Funny and/or inspirational quotes for electronic marquee

March 25, 2020 5:00 AM

I own a movie theater that is currently closed. I'm looking for short messages that I can post on the electronic marquee. They should be some combination of funny, clever, and inspirational. Bonus points if they're movie-themed, although that's not strictly necessary.

Two movie-themed messages I've used so far:

"We'll be back!" (posted shortly after we closed)
"There's no place like home!"

Ten words is about the most that will fit and that people can be expected to read as they drive past the theater.

posted by JD Sockinger to Society & Culture (28 answers total)

Don't Panic
The dude abides
Another fine mess
posted by askmehow at 5:27 AM on March 25, 2020 [3 favorites]

Best answer: "E.T. stay home"
posted by eponym at 5:28 AM on March 25, 2020 [13 favorites]

To err is human; to isolate is divine.
posted by AugustWest at 5:40 AM on March 25, 2020 [2 favorites]

We are Gone With The Wind due to the Apocalypse Now but will be Back To The Future soon.
posted by briank at 5:41 AM on March 25, 2020 [5 favorites]

Tomorrow is another day.
posted by FencingGal at 5:41 AM on March 25, 2020 [1 favorite]

Post coming films no one wants to see, preferably with a disaster theme, like:

Coming Soon: The Poseidon Adventure
posted by tmdonahue at 5:46 AM on March 25, 2020

* pulls up chair and sits down *

“What we do in life echoes in eternity.” – Gladiator

"All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us." – The Lord of the Rings

"The hard is what makes it great." - A league of their own

"Do, or do not. There is no ‘try’." – The Empire Strikes Back

"Keep your chin up, someday there will be happiness again." –Robin Hood

"Whatever doesn't kill you makes you...stranger." - The Dark Knight

"Get busy living, or get busy dying." - Shawshank Redemption

"Who are we if we can't protect others?" - A Quiet Place (this is a paraphrase, but it fits the times)

"May the Force be with you."

"We'll always have Paris." - Casablanca

….I'll keep thinking.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 5:59 AM on March 25, 2020 [4 favorites]

Best answer: This week: Home Alone
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 6:07 AM on March 25, 2020 [19 favorites]

Carrot Top Film Festival Cancelled
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 6:09 AM on March 25, 2020 [1 favorite]

Best answer: We’re at home watching Netflix
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 6:13 AM on March 25, 2020 [5 favorites]

If you’re reading this, you better have a good reason
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 6:17 AM on March 25, 2020 [1 favorite]

Best answer: Are you on the Art House Convergence mailing list? They have had some great suggestions for what to put on your marquee while everything is closed and is generally a great source of advice and support during this awful time.
posted by cakelite at 6:23 AM on March 25, 2020

Ignore the triple dog dare, do not lick the flagpole
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 6:25 AM on March 25, 2020

"It's the end of the world as we know it"

"Well, bye"
posted by Rob Rockets at 7:07 AM on March 25, 2020 [1 favorite]

"You're still here? Go home!" (Ferris Bueller's Day Off)
posted by mccxxiii at 7:19 AM on March 25, 2020 [4 favorites]

"Kevin McAllister made this look a lot more fun." (borrowed)
posted by blackjack514 at 7:22 AM on March 25, 2020

My SO and I have a favourite quote from Mystery Men: "Maybe you should put some shorts on or something, if you wanna keep fighting evil today."

We've been using it as inspiration to keep putting on pants while working at home (actually, even before this all started, it's our regular line to tell the other one they should put on pants).
posted by jb at 7:42 AM on March 25, 2020 [1 favorite]

Whatever you do, wash your hands. -- Dodgeball

Personally, a simple "we miss you" would hit well with me right now also.
posted by Ann Telope at 7:48 AM on March 25, 2020 [2 favorites]

Stay home and die another day.
posted by Salvor Hardin at 8:05 AM on March 25, 2020

Why is there a watermelon there?
posted by Mchelly at 8:37 AM on March 25, 2020 [1 favorite]

We’ll be open in time for Avatar 2
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 8:39 AM on March 25, 2020 [1 favorite]

This year’s Academy Award goes to: Stay Home and Wash Your Hands
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 8:41 AM on March 25, 2020 [1 favorite]

pandemics are dumb (this will be my first window sign)

Toto, we're not in Kansas anymore.
INCONCEIVABLE!
This does put a damper on our relationship.
Here's looking at you from a proper distance, kid.
posted by Glinn at 8:53 AM on March 25, 2020 [2 favorites]

FREE BEER....NEXT WEEK
posted by jquinby at 9:14 AM on March 25, 2020 [1 favorite]

Wash your hands, you filthy animals!
(Borrowed from This Podcast Will Kill You, a disease ecology podcast that has a special series on covid 19)
posted by carrioncomfort at 1:07 PM on March 25, 2020

We're Saving The Popcorn For Later

Now Showing: Absolutely Nothing

Don't Worry, We're Not Watching Movies Without You

Binge Watch Now, Come Back Later

We're Not Here Either

No Radio Inside (to keep thieves from breaking in, you know?)

Finally, A Chance To Vacuum With The Lights On

Is That What Color The Carpet Is?
posted by wenestvedt at 1:40 PM on March 25, 2020

The show will go on.
posted by Melismata at 2:50 PM on March 25, 2020 [4 favorites]

Well if you want topical and movie related, you could do worse than Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar who quoted Sarah Connor in a recent speech:

"There is no fate but what we make for ourselves."
posted by HiroProtagonist at 7:04 PM on March 29, 2020