LILKI: DON'T NEED NO STINKING ...
Less Important LKI, We/I Don't Need No Stinking ...
The phrase "don't need no stinking ..." originates from a famous line in the 1948 film The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, which itself was adapted from B. Traven's 1927 novel of the same name. In the film, a Mexican bandit leader named Gold Hat, played by Alfonso Bedoya, responds to a challenge about showing police badges with the line:
"Badges? We ain't got no badges. We don't need no badges. I don't have to show you any stinkin' badges!"
In the novel, the line was:
"Badges? We ain’t got no badges. I don’t have to show you any stinking badges, you lousy son of a bitch!"
Following are Phrase Variation; and Specific Source(s)
I don't need no stinking badges!; The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948 film)1,2,3,4,5,6; parodied in Blazing Saddles (1974)2;
We don't need no stinking badges!; The Monkees ("It's a Nice Place to Visit," 1967): "Badges? We don't need no stinking badges!"2
We don't need no stinking badges!; Blazing Saddles (1974); “Badges? We don't need no stinking badges!"
We don't need no stinking Unicef!; Saturday Night Live (John Belushi, 1977 Halloween skit): "We don't need no stinking Unicef!"
We don't need no stinking badgers!; UHF (1989 film): "Badgers? We don't need no stinking badgers!"
We don't need no stinking patches!; Troop Beverly Hills (1989 film): "Patches? We don't need no stinking patches!"
I don't want no stinkin' broccoli!; Backdraft (1991 film): "Broccoli? I don't want no stinkin' broccoli!"
I don't need no stinking rules!; The Simpsons ("Homer vs. the Eighteenth Amendment," 1997): "Rules? We don't need no stinking rules!"
I don't need no stinking permission!; The Simpsons ("Homer vs. Patty and Selma," 1995): "Permission? We don't need no stinking permission!"
I don't need no stinking approval!; The Drew Carey Show ("Drewstock," 1997): "Approval? We don't need no stinking approval!"
I don't need no stinking excuses!; The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air ("72 Hours," 1991): "Excuses? I don't need no stinking excuses!"
I don't need no stinking help!; Friends ("The One Where Joey Moves Out," 1996): "Help? I don't need no stinking help!"
I don't need no stinking counters!; Magic: The Gathering (player slang and memes): "Counters? I don't need no stinking counters!" (2000s–2010s)
I don't need no stinking instructions!; The Angry Video Game Nerd (web series, 2006): "Instructions? I don't need no stinking instructions!"
Other examples are drawn from notable TV episodes, movies, web series, and memes, each using the same memorable structure.
Why It’s Popular
The phrase’s double negative ("don't need no") adds a playful, folksy tone.
The word "stinking" adds comic exaggeration and emphasis.
It’s highly adaptable — you can substitute almost any noun to suit the situation.
It’s often used in parody, satire, memes, and casual conversation to express defiance or independence with humor.
Ten Most Popular Phrases Commonly Parodied
Here are ten of the most parodied phrases or lines, based on their frequency and cultural impact in movies, TV, and beyond:
RankPhrase/Line; Original Source; Notes on Parody Popularity
1 “I am your father.”; Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (1980); The “No, I am your father” reveal is one of the most spoofed moments in film and TV1.
2 “I’ll be back.”; The Terminator (1984); Arnold Schwarzenegger’s line is used and parodied in countless contexts1.
3 “Here’s Johnny!”; The Shining (1980); Jack Nicholson’s delivery is mimicked and spoofed widely1.
4 “This is Sparta!”; 300 (2006); The line and scene have become meme staples1.
5 “Badges? We don’t need no stinkin’ badges!”; The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948); The original for “don’t need no stinking…” parodies; widely adapted with other nouns1.
6 “You talking to me?”; Taxi Driver (1976); De Niro’s line is a go-to for impressionists and parodies5.
7 “The power of Christ compels you!”; The Exorcist (1973); Used in parody exorcism scenes and beyond5.
8 “Run, Forrest, run!”; Forrest Gump (1994); Shouted in countless comedic and real-life situations1.
9 “You’re gonna need a bigger boat.”; Jaws (1975); Adapted to many “gonna need a bigger…” situations.
10 “Bond. James Bond.”; Dr. No (1962); The introduction format is endlessly spoofed.
Additional Notes
“Don’t need no stinking…” is unique in its adaptability, but “I am your father” and “I’ll be back” are referenced even more often across all media1.
Many of these lines are parodied not just in direct quotes but in adapted forms, memes, and pop culture references worldwide.
Foreign Favorites
Among the most parodied movie phrases, "I am your father" from Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back is the most widely parodied and referenced in other languages globally. This line has been officially translated and dubbed into dozens of languages, and its parodies and adaptations appear in international media, memes, and pop culture. The phrase is so iconic that it is instantly recognizable even when altered or misquoted, such as the common "Luke, I am your father"6,8.
Other phrases from the list, like "I'll be back" (The Terminator) and "May the Force be with you" (Star Wars), are also frequently translated and parodied across cultures, appearing in everything from advertising to local TV shows and films1,5. For example, "I'll be back" is a staple in dubbed action movies worldwide, and "May the Force be with you" has become a universal catchphrase, often humorously adapted in different languages1,5.
First after the First
The Monkees were the first to parody "don't need no stinking badges" after the original film. According to multiple sources, the shorter, now-famous version of the phrase—"Badges? We don't need no stinking badges!"—was first heard in the 1967 episode of the TV series The Monkees titled "It's a Nice Place to Visit" delivered by Micky Dolenz1,5,6. The line was written by Gerald Gardner and Dee Caruso. This predates the famous parody in Blazing Saddles (1974) and established the template for countless later adaptations and parodies.
The original line in The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948) was:
"Badges? We ain't got no badges. We don't need no badges. I don't have to show you any stinkin' badges!"
The Monkees' version condensed and rephrased it, making it more memorable and meme-like, which is why it became the basis for so many subsequent parodies1,5,6.