Special Report

25 of the Greatest Movie Quotes in History

Ethan Miller / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

Screenwriters don’t always know which one of their lines will become a memorable quote. It’s often a combination of the drama or action in that moment, the character speaking it reaching a pivotal moment, the cinematography and ambience, and of course — the delivery by the actor.

When people think of their favorite movies, chances are the first thing that comes to mind – along with the visual effects if it’s an action movie – is the film’s memorable lines. 

24/7 Tempo reviewed several entertainment sources, including the American Film Institute and movie review sites, to compile a list of 25 of the most famous quotes in the history of American and English-spoken cinema. We only included individual lines, not conversations between characters.

People often relate to characters or the words they speak. Memorable movie phrases have made their way into people’s everyday vocabulary and pop culture.

The most recent film to make the list came courtesy of 2008’s “The Dark Knight.” Perhaps, more time needs to pass until newer releases — and the lines in them — can claim to be timeless. These are the 50 best movies of all time

Click here to see 25 of the greatest movie quotes in history

Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

“Elementary, my dear Watson.”
> Movie: The Return of Sherlock Holmes (1929)
> Starring: Clive Brook, H. Reeves-Smith, Betty Lawford
> Writer(s): Arthur Conan Doyle, Basil Dean, Garrett Fort

Sherlock Holmes has many famous phrases that have been used in different movies about the renowned detective and his protege Dr. Watson. “Elementary, my dear Watson,” in particular, did not appear in the books by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The quote was made popular by a film. In the 1929 adaptation of the book, Holmes (Clive Brook) speaks the line: “”Elementary, my dear Watson, elementary.”

[in-text-ad]

Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios

“Magic Mirror on the wall, who is the fairest one of all?”
> Movie: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
> Starring: Adriana Caselotti, Harry Stockwell, Lucille La Verne
> Writer(s): Brothers Grimm

In all of the Snow White movies, the question to the spirit in the magic mirror, even if it’s changed slightly, is always asked by the Evil Queen. The 1937 animated musical fantasy “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” based on the German fairy tale of the same name written by the Brothers Grimm, is the first full-length animated Walt Disney movie.

Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

“Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn.”
> Movie: Gone With the Wind (1939)
> Starring: Clark Gable, Vivien Leigh, Thomas Mitchell
> Writer(s): Margaret Mitchell, Sidney Howard

“Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn” is the heartbreaking response Rhett Butler (Clark Gable) gives to his self-centered wife Scarlett O’Hara (Vivien Leigh) when she tearfully asks him at the end of the movie “Where shall I go? What shall I do?”

Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

“Toto, I’ve a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore.”
> Movie: The Wizard of Oz (1939)
> Starring: Judy Garland, Frank Morgan, Ray Bolger
> Writer(s): L. Frank Baum, Noel Langley, Edgar Allan Woolf, Florence Ryerson, Noel Langley

A version of Dorothy’s famous line has been used in countless TV shows and feature films, from “Honey, I Shrunk the Kids” to “Avatar” and “Grey’s Anatomy.” There is also Jo Dee Messina’s 1996 hit “You’re Not in Kansas Anymore.”

[in-text-ad-2]

Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

“Here’s looking at you, kid.”
> Movie: Casablanca (1942)
> Starring: Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, Paul Henreid
> Writer(s): Julius J. Epstein, Philip G. Epstein, Philip G. Epstein, Murray Burnett, Joan Alison

“Casablanca” has several memorable scenes and lines, including “We’ll always have Paris” and “I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.” One of the most famous is, “Here’s looking at you, kid.” Today, the line is used informally to express friendly feelings towards one’s drinking companions.

Courtesy of United Artists

“Bond. James Bond.”
> Movie: Dr. No (1962)
> Starring: Sean Connery, Ursula Andress, Bernard Lee
> Writer(s): Richard Maibaum, Johanna Harwood, Berkely Mather, Ian Fleming

Ian Fleming, the author of the James Bond series of spy novels, admitted that he was looking for the most boring name possible for his character. James Bond, after whom the super spy was named, was a famous ornithologist and the author of a birdwatching guide.

[in-text-ad]

Courtesy of United Artists

“They call me Mister Tibbs!”
> Movie: In the Heat of the Night (1967)
> Starring: Sidney Poitier, Rod Steiger, Warren Oates
> Writer(s): Stirling Silliphant, John Ball

The line became so famous that the sequel to “In the Heat of the Night” was titled “They call me Mister Tibbs!” “In the Heat of the Night” won five Oscars, including for best picture and best writing. The line is spoken by detective Virgil Tibbs (Sidney Poitier) after he clashes with a racist police chief who repeatedly calls Tibbs by his first name.

Courtesy of Warner Bros.

“You’ve got to ask yourself one question: ‘Do I feel lucky?’ Well, do ya punk?”
> Movie: Dirty Harry (1971)
> Starring: Clint Eastwood, Andrew Robinson, Harry Guardino
> Writer(s): Harry Julian Fink, Rita M. Fink, Dean Riesner

The line is so popular it has been misquoted many times. Contrary to popular belief, Clint Eastwood, who plays the main character, Harry, does not say “Do you feel lucky, punk?”

Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

“I’m going to make him an offer he can’t refuse.”
> Movie: The Godfather (1972)
> Starring: Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan
> Writer(s): Mario Puzo, Francis Ford Coppola

A variation of “I’m going to make him an offer he can’t refuse” appears in all three Godfather movies. The line may very well be the most famous line spoken by a movie gangster. The line was adapted as is from Mario Puzo’s novel “The Godfather.”

[in-text-ad-2]

Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

“You talkin’ to me?”
> Movie: Taxi Driver (1976)
> Starring: Robert De Niro, Jodie Foster, Cybill Shepherd
> Writer(s): Paul Schrader

Robert De Niro’s performance as a lonely taxi driver in New York City descending into madness is considered one of the greatest of his careers. One of the most famous lines in the film, and in the history of cinema, is “You talkin’ to me?” which De Niro actually improvised.

Courtesy of Lucasfilm Ltd.

“May the Force be with you.”
> Movie: Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope (1977)
> Starring: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher
> Writer(s): George Lucas

Several characters say the famous line in the Star Wars movies. It was first uttered in the first installment of the franchise “Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope” by General Dodonna, a minor character, as he dismisses Rebel troops after a briefing.

[in-text-ad]

Courtesy of Universal Pictures

“Say hello to my little friend!”
> Movie: Scarface (1983)
> Starring: Al Pacino, Michelle Pfeiffer, Steven Bauer
> Writer(s): Oliver Stone

Al Pacino’s little friend in the movie is an M16 automatic machine gun complete with an M203 grenade launcher attachment. The weapon was custom-made for the movie. The attachment was later used in the 1987 movie “Predator” with Arnold Schwarzenegger. The prop sold at an auction in 2015 for $54,400.

Courtesy of Universal Pictures

“Roads? Where we’re going we don’t need roads.”
> Movie: Back to the Future Part II (1989)
> Starring: Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson
> Writer(s): Robert Zemeckis, Bob Gale

The Back to the Future movies were very popular and had many fans in high places, including former President Ronald Reagan. He used the famous line in his State of the Union address in 1986,” saying: “Never has there been a more exciting time to be alive, a time of rousing wonder and heroic achievement. As they said in the film ‘Back to the Future,’ ‘Where we’re going, we don’t need roads.'”

Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures Distribution

“Carpe diem. Seize the day, boys. Make your lives extraordinary.”
> Movie: Dead Poets Society (1989)
> Starring: Robin Williams, Robert Sean Leonard, Ethan Hawke
> Writer(s): Tom Schulman

The hit film, which won an Oscar for best writing, has many memorable moments, especially lines spoken by Robin Williams’ character, English teacher John Keating. The “Carpe Diem” speech is considered one of Williams’ best film moments. Williams was nominated for an Oscar for his portrayal of Keating.

[in-text-ad-2]

Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

“Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in.”
> Movie: The Godfather: Part III (1990)
> Starring: Al Pacino, Diane Keaton, Andy Garcia
> Writer(s): Mario Puzo, Francis Ford Coppola

The line is spoken by Michael Corleone (Al Pacino), who has been the head of the Corleone crime family for about three decades and is trying to become a legitimate businessman. The line is in response to him finding out he is being double-crossed by others in the mafia determined to spoil his move to legitimacy.

Courtesy of TriStar Pictures

“Hasta la vista, baby.”
> Movie: Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
> Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, Edward Furlong
> Writer(s): James Cameron, William Wisher

“Hasta la vista,” which means “until the (next) sighting” in Spanish but is used as a way of saying goodbye, with the addition of “baby” was already a famous term in pop culture. It was used in the 1987 song “Looking for new love” by Jody Watley and “Wild Thing” by Tone Loc. The line was immortalized in the second Terminator movie, when John Connor (Edward Furlong) teaches The Terminator (Arnold Schwarzenegger) how to say the slang and later again when she destroys T-1000, a shapeshifting android assassin.

[in-text-ad]

Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

“You can’t handle the truth!”
> Movie: A Few Good Men (1992)
> Starring: Tom Cruise, Jack Nicholson, Demi Moore
> Writer(s): Aaron Sorkin

The famous line is spoken by Col. Nathan R. Jessup (Jack Nicholson) during a court room scene in which Jessup is being questioned by Lt. Daniel Kafee (Tom Cruise). Jessup breaks under pressure from Kafee who is trying to get him to admit he has something to do with the death of a young soldier.

Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

“There’s no crying in baseball!”
> Movie: A League of Their Own (1992)
> Starring: Tom Hanks, Geena Davis, Lori Petty
> Writer(s): Kim Wilson, Kelly Candaele, Lowell Ganz, Babaloo Mandel

The famous line is spoken by Tom Hanks, who plays the coach of an all-woman baseball team and is being rough with them (at least at the beginning of his tenure). He yells at one of the players for making a bad throw, at which point she starts crying. That prompts him to get even louder and meaner.

Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

“They may take our lives, but they’ll never take our freedom!”
> Movie: Braveheart (1995)
> Starring: Mel Gibson, Sophie Marceau, Patrick McGoohan
> Writer(s): Randall Wallace

The famous line is spoken by William Wallace (Mel Gibson) when he leads the Scottish uprising against British rule in this 13th century period piece. Gibson also directed the movie and won two Oscars for best picture and best director.

[in-text-ad-2]

Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures

“To infinity and beyond!”
> Movie: Toy Story (1995)
> Starring: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Don Rickles
> Writer(s): John Lasseter, Pete Docter, Andrew Stanton, Joe Ranft, Joss Whedon, Joel Cohen, Alec Sokolow

“To infinity and beyond!” is Buzz Lightyear’s famous catchphrase from the Toy Story movies. The phrase has been seen on many T-shirts and was even used by NASA.

Courtesy of Universal Pictures

“Houston, we have a problem.”
> Movie: Apollo 13 (1995)
> Starring: Tom Hanks, Bill Paxton, Kevin Bacon
> Writer(s): Jim Lovell, Jeffrey Kluger, William Broyles Jr., Al Reinert

The famous line is spoken by Commander Jim Lovell (Tom Hanks) when a problem with the oxygen tanks occurred. The original phrase, “Houston, we’ve had a problem,” was used by astronaut John Swigert, the command module pilot, to alert NASA that one of the oxygen tanks aboard the spacecraft exploded.

[in-text-ad]

Courtesy of TriStar Pictures

“You had me at hello.”
> Movie: Jerry Maguire (1996)
> Starring: Tom Cruise, Cuba Gooding Jr., Renée Zellweger
> Writer(s): Cameron Crowe

The full line is “Shut up. Just shut up. You had me at hello. You had me at hello.” It’s spoken by Dorothy Boyd (Renée Zellweger) when Jerry Maguire (Tom Cruise) shows up at her house to win her back. In this conversation Maguire speaks another very famous line: “You complete me.”

Courtesy of TriStar Pictures

“Show me the money!”
> Movie: Jerry Maguire (1996)
> Starring: Tom Cruise, Cuba Gooding Jr., Renée Zellweger
> Writer(s): Cameron Crowe

Rod Tidwell (Cuba Gooding Jr.) yells “Show me the money!” at Jerry Maguire (Tom Cruise) because Tidwell wants Maguire, who is his sports agent, to convince him to stay on as his client, and the way to do that is simple — to shout “show me the money” into the phone.

Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

“I’m the king of the world!”
> Movie: Titanic (1997)
> Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, Billy Zane
> Writer(s): James Cameron

One of the most famous lines of the movie “Titanic” may have not made it into the film at all because Leonardo DiCaprio did not want to say it. Director James Cameron made it up on the spot after trying numerous other lines when Jack (DiCaprio) stands at the front of the ship with his friend, putting his arms out and shouting, “I’m the king of the world.” Cameron also shouted it when accepting his Oscar for Best Director.

[in-text-ad-2]

Courtesy of Warner Bros.

“Why so serious?”
> Movie: The Dark Knight (2008)
> Starring: Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Aaron Eckhart
> Writer(s): Jonathan Nolan, Christopher Nolan, David S. Goyer, Bob Kane

The Joker (Heath Ledger) asks “Why so serious?” when he tells a person he is about to kill the story of how he got the scars on his face.

Get Ready To Retire (Sponsored)

Start by taking a quick retirement quiz from SmartAsset that will match you with up to 3 financial advisors that serve your area and beyond in 5 minutes, or less.

Each advisor has been vetted by SmartAsset and is held to a fiduciary standard to act in your best interests.

Here’s how it works:
1. Answer SmartAsset advisor match quiz
2. Review your pre-screened matches at your leisure. Check out the advisors’ profiles.
3. Speak with advisors at no cost to you. Have an introductory call on the phone or introduction in person and choose whom to work with in the future

Get started right here.

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.