Bonus Points

"Bonus points if..." is a Stock Phrase used to indicate that an act will be considered better, funnier, cooler, or otherwise more extreme if it meets certain criteria. If doing a backflip is awesome, then doing a backflip must be extra-awesome, and thus receives "bonus points". Note that these points are purely imaginary - nobody is keeping a tally and the Stock Phrase is used in a context where there isn't even a point scoring system, let alone bonuses. Bonus points are often awarded in trope descriptions and examples, but the phrase is also common in Real Life. There are also several variations, most commonly "Bonus points for doing X" or "For bonus points, do X".

When describing an example or a trope, bonus points are often given for "optional extras" which are not strictly required for the trope, but which are commonly associated with it. They may also be given for things which add context to an example in a way which makes it exceptionally awesome, funny, or a particularly clear embodiment of the trope.

50 Bonus points if the speaker actually quantifies the amount of points up for grabs.

For the use of actual points in Video Games, see Scoring Points. For Game Shows where the points are tracked but nobody cares, see The Points Mean Nothing.

Live Action TV
"Shawn: Well, Dad, thanks for trying. And bonus points for using the word 'jackass' in another conversation unironically."
 * Psych, from "A Very Juliet Episode":

"Abby: It's not like they have any new ideas. It's just so...
 * House, displaying his usual Dr. Jerk persona in the episode "Humpty Dumpty": "Do I get bonus points if I act like I care?"
 * NCIS, from "Split Decision":

Ducky: The song remains the same?

Abby: Exactly. And bonus points for the gratuitous rock reference."


 * In another episode, Abby explained that the victim, while being held prisoner in her captors' bathroom, had deliberately overdosed on eye medication in an attempt to thwart their plot to use her to get past the retina scan that was guarding information they wanted to steal. "It didn't work, but points for the MacGyver."

Video Games
"Paine: You're a pain. Minus four respect points.
 * In Final Fantasy X-2, Rikku starts irritating Paine.

Rikku: Uh-oh. How many points left?

Paine: Forty-seven.

Rikku: That's not a whole lot, is it?"

"Rikku:I still kinda want to know what happened.
 * And when the main conversation resumes, Rikku continues to annoy Paine.

Paine: That's forty-six."

Webcomics
"Marten: I just didn't want you to feel like you wouldn't be missed.
 * In Questionable Content:
 * Dora asks Faye to name her top five favorite bands to make a point about her indie bias. When she answers with four obscure bands and Slayer, Dora (who is a goth) says "Bonus points for liking Slayer, but my point is still proven".
 * During Sven's first scene, he gives Faye bonus points for making some Added Alliterative Appeal.
 * Inverted shortly after the Wham! Episode, when Faye leaves for Georgia temporarily as part of the result:

Faye: While you lose points for the convoluted sentence structure, I appreciate the sentiment."

"Wight #1: "Did that halfling just hit me in the face with a pineapple?"
 * Order of the Stick:

Wight #2: "I think he did. Also, I think no one has ever asked that exact question in the history of civilization, so bonus points there.""

Real Life
"04 CBJAC 040.010 Scenic vistas.
 * Juneau, Alaska:

(a) Policy. Development which is designed and sited on land in such a way as to preserve scenic vistas visible from public places may be awarded bonus points."