By now, we all know that Terence Winter's script for 2013's The Wolf of Wall Street contained the word "f*ck" not once, but 506 times. Barring the aptly named Fuck, a 2005 documentary detailing a cinematic history of the contentious word, it holds the record for being the single most "f*ck"-filled movie of all time.
Now, take a second to think about how much more interesting The Wolf of Wall Street may have been if Mr. Winter and Mr. Scorsese had decided, as a practice, to pen a different insult every time they wrote the word "f*ck." By merely expending the extra couple minutes of creative energy for every expletive, they might have developed stronger dialogue, leading to stronger characters.
As Burger Fiction shows us in the supercut below, some of cinema's most memorable lines have come from this very exercise. What if Leia had called Han a "a motherf*cker" instead of a "nerfherder?"
But, hey, we liked The Wolf of Wall Street. And within the world of the film, maybe saying "f*ck" all the time makes sense.
We're not saying that you shouldn't be using swear words in your scripts or movies. We're just asking you to think critically. As the story architect, you should know why your character is using a vulgar word at any given point in your script. You should also make sure he or she has earned the right to use it.
As a filmmaker, giving yourself these minor, specific restrictions can boost your creative process. The way a character swears could define his entire personality. But don't just take it from us. Take it from the man whose insults are now exalted as art: William Shakespeare.
Below is an insult kit straight from MIT and the Bard himself to give you a little inspiration and prove just how important a good curse can be.
