With Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan, Sacha Baron Cohen took his Borat character from Da Ali G Show and gave him his own feature film where he toured America speaking to politicians and rodeo patrons while searching for Pam Anderson.
The end result was a $260 million take at the worldwide box office, but Borat also saw a lawsuit and controversy thanks to claims of defamation, racism, sexism and a lot of other things that rubbed people the wrong way. To this day, there still isn’t even a definitive answer on how big of a role Borat played in ending Pamela Anderson and Kid Rock’s short-lived marriage.
The film didn’t just generate money and controversy, though, there are also several one-liners that continue to be oft-recited, so let’s take a look at some of the best lines from Borat.
He is my neighbor Nursultan Tuliagby. He is pain in my assholes. I get a window from a glass, he must get a window from a glass. I get a step, he must get a step. I get a clock radio, he cannot afford. Great success! – Borat
Borat was the sixth most famous person in his native Kazakhstan, it’s only natural that he has fans, haters and everything in between. At the end of the day, he’s still got one over his neighbor, who’s probably the seventh most famous person in their homeland and the #1 Borat hater.
Can you make me look like this man? – Borat
It makes you wonder what older women look like in Kazakhstan when Borat confuses Barbara Bush for a man. The look on the other gentleman’s face when he tries to explain that fact shows how gullible he was and makes it all the more entertaining.
Please, come and see my film. If it not success, I will be execute. – Borat
This line actually wasn’t in the film at all, but is the last line of the trailer. Meaning that it was the final hook to get people to show up at movie theaters. Given that Borat was such a financial sucess,made over $261 million in the box office, it looks like people didn’t want him to “be execute.”
They have cleverly shifted their shapes. One of them has taken the form of a little old woman. You can barely see her horns. She has tried to poison me already.– Borat
We now present evidence concerning Borat and his complicated understanding of Jewish people. Apparently, he thinks they’re horned shape-shifters.
My wife is dead? …. High five! – Borat
The biggest obstacle standing in the way of Borat getting to Pamela Anderson – well, besides crossing the entire U.S.– was the fact that his wife threatened to snap off a rather important appendage. So how did he react when he found out she died? With a celebratory high-five.
She is my sister. She is number four prostitute in all of Kazakhstan. Nice.
The first of many head scratchers in Borat came when the titular character kissed his sister in a way that a brother and sister just shouldn’t do. At least not by most people’s standards (looking right the hell at you, Lannisters). He then celebrated her position as the fourth best prostitute in all the land. Come on, bro. Fourth place? That doesn’t even get you on the podium.
Who is this lady you have shrunk? Was she the owner of this house that you camp in front of? Do not try and shrink me gypsy, I serious. – Borat
One of the first places Borat visits in America is a good ole’ fashioned yard sale. Only he mistakes it for a gypsy caravan and is understandably intimidated by their magical prowess.
[insert Kazakhi national anthem] – Borat
This takes balls of steel coated in diamonds. You go to one of the most prideful, stereotypically “pro-America” places imaginable, a rodeo, and butcher the national anthem. And insult other countries. Just keep the faces of the crowd on loop if you’re ever having a bad day. Their facial expressions are priceless.
Is nice! – Borat
Possibly the most quoted line from this entire movie. You said it when you clicked this article, admit it.
What’s up with it, Vanilla face? Me and my homie Azamat just parked our slab outside. We’re looking for somewhere to post up our black asses for the night. – Borat
After getting a lesson on the practice of sagging his pants and getting a whole new vocabulary from a group of young, African-American gentlemen, Borat tests his new knowledge in a hotel lobby.
