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What movie is the good soup line from?


The famous line “No soup for you!” is from the 1990s NBC sitcom Seinfeld. It comes from the “The Soup Nazi” episode in Season 7, where the characters visit a soup stand with an infamously strict and temperamental chef. This chef refuses service to customers who do not perfectly follow his ordering system, bellowing “No soup for you!” and banishing them from the premises. TheSoup Nazi’s totalitarian reign over his soup stand is both hilarious and frustrating for Jerry, Elaine, George and Kramer as they try unsuccessfully to get their lunch. “No soup for you!” remains one of the most iconic and oft-quoted lines from the show’s 180 episodes.

The Origins of “The Soup Nazi”

The concept for the Soup Nazi character originated from Seinfeld writer Spike Feresten’s real life experiences. Feresten had frequented a soup restaurant in New York City run by Al Yeganeh, who was known for his brusque demeanor and strict demands for customers. Yeganeh even had a sign in his restaurant with soup ordering instructions that warned “Pick the soup you want! Have your money ready! Move to the extreme left after ordering!” Feresten was inspired to create a fictionalized parody of this Soup Kitchen tyrant for an episode.

The Soup Nazi first appeared in the 116th episode of Seinfeld in November 1995. He was played by actor Larry Thomas, who meticulously studied videos of Al Yeganeh and modeled his authoritarian soup stand owner character after him. The nickname “Soup Nazi” was coined by Jerry and his pals in the episode and never used as his actual name. However, the moniker and Thomas’ famous “No soup for you!” line became instantly iconic after airing.

The Soup Nazi’s Rules

The centerpiece of the episode is the Soup Nazi’s militant enforcement of his own strict rules for buying soup:

  • Customers must quickly choose a soup when they reach the counter or they will be ordered to “get out!” for holding up the line.
  • hover questions about ingredients are forbidden.
  • Condiments must be requested specifically at the ordering time or they will not be provided.
  • Payments must be made immediately and customers must quickly move away for the next person in line.
  • There is no sitting at tables; all soup must be taken to go.
  • Complaining or disobeying the rules in any way earns an immediate lifetime ban.

The Soup Nazi enforces these rules with an iron fist, loudly berating and ejecting any customer who dares defy them. His soups are so delicious that people obediently line up and tolerate his temperament just to get a taste. However, Jerry, Elaine, George and Kramer’s awkward attempts to navigate the Soup Nazi’s regimen result in hilarious confrontations.

Memorable Quotes

Some of the most famous “Soup Nazi” quotes include:

  • “No soup for you!” – The Soup Nazi’s catchphrase as he denies soup to customers who break his rules.
  • “Next!” – What he shouts repeatedly to keep the line moving.
  • “You’re banned from the soup stand forever! No soup for you!” – When permanently banning Elaine for being so difficult.
  • “You want bread? Three dollars!” – Overcharging Kramer for bread on the side.
  • “Come back one year! Next!” – The terms when Jerry and his girlfriend get banned for a year.
  • “Ten dollars! No soup! Come back one year!” – Fleecing George for bribery money to end his ban.

Kramer also has his own funny analysis: “He’s the Soup Nazi. No one’s allowed to eat in there! NO SOUP FOR YOU!”

Critical Reception

“The Soup Nazi” episode was acclaimed by fans and critics for its hilarious parody of tyrannical restaurant owners. Entertainment Weekly praised the “classic Seinfeld petty annoyances and frustrations” showcased by the Soup Nazi encounters. Tight writing, perfect comedic timing and the novelty of the ruthless soup stand owner character combined to make it an instant classic. The Soup Nazi himself remains one of the most iconic minor characters in TV history.

Larry Thomas earned an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for playing theSoup Nazi. His short but memorable performance had an outsized impact. The catchphrases “No soup for you!” and calling strict rule enforcers “Soup Nazis” remain part of pop culture more than 25 years later.

Impact on Pop Culture

“The Soup Nazi” popularized the phrase “No soup for you!”, which is still widely used today when denying someone a request. Calling someone a “Soup Nazi” is slang comparing them to the tyrannical and overly-regimented character. Some other impacts on pop culture include:

  • The real Soup Kitchen owner Al Yeganeh now markets Seinfeld-themed soups branded “The Original SoupMan” in reference to the episode.
  • An episode of the sitcom Will & Grace was titled “No Soup For You” as an homage.
  • there have been parody sketches and references to the Soup Nazi and his catchphrase across all forms of media, fromTV shows to movies to comics and commercials.
  • Some small business owners in food service have been profiled in the media for having the nickname “SoupNazi” bestowed on them by customers for their strict rules.

The Soup Nazi character also influenced later TV comedies focused on satirizing the service industry. His over-the-top, tyrannical approach toward customers paved the way for similarly eccentric characters.

Conclusion

The Soup Nazi remains one of the most memorable and influential minor characters in sitcom history. His militant enforcement of bizarre edicts at his soup stand, punctuated by his iconic “No soup for you!” catchphrase, is still hilarious over 25 years later. This Seinfeld episode encapsulated the show’s mastery of mining petty annoyances for maximum comedic effect. The Soup Nazi character also left an outsized impact on popular culture and influenced many future comedies. Whenever someone arbitrarily enforces strict rules, they can be called a “Soup Nazi” thanks to this classic Seinfeld installment.