Context

This line is spoken by Vincent Vega, played by John Travolta, in the film Pulp Fiction, directed by Quentin Tarantino (1994).

Two hit men on their way to a job are discussing inconsequential things like fast food. Pretty odd, and pretty hilarious. This scene early in Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction lets you know you're in for a seriously crazy ride.

So what's pulp fiction, anyway? Well, pulp magazines were super inexpensive fiction magazines not particularly known for high-quality literature. They were popular from the turn of the century through the 1950s, back before the days when people could read websites for cheap entertainment. Not that we're one of those websites. Right?

These magazines often featured colorful characters, violent action, and over-the-top plots, and that's what you get in Tarantino's movie. In this scene, hit men Vincent Vega (John Travolta) and Jules Winnfield (Samuel L. Jackson) are in the car on the way to a job, and Vincent is telling Jules about his world travels. In France, he says, they call a Quarter Pounder a "Royale with Cheese" because, duh, they use the metric system. It's not exactly what you think two men on the way to commit murder might be talking about.

The quote shows up again minutes later, when Jules is making conversation at said "job" while brandishing a gun at a terrified thief. Imagine a guy threatening to take your life while also making you answer questions about what they call a Quarter Pounder in France. Like most of this movie, it's both disturbing and flat-out funny.

Where you've heard it

With any luck, you've heard this at your local McDonald's drive-thru. If not, The Simpsons' parody pretty much gives you everything.

Oh, and if you want to proclaim your love for Vincent and Jules, Royale with Cheese T-shirts abound.

Pretentious Factor

If you were to drop this quote at a dinner party, would you get an in-unison "awww" or would everyone roll their eyes and never invite you back? Here it is, on a scale of 1-10.

If you're not John Travolta or Samuel L. Jackson, you probably won't do this quote justice. Maybe just buy the T-shirt?