Hopper You piece of dirt. No, I'm wrong. You're lower than dirt. You're an ant!
Played by Kevin Spacey 
A Bug's Life (1998) · 109 quotes
A Bug's Life (1998) · 109 quotes
Tied for 3rd most-quoted character in A Bug's Life (1998): in 15 of its 109 quotes
Most scenes with: Molt (5), Flik (4), Princess Atta (4)
WHOSE IDEA WAS THIS?!?
More lines from Hopper
8 quotes Hopper Hopper So, where is it? Where's my FOOD?!
I-Isn't it up there?
Hopper What?
The food was sitting in a leaf on top--
Hopper Excuse me.
Are you sure it's not up there?
Hopper Are you saying I'm stupid?
No.
Hopper Do I look stupid... to you? Let's just think about the logic, shall we? Let's just think about it for a second. If it was up there, would I be coming down here, to your level, looking for it?! Why am I even talking to you? You're not the queen. You don't smell like the queen.
She's learning to take over for me, Hopper.
Hopper Oh, I see! Under new management. So it's your fault.
No, it wasn't me, it was--
Hopper Uh-uh-uh. First rule of leadership: Everything is your fault.
But-But-I--
Hopper It's a bug-eat-bug world out there, Princess, one of those circle-of-life kind of things. Now, let me tell you how things are supposed to work. The sun grows the food, the ants pick the food, the grasshoppers eat the food--
And the birds eat the grasshoppers. Hey, like the one that nearly ate you, you 'member? Oh, you shoulda seen it. This blue jay has him halfway down his throat, and Hopper's kickin' and screamin' And I'm scared. I'm not goin' anywhere near, okay? [Hopper approaches Molt] Aw, come on. It's a great story. [Hopper grabs his antennae] Ow! Ow! Ow!
Hopper [pushes him against a wall]
I swear, if I hadn't promised Mother on her deathbed that I wouldn't kill you, I would kill you!
And believe me, no one appreciates that more than I do.
Hopper Shut up! I don't want to hear another word out of you while we're on this island. Do you understand me? [Molt whimpers] I said, do you understand me?!
Well, how can I answer? You said I couldn't say another word. [Hopper enraged is about to punch him] Ah! Remember Ma!
Hopper [turns and punches another grasshopper; calms down becoming reasonable]
Hey, I'm a compassionate insect. There's still a few months till the rains come, so you can all just try again.
But, Hopper, since it's almost the rainy season, we need this time to gather food for ourselves.
Hopper Listen, if you don't keep your end of the bargain, then I can't guarantee your safety. And there are insects out there that will take advantage of you. Someone could get hurt. [snaps his fingers and calls out Thumper who scares Dot so she runs away but is caught by Hopper] What's the matter? You scared of grasshoppers?
Dot!
Hopper [Hopper picks her up and brings her closer to Thumper]
You don't like Thumper? [he brings her up face to face with Thumper and he snarls and growls]
Hopper [Turns to Flik]
You want her? [Holds Dot above Flik] Go ahead. Take her. [Flik stands down in fear] No? Then get back in line. [Flik goes back in line] It seems to me that you ants are forgetting your place. So let's double the order of food.
No! But-But--
Hopper We'll be back at the end of the season, when the last leaf falls. [pulls a skin flake off Molt and lets it slowly drop like a leaf] You ants have a nice summer. Let's ride!
[The grasshoppers all fly away and the entire colony stares at Flik, who chuckles nervously]
Hopper Guys, order another round, because we're stayin' here!
Hopper [the other grasshoppers cheer]
What was I thinking? Going back to Ant Island. I mean, we just got here, and we have more than enough food to get us through the winter. Right? Why go back?
Hopper [the music continues and the rest of the gang begins to party again]
But there was that ant that stood up to me.
Axel
Yeah, but we can forget about him!
Loco
Yeah, it was just one ant.
Hopper [the rest of the gang agrees, mocking the ants]
Yeah, you're right! It's just one ant!
Loco
Yeah, boss. They're puny!
Hopper Hmm, puny. Say, let's pretend this grain is a puny little ant. [throws the grain at Loco] Didn't that hurt?
Loco
Nope.
Hopper Well, how 'bout this one? [throws another grain at Axel]
Axel
Are you kiddin'?
Hopper [the other grasshoppers laugh]
Well, how 'bout this?
Hopper [he pulls the lid off the jar of grain and Axel and Loco are buried beneath the avalanche; Hopper then climbs on top of the grain pile]
You let one ant stand up to us, then they all might stand up. Those puny little ants outnumber us 100 to one. And if they ever figure that out, there goes our way of life! It's not about food. It's about keeping those ants in line. That's why we're going back! Does anybody else wanna stay?
Hopper Let's ride!
[the grasshoppers fly off to Ant Island]
Hopper You are mindless, soil-shoving losers put on this Earth to serve us.
Hopper HAVE YOU BEEN PLAYING ALL SUMMER?! YOU THINK THIS IS A GAME?!
Hopper WELL, GUESS WHAT... you just lost!
Hopper [Yelled To The Ant Colony Like A Slave Driver]
ALL RIGHT, GET MOVING! [Pushes All The Ants Into Line] Get Going, Move Your Abdomens Now!
Hopper [last words]
Are there a bunch of little girls in this one, too? Hello, girls. [as the bird, a real one, roars] AAAAAH!!!! [He drops Flik; the bird seizes him] Aaaaah! Aah! Aah! Oh! [The bird caught him and holds him over to her chicks] A-AAAAAAAH!!! Ah! No! No! NOOO, NO, NO, NO! Aah! Aah! Aah! A-AAH-AAAH-AAAAH!!!! AAAAAAAAAH!!!! No! OH, NOOOOOOOO!!! AH! OH, NO! NO, NO, NO! AAAAAAAAAAHHHH!! [The camera zooms in on the chicks' mouths as Hopper screams again]
Scenes with Hopper
6 scenesLadies and gentlebugs! Larvae of all stages! Rub your legs together for the world's greatest bug circus!
Hopper [the circus wagon arrives with the circus music playing]
WAIT A MINUTE! [music screeches to a halt]
Hopper What's going on here?
Well, uh...
Uh, yes. We were invited by Princess Atta as a surprise for your arrival.
Hopper Squish 'em.
Hopper [Slim and Francis gasp; the grasshoppers advance on the circus bugs; Dim backs into the cannon launching Tuck and Roll out of it; they dance in front of the grasshoppers, singing their usual gibberish, then get into a fight]
Now, that's funny.
Hopper [he and the other grasshoppers sit back in their seats laughing hysterically]
I guess we could use a little entertainment. Looks like you did something right for once, Princess.
Loco
[Axel and Loco are talking to Molt]
We go all the way back there, and it starts to rain? We might as well be suckin' bug spray!
Ooh, don't even say that! You know something? You're making a lot of sense. I mean, why take the risk? You should tell Hopper!
Axel
Good idea. But... y'know it's not really our place. I mean, you're his brother. That makes you like... the vice president of the gang.
Wow! It kinda does, doesn't it? Okay, I'll tell him! [leaves] Boy, I should talk to you guys more often.
Loco
What if Hopper doesn't like it?
Grasshopper
Then at least the genius will get smacked and not us.
Vice President Molt. [laughs; he flies to Hopper, who's getting a massage]
Hopper Ah, that's good. That's good. A little lower. Lower, lower.
Heya, Hop.
Hopper [annoyed]
Go Away.
That's fine. Then I won't tell you my idea.
Hopper Good.
Okay, okay. I'll tell ya anyway. Y'see, I've been thinking, okay, which is something that I do, y'know, being vice president and all, and this is a thought, and it was mine - why go back to Ant Island at all? I mean, you don't even like grain!
Hopper WHAT?!? [stands up and walks to Molt threateningly]
[scared]
You're right! I didn't think it was such a good idea myself. Actually, it wasn't even my idea. It was Axel and Loco's! They talked fancy to me! I GOT CONFUSED!
Hopper [Hopper stops and thinks; he then comes up to the other grasshoppers; the mariachi band stops playing]
Guys... order another round, because we're staying here!
Hopper [The other grasshoppers cheer]
What was I thinking? Going back to Ant Island. I mean, we just got here, and we have more than enough food to get us through the winter. Right? Why go back?
Hopper [The mariachi band plays "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow" and the rest of the gang begins to party again]
But... there was that ant that stood up to me.
Axel
Yeah, but we can forget about him!
Loco
Yeah, it was just one ant!
Hopper [The rest of the gang laughs agrees, mocking the ants] [sarcastically laughs]
Yeah, you're right! It's just one ant!
Loco
Yeah, boss. They're puny!
Hopper Hmm, puny. Say, let's pretend this grain is a puny little ant. [throws the grain at Loco] Didn't that hurt?
Loco
Heh! Nope.
Hopper Well, how about this one? [throws another grain at Axel]
Axel
Are you kidding?
Hopper [The other grasshoppers laugh]
Well, how about this?
Hopper [He pulls the lid off the jar, releasing an avalanche of grain that buries and kills Axel and Loco, leaving the other grasshoppers shocked. Hopper then climbs on top of the grain pile]
You let one ant stand up to us, then they all might stand up. Those puny little ants outnumber us a hundred to one. And if they ever figure that out, there goes our way of life! It's not about food. It's about keeping those ants in line. That's why we're going BACK! Does anybody else wanna stay?
Hopper LET'S RIDE!
[The grasshoppers fly off to Ant Island]
Hopper YOU LITTLE TERMITES! I GIVE YOU A SECOND CHANCE, AND THIS IS ALL I GET?!
But, Hopper, we ran out of time!
Hopper HAVE YOU BEEN PLAYING ALL SUMMER?! YOU THINK THIS IS A GAME?!
No, no! Please!
Hopper WELL, GUESS WHAT... you just lost! [Thumper scares Ants] NOT ONE ANT SLEEPS UNTIL WE GET EVERY SCRAP OF FOOD ON THIS ISLAND!!!
Just do what he says. You don't want to make him mad, believe me!
Hopper [Hopper jumps front of the Queen]
No, no, no. You're staying with me. [grins] Your Highness.
[singing]
I'm gonna be rich, rich, rich, I'm gonna be rich, rich, rich, I'm gonna be the richest flea in the land! Ka-Ching! The Streets'll be paved with golden retrievers, I'm rich, rich, rich, that's who I am!
Hey, maybe we can cheer him up a bit.
Don't worry, Flik. The circus life isn't so bad.
Yes, you can be part of our act.
Here! Like this.
Slapstick! Get it? I... I'm a walking stick. Oh, never mind.
Flik, wait! Wait!
Dot, you're flying! What are you doing here?
Oh, no!
Good heavens!
And I heard a grasshopper say that when they're finished, Hopper's gonna squish my mom!
Oh, not the queen!
We got to do something!
How?
Come on, you guys, think!
I know. The bird.
Yes, of course.
The bird! That's brilliant.
Ja!
What are you talking about? It was your idea.
But you said that everything...
[depressed]
Forget everything I ever told you All right Dot? Let's face it. The colony is right; I just make things worse. That bird is a guaranteed failure. [sighs] Just like me.
You listen to me, my boy, I've made a living out of being a failure, and you, sir, are not a failure!
Oh, but Flik, you've done so many good things.
Oh yeah, okay, show me one thing I've done right?
Us.
All
Yeah, yeah.
Dim is right, my boy. You have rekindled the long-dormant embers of purpose in our lives.
And if it wasn't for you, Francis would have never gotten in touch with his feminine side.
Oh, yeah?! Well... [chuckles] You know what? He's right.
Lieutenant Gypsy reporting for duty.
Kid, say the word, and we'll follow you into battle.
We believe in you, my boy.
Flik, please?
[Flik doesn't move as Dot flies off and picks up a rock from the ground and brings it to her best friend]
Pretend it's a seed, okay?
Must be an ant thing.
All right, let's do it.
That's the Flik we know and love.
Ooh-whoo-whoo!
We're on!
So, what do we do first?
Hopper [Yelled To The Ant Colony Like A Slave Driver]
ALL RIGHT, GET MOVING! [Pushing All The Ants Into Line] Get Going, Move Your Abdomens Now!
[Watched The Ants Gather The Food]
Oh No, They've Finished Collecting The Food. We've Got To Get The Queen Now. Once She's Safe, We Move On Gypsy's Signal.
Hopper You think it's over?!
Hopper All your little stunt did was buy them time.
No please, Please Hopper!
Hopper [starts choking Flik]
I'll get more Grasshoppers and be back next season, but you won't! [Bird enters; Hopper looks up] Well, what's this? Another one of your little bird tricks?
Hopper [last words]
Are there a bunch of little girls in this one, too? Hello, girls. [bird shrieks] AAAAAH!!!! [drops Flik; he tries to run, but the bird quickly catches up in front of him] Aaaaah! Aah! Aah! [Before the bird seizes him] Oh! [Bird snatching Hopper in its beak and then holds him over her chicks in his nest] A-AAAAAAAH!!! Ah! No! No! NOOO, NO, NO, NO! Aah! Aah! Aah! A-AAH-AAAH-AAAAH!!! AAAAAAAAH!!!! No! OH, NOOOOOOOO!!! AH! OH, NO! NO, NO, NO! AAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!
[The camera zooms in on the chicks' mouths as Hopper's horrified scream fades.]
Randy Newman
Was a bug, little bug, hardly there / How he felt, what he dreamed, who could care? / Without any evidence / His flaws were many / He was full of confidence / Some people haven't any / Didn't have much common sense / It's highly overrated / He just knew that he'd come through...| It's the time of your life so live it well / It's the time of your life so live it well...| We may only go 'round one time / As far as I can tell / It's the time of your life so live it well...| We may only go 'round this one time / As far as I can tell / He could be wrong about that / It's the time of your life / It's the time of your life / It's the time of your life so live it well.
Man #1
[beeps]
Speed!
Man #2
Marker.
Director
And action!
Hopper Are you saying I'm stupid?
No.
Hopper Do I look... stupid... to you?
Hopper [beeps]
Are you saying I'm stupid? Oh!
I'm sorry! I got it. No, no. Just do it again. I'm fine.
Hopper [beeps]
Are you saying I'm stupid?
Yes! [laughs]
Hopper This is the 15th take, I cannot work like this. I will be in my trailer.
I need a break.
Man #2
[beeps]
Marker.
Whoa, Flik, honey, we are not about to... [hammer banging] Is someone hammering? [Slim sighs] Could we hold the work, please? People?
Director
[beeps]
And action!
To infinity and beyond! [laughs] I'm sorry. I couldn't resist. Really, can y... can you blame me? Okay. Okay, let's go for real now.
Director
Okay, cut!
Sorry.
Hopper WHAT?!? [stand up and walks to Molt threateningly]
[scared]
You're right! I didn't think it was such a good idea myself. Actually, it wasn't even my idea. It was...
Cameraman
Watch it!
[crashing]
I'm sorry! I'm sorry! Is the camera broke? Oh, oh, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Did I ruin the take?
Me? Oh, oops, ow, ow.
Ow, ow, ow!
Uh, oh, oh no. Oh no, oh...
This really hurts, guys.
I'm sorry, I'm... Oh!
Can we cut? Ow!
[beeps]
So, is there a Mrs. Ant, you have to tunnel home to? Oh, I'm sorry! I thought he was real. [laughs] Ooh, dear. Put that thing in my car.
Man #2
[beeps]
Marker.
Flik, after much deliberation... Whoa! [rattling, banging, Flik and other ants laughing]
[beeps]
Ohh, I... Ow. Oh. My eye! Oh. No, no. Seriously, I've got berry juice in my eye! [Hopper laughs] It stings! Stop acting. I'm serious. Oh, stop the camera!
[beeps; laughing; gurgling; liquid trickling]
Uh-oh. Towel! I need a towel over here! [Flik laughs]
Director
Cut!
Thumper
[beeps; roars]
I'm sorry, I'm sorry. [Dot groans] Can we... Can we cut? It's just that I don't think I'm coming across. Hmm. Oh, oh, I know. I know. I could lather up a bunch of spit. Ooh, ooh, that's good. I got it, J.L. Alright! One more for me.
Man #1
[beeps]
Speed!
Man #2
Marker!
Director
Action!
Spinning a web of safety in less than 15... Bleh!
Randy Newman
It's the time of your life so live it well / It's the time of your life so live it well...| We may only go 'round one time / As far as I can tell / It's the time of your life so live it well...| Like us all, he started small / Then he grew / When the time came he knew what to do / He knew in order to succeed / They'd have to work together / He turned a rock into a seed / And they were changed forever / Then they had the strength they'd need / To get through stormy weather / Do or die, you gotta try...| It's the time of your life so live it well / It's the time of your life so live it well...| We may only go 'round one time / As far as I can tell / He could be wrong about that / It's the time of your life so live it well...| Isn't it a bit surprising / How one's fortunes ebb and flow / And only to the enterprising / Does the magic fortune cookie go / Believe me...| It's the time of your life so live it well / It's the time of your life so live it well...| We may only go 'round one time / As far as I can tell / It's the time of your life / It's the time of your life / It's the time of your life so live it well... [chorus singing]
Other characters in A Bug's Life
Flik
Dave Foley
Francis
Denis Leary
Gypsy
Madeline Kahn
Princess Atta
Julia Louis-Dreyfus
Mr. Soil
Roddy McDowall
Queen
Phyllis Diller
Dot
Hayden Panettiere
Heimlich
Joe Ranft
P.T. Flea
John Ratzenberger
Slim
David Hyde Pierce
Manny
Jonathan Harris
Molt
Richard Kind
Rosie
Bonnie Hunt
Dr. Flora
Edie McClurg
Thorny
Alex Rocco
Cornelius
David Ossman
Dim
Brad Garrett
Grub
Reed
Tuck and Roll
Michael McShane
