It’s been 20 years since the Jack Black classic comedy School of Rock premiered. If you remember seeing the film for the first time, learning that it’s been 20 years might be a blow to your confidence – you are indeed aging. But instead of letting it get you down, celebrate the fact that it’s been 20 years. Any amount of time knowing this film simply exists is a blessing. And to honor School of Rock, let’s review what made it so special in the first place: its iconic quotes.
“It will test your head, and your mind, and your brain, too.”
Dewey Finn manipulating the kids he’s substitute teaching to join his rock band for a battle of the bands competition is a hilarious plot, but it’s made even funnier by his lines when he’s convincing them. Repeating the same part of the body three times is evidence enough that Dewey isn’t qualified for the substitute teacher position, and we love him for it.
“You’re tacky, and I hate you.”
Billy was too fabulous for his peers. His getting in one final jab at Dewey after he was just cut down to size by the rest of the kids (namely Lawrence hitting a little too close to home with another iconic deadpan line about his weight and odor) will always be one of the best moments in the film.
“No, it means I was drunk yesterday.”
It’s never too early to learn about the dangerous side effects of drinking too much alcohol. Dewey explaining to the kids what a hangover is might’ve been a tad inappropriate, but at least he was warning against drinking rather than encouraging it.
Jack Black in ‘School of Rock’
“Don’t let the Man get you down.”
Much of the film explores the classic rock and roll theme of sticking it to the Man. Dewey Finn didn’t have much knowledge of math, science, grammar, or anything else he was supposed to be teaching the kids, but he gave them invaluable life lessons on confidence and standing up for themselves, as evidenced by one of his students, Lawrence, uttering this legendary line near the end of the film.
“She’s a big lady, but when she sings, she blows people’s minds. Everybody wants to party with Aretha!”
By far the most endearing moment of the film, one of Dewey’s students, Tomika, was struggling with finding confidence due to her weight, and Dewey helped her find her voice with a quick reminder about the greatest singer of all time, and by opening up about his own weight struggles. Dewey was no Socrates, but he helped the kids become better people, and that’s part of the reason School of Rock is just as good today as it was in 2003.
School of Rock is streaming now on Paramount+.