Summary

• Wes Anderson's adaptation of the children's book Fantastic Mr. Fox is a hilarious and heartwarming animated adventure filled with memorable quotes.
• The voice cast, including George Clooney and Meryl Streep, brings a unique charm to the film and makes it enjoyable for both kids and adults.
• The film's clever screenplay combines elements of heist stories, dysfunctional family dynamics, and personal growth, resulting in a truly fantastic animated movie.

In Wes Anderson's adaptation of Roald Dahl’s children's book, the best Fantastic Mr. Fox quotes are a highlight of the fun stop-motion animated adventure. It’s a quintessential Wes Anderson movie, blending the heist story of Bottle Rocket, the angst of Rushmore, and the dysfunctional family dynamic of The Royal Tenenbaums. Anderson’s screenplay adaptation of the Dahl classic, co-written with similarly acclaimed filmmaker Noah Baumbach, is filled with memorable moments and phenomenally quotable lines.

The voice cast for the film is as phenomenal as all the other ensembles that Anderson has assembled for his films, with George Clooney and Meryl Streep lending a unique charm as Mr. and Mrs. Fox to what is fundamentally a zany and off-the-wall animated caper. The best Fantastic Mr. Fox quotes are a reminder that the funniest moments in the film are equally hilarious for young kids and adults, which is as it should be with a great animated movie. It's for this reason that the film is ranked as highly by critics and fans of animated movies as some of Pixar and Disney's best work.

15 "And How Can A Fox Be Happy Without You'll Forgive The Expression, A Chicken In Its Teeth."

Mr. Fox

Wes Anderson's first movie, Bottle Rocket, was a quirky crime comedy and Anderson seems to return to the genre in The Fantastic Mr. Fox. The story brilliantly combines the idea of a criminal and outlaw having to change his ways in order to protect his family, but still being drawn to the wild side. The fact that it is an animal fighting against his animalistic instincts makes the metaphor even more clear. Furthermore, Mr. Fox spells out the whole idea in this early quote as he begins to question what purpose a fox has if he is not hunting chickens and it is that thought that kicks off the story.

14 "Well, I Guess We Should, Ah, Probably Split Into A Certain Number Of Groups And Start Doing Something."

Badger

The collaborations between Wes Anderson and Bill Murray continue in Fantastic Mr. Fox with Murray providing the voice of Fox's friend Badger. Badger is a much more responsible and rational critter, often pointing out the danger and consequences of Fox's plans. However, in a hilarious moment, Badger finds himself left in charge of the group and discovers that formulating a good plan is not as easy as Fox makes it out to be. It is another painfully human momennt where Badger seems to realize as he is talking that he should have kept his mouth shut.

13 "My Suicide Mission's Been Canceled. We're Replacing It With A Go-For-Broke Rescue Mission."

Mr. Fox

Mr. Fox is one of Wes Anderson's funniest characters, thanks largely to his nonchalant attitude to the increasingly dangerous situations he finds himself in. Realizing that he has endangered all of his family and friends, he plans to turn himself in to the hunters to save them, only to realize his son and nephew have been trapped. The way he delivers this quote as if he is announcing a change in meal plans for dinner is hilarious and shows his undeniable excitement about getting to have one last adventure.

12 "But In The End, He's Just Another Dead Rat In A Garbage Pail Behind A Chinese Restaurant."

Mr. Fox

Willem Dafoe's Rat is one of the most interesting Wes Anderson villains as he initially seems like a meanspirited and cruel minion of Farmer Bean who has it out for Mr. Fox and his family. However, this leads to a final showdown with Rat and Mr. Fox where the rodent is fatally wounded and uses his dying words to reveal where Kristofferson is being held. In one of the movie's moments of dark humor, Mr. Fox suggests that his redemption is meaningless as he still died unnecessarily. It is a funny line but one that speaks to Mr. Fox's growing understanding that he need not risk his life carelessly anymore.

11 "If What I Think Is Happening, Is Happening, It Better Not Be."

Mrs. Felicity Fox

Meryl Streep is perfect as Felicity Fox, as Mrs. Fox is both a very refined character and a hugely intimidating presence when she wants to be. This Fantastic Mr. Fox quote is a humorous one, but it only works because the audience believes that Mrs. Fox is formidable enough to truly back up the threat behind the line. She's just beginning to get an inkling of the ill-thought-out shenanigans that Mr. Fox is getting up to early on in the movie, and she does indeed let Mr. Fox have it.

10 “Are You Cussing With Me?”

Mr. Fox

In the world of Fantastic Mr. Fox, the animals use “cuss” in place of actual cuss words. This substitute was a great way for Wes Anderson to include some foul-mouthed dialogue seen in the likes of the best Grand Budapest Hotel quotes into a family-friendly animated movie. During a heated argument with Badger, Mr. Fox says, “Are you cussing with me? Don’t cussing point at me!” Badger snaps back, “If you’re gonna cuss with somebody, you’re not gonna cuss with me, you little cuss!”

9 “There’s A Lot Of Attitudes Going On Around Here ... Don’t Let Me Get One.”

Ash Fox

Like most of Jason Schwartzman’s Wes Anderson characters, Ash Fox is hysterically short with people – especially his cousin Kristofferson (Eric Chase Anderson). The two develop a bitter rivalry after Kirstofferson comes to stay with the Foxes, and quickly reveals he’s better than Ash at everything. During his first night staying in Ash’s room, Kristofferson asks if he can move his sleeping bag slightly out from under Ash’s train set. Ash instantly reacts vindictively and says, “There’s a lot of attitudes going on around here ... don’t let me get one.” It's one of the many great Fantastic Mr. Fox quotes that make the animal characters feel human.

8 “You Really Are Kind Of A Quote-Unquote Fantastic Fox.”

Mrs. Felicity Fox

After he goes back to stealing, antagonizes the local farmers, and jeopardizes the family home, Mrs. Fox is understandably furious with her husband, who promised her he’d give up crime. When Mr. Fox explains why he returned to a life of crime, he also explains the title. He needs people to think of him as “the quote-unquote ‘Fantastic Mr. Fox.’” Later in the movie, when Mr. Fox has truly become "fantastic" and saved his family and friends from Boggis (Robin Hurlstone), Bunce (Hugo Guinness), and Bean (Michael Gambon), Mrs. Fox delivers this memorable Fantastic Mr. Fox quote.

7 “I’ve Got Mixed Feelings About That.”

Kristofferson Silverfox

In a desperate attempt to win his dad’s affection, Ash tunnels back to the farm with Kristofferson to retrieve Mr. Fox’s severed tail. However, they’re caught almost instantly and Kristofferson gets captured. During the ensuing rescue mission, saving Kristofferson from captivity is Ash’s job. When Ash, the reason Kristofferson got caught in the first place, says, “I’m here to rescue you,” Kristofferson dryly tells him, “I’ve got mixed feelings about that.” Though the movie is often quirky, this is one of the character-driven Fantastic Mr. Fox quotes that produce just as many laughs as a quip in a more seemingly mainstream Disney animated movie.

6 “I’m Not Leaving Here Without That Necktie!”

Mr. Fox

After shooting off Mr. Fox’s tail, Bean starts wearing it as a necktie. In the climactic standoff, Mr. Fox angrily tells Bean, “Your tractors uprooted my tree. Your posse hunted my family. Your gunmen kidnapped my nephew. Your rat insulted my wife. And you shot off my tail. I’m not leaving here without that necktie!” The farmers immediately open fire, tearing Mr. Fox’s cover to shreds in seconds, and with perfect deadpan comedic timing, he tells the others, “Actually, we should just go.”