But before they became so well celebrated, they were just lines of dialogue in a movie you were hearing for the first time and somehow they stuck. They’re the phrases you’re maybe a little sick of, but can’t stop reciting. Here, we’re looking back at the 50 most memorable lines and the movies they’re from.
“You Talkin’ to Me?”
Have you seen the movie "Taxi Driver?" We haven't, but we still know this quote because it's been parodied ever since its release in 1976.
In the scene of this line, it seems pretty funny, probably because nobody is, in fact, talkin’ to Travis Bickle who is played by Robert DeNiro. Travis is simply talking to the mirror while imagining a confrontation.
"If You're a Bird, I'm a Bird."
We remain hard-pressed to find a sappier love story than "The Notebook," but watching Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling fall in love did a great job of melting our hearts.
Like many romantic movies before, this script conveyed feelings that made everything feel right in the world, and soon enough, everyone was swooning over Gosling as he entered movie quote history.
"My Name is Inigo Montoya. You Killed My Father. Prepare to Die."
Who could forget Inigo Montoya’s moving speech once he found his father’s killer and thereby conquered his life-long quest? This line was delivered by Mandy Patinkin in the hit movie "The Princess Bride" back in 1987.
This flick stole into our imaginations and stirred our hearts so it seems only appropriate that it went on to garner a cult following, with special thanks to this incredible catchphrase.
"Nobody Puts Baby in a Corner."
The romantic drama-dance film, "Dirty Dancing," started as another love story, but ultimately gave us a timeless tale that inspired everyone who saw it for years to come. This movie also gifted us this iconic quote that transcends the hazy filter of '80s nostalgia.
When Patrick Swayze said "Nobody puts Baby in a corner" all our hearts skipped a beat and we forgot we were just another moviegoer.
"Frankly, My Dear, I Don't Give a Damn."
This well-known line is probably the very first catchphrase that originated from a movie and that movie was none other than "Gone With the Wind." When it comes to American cinematic masterpieces, it actually doesn't get any more classic and influential than 1939's "Gone With the Wind."
This line said by Clark Gable was quite scandalous considering it contained the swear word damn in it, which was quite risqué for that era.
“I’m the King of the World!”
If you’ve watched the film "Titanic" starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet, you must remember the scene where Leonardo's character Jack bellows this line while looking out over the ocean from the front of the ship.
It might be a short line, but this one is both very intense and hopeful, setting the scene for one of the greatest movies of all time.
"So You're Telling Me There's a Chance?"
Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels starred in "Dumb and Dumber" in 1994 as two goofy characters who accidentally become involved in a kidnapping scheme. What ensues is a never-ending series of coincidences that they're too stupid to understand but we can't help but ride waves of laughter from one show-stopping sequence to the next.
This film is unapologetically tacky but it's also the Farrelly brothers' most beloved movie that gave us this special one-liner.
“May the Force be With You”
While many of you may have thought the quote, “Luke, I am your father,” would be on this list, we enough about "Star Wars" to know that’s not actually what Darth Vader said in the movie.
On the other hand, plenty of characters say “May the Force be with you” throughout the "Star Wars" movie series and it remains a valid catchphrase that's been said throughout the years and it will probably continue that way.
“Show Me the Money!”
Cameron Crowe's "Jerry Maguire" is hard to encapsulate in a single quote but there's definitely something melodic about the phrase “Show me the money!”
This line is uttered multiple times but admittedly it's only featured in one scene as Tom Cruise’s Maguire is saying it to Cuba Gooding Jr.’s Rod Tidwell over the phone and soon enough they're yelling it for all to hear.
"I’m Going to Make Him an Offer He Can’t Refuse."
Francis Ford Coppola's "The Godfather" gets everything right and in his tale of a mob family, power, and cannolis lie one classic line of dialogue that we cannot forget.
The line "I’m going to make him an offer he can’t refuse" said is not that momentous considering the rest of the movie, but Marlon Brando's performance of it is what makes this phrase so iconic.
“Heeeere’s Johnny!”
Before this catchphrase was uttered by Jack Torrance for his own sinister purpose in "The Shining," it was said multiple times by Ed McMahon on “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.”
The scene is already intense enough, as Jack hoists an ax through the door at the Overlook Hotel and it's undoubtedly the most chilling, yet memorable declaration of the phrase.
"You're Gonna Need a Bigger Boat."
Steven Spielberg's "Jaws" pretty much set the standard for Hollywood blockbusters while frightening millions of audiences with the "Da-dum… da-dum… da-dum da-dum da-dum!" straight of the water.
But no matter how much mass media chews on the remains of this masterpiece, there's no bypassing the famous but understated line voiced by Roy Scheider upon seeing the killer shark that's been menacing the town of Amity Island.
“My Precious”
If you haven't ever seen any of the "Lord of the Rings" films, you're probably feeling a bit out of the loop, but we'll help you out. This short line, comprising only two words is mostly unforgettable because of the raspy voice of Gollum.
The phrase is uttered all the time during the “Lord of the Rings” and “Hobbit” films. Ever since then, people also grew fond of mimicking it, mostly because they enjoy imitating Gollum’s voice in the process.
“I Am Serious. And Don’t Call Me Shirley”
Leslie Nielsen's unabashedly deadpan delivery of this line is simply hilarious in "Airplane!" Not only was this an iconic comedy but this line is still getting quoted today.
The reason it's so funny is that Leslie's character repeatedly gets told “Surely you can’t be serious” to which he eventually replies with this line, “I am serious. And don’t call me Shirley.”
"You're Killing Me, Smalls!"
If there’s any quote that sounds like it’s straight out of a comedy, it has to be this one. "The Sandlot" may have been blatantly derivative and overly sentimental when it was released in 1993, but it was still a sincerely charming coming-of-age flick for kids that gave us this hilarious line.
For those who would like to return to a more innocent time might want to watch "The Sandlot."
“Here’s Looking at You, Kid”
The classic film "Casablanca" tells the story of Rick, who must decide between his love for his ex-lover named Ilsa, or helping Ilsa and her husband escape the Vichy-controlled city of Casablanca and continue fighting the Germans.
The movie is widely regarded as a masterpiece, full of many memorable lines. At the top of the list, though, is Rick’s farewell line to Ilsa, a line he had used before: “Here’s looking at you, kid.”
"Get In, Loser. We're Going Shopping."
Rachel McAdams stars as the mean but popular Regina George in this hit teen comedy that found humor in the high school experience. "Mean Girls" has many laugh-out-loud moments and a brilliant, zinger-filled script that was penned by Tina Fey.
The impressive ensemble cast provides genuine insight when the new girl, Cady (Lindsay Lohan) finds herself faced with the school's hierarchy, where being popular means everything.
“To Infinity, and Beyond!”
“Toy Story” changed film animation forever and it turned Pixar into a behemoth animation studio. With an odd couple in the form of Woody and Buzz Lightyear, the movie is a stellar comedy that harmonizes well with touching childhood themes, and who can forget “To infinity, and beyond!”
Buzz’s catchphrase? It’s his catchphrase in the world of the movie, but now also in our world as well.
"But Did You Die?"
"Hangover Part II" was not as funny as its predecessor, but for our purposes here, we're going to focus on the fact that it unleashed the absolute comedic delight that is Ken Jeong when he responded with this phrase.
The line "But did you die?" has become a meme and internet sensation, with many people reciting it after living through an ordeal.
“You Can’t Handle the Truth!”
Aaron Sorkin sure knows how to pen an unforgettable line. In “A Few Good Men” there are a few of them, mostly from Jack Nicholson as he plays Colonel Jessup.
In the scene surrounding this line, Tom Cruise and Jack Nicholson are having a heated exchange, when asked for the truth, to which an angry Jessup roars back “You can’t handle the truth!”
“I'll Be Back”
It's the one line from the "Terminator" franchise that everyone knows, the one that gets hammered home again and again in this action film series. Let's not forget Arnold's other line “Hasta la vista, baby.”
Sure, these lines are admittedly a little silly, but they did stand out and there's a reason why people remember them to this day. You can always trust these types of lines to be back!
"Houston, We Have a Problem."
Film buffs and cinephiles all knew Tom Hanks was one of America's premier thespians thanks to his performance in "Apollo 13."
In this film, he plays Commander Jim Lovell while helping us capture the wonder of space exploration. This movie also made us feel like we were right there with the astronauts while sticking to the facts of the Apollo 13 lunar mission.
"What, Like It's Hard?"
The effervescent rom-com "Legally Blonde" centers around a sorority girl transplanted to Harvard Law School and this role is what made Reese Witherspoon the star we all know and love today.
Reese's character, Elle Woods, is discounted the whole time but when she eventually gets in, her response "What, like it's hard?" made us all feel like we're smart enough and now nobody can resist saying this.
“My Mama Always Said, Life Was Like a Box Of Chocolates. You Never Know What You’re Gonna Get.”
We're sure that you’ve seen "Forrest Gump," but if you haven’t, here’s the gist - Forrest Gump, who is played by Tom Hanks, is a dim-witted but warm-hearted man from Alabama who experiences several defining historical events in the 20th century in the United States.
Since its release in 1994, this comedy-drama has been watched by millions and has stolen many peoples’ hearts along with this quote.
"Some People Are Worth Melting For."
Sometimes life can be messy and if you dare to get involved, you might get hurt. But as Olaf from "Frozen" expressed it so well, "some people are worth melting for."
While the animated picture is full of singalong tunes, it's ultimately the dialogue that's so captivating, with many memorable quotes, but this is the only one worth melting for.
"Keep Your Friends Close, But Your Enemies Closer."
This expression feels like it's been around forever, maybe even before the sequel to "The Godfather," in which it appears. The first film was about iconic as it gets but then this gangster flick came along which revealed the contrasting lives between father Vito and his son, Michael.
With Rober DeNiro playing Vito and Al Pacino as Michael, many have said this sequel far surpasses its predecessor.
"There's No Place Like Home!"
We might seem like a divided country at times, but the one thing that we can all agree on is "There's no place like home!" This line was uttered by Judy Garland when she played a young Kansas girl named Dorothy Gale in "The Wizard of Oz."
The movie became famous for its unprecedented and innovative Technicolor and remained a classic American film since its creation in 1939.
“So This is How Liberty Dies... With Thunderous Applause.”
This is one of the most politically-charged lines in the 'Star Wars' trilogy, which has been used and misused by senators, pundits, reporters, and even conspiracy theorists ever since this movie was released in 2005.
This expression is a part of a discussion voiced by Natalie Portman as she plays Padmé Amidala in "Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith," which was directed by George Lucas.
"Life Moves Pretty Fast. If You Don't Stop and Look Around Once in a While, You Could Miss It."
In the mid-1980s, if there was someone anyone wanted to be — it was Ferris Bueller. Ferris was the only teen who managed to ditch school in style and live to tell about it.
"Ferris Bueller's Day Off" was a huge comedy classic that inspired kids to give themselves a break every once in a while. The script was written in four days and left us with a movie that we can't get enough of.
"Carpe Diem. Seize the Day, Boys. Make Your Lives Extraordinary."
The late Robin Williams was one of Hollywood's most beloved actors, inspiring millions to smile, laugh, and he did so in a truly sincere way.
He was the star of countless brilliant films including "Dead Poets Society" where he played an inquisitive professor. While he didn't have many lines in this movie, his words really tied this film together with an endearing sense of hope, which is well said in this quote.
"Life Finds a Way."
We've rewritten our case for 'Jurassic Park' twice, and it still does not feel like a decent mention of the treasure that is Steven Spielberg's tribute to prehistoric animals.
How can we honor a movie that entangled Jeff Goldblum, Sam Neill, and Laura Dern in just a few measly words? Whether or not you’re much of a moviegoer, you’ve probably seen at least some of "Jurassic Park," if not, this is the only quote you need to remember.
"With Great Power, Comes Great Responsibility."
Marvel's "Spider-Man" wasn't just a comic-book movie—it was the comic-book movie and this iconic line is now everywhere, with many folks not realizing it's from "Spider-Man!"
Uncle Ben says it to Peter Parker while trying to have a serious talk with him, and ultimately what he says ends up being the force that prompts Peter for the rest of his life.
"Why So Serious?"
Heath Ledger’s Oscar-winning performance as the Joker in "The Dark Knight" may have given us the most chilling superhero villain ever. The character’s most famous line – “Why so serious?” – became a needling catchphrase of sorts, emblazoned on T-shirts and memes.
Considering that most of his warnings and threats come without a backstory that typically humanizes a villain just enough to grant a tinge of compassion from the audience.
"To Live Would Be An Awfully Big Adventure."
In an appeal to children and nerdy adults everywhere, Steven Spielberg's lively "Hook" harkens back to family values with childlike imagination.
Robin Williams plays a middle-aged lawyer Peter Banning who somehow revisits his origins as Peter Pan. Robin Williams, you will always be remembered with great admiration. We are so lucky to have had Robin Williams immortalized in this film.
"No Touchy!"
"The Emperor's New Groove" is one of those special children's movies that's also wildly entertaining for adults. Hilarious characters like Yzma (Eartha Kitt) and her henchman Kronk, get a bunch of laughs.
David Spade voiced Kuzco in the animated comedy when he emphatically says "No touchy!" The movie was inspired by the ancient Peruvian civilization. It's not one of Disney's greatest hits, however, its story is unique.
"Looks Like Somebody's Got a Case of the Mondays."
The appeal of Mike Judge’s cult-favorite "Office Space" is rooted in its realistic portrayal of the modern workplace. Ron Livingston stars as a corporate drone in a computer software company and Jennifer Anniston as an unhappy waitress.
This proclamation, one of the many grating bits of dialogue is an encapsulation of the profound rage suppression that gives "Office Space" its zing.
"Alright, Alright, Alright."
We've all heard it by now but we didn't know it came from this coming-of-age film that follows a group of unruly teenagers as they celebrate their last day of high school.
"Dazed and Confused" does well to give a precise feel for the 1970s while featuring an ensemble cast but Matthew McConaughey towers over all of them with this as his breakthrough role.
"Just Keep Swimming."
"Finding Nemo" (2003) was one of Pixar's breakthrough animations and came out in 2003, which was before Ellen Degeneres became just Ellen. Her sweet, sincerely funny performance as the voice of the cheerfully persevering regal blue tang fish, Dory.
The simple song she sang burst onto the scene as a positive phrase, finding its way onto the senior quotes of high school students, Instagram captions, memes, T-shirts, GIFs… you name it.
"Mr. Demille, I'm Ready For My Close-Up."
"Sunset Boulevard" is a haunting Hollywood nightmare that is both tremendously evocative and absorbing as a dark comedy. Gloria Swanson plays Norma Desmond, an aging silent film star who simply refuses to accept that her stardom has ended and her vanity leaves reality behind.
She says this now popular phrase when she is finally prepared to bring herself before the camera of famed filmmaker and producer Cecil B. Demille.
"I Just Wanted to Take Another Look at You."
In this retelling of an age-old story, we see both Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper shine, one is a struggling artist and the other a seasoned musician.
After spending the night together that ends with the two writing the song "Shallow," this is the line that Bradley's character says to her before they part. "A Star Is Born" proves that remakes can be done right.
"Honest to Blog?"
Bright performances match the profoundly quirky dialogue and distinctive script in this coming-of-age tale with a 21st-century twist. We've seen a lot of movies in our time, but the indie movie, "Juno" is really unique and pretty sweet.
With witty quotes like "honest to blog" and "he's the cheese to my macaroni," the script featuring a pregnant teenager still manages to be realistic and much deserving of all the praise it's gotten so far.
"I Am Groot."
"Guardians of the Galaxy" turned out to be just as irreverent as buffs of the quirky Marvel comic would hope it to be.
While in the comics Groot wasn't as inarticulate as he was in the movie, this line definitely stuck and became a defining characteristic. But let's be frank here, "I am Groot" was way more affecting than anyone would expect it to be.
"Ogres Are Like Onions."
Out of all the characters Mike Myers has done over the years, he has said that voicing the green Shrek has been the joy and pride of his career. To dust off the dust from your memory cells, "Shrek" was a DreamWorks creation, first launched in 2001.
Mike Myers voiced the main character of Shrek in all four movies and he was the one who said this surprisingly deep quote that made him so much more lovable.
"You Either Die a Hero or Live Long Enough to See Yourself Become the Villain."
Just like this line, the movie from which it originates "The Dark Knight" proved to be dark, complex, and unforgettable.
With leading roles from Aaron Eckhart, Gary Oldman, Heath Ledger, and Christian Bale, this thrilling crime saga gave us a sneak peek into the making of the villain and this line said by Aaron Eckhart as he plays Harvey Dent, perfectly captures that.
"I See Dead People."
From M. Night Shyamalan's pen to Haley Joel Osment's mouth, this line became the subject of parodies for years. This haunting horror story with all the style of a classic Hollywood film had one of the best twists the silver screen has ever since.
The movie was an enormous word-of-mouth hit, especially since it came out in 1999, way before the rise of social media, and eventually garnered six Oscar nominations.
"The First Rule of Fight Club Is: You Do Not Talk About Fight Club."
Chuck Palahniuk's "Fight Club" is hard to encapsulate with a single quote, but if we had to pick one, this would be it. Edward Norton was the protagonist and Brad Pitt played the supporting role in this action flick that had a unique story and an even more unique way of telling it.
In retrospect, this line was kind of a joke because, over the course of the movie, fight clubs begin to spread like wildfire.
"Whatever I Feel Like I Wanna Do, GOSH!"
It’s kind of hard to describe this movie to those who haven’t seen it, but trust us when we say the narrative pacing and subtle humor make it equally unique and delightful.
It just gets weirder with a cast of social misfits, starring Napoleon (Jon Heder) who couldn't care less about fitting in at high school and would often have outbursts that were more comical than anything.
"As If!"
The charming film "Clueless" was based on Jane Austen's Emma, which follows teenage love and friendships. It's much more than just a teen-centric movie from the 90s though — it's a film that can keep finding new fans for years to come.
This movie still manages to hold a lot of cultural clout with many catchy one-liners from Alicia Silverstone's lead performance.
"Great Success"
In this infamous mockumentary "Borat," Sasha Baron Cohen stars as Borat Sagdiyev, a journalist from Kazakhstan who is tasked with traveling to America to document life there, and as the title character would say — it was a "Great success!"
It takes a lot to remain completely serious while winding up and even shocking gullible members of the public, but Sacha Baron Cohen is perfect for this role – as demonstrated by this cringe-inducing journey across America.
"I'll Have What She's Having."
"When Harry met Sally," tells the story of two friends grappling with the ultimate question: can men and women ever simply be platonic pals?
The 1989 rom-com was written by Nora Ephron and originated some great lines we still talk about to this day, like this line that comes from the most memorable scene with only a few fans privy to what was really behind the "I'll have what she's having" moment.