What makes a simple line of dialog in a movie become one of the most famous movie quotes? One that everyone seems to know? It’s a factor of great writing, precise timing, and professional delivery by the actor.
Throughout the decades the best movies have contributed famous lines to our popular lexicon. In many instances, we say these lines without knowing from where they originally came.
This is what makes a great movie quote: when a spoken line leaves its mark on society beyond the movie itself. It becomes woven into our expressive language and way of talking.
CONTENTS:
Famous movie quotes: the greatest of all time
You’ll instantly recognize these famous movie quotes from some of the best movies ever produced.
1.) “Here’s looking at you, kid.”
Humphrey Bogart, Casablanca, 1942
2.) “Toto, I’ve a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore.”
Judy Garland, The Wizard of Oz, 1939
3.) “May the Force be with you.”
Harrison Ford, Star Wars, 1977
4.) “Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn.”
Clark Gable, Gone with the Wind, 1939
5.) “I’m gonna make him an offer he can’t refuse.”
Marlon Brando, The Godfather, 1972
6.) “The first rule of Fight Club is: You do not talk about Fight Club.”
Brad Pitt, Fight Club, 1999
7.) “I am your father.”
James Earl Jones, Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, 1980
Funny movie quote from Caddyshack
Golf course groundskeeper Carl Spackler, played by Bill Murray, describes his putting game as he hunts for a pesky gopher digging holes on the course.
8.) “Cinderella story. Outta nowhere. A former greenskeeper, now, about to become the Masters champion. It looks like a mirac… It’s in the hole! It’s in the hole! It’s in the hole!”
Bill Murray, Caddyshack, 1980
Inspirational movie quotes
These inspirational and motivational movie quotes are just what you need to put a positive spin on life’s adventures.
9.) “I’m the king of the world!”
Leonardo DiCaprio, Titanic, 1997
10.) “Just keep swimming!”
Ellen DeGeneres, Finding Nemo, 2003
11.) “To infinity and beyond!”
Tim Allen, Toy Story, 1995
12.) “I feel the need — the need for speed!”
Tom Cruise and Anthony Edwards, Top Gun, 1986
Romance: Movie quotes about love
Hollywood’s perspective on love ranges from romantic dramas to snarky rom-coms. Here are some of the best movie quotes related to love and romance.
13.) “Play it, Sam. Play ‘As Time Goes By.'”
Ingrid Bergman, Casablanca, 1942
14.) “You had me at ‘hello.'”
Renée Zellweger, Jerry Maguire, 1996
15.) “Love means never having to say you’re sorry.”
Ali McGraw, Love Story, 1970
16.) “Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, she walks into mine.”
Humphrey Bogart, Casablanca, 1942
17.) “Mrs. Robinson, you’re trying to seduce me. Aren’t you?”
Dustin Hoffman, The Graduate, 1967
Check out these movie quotes for weddings.
Flirty sayings
18.) “You know how to whistle, don’t you, Steve? You just put your lips together and blow.”
Lauren Bacall, To Have and Have Not, 1944
19.) “Why don’t you come up sometime and see me?”
Mae West, She Done Him Wrong, 1933
20.) “I’ll have what she’s having.”
Estelle Reiner, When Harry Met Sally…, 1989
Movie quotes about life
Here are two of our favorite quotes about life from famous movies — wise words to live by.
21.) “Mama always said life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.”
Tom Hanks, Forrest Gump, 1994
22.) “There’s no place like home.”
Judy Garland, The Wizard of Oz, 1939
Movie genre quotes
Whether from tough guys like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Clint Eastwood or smooth operators like Sean Connery and Al Pacino, these famous movie sayings will make anyone sound cool.
Famous action movie quotes
23.) “I’ll be back.”
Arnold Schwarzenegger, The Terminator, 1984
24.) “You’ve got to ask yourself one question: ‘Do I feel lucky?’ Well, do ya, punk?”
Clint Eastwood, Dirty Harry, 1971
25.) “Hasta la vista, baby.”
Arnold Schwarzenegger, Terminator 2: Judgment Day, 1991
Cool movie quotes
26.) “Go ahead, make my day.”
Clint Eastwood, Sudden Impact, 1983
27.) “A martini. Shaken, not stirred.”
Sean Connery, Goldfinger, 1964
28.) “You talkin’ to me?”
Robert De Niro, Taxi Driver, 1976
29.) “What we’ve got here is failure to communicate.”
Strother Martin, Cool Hand Luke, 1967
30.) “I love the smell of napalm in the morning.”
Robert Duvall, Apocalypse Now, 1979
Sayings from drama movies
31.) “You can’t handle the truth!”
Jack Nicholson, A Few Good Men, 1992
32.) “Say ‘hello’ to my little friend!”
Al Pacino, Scarface, 1983
About sports
Sports-movie aficionados will instantly recognize these classic lines.
33.) “If you build it, he will come.”
Ray Liotta, Field of Dreams, 1989
34.) “There’s no crying in baseball!”
Tom Hanks, A League of Their Own, 1992
35.) “Today, I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the Earth.”
Gary Cooper, The Pride of the Yankees, 1942
Famous horror movie quote
A quote from quite possibly the best horror movie ever made.
36.) “It’s alive! It’s alive!”
Colin Clive, Frankenstein, 1931
Scary movie quotes
These dramatic lines left us all on the edge of our seats.
37.) “I’ll get you, my pretty, and your little dog too!”
Margaret Hamilton, The Wizard of Oz, 1939
38.) “A census taker once tried to test me. I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice Chianti.”
Anthony Hopkins, The Silence of the Lambs, 1991
39.) “Take your stinking paws off me, you damned dirty ape.”
Charlton Heston, Planet of the Apes, 1968
40.) “You’re gonna need a bigger boat.”
Roy Scheider, Jaws, 1975
41.) “Soylent Green is people!”
Charlton Heston, Soylent Green, 1973
Short movie quotes
The best short movie quotes presented for your enjoyment, because “brevity is the soul of wit.” (As William Shakespeare said in “Hamlet”)
42.) “Yo, Adrian!”
Sylvester Stallone, Rocky, 1976
43.) “Here’s Johnny!”
Jack Nicholson, The Shining, 1980
44.) “Bond. James Bond.”
Sean Connery, Dr. No, 1962
45.) “E.T. phone home.”
Pat Welsh, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, 1982
46.) “Inconceivable!”
Wallace Shawn, The Princess Bride, 1987
47.) “Plastics.”
Walter Brooke, The Graduate, 1967
48.) “They’re heeeeere.”
Heather O’Rourke, Poltergeist, 1982
49.) “My precious.”
Andy Serkis, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, 2002
Movie quotes about money
Hollywood wisdom you can take to the bank.
50.) “Show me the money!”
Cuba Gooding Jr., Jerry Maguire, 1996
51.) “A million dollars isn’t cool. You know what’s cool? A billion dollars.”
Andrew Garfield, The Social Network, 2010
How to use famous movie quotes
You can use movie quotes for many special occasions (and in every day life!), including:
- Graduation – Send your graduate off with an inspiring line.
- Yearbook – Leave your mark with a quote everyone will remember.
- Birthdays – Say ‘happy birthday’ to loved ones by including a movie quote in their birthday card.
- Goodbyes – “Hasta la vista, baby” says it all!
- Instagram captions – Your friends will ‘like’ what you have to say when you use a famous movie line.
We hope you’ve enjoyed this look at the most famous movie quotes. Here are some other lists you might enjoy:
Famous Toasts from Movies
The Cats We Love in TV and Movies
Bollywood Movies and Music
By Greg Johnson | Published 8/3/2022
