All of us have a favorite movie quote. Mine is “It’s not who I am underneath, but what I do that defines me” from Batman Begins. There are hundreds of movie quotes that have become part of the popular culture and our lexicon. Here we take a look at the top 10 greatest movie quotes of all time.
The American Film Institute (AFI)’s 100 Years…100 Movie Quotes list evokes the memory of treasured movies and quotes that touched hearts of millions of people. To compile the list, the AFI surveyed more than 1,500 people in the creative community including critics, actors, directors, and historians.
Casablanca has seven quotes in AFI’s top 100 list, followed by The Wizard of Oz with six quotes. These are the top 10 greatest movie quotes of all time, according to the AFI.
10- “You talking to me?” Taxi Driver (1976)
Few people know that the film’s script merely said, “Travis speaks to himself in the mirror.” Writer Paul Schrader told Robert De Niro that his character was like “a little kid playing with guns and acting tough.” So, the actor took the creative liberty and improvised the line.
9- “Fasten your seatbelts. It’s going to be a bumpy night.” All About Eve (1950)
All About Eve is one of the finest movies Hollywood has ever produced. But its iconic line is often misquoted as “It’s going to be a bumpy ride” instead of “It’s going to be a bumpy night.”
8- “May the Force be with you.” Star Wars (1977)
There is a good chance that you’ve watched all the Star Wars movies. Some of us have watched all of them more than once. And we all have “May the Force be with you” tattooed in ours minds. But Obi-Wan Kenobi refrained from uttering the words until Episode II: Attack of the Clones in 2002.
7- “All right, Mr. DeMille, I’m ready for my close-up.” Sunset Boulevard (1950)
Sunset Boulevard was ranked among the greatest films of all time by the British Film Institute. Norma’s iconic line “All right, Mr. DeMille, I’m ready for my close-up” towards the end of the movie has been part of the popular culture for decades. Britney Spears’ Kill the Lights song also references “I’m ready for my close-up.”
6- “Go ahead, make my day.” Sudden Impact (1983)
Clint Eastwood’s gun-wielding character Inspector Harry Callahan stares down an armed robber and delivers the catchphrase, “Go ahead, make my day.” It went on to become one of the greatest and most popular movie quotes. Former US President Ronald Reagan used the Make my day line in one of his speeches.
5- “Here’s looking at you, kid.” Casablanca (1943)
Humphrey Bogart’s line “Here’s looking at you, kid” was not in the draft screenplays. The line is attributed to a comment Bogart made to Ingrid Bergman while teaching her poker between the takes.
4- “Toto, I’ve a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore.” The Wizard of Oz (1939)
More than 80 years ago, Judy Garland’s character Dorothy Gale said to her dog Toto, “Toto, I’ve a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore.” Since then, the quote has been used in dozens of movies and TV shows including Grey’s Anatomy and Avatar.
3- “You don’t understand! I coulda had class. I coulda been a contender. I could’ve been somebody, instead of a bum, which is what I am.” On the Waterfront (1954)
On the Waterfront won eight Academy Awards including the Best Director and Best Actor. Marlon Brando’s character Terry says this line to his brother Charley (played by Rod Steiger). Notably, Rod Steiger’s reaction to the line was shot without Brando present.
2- “I’m gonna make him an offer he can’t refuse.” The Godfather (1972)
“The Godfather is the sum of all wisdom,” says Joe Fox in You’ve Got Mail. Indeed. Don Vito Corleone’s iconic line “I’m gonna make him an offer he can’t refuse” appears in each of the Godfather movies. It’s one of the most memorable lines of all time.
1- “Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn.” Gone With the Wind (1940)
Gone With the Wind is one of the greatest movies of all time. The American Film Institute has named its “Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn” the greatest movie quote ever. What’s interesting about this line is that the censors wanted the producers to drop “damn” from the line. The producers came up with about two dozen words to replace “damn.” Eventually, the censors decided to keep the word.
