Every Jon Bernthal "Let Me Tell You Something," Ranked

Published Jul 23, 2026, 3:33 PM EDT Michael Block is a 14 time GLAM Award nominated writer, producer, and host of the podcast Block Talk. Throughout his time in the entertainment industry, he has worked on and off Broadway as a stage manager, written several produced plays, critiqued hundreds of theatrical performances, drag and cabaret shows, and has produced events randing from drag competitoons to variety concerts! On Block Talk, he interviews nightlife personalities, covers the wide world of entertainment through features, ranking episodes, and recaps ALL of Drag Race, as well as Dragula and Survivor. He has interviewed hundreds of RuGirls that span the globe at DragCon NYC, DragCon LA, and DragCon UK. In his free time, he makes one-of-a-kind jewelry and gift baskets with his mom. He is a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community. Sign in to your Collider account Every so often, a movie or TV quote will follow an actor because of how iconic it is — think Arnold Schwarzenegger's "I'll be back" or Judy Garland's "There's no place like home." But once the line is said, they're ingrained to that specific project. Unless you're Jon Bernthal and a random colloquialism not only follows you around, it gets worked into nearly every project you're a part of. Bernthal is known for some big, intense, over-the-top roles who just happen to have a desire to "tell you something." Ever since his character on The Walking Dead said, "Let me tell you something," a variation of that statement seemed to be worked in to every project. Whether intentionally or through improvisation, it's become a part of the actor. So much so, YouTube users and TikTok creators have given the gift of video compilations. Inspired by the viral, years-long meme, we are here to celebrate Bernthal, and many of the times his characters had something to tell! And yes, any variation of the phrase is fair game. 11 Daniel James - 'Snitch' (2013) Image via Summit Entertainment. Bernthal can play the good guy or the bad guy. Either way, he's bringing an edge to any project. Such is the case in 2013's Snitch, where Bernthal plays Daniel James, an ex-con construction worker who gets dragged into an undercover Drug Enforcement Administration operation. Employed by John Matthews (Dwayne Johnson), Daniel is forced to act as a bridge to an underground drug dealer in order to infiltrate a cartel and save his son. In a memorable moment, Bernthal's Daniel has something to say during his face-to-face offer with John. When he's offered ten grand to make the connection he needs, Daniel is far too concerned about making a better life rather than doing 25 years in the slammer for conspiracy. "Like I said," Daniel tells him, "I'm in the middle of trying to get my life in order. And I'm doing that for my family." Daniel, at first, doesn't know that his new cohort is an informant. In the end, after a perilous ordeal, John and Daniel succeed, with Daniel being left the large federal reward check. 10 Detective Jack Harper - 'His & Hers' (2026) Image via Netflix In Netflix's 2026 miniseries His & Hers, there is a lot to reveal, but first, Bernthal's hard-boiled cop has something to say. In the mystery thriller, two estranged spouses— Atlanta news reporter Anna Andrews (Tessa Thompson) and local detective Jack Harper (Bernthal)—must vie to solve a grisly murder case in their hometown of Dahlonega, Georgia. The trouble is, they each believe that the other might be the prime suspect. Bernthal embraces his iconic catchphrase as it's inherent to the character. He's a gruff, determined cop who is bogged down by the past, while trying to keep control of the present. The catchphrase comes during a heart-to-heart between Jack and Anna, where he says, "Maybe I should have said something" regarding his knowledge about one of the crimes. The conversation eventually turns to their deceased daughter and the reasons for their eventual separation, making it a crucial part of the narrative. 9 Braxton Wolff - 'The Accountant' (2016) Image via Warner Bros. Many actors have a brotherly connection on and off-screen with Ben Affleck, and in 2016, Bernthal was added to the list after the pair co-starred in the action thriller The Accountant. In the original film, Bernthal plays Braxton Wolff, the estranged hitman brother of Christian (Affleck). The two share a tense, combative dynamic that eventually culminates in a major action-packed climax. The pair were so good together, they reunited for The Accountant 2, where Bernthal had the chance to bring more of his trademark gravelly energy with a bit more comedy infused. In the first film, one of the most iconic scenes in the climax is when Christian ambushes Living Robotics CEO Lamar Blackburn's (John Lithgow) mansion. As he begins taking out the security, Braxton asks one of the guards this: "You ever see a match-grade round traveling 3000 feet per second go through a window?" Said bullet breaks through and kills the guard, with Brax finishing, "Nobody does." Though the signature words may not be uttered, the sentiment is ever-present. The line leads to a high-octane shootout before the estranged brothers finally come to terms. 8 Meneleus - 'The Odyssey' (2026) Image via Universal Pictures While the "Let me tell you something" meme has been circulating for years, it reemerged recently thanks to The Odyssey. In an interview with CBR, Bernthal reveals he can't seem to escape it. He reveals to his co-star, Lupita Nyong'o, how it came to be and how it has been a part of almost every script since The Walking Dead. "It's even in the play I'm doing," he reveals in reference to Dog Day Afternoon. In reference to its origin in The Walking Dead, Bernthal said, "It made sense for this guy. So I started throwing it in a lot. I mean, you could watch hours of me just saying that. But it's in every script." In The Odyssey, Bernthal plays Menelaus, the king of Sparta and husband of Helen of Troy (Nyong'o). It's an important role early on when he meets Telemachus (Tom Holland) and recounts old stories of the Trojan War and the infamous Trojan horse. Their conversation helps young Telemachus on his search for his father. When Telemachus asks if he should kill all the adversaries at home, Menelaus responds in the closest to modern "Let me tell you something," by saying. Very soon, Holland may get to act opposite Bernthal, with him saying the real version of the quote, as they will appear together in Spider-Man: Brand New Day. 7 Rick Macci - 'King Richard' (2021) Image via Warner Bros. There are some outliers to Bernthal's career that don't see him portraying a gritty and gruff guy, like King Richard. The film tells the story of Richard Williams (Will Smith), the father and coach of famed tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams (Saniyya Sidney and Demi Singleton). On their journey to becoming the best in the world, part of their training came through Rick Macci (Bernthal),a dedicated coach who runs a tennis academy in Florida and had a pivotal role in their young girls' journey. Rick has a very sports-first mentality, which goes against everything Richard believes in. At the Williams' home, Rick confronts Richard, "I'll tell you what, man. I'm getting pretty tired of your games." He does not agree that the girls should be pulled out of juniors or tennis lessons for "homework, music lessons, or church," but Richard firmly has a rule that it's straight As or they can't play tennis. The coach-versus-coach showdown eventually leads to the revelation that Richard is going behind Rick's back and having his girls trained by other trainers as well. 6 Sergeant Wayne Jenkins - 'We Own This City' (2022) Image via HBO If you've watched any Bernthal viral videos, and you see him portray a cop but are unsure what the project was, well, here's your answer: We Own This City! In the 2022 HBO miniseries, the true-crime story chronicles the rise and fall of the Baltimore Police Department's corrupt Gun Trace Task Force. Based on the book by Justin Fenton, the series was brought to life by the team behind The Wire. Bernthal plays Sergeant Wayne Jenkins, a central figure in the GTTF. Tacking onto the viral meme, Bernthal's Jenkins is quite fond of dropping variations of his signature catchphrase throughout the series. It was often used in motivational speeches or when he believed he was in full dominance. From "Imma tell you right now" and "I'll tell you what," to "boy, I tell you what" and "I'll tell you that right now," the 8-episode miniseries was littered with Bernthal-isms. Bernthal's character had a real-life counterpart, and let me tell you something, he was eventually sentenced to 25 years in federal prison for racketeering, robbery, and extortion. 5 Cole D. Walker - 'Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Breakpoint' (2019) Image via Ubisoft And now for something completely different, we are going to venture into the world of video games, specifically Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Breakpoint. In the open-world tactical shooter, you play as Nomad, an elite U.S. Special Forces soldier stranded behind enemy lines. Your unit is sent to the fictional high-tech island of Aurora to investigate Skell Technology, but you discover the island has been overtaken by "The Wolves," a rogue, lethal unit of ex-military operatives led by a former comrade. And that, my friends, is Colonel Cole D. Walker. Bernthal provided both the voice and the full motion-capture performance for the character, acting as the main antagonist and the ruthless leader of the military faction. You must face off against Walker's elite forces to survive, as long as you don't chuckle at the Bernthal moments that seeped in. Throughout the game, the line is dropped, including the word-for-word "Let me tell you something." It's infused so colloquially that you might even miss it because it's natural to the character. 4 Brad Bodnick - 'The Wolf of Wall Street' (2013) Image via Paramount Pictures Many performers fit right into the world of Martin Scorsese, so it was only a matter of time before Bernthal would collaborate with the legendary director. He got his chance in 2013's The Wolf of Wall Street, playing Brad Bodnick, a tough, street-smart drug dealer and money launderer who is a close associate of Leonardo DiCaprio's Jordan Belfort. Bodnick is a key player in laundering Belfort's illicit profits while acting as a tough-guy counterweight to the eccentric corporate stockbrokers. Bernthal brings the grit to Bodnick thanks to on-set improvisation, including the infamous "sell me this pen" scene. Bernthal revealed on Hot Ones how the moment went down and how the reactions on screen were genuine. As far as the derivative of the Bernthal line, he drops "I'm telling you right now" to Belfort after Donnie Azoff (Jonah Hill) attempts to tell him and the girls how things are going to operate. In an expletive-laden rant, Bodnick sets his terms, until Belfort and Azoff face off, with the latter eventually down on the ground. It's a funny scene, if you are willing to accept the slurs. 3 Jon Bernthal - Various Interviews Image via ABC The birth of "Let me tell you something'' may have happened through a character, but the truth is, it was always inherently a part of Bernthal off-screen. He is a very expressive and excitable individual, so variations of his infamous line come out in nearly every interview he does during his press tours. Once, sitting across from Jimmy Kimmel on Jimmy Kimmel Live, it was, "I'll tell you what, man." Another appearance was, "I'll tell you why." That exact phrase was used while sitting down with Desus Nice and The Kid Mero on their Showtime show Desus & Mero. Other variations have arrived alongside Conan O'Brien, Hot Ones, the podcast Lives That Speak, and many more. Even in his recent interview for The Odyssey with Seth Meyers on Late Night, Bernthal says, "I'll tell you," before responding to the size of Broadway dressing rooms and why you don't go there for the "perks" or "frills." The reason why this line comes up so often is because it has been ingrained in the actor. Bernthal may be in on the joke now, but he's certainly not censoring it. 2 Frank Castle - Marvel Cinematic Universe (2016-Present) Image via Marvel Studios Bernthal's Frank Castle has something to tell everyone in every series he's in. Castle is a former U.S. Marine and veteran of a covert squad who wages a brutal, no-nonsense war on organized crime and corruption using conventional firearms and guerrilla warfare. He is driven into a transformation as a vigilante by the tragic murder of his wife and children. Bernthal's first appearance as Castle was during Season 2 of Daredevil. Though he asks, "Can I say something?" while he's on the stand later in the season, the explosive versions of the line come in quite a few confrontations, including when he has Matt Murdock, aka Daredevil (Charlie Cox), in his possession. "I'll tell you what, they better not miss," he tells the masked hero in case someone tries to shoot him up. But Castle really lays it on thick as the lead of his own series, The Punisher. Murdock and Castle reunite in Daredevil: Born Again, in which they both have a lot to tell the other. Bernthal returned to a solo venture as Castle in The Punisher: One Last Kill, a Marvel Television Special Presentation. And soon, Castle will probably have something to say to Peter Parker. Collider Exclusive · Marvel Personality Quiz Which MCU Hero Are You? Spider-Man · Daredevil · Iron Man · Punisher · Thor · Cap Six heroes. One destiny. Answer 10 questions to discover which Marvel Cinematic Universe hero shares your personality, values, and fighting spirit. Will you swing, fly, or thunder your way to glory? 🕷️Spider-Man 😈Daredevil 🤖Iron Man 💀Punisher ⚡Thor 🛡️Cap FIND YOUR HERO → 01 What drives you to do what's right? Choose the answer that feels most like you. AWith great power comes great responsibility — I protect those who can't protect themselves. BMy faith and my conscience — I believe justice must be served, even in the dark. CLegacy and ego, honestly — but I've learned that others depend on me now. DThe system failed. Someone has to make sure the guilty actually pay. EDuty to the innocent and honour to my name — I was born to protect realms. FThe values I was raised with — freedom, decency, and never backing down from a bully. NEXT QUESTION → 02 It's 2 AM. Where are you? Your answer says more about you than you'd think. ASwinging between skyscrapers, keeping an eye on the neighbourhood. BRunning rooftops in Hell's Kitchen, listening for trouble. CIn my lab, upgrading my suit with a cold cup of coffee nearby. DStaking out a target I've been tracking for three weeks. ESomewhere between the stars, or at a feast that got out of hand. FOn a morning run — I was up at 4, actually. Couldn't sleep. NEXT QUESTION → 03 How do you handle a villain who keeps escaping justice? Every hero has a method. What's yours? AWeb them up and leave them for the police — again. BBuild an airtight case and dismantle their entire operation from the inside. CDeploy a containment system I designed specifically for them. Tech wins. DMake sure they don't escape a third time. Permanently. EChallenge them to single combat. Honour demands a decisive end. FRally allies, adapt the plan, and bring them in — by the book, even if it's hard. NEXT QUESTION → 04 How do you feel about keeping a secret identity? The mask — or the lack of one — says everything. AEssential — my loved ones would be in danger if anyone found out who I am. BCritical — the mask protects my mission as much as my face. COverrated — I announced myself to the world and I'd do it again. DI'm a ghost. The less people know about me, the better. EMy name is known across the Nine Realms. There's no hiding it. FI don't hide — but I understand why some need to. Transparency builds trust. NEXT QUESTION → 05 You've lost someone important because of your heroism. How do you carry that? Every hero pays a price. The question is how they pay it. AWith guilt that never fully goes away — it pushes me to do better, every single day. BI channel it into purpose — their memory is the reason I keep fighting. CI buried myself in work for years. I'm only recently learning to face it. DIt transformed me completely. I'm not the same person I was before. EWith warrior's grief — I honour them by fighting with everything I have. FI keep moving forward. Stopping means letting the loss win. NEXT QUESTION → 06 What's your role when working with a team? Who you are under pressure is who you actually are. AThe enthusiastic wildcard who somehow makes it work — and keeps the mood up. BThe strategist who works best alone but shows up when it matters most. CThe one who funds it, equips it, and occasionally takes over the whole operation. DI don't do teams. I'm more effective operating solo, on my terms. EThe heavy hitter — I crash in, draw fire, and turn the tide of battle. FThe leader — I earn trust, build the plan, and make sure no one gets left behind. NEXT QUESTION → 07 Where do you draw the line between justice and revenge? The answer defines what kind of hero you really are. AClearly — I don't kill, and I wrestle with that line constantly. BI try to hold the line, but I've come terrifyingly close to crossing it. CPractically — I do what's necessary to protect people, including hard calls. DI crossed that line long ago. What I do is justice — the system just won't admit it. EIn battle, victory is justice. Mercy is earned — not automatic. FFirmly. The moment we abandon our principles, we become what we fight against. NEXT QUESTION → 08 When you're not saving the world, what does life look like? The person behind the mask is always the more interesting story. ATrying to juggle school, a part-time job, and not failing my friends. BWorking as a lawyer by day, fighting for justice in court and on the streets. CRunning a global company, attending galas, and pretending I'm sleeping enough. DQuiet. Isolated. Surviving with a clear mission and no distractions. ENavigating a bizarre and fascinating mortal world — coffee is extraordinary. FAdapting to a world decades ahead of everything I knew. Quietly, stubbornly. NEXT QUESTION → 09 What keeps you up at night? Fear is useful data — if you're honest about what you're actually afraid of. AThe people I couldn't save — and the ones I might not reach in time tomorrow. BWhether the monster I fight every night is starting to live inside me too. CThe threats I can see coming and whether my tech is actually good enough. DNothing. Silence is the only peace I get. I've made my choices. EWhether I'm truly worthy — of the hammer, of the throne, of the people I protect. FA world where no one stands up anymore. Where good people do nothing. NEXT QUESTION → 10 The battle is lost. You're outnumbered, outgunned, and exhausted. What do you do? This is your tiebreaker — choose carefully. ACrack a joke to buy a second, then find the one web shot that changes everything. BBlock out everything except the sound of the next threat — and keep going. CActivate the emergency protocol I built for exactly this scenario. Always have a plan. DI don't accept that it's lost. I keep fighting until I physically cannot anymore. ECall the lightning. All of it. The storm answers to me. FPick up the shield. Stand up. Because as long as I can stand, it's not over. REVEAL MY HERO → Your Hero Has Been Identified Your MCU Hero Is…Based on your answers, the Marvel hero who matches your spirit, values, and instincts has been revealed. 🕷️ Spider-ManYou carry the weight of the world on shoulders that are younger than they should have to be — funny, loyal, and endlessly self-sacrificing. You do the right thing not because it's easy, but because no one else will. You understand that responsibility isn't a burden you choose — it's one that finds you. Whether it's a neighbourhood mugging or a multiverse crisis, you show up. Peter Parker's lesson — that great power demands great responsibility — isn't a slogan to you. It's the code you live by, even when it costs you everything. 😈 DaredevilYou fight in the shadows between law and chaos, guided by a fierce moral compass that refuses to let the guilty walk free. You use every tool available — your mind, your body, your faith — to protect those the system overlooks. You've looked into the darkness and chosen not to become it, though the line has never been easy. Matt Murdock's duality — champion in the courtroom, devil in the alley — mirrors your own. Relentless, conflicted, and unwilling to stop. That is exactly you. 🤖 Iron ManBrilliant, driven, and occasionally insufferable — but always the person who solves the unsolvable problem. You lead with your mind and back it up with resources, innovation, and a stubbornness that borders on heroic. You started out looking out for yourself, but somewhere along the way the world became your responsibility. Tony Stark's arc — from ego to sacrifice — is your arc too. You build, you plan, and when the moment comes, you're willing to give everything. Because in the end, you're Iron Man. 💀 The PunisherYou've been through fire that would break most people — and it did change you, completely. What's left is unyielding, relentless, and operating by a code forged in grief. You don't ask for forgiveness, and you don't expect gratitude. You see a corrupt, broken world and you've decided to do something about it, consequences be damned. Frank Castle's war is born from love twisted by loss — and so is yours. Uncompromising and unflinching — the world may not agree with your methods, but your conviction is absolute. ⚡ ThorPowerful, proud, and on a lifelong journey to become worthy of the legend you carry. You lead with strength but have learned — sometimes painfully — that true greatness comes from humility and growth. You're larger than life, yet more vulnerable than you let on. Thor's story is one of transformation: from arrogant prince to worthy king, from isolated warrior to beloved protector. You bring the storm when it's needed — and the warmth when it matters just as much. 🛡️ Captain AmericaYou believe in something bigger than yourself — and you fight for it even when the world has moved on and nobody else will. You don't bully the small guy, and you never stop when it gets hard. Steve Rogers didn't become a hero when he got the serum — he was always one. So were you. Your strength isn't in your fists; it's in your refusal to compromise what's right, no matter the cost. In a world full of people taking the easy road, you're the one who picks up the shield and stands up — every single time. ↻ RETAKE THE QUIZ