‘Pretty Woman’: The Best Quotes from the ’90s Rom-Com

In 1990, at just 23 years old, Julia Roberts shot to stardom with her breakout role as Sunset Boulevard hooker Vivian Ward in Pretty Woman. She instantly became America’s Sweetheart, making goofy synonymous with sexy and infecting us with her gaping, full-throttle laugh. Opposite to her outspoken, brazen Vivian was emotionally repressed corporate raider Edward Lewis, played by Richard Gere, who was almost twice her age at the time.

The two stars’ chemistry was undeniable, and along with the other A-list stars in the cast — including Jason Alexander, Laura San Giacomo and Héctor Elizondo — the film became one of the biggest box office draws of the year. And who could forget the tunes? With a mix of oldies and newbies — from Roy Orbison and Natalie Cole to Roxette — the Pretty Woman soundtrack went certified platinum three times.

Here are some of the movie’s most memorable quotes:

Edward Lewis: “What’s your name?”
Vivian: “What do you want it to be?”

Edward: “You’re on my fax.”
Vivian: “Well, that’s one I haven’t been on before.”

Vivian: “I appreciate this whole seduction thing you’ve got going on here, but let me give you a tip: I’m a sure thing.”

Shop assistant: “Hello, can I help you?”
Vivian: “I was in here yesterday, you wouldn’t wait on me.”
Shop assistant: “Oh.”
Vivian: “You people work on commission, right?”
Shop assistant: “Yeah.”
Vivian: “Big mistake. Big. Huge. I have to go shopping now.”

Richard Gere and Julia Roberts in ’Pretty Woman’

Bridget: Now, I’m sure we’re gonna find something here that your uncle would love.
Vivian: Bridg? He’s not really my uncle.
Bridget: They never are, dear.

Vivian: “In case I forget to tell you later, I had a really good time tonight.”

Old Lady at Opera: “Did you like the opera, dear?”
Vivian: “It was so good, I almost peed my pants!”
Edward: “She said she liked it better than Pirates of Penzance.”

Edward: “You and I are such similar creatures, Vivian. We both screw people for money.”

Vivian: “When I was a little girl, my mama used to lock me in the attic when I was bad, which was pretty often. And I would- I would pretend I was a princess… trapped in a tower by a wicked queen. And then suddenly this knight… on a white horse with these colors flying would come charging up and draw his sword. And I would wave. And he would climb up the tower and rescue me. But never in all the time… that I had this dream did the knight say to me, “Come on, baby, I’ll put you up in a great condo.”

Edward: “I never treated you like a prostitute.”
[Walks away]
Vivian: “You just did.”

Vivian: “I want the fairy tale.”

Kit: “Fifty bucks, Grandpa. For seventy-five, the wife can watch.”

Vivian: “Tell me one person who it’s worked out for.”

Kit: “What, you want me to name someone? You want like a name? Oh, God, the pressure of a name… I got it. Cindaf*ckin’rella.”

Edward Lewis: “So what happens after he climbs up and rescues her?”
Vivian: “She rescues him right back.”

Happy Man: Welcome to Hollywood! What’s your dream? Everybody comes here; this is Hollywood, land of dreams. Some dreams come true, some don’t; but keep on dreamin’ — this is Hollywood. Always time to dream, so keep on dreamin.’