Several It fans would agree that if the story did not include fan-favorite trash mouth, Richie Tozier, the franchise would not have been nearly as successful. In both of Andy Muschietti's films, Richie brought a sense of comic relief to both the audience and the characters themselves. Always cracking jokes and coming out with unforgettable one-liners was Richie's thing, and he definitely has more memorable quotes from both movies than any other member of the Losers' Club.
Whether he's bringing the comic relief, stating aloud what everyone else is thinking, or serving as the emotional core of the film, Richie Tozier is one iconic character. Let's take a look at 10 of his most unforgettable quotes.
"HOW DO YOU THINK BETTY FEELS? RUNNING AROUND THESE TUNNELS WITH ONLY ONE SHOE."
Richie Tozier is known for bringing levity to even the darkest situations. His sense of humor has always been portrayed as unapologetically morbid. His jokes are often poorly timed, as he tries not to take everything too seriously and is always trying to break up the emotional moments with some kind of rather inappropriate comment.
While this would probably come off as distasteful if it were any other character, Richie's jokes almost never fail to land successfully, getting a laugh out of both the audience and the other characters. In this scene from the first movie, the Losers venture into the barrens to look for Georgie and come across a shoe floating in the water. The shoe belonged to Betty Ripsom, another one of Pennywise's victims, and when Eddie expresses his discomfort with the circumstances, Richie doesn't miss a beat, quipping, "How do you think Betty feels? Running around these tunnels with only one shoe.".
"I'M GLAD I MET YOU BEFORE YOU DIED."
The Losers' Club's first encounter with Ben takes place after Bowers viciously attacked him with a knife. Bill and the others find Ben and see that he is critically wounded, so the take him to the pharmacy. While everyone else goes in to find some medical supplies, Richie stays with Ben outside, to "comfort" him.
The only kind of comfort Richie ever really provides is that of some comic relief. Awkwardly sitting with his wounded new friend, Richie comments in a sincere tone, "I'm glad I met you before you died".
"THE MEETING OF THE LOSERS' CLUB HAS OFFICIALLY BEGUN."
The reunion of the Losers' Club was easily one of the most iconic moments in It Chapter 2. After 27 years apart, the gang of close friends finally get to see each other again, and the chemistry between the actors is palpable. Everyone arrives at the restaurant, with the exception of Stan, and after marveling at how grown up they all are, Richie announces, "The meeting of the Losers' Club has officially begun".
"YOU TWO LOOK AMAZING. WHAT THE F*** HAPPENED TO ME?"
It's obvious that many members of the Losers' Club had a definite glow up between the first movie and the second one. Some changes are significant, like Ben's new look and Bill no longer stuttering, and Richie is of course there to point that out.
As an adult, Richie is still meant to look pretty much the same as he did when he was thirteen, big, clunky glasses and all. Upon seeing a grown-up Ben and Beverly, Richie comments with disgust, "You two look amazing. What the f*** happened to me?"
"WHO KILLED A PSYCHOTIC CLOWN BEFORE HE WAS FOURTEEN? WHO PULLED HENRY BOWERS' KNIFE OUT OF HIS OWN FACE AND STABBED HIM WITH IT? WHO MARRIED A WOMAN TEN TIMES HIS OWN BODY MASS?"
Richie and Eddie's bond was put under the limelight in the second movie, with the emphasis being put on just how close these two were and how much they meant to each other. Their dynamic is definitely one of the best in the It franchise, and they are given several memorable scenes in Chapter 2.
In a tense moment when Eddie's fears are getting the better of him, Richie encourages him the best way he knows how. He reminds Eddie of how much he's accomplished, and states, "You're braver than you think."
"WELL, THAT WAS LONG OVERDUE. GET IT? 'CAUSE WE'RE IN A LIBRARY."
After Bowers attacks Eddie with his knife, a fight breaks out between the Losers and their former childhood bully. After Eddie manages to fight back and stab Bowers with his own knife, the bully escapes and targets Mike as his next victim.
Before he can seriously injure Mike, Richie intervenes and kill Bowers once and for all. This was certainly a satisfying moment, made better by Richie's comment: "Well, that was long overdue. Get it? 'Cause we're in a library."
"HEY, F***FACE! YOU WANNA PLAY TRUTH OR DARE? HERE'S THE TRUTH: YOU'RE A SLOPPY B*TCH!"
One of the most chilling moments from It Chapter 2 was a scene that was part of a storyline that wasn't even in the original book. Andy Muschietti made the decision to portray Richie Tozier as gay. This opened the door for Richie's fears to be much deeper and more personal than they were in the first movie and the book.
Pennywise taunts Richie several times about his "secret", and even sings him a disturbing little song. In the end, in a very satisfying moment, Richie fights back, screaming at Pennywise, "Hey f***face! You wanna play truth or dare? Here's the truth: you're a sloppy b*tch!"
"I LOVE WHAT HE'S DONE WITH THE PLACE."
As the Losers' enter the shambled house in which Pennywise tends to inhabit, the mood is grim and the energy is tense. They descend into the basement, toward the tunnels which lead to Pennywise's layer. The house is a complete mess, looking more decomposed and depressed than it did in the first film.
In a hilarious moment, Richie quips, "I love what he's done with the place."
"THANKS FOR SHOWING UP, STAN."
Heartbreakingly, Stan takes his own life and does not participate in returning to beat Pennywise once and for all. This is a storyline that was considered poorly handled in the book and was predictably glossed over in the 1990 miniseries, but It Chapter 2 is able to execute it quite well.
Stan is mentioned throughout the film and the Losers find different ways to keep his memory alive. With that and the fact that the movie ends with Stan's voiceover of a letter he wrote to all of his friends explaining his actions, It Chapter 2 pays tribute to the character in a touching and respectful way. Although he was not there, his presence was, and as Richie puts it, "Thanks for showing up, Stan."
"EDDIE... WE DID IT, WE KILLED PENNYWISE."
Eddie's death scene was completely heartbreaking and easily the most devastating moment in the entire movie. To make it all the more tear-jerking, Richie goes into complete denial of his best friend's demise, speaking to Eddie's dead body as if he's still alive and saying, "Eddie...we did it, we killed Pennywise."