone can identify an old friend by ordering "four fried chickens and a Coke" underscores the quintessential '80s comedy movie's humorous sensibilities.
3 "No Ma'am, We're Musicians."
After Elwood trades in the Bluesmobile for an old police car, the brothers pay a visit to Mrs. Tarantino to ask about the whereabouts of Tom and Louis. Adorned in their black suits and fedoras, Jake and Elwood appear like police officers and conduct their interview as if it were a police investigation. Mrs. Tarantino invites the men inside, only to ask much later if they are the police.
"No ma'am, we're musicians," Elwood casually states with a straight face as the camera focuses on the brothers in a hilarious two-shot before cutting away back to the cop car outside. Despite asking much later than she should have, Mrs. Tarantino has every logical right to assume Jake and Elwood are indeed law enforcers based on their appearance and vehicle. Yet, without hesitation, Elwood declares that the two are musicians, which utterly confuses Mrs. Tarantino.
2 "Who Wants an Orange Whip? Orange W-hip? Orange W-hip? Three Orange Whips!"
It would be a crime to single out the most famous Blue Brothers quotes without including the late great John Candy. In the film, Candy plays Burton Mercer, a police officer tasked with tracking the brothers down. At one point, Mercer sits down with two state troopers at a cocktail table and decides he'd rather watch the brothers perform on stage before arresting them.
With a row of police behind him with rifles in tow, Mercer casually queries, "Who wants an orange whip?" Mercer proceeds to ask his fellow officers, one by one, adding "Orange W-hip? Orange W-hip? Three Orange Whips!" Beyond the wild impropriety of ordering cocktails while he's on the job, the fact that Mercer orders three drinks when none of his fellow officers respond to his request combined with the reality that there isn't a waiter on hand makes the quote feel like a random non-sequitur one can only laugh at. The way John Candy delivers the line is what makes him such a comedic titan.
1 "Oh, We Got Both Kinds. We Got Country and Western."
When Jake and Elwood arrive at Bob's Bunker to perform in the over-the-top '80s comedy, they make small talk with the bartender, Claire. Fed up with the efforts it took to arrive, Elwood asks what kind of live music is normally played at the dive bar. Following Elwood's skepticism, Claire enthusiastically beams, "Oh, we got both kinds. We got country and western." While the line itself is funny, the deflated reaction of the brothers takes it over the top.
While there is no doubt a distinction between country and western music in Indiana where the bar resides, the differentiation makes no difference to Jake and Elwood, who hail from Chicago and specialize in blues music. After the painstaking trouble that they went through to arrive at Bob's Bunker and honor their commitment to perform, the fact that the bar does not accommodate the kind of music Jake and Elwood are known for plays like a sadistic slap in the face.
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