We recite them in every day life, whether it’s out of context quotes or as we’re watching the movies they’re from.
The perfect movie quote becomes an essential part of pop culture, but what makes a quote great? Is it the line? Its context in the story?
These examples are all about the delivery. They’re just simple lines; some are even ad libbed, but the actor’s delivery makes them perfect.
“I don’t care.”
Said by: Tommy Lee Jones in The Fugitive.
After Harrison Ford’s Dr. Richard Kimble tells Jones’ Sam Gerard he didn’t kill his life, the script calls for Jones to respond, “So, you didn’t kill your wife.”
The decision to ad-lib “I don’t care” helps enforce that Gerard’s only job is to bring Kimble in, regardless of whether he’s guilty.
“Show me the money!!!”
Said by: Cuba Gooding Jr. in Jerry Maguire
Jerry Maguire is one of my favorite guilty pleasure movies. Yes, the romantic comedy can sometimes cheesy, but everyone’s performance is worthy of recognition.
It’s Cuba Gooding Jr.’s Rod Tidwell, though, that steals the show. He 100% deserved his Academy Award for his delivery of this line alone. You can’t help but root for him, and yes, I cry when he finally gets his big money contract.
“Please, boss…”
Said by: Michael Clarke Duncan in The Green Mile
The Green Mile is an emotionally devastating movie that’s difficult to watch. One reason for that is Michael Clarke Duncan’s performance as John Coffey.
Clarke Duncan’s performance as Coffey is about to be executed is gutwrenching. It’s a travesty that despite his nomination for Best Supporting Actor, he couldn’t take home the Oscar.
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“I’m sorry, Wilson!”
Said by: Tom Hanks in Cast Away.
Tom Hanks made moviegoers care about the relationship between a man and a volleyball.
While he couldn’t take home the Oscar for Best Actor, he moved viewers in a way few actors can.
“How ’bout dem apples?”
Said by: Matt Damon in Good Will Hunting.
While Robin Williams would win Best Supporting Actor for his role in Good Will Hunting, Matt Damon has the film’s most memorable line. And yes, he was robbed.
The entire scene with Will Hunting (Damon) proving how smart he is to a random Harvard student, then bragging that he got Skylar’s number, is iconic.
“I drink your milkshake!”
Said by: Daniel Day-Lewis in There Will Be Blood.
Finally, someone who was able to take home the Oscar.
Daniel Day-Lewis’ performance as Daniel Plainview is so powerful that it makes the movie hard to watch on subsequent viewings.
In the film’s final moments, we get a taste of how greedy and evil he is, admitting that he took Paul Dano’s Eli Sunday for all he’s worth.
“Here’s looking at you, kid.”
Said by: Humprhey Bogart in Casablanca.
Watching Bogart’s Rick Blaine say goodbye to a teary-eyed Ingrid Berman’s Ilsa Lund is an emotional moment, elevated by the iconic line.
We can feel the pain from the characters during the scene; Blaine is doing the right thing by making Lund board the plane and leave, but it still hurts to see.
“I hope to see my friend and shake his hand.”
Said by: Morgan Freeman in The Shawshank Redemption.
From the first moment we see Morgan Freeman’s Red in Shawshank Redemption, we see his parole being denied.
The film’s message is about freedom, and it takes the friendship from Tim Robbins’ Andy Dufresne to help Red stay focused on adjusting to life on the outside, with the goal of seeing his friend, shaking his hand, and seeing the blue of the Pacific Ocean.
“Just a bit outside.”
Said by: Bob Uecker in Major League.
The funniest lines in Major League don’t come from its starring cast. They come from Ucker’s character, Harry Doyle, the play-by-play announcer for the ill-fated Cleveland Indians.
Rest in peace, Bob Uecker.
“You talkin’ to me?”
Said by: Robert DeNiro in Taxi Driver.
DeNiro’s iconic lines are unscripted, but they give us an inner look into the psyche of his character, Travis Bickle.
We get a first hand look at who Bickle really is: lonely, isolated, and unhinged.
“I’ll Be Back”
Said by: Arnold Schwarzenegger in Terminator.
Three simple words, but Arnold conveys them in a powerful manner.
We’ve seen what his Terminator is capable of, and despite being refused entry into the police station where Sarah Conner is being held, we absolutely know that he’ll be back.
“Here’s Johnny!”
Said by: Jack Nicholson in The Shining.
Nicholson’s performance as Jack Torrance is terrifying. Moviegoers have a front row seat into his descent into madness thanks to Nicholson’s skill as an actor.
When he bursts through the door with a hatchet and proclaims, “Here’s Johnny!” we share the same fear as Shelley Duvall’s Wendy Torrance.
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