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{{Short description|Signature catchphrase by Arnold Schwarzenegger}}{{about|the catchphrase|other uses|I'll Be Back (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox movie quote
| name        = "I'll be back"
| image       = Arnold Schwarzenegger - I'll be back.jpg
| caption     = "I'll be back" in concrete
| character   = [[Terminator (character)|Terminator]]
| actor       = [[Arnold Schwarzenegger]]
| creator     = [[James Cameron]]
| firstusedin = ''[[The Terminator]]''
| alsousedin  = See [[#Variations|variations]] and [[#In other films|in other films]]
| moviequotes = No. 37
}}
"'''I'll be back'''" is a [[catchphrase]] associated with [[Arnold Schwarzenegger]]. It was made famous in the 1984 [[science fiction film]] ''[[The Terminator]]''. On June 21, 2005, it was placed at No. 37 on the [[American Film Institute]] list [[AFI's 100 Years...100 Movie Quotes|AFI's 100 Years... 100 Movie Quotes]].<ref>"[https://web.archive.org/web/20100701230246/http://www.afi.com/tvevents/100years/quotes.aspx Frankly, My Dear, I Don't Give A Damn]", [[AFI's 100 Years... 100 Movie Quotes]], [[American Film Institute]].</ref> Schwarzenegger uses the same line, or some variant of it, in many of his later films.

== History ==
Schwarzenegger first used the line in ''The Terminator.'' In the scene, his character, the [[Terminator (character)|Terminator]], a [[cyborg]] assassin, is refused entry to the police station where his targets, [[Sarah Connor (Terminator)|Sarah Connor]] and [[Kyle Reese]], are being detained. He surveys the counter, then tells the police desk sergeant: "I'll be back." Moments later, he drives a car into the station, destroying the counter, and massacres the staff.

In an October 1, 2012, interview on ''[[Good Morning America]]'', Schwarzenegger revealed that he had difficulty pronouncing the word ''I'll'' and asked director [[James Cameron]] if it could be changed to "I will be back". Cameron refused but told him that the shot would be taken as many times as he wished and the best would be used in the final cut of the film so Schwarzenegger could vary the line.<ref name=":0">[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/01/arnold-schwarzenegger-ill-be-back-video_n_1930644.html "Arnold Schwarzenegger: 'I'll Be Back' Quote Was Almost Ruined"]. ''[[The Huffington Post]]''. October 1, 2012.</ref>

=== Usage in ''Terminator'' films ===
Variations of the line have been used by Schwarzenegger and other actors in each of the ''Terminator'' films.<ref name=":0" />
* ''[[The Terminator]]'' (1984) – "I'll be back". Said by [[Terminator (character)|the Terminator]] after being denied entry into a police station. The Terminator returns by driving a car through the front door and massacring the crew of the police station. Schwarzenegger has been quoted that he had not thought much about the line when filming the movie. Cameron notes in the DVD features that he expected the line to get a laugh only upon repeat viewings when what the character means is known, and he was surprised to see it get a big reaction from first-time audiences, who had quickly come to understand the character and immediately anticipated the outrageous violence the nonchalant line signifies. In the novelization of the film script, ''The Terminator'' by [[Shaun Hutson]] the Terminator says "I'll come back," rather than "I'll be back," on p.&nbsp;117. {{ISBN|0-352-31645-4}}.
* ''[[Terminator 2: Judgment Day]]'' (1991) – "Stay here, I'll be back." (1:53:47) It is said by the Terminator to Sarah and [[John Connor]] during the escape from the Cyberdyne building. The character returns by driving a truck through the front door to rescue the human protagonists trapped inside, referencing the corresponding scene in the first movie. A fitness ad on the initial VHS releases ends with Schwarzenegger telling viewers, "And if you're still not convinced, I'll be back."
* ''[[Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines]]'' (2003) – "She'll be back" is said by the Terminator in reference to the enemy [[T-X]] android. It says "I'm back!" after it flies a helicopter into the antechamber of a military bunker and emerges from the wreckage. In the latter use, the phrase "I'm back" also refers to his return to loyalty and allegiance with the protagonists, after having been "corrupted" by the villainous T-X. Schwarzenegger also uses it in the DVD introduction.
* ''[[Terminator Salvation]]'' (2009) – "I'll be back" is said by [[John Connor]] after being asked by his wife [[Kate Brewster]], "What should I tell your men when they find out you're gone?". Another line, "We knew you'll be back" is said by [[Skynet (Terminator)#Terminator Salvation|Skynet]] in a monitor under the guise of the late Dr. Serena Kogan, after Marcus Wright recovers himself at Skynet Central.
* ''[[Terminator Genisys]]'' (2015) – "I'll go back" is said by [[Kyle Reese]] as he volunteers for teleporting back to 1984. "I'll be back" is said by [[Terminator (character)|Pops]] right before jumping out of a helicopter onto another pursuing helicopter.
* ''[[Terminator: Dark Fate]]'' (2019) – "I'll be back" is said by [[Sarah Connor (Terminator)|Sarah Connor]] after she throws a grenade from a bridge at the exoskeleton of the Rev-9 prototype, before marching off with a shotgun, intending on destroying the Terminator.<ref>{{cite web |last=Seemayer |first=Zach |title=Why Linda Hamilton Found Saying Arnold Schwarzenegger's Iconic 'I'll Be Back' 'Almost Impossible' |url=https://www.etonline.com/why-linda-hamilton-found-saying-arnold-schwarzeneggers-iconic-ill-be-back-almost-impossible-135144 |website=Entertainment Tonight |access-date=October 31, 2019 |date=October 27, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Oller |first1=Jacob |last2=Bennett |first2=Tara |title=Tim Miller put Terminator's iconic 'I'll be back' into Dark Fate – on one condition |url=https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/tim-miller-terminator-dark-fate-ill-be-back |website=Syfy Wire |access-date=October 31, 2019 |date=October 28, 2019}}</ref> Carl, the T-800 that killed John Connor, tells its human family "I won't be back" before leaving with Sarah, Grace and Dani.

=== Usage in other films ===
Schwarzenegger has uttered the phrase in other films following ''The Terminator'', including:<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://wegotthiscovered.com/movies/nonterminator-movie-arnold-schwarzenegger/ |title=Every Non-Terminator Movie Where Arnold Schwarzenegger Says I'll Be Back |date=2020-08-10 |access-date=2024-01-08 |website=WeGotThisCovered.com}}</ref>

* ''[[Commando (1985 film)|Commando]]'' (1985): John Matrix (Schwarzenegger) says, "I'll be back, Bennett" in a scene wherein Bennett, Cooke, Sully, and Henriques take him to the airport (at 20 minutes).
* ''[[The Running Man (1987 film)|The Running Man]]'' (1987): Benjamin Richards (Schwarzenegger) says, "I'll be back!", as he faces off against evil game show host Damon Killian ([[Richard Dawson]]), who retorts with "Only in a [[rerun]]."
* ''[[Twins (1988 film)|Twins]]'' (1988): Julius Benedict (Schwarzenegger) says, "If you're lying to me, I'll be back" in a scene in the Los Alamos lab, as a doctor reveals that his mother is still alive and he's the result of a genetic experiment.
* ''[[Last Action Hero]]'' (1993): Jack Slater (Schwarzenegger) says, "I'll be back!" three times.
* ''[[The Expendables 2]]'' (2012): During a gunfight in an airport, Trench (Schwarzenegger) says, "I'm almost out, I'll be back!" To this, Church ([[Bruce Willis]]) replies, "You've been back enough. ''I'll'' be back." Trench then mutters, "Yippie-ki-yay.", which is Willis's famous line in the [[Die Hard (film series)|''Die Hard'' franchise]].
* ''[[FUBAR (TV series)|FUBAR]]'' (2025): While trying to figure out the password on a nuclear missile set by Luke Brunner (Schwarzenegger), another character suggests "I'll be back." However, he immediately shoots that down.

== See also ==
* "[[Hasta la vista, baby]]" – another of Schwarzenegger's catchphrases
* [[Girlie men]], a [[pejorative]] term that was notably used by then-[[Governor of California]] Schwarzenegger
* "I'll Be Back – The Dancefloor Devastation Kick-Up", a 1991 parody song by [[Arnee and the Terminaters]] which reached the UK top 5
* "[[I shall return]]" – spoken by Douglas MacArthur as he retreated from the Philippines in World War II

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
*{{Commonscatinline|I'll be back}}
*[http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/05/23/the-meaning-of-ill-be-back/ The Meaning of I'll Be Back] at ''[[The New York Times]]'' Tuesday, January 6, 2009.

{{Terminator}}

[[Category:Arnold Schwarzenegger]]
[[Category:Catchphrases]]
[[Category:Science fiction catchphrases]]
[[Category:English phrases]]
[[Category:Quotations from film]]
[[Category:Terminator (franchise)]]
[[Category:1984 quotations]]