Context

This line is spoken by Dr. David Banner, played by Bill Bixby, in the TV show The Incredible Hulk (1978).

Bruce Banner and the Hulk are the Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde of the pop culture world. One is mild-mannered; the other is a beast consumed by uncontrollable rage.

When Dr. Banner gets angry—like when Starbucks puts soy milk instead of almond milk in his venti half-caff double mocha—he turns big and green and smashes things.

In the opening sequence to the 1978 TV show, Dr. Banner tells Mr. McGee, the investigative journalist chasing him, "Mr. McGee, Don't make me angry. You wouldn't like me when I'm angry." These lines serve as threat and warning, like "I'm going to kick your nosy butt…but I really don't want to."

Where you've heard it

This is the iconic phrase for the Hulk, and it serves as a warning to anybody who might be on the verge of a beat-down. 

But it has also morphed into a meme "You wouldn't like me when I'm hungry." And in The Incredible Hulk, Edward Norton combines the two, saying, "Don't make me… hungry." Because you wouldn't like him when he's hangry.

Additional Notable References

• The new Battlestar Galactica used the line twice.
• Orange is the New Black did, too.
• Check out Lou Ferrigno, who played the Hulk, on The King of Queens.

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.

While it's nice of you to warn someone you're about to pop off on, chances are you aren't going to transform into a big green monster. So if you use this line, make sure you can walk the walk as well as talk the talk.