Movie lines can be great for any number of reasons. They might be funny, moving, or intimidating. But if there’s one thing all great movie quotes have in common, they’re unforgettable. Here are the lines we still can’t forget.
“Here’s looking at you, kid.” – Casablanca
In the romantic drama Casablanca, Humphrey Bogart plays nightclub owner Rick Blaine, a cynical American expatriate. Still bitter over his lover Ilsa’s (Ingrid Bergman) abrupt departure, he is shocked to see her again, now with her husband. The line “Here’s looking at you, kid” perfectly reflects their shared but impossible love.
“Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn.” – Gone with the Wind
Gone with the Wind is one of the most iconic movies, featuring Rhett Butler (Clark Gable) and Scarlett O’Hara’s tumultuous (Vivien Leigh) relationship. After the two fighting and making up for the whole movie, Rhett’s final words as he walks out on Scarlett are a defiant declaration of his intent to be free of it all. Actor Gable broke the Hollywood code at the time, with the original line being “I don’t give a hoot”.
“I’m gonna make him an offer he can’t refuse.” – The Godfather
The first Godfather movie introduces us to Vito Corleone, patriarch of his mafia family. Although the words “I’m gonna make him an offer he can’t refuse” are not actually threatening, actor Marlon Brando delivers them with such perfection that it’s clear he means them as a threat.
“May the Force be with you.” – Star Wars
Coming from the first Star Wars movie in 1977, “May the force be with you” meant good luck and a message of hope. With the film quickly becoming a cultural phenomenon, it didn’t take long before this iconic line became day-to-day speech.
“You’re gonna need a bigger boat.” – Jaws
This understated reaction to seeing the Great White for the first time has become the most-quoted line from Jaws. Injecting a touch of humor to break the tension, actor Roy Scheider ad-libbed the line after he heard the crew saying it about the low-budget production.
“I’ll be back.” – The Terminator
The first Terminator movie features Arnold Schwarzenegger delivering this line in his distinctive accent. The ominous promise delivered right before he drives a car through the police station and kills everyone in a bid to get to his targets fits the feeling of the movie perfectly. Schwarzenegger has since used it in many of his later works.
“E.T. phone home.” – E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
Telling the story of stranded alien E.T., the same name movie, sees it befriending Elliot and his siblings. Missing home, E.T. ‘s iconic line captures the bittersweet feeling of the movie as Elliot struggles to hide the alien from pursuing government agents.
“Houston, we have a problem.” – Apollo 13
Apollo 13 is a docudrama about the aborted 1970 lunar mission of the same name. After an explosion inside the spacecraft, the pilot Jack Swigert (Kevin Bacon) says, “Houston, we have a problem.” This phrase emphasizes the astronauts’ calmness even as they feared the worst. The phrase said in the real mission was “Okay, Houston, we’ve had a problem here,” but screenwriter William Broyles Jr. made the change to suit the tone of the movie.
“You can’t handle the truth!” – A Few Good Men
The legal drama A Few Good Men sees Jack Nicholson play Colonel Nathan R. Jessop, who falls under suspicion when an investigation is ongoing into the actions of two marines. After being challenged by Lieutenant Daniel Kaffee (Tom Cruise), Jessop shouts this famous line to the courtroom.
“There’s no place like home.” – The Wizard of Oz
Whisked away to Oz after a tornado sweeps up her house in Kansas, Dorothy (Judy Garland) spends the entirety of the movie trying to get back to her Aunt Em and Uncle Henry. She finds out at the end that all she has to do is tap her heels three times and say the iconic line, “There’s no place like home.”
“I see dead people.” – The Sixth Sense
Directed by M. Night Shyamalan, The Sixth Sense stars Bruce Willis as child psychologist Malcolm Crowe. The movie’s central twist is introduced by the haunting line “I see dead people,” which became an instant favorite with fans.
“To Infinity and Beyond!” – Toy Story
The first Toy Story movie establishes Buzz Lightyear’s catchphrase, “To Infinity and Beyond!”, first said when Buzz is demonstrating how he can fly. It perfectly captures the spirit of adventure in the franchise and Buzz’s determined, can-do attitude.
“Go ahead, make my day.” – Sudden Impact
Sudden Impact follows Inspector Harry Callahan (Clint Eastwood), nicknamed Dirty Harry due to his unconventional policing methods. The fourth in the Dirty Harry franchise, Sudden Impact starts with Harry confronting an armed robber who has taken a hostage. Harry’s challenge immediately became one of the most memorable movie lines.
“All right, Mr. DeMille, I’m ready for my close-up.” – Sunset Boulevard
Former movie star Norma Desmond (Gloria Swanson) is desperate to make a comeback and enlists the help of screenwriter Joe Gillis (William Holden). As she sinks deeper into a fantasy world, Norma becomes delusional. At the end of the movie, she is about to be arrested for murder but is convinced the news reporters are movie cameras, saying the iconic line as she descends the staircase.
“The first rule of Fight Club is: You do not talk about Fight Club.” – Fight Club
When Fight Club is created by the Narrator (Edward Norton) and Tyler Durden (Brad Pitt), they make rules for the new members. This first rule sets the tone for the secretive world of Fight Club that starts to take over the Narrator’s life and immediately comes to mind when the movie is mentioned.
“Nobody puts Baby in a corner.” – Dirty Dancing
The romantic dance drama Dirty Dancing sees Frances “Baby” Houseman (Jennifer Grey) fall in love with dance instructor Johnny Castle (Patrick Swayze). Just before the final dance, Johnny utters the immortal line, “Nobody puts Baby in a corner,” highlighting Baby’s strength and rallying against unfair treatment.
“I’m the King of the World!” – Titanic
The romantic disaster movie Titanic tells the story of wealthy Rose DeWitt Bukater (Kate Winslet) and young artist Jack Dawson (Leonardo DiCaprio), who meet on the Titanic and fall in love. Jack’s cry of “I’m the King of the World” from the bow gives us a glimpse of the couple’s fleeting joy before disaster strikes.
“Why so serious?” – The Dark Knight
The Dark Knight is the sequel to Batman Begins and introduces the character of the Joker (Heath Ledger). Perfectly delivered by Ledger, “Why so serious?” is a taunt that captures the Joker’s chaotic nature and evil insanity.
“Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer.” – The Godfather Part II
By The Godfather Part II, Michael Corleone is well-established as the new Don of the Corleone family. The quote “Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer” reflects how he has become more cynical and adapted his leadership style accordingly.
“Here’s Johnny!” – The Shining
The psychological horror movie The Shining stars Jack Nicholson as Jack Torrance, who has just taken a job as the winter caretaker at the Overlook Hotel. As the building slowly takes over Jack, he pursues his wife Wendy (Shelley Duvall) through the hotel, cornering her in a bathroom. As he breaks through the door, he says this memorable line.
“There’s no crying in baseball!” – A League of Their Own
When alcoholic and former baseball star Jimmy starts managing a women’s baseball team, he is abrasive to the players and treats it as a joke. In despair over their performance, he snaps this iconic line when Evelyn Gardner (Bitty Schram) starts to cry after his harsh coaching.
