AFI’s Top 100 Movie Quotes (1-50)
We’re taking a look at the American Film Institute’s top 100 quotes. This time we look at numbers 1 through 50, what was said, which movie the quote appeared in and who said it. Will your favorite movie line make the list?
50. “
What happens when astronauts encounter a problem aboard their spacecraft during a mission? This is what happens in “Apollo 13” (1995). The line was said by Jim Lovell (Tom Hanks).
49. “It’s Alive! It’s Alive!”
Dr. Henry Frankenstein (Colin Clive) was overjoyed when his creature (played by Boris Karloff) showed signs of life in 1931’s “Frankenstein”. He yelled his excitement to Victor Moritz (John Boles).
48. “Well, Nobody’s Perfect.”
Marilyn Monroe was one of the stars of “Some Like It Hot” (1959). However, it was Osgood Fielding (Joe Brown) who said this line to Jerry (Jack Lemmon) in the last scene of the film.
47. “Shane! Shane! Come Back!”
“Shane” (1953) is considered to be one of the best movies of all time. In the final moments of the film, a heartbroken Joey (Brandon De Wilde) calls after Shane (Alan Ladd) while he’s leaving.
46. “Oh, Jerry, Don’t Let’s Ask For the Moon. We Have the Stars.”
1942’s “Now, Voyager” starred legendary actress Bette Davis and Paul Henreid. In this scene, Charlotte Vale (
45. “Stella! Hey, Stella!”
This is probably one of the most memorable lines from “A Streetcar Named Desire” (1951). Stanley Kowalski (Marlon Brando) is calling his wife, Stella (Kim Hunter) during this scene.
44. “I See Dead People.”
Cole Sear (Haley Joel Osment) says this to a shocked Malcolm (Bruce Willis) in one of the creepiest lines from “The Sixth Sense” (1999)
43. “We’ll Always Have
Another quote by Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart) makes AFI’s list at number 43. This scene from “
42. “Plastics.”
This quote is from 1967’s “The Graduate”. The line is spoken by Mr. McGuire (Walter Brooke) during a conversation with Benjamin Braddock (Dustin Hoffman).
41. “We Rob Banks.”
“Bonnie and
40. “Mama Always Said Life Was a Box Of Chocolates. You Never Know What You’re Gonna Get.”
Moviegoers from recent years will remember this line from “Forrest Gump” (1994). Forrest (Tom Hanks) says this to a passerby who happens to sit on the park bench next to him. What does Forrest happen to be holding? A box of chocolates.
39. “If You Build It, He Will Come.”
This is what a mysterious voice announces to Ray Kinsella (Kevin Costner) in the 1989 movie “Field of Dreams”.
38. “Today, I Consider Myself the Luckiest Man On the Face Of the Earth.”
Baseball player Lou Gehrig (Gary Cooper) says this during his emotional farewell speech in “The Pride of the Yankees” (1942).
37. “I’ll Be Back.”
One of the most recognizable lines from 1984’s “Terminator” was spoken by the title character played by Arnold Schwarzenegger.
36. “Badges? We Ain’t Got No Badges! We Don’t Need No Badges! I Don’t Have To Show You Any Stinking Badges!”
One movie quote that we still hear today is this one from 1948’s “The Treasure of the Sierra Madre”. The line was said by the character Gold Hat who was played by Alfonso Bedoya.
35. “You’re Gonna Need a Bigger Boat.”
Police Chief Martin Brody (Roy Scheider) exclaimed this in “Jaws” (1975) when he realizes that the boat that he’s sailing on with Quint (Robert Shaw) and Matt Hooper (Richard Dreyfuss) is no match for the Great White.
34. “You Know How To Whistle, Don’t You, Steve? You Just Put Your Lips Together and Blow.”
Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall starred in 1944’s “To Have and Have Not”. Bacall’s character Slim a.k.a. Marie Browning says this to Bogart’s Steve a.k.a. Harry Morgan.
33. “I’ll Have What She’s Having.”
Everyone remembers the infamous scene in the diner in the movie “When Harry Met Sally” (1989). After the public display by Sally (Meg Ryan) while talking to Harry (Billy Crystal), a patron (Estelle Reiner) says the line.
32. “Round Up the Usual Suspects.”
It’s dangerous times in the 1942 classic “
31. “After All, Tomorrow Is Another Day!”
Scarlett O’Hara (Vivien Leigh) says this in the very last lines of “Gone With the Wind” (1939).
30. “I Want To Be Alone.”
Famous dancer Grusinskaya (Greta Garbo) finds herself at one of
29. “You Can’t Handle the Truth!”
This line is from “A Few Good Men” (1992). During the scene, Colonel Nathan Jessep (Jack Nicholson) is being questioned in court by Lieutenant Daniel Kaffee (Tom Cruise).
28. “Play It, Sam. Play ‘As Time Goes By’.”
Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman) says this to Sam (Dooley Wilson) in a scene from 1942’s “
27. “I’m Walking Here! I’m Walking Here!”
This ad-lib became one of the most popular lines from “Midnight Cowboy” (1969). The quote is said by Ratso Rizzo (Dustin Hoffman) to a driver of a vehicle who gets too close when he’s crossing the street.
26. “Why Don’t You Come Up Sometime and See Me?”
One of film’s most popular icons was the legendary Mae West. Her character Lady Lou says this infamous line in 1933’s “She Done Him Wrong”.
25. “Show Me the Money!”
Rod Tidwell (Cuba Gooding Jr.) is on the phone with his agent (Tom Cruise who played the title role) when he says this line in “Jerry Maguire” (1996).
24. “I Am Big! It’s the Picture That Got Small.”
This line appears in “Sunset Blvd.” (1950). Norma Desmond (Gloria Swanson) says the quote while talking to Joe Gillis (William Holden).
23. “There’s No Place Like Home.”
These are the words (along with her ruby slippers) that carry Dorothy (Judy Garland) from Oz back to her home in
22. “Bond. James Bond.”
James Bond’s signature introduction was first uttered in “Dr. No” (1962). Although the line has been said by a few other actors, it’s the first 007, Sean Connery, who initially said it.
21. “A Census Taker Once Tried To
Although the sound that Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins) makes afterwards is well known, this quote can still send chills through you. Lecter nonchalantly says this during a conversation with Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster) in “The Silence of the Lambs” (1991).
20. “Louis, I Think This is the Beginning of a Beautiful Friendship.”
This final line of “
19. “I’m As Mad As Hell, and I’m Not Going To Take This Anymore!”
It’s not all fun and games in 1976’s “Network”. The quote is said by Howard Beale (Peter Finch).
18. “Made It, Ma! Top Of the World!”
Cody Jarrett (James Cagney) says this line in the 1949 flick “White Heat”.
17. “Rosebud”
This one word phrase was the behind the plot of “Citizen Kane” (1941). When this turns out to be the final word of newspaper mogul Charles Foster Kane (Orson Welles), the search is on to discover what or who “Rosebud” is.
16. “They Call Me Mister Tibbs!”
This line is from 1967’s “In the Heat of the Night” which later went on to become a popular TV drama. The quote is said by Detective Virgil Tibbs who was played by Sidney Poitier.
15. “E.T. Phone Home.”
The loveable but stranded alien, E.T. (voiced by Pat Walsh) says this in Steven Spielberg’s blockbuster hit movie “E.T. – The Extra Terrestrial” (1982).
14. “The Stuff That Dreams Are Made Of.”
Sam Spade (Humphrey Bogart) says this to Detective Tom Polhaus (Ward Bond) in the classic film “The Maltese Falcon” (1941)
13. “Love Means Never Having To Say You’re Sorry.”
Ali MacGraw and Ryan O’Neal starred in 1970’s “Love Story”. This line was said by Oliver (O’Neal).
12. “I Love the Smell Of Napalm in the Morning.”
Lieutenant Colonel Kilgore (Robert DuVall) says this while talking to Lance Johnson (Sam Bottoms). The movie? “Apocalypse Now” (1979).
11. “What We’ve Got Here Is a Failure To Communicate.”
This quote was said by the character Boss Paul (Luke Askew) in the 1967 film “Cool Hand Luke”.
10. “You Talking To Me?”
The quote that begins the top ten is from “Taxi Driver” (1976). Travis Bickle (Robert DeNiro) says this while looking at his reflection in the mirror.
9. “Fasten Your Seatbelts. It’s Going To Be a Bumpy Ride.”
Bette Davis returns to the countdown! Her character Margo Channing says this line in 1950’s “All About Eve”.
8. “May the Force Be With You.”
Movie fans of all ages still say this quote from “Star Wars” (1977). Although Obi-Wan Kenobi (Sir Alec Guiness) would tell Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) that “the force will be with you, always”, it was Han Solo (Harrison Ford) who said the line that comes in at number eight.
7. “All Right, Mr. DeMille, I’m Ready For My Close-Up.”
The character of Norma Desmond (Gloria Swanson) makes another appearance for “Sunset Blvd.” (1950). Norma says the line to the nearby camera.
6. “Go Ahead, Make My Day.”
1983’s “Sudden Impact” starred Clint Eastwood as Dirty Harry a.k.a. Inspector Harry Callahan. Harry says this line to a man holding a hostage.
5. “Here’s Looking At You Kid.”
While the movie “
4. “Toto, I’ve Got a Feeling We’re Not in
Dorothy (Judy Garland) says this to her dog Toto (Terry) after landing in Oz in 1939’s “The Wizard of Oz”.
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.”
This famous line is from “On the Waterfront” (1954). Terry Malloy (Marlon Brando) says this during a conversation with Charley Malloy (Rod Steiger).
2. “I’m Going To Make Him an Offer He Can’t Refuse.”
Marlon Brando makes another appearance on the countdown with this quote by his character Don Vito Corleone from “The Godfather” (1972).
1. “Frankly, My Dear, I Don’t Give a Damn.”
Rhett Butler (Clark Gable) utters this line to Scarlett O’Hara (Vivien Leigh) right before he leaves in this classic line from 1939’s “Gone With the Wind”.
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