In the realm of cinema, the American Film Institute (AFI) stands as a towering beacon of expertise and preservation of the art form. By offering guidance and resources, AFI has been at the forefront of highlighting timeless films and their most iconic lines. This collection delves into the power of memorable quotes from renowned films, exploring the profound impact they have on culture and society. The following sections capture 10 distinct themes centered around AFI's celebrated quotations, highlighting the art of storytelling in cinema, where each line carries more weight than just words. Prepare to embark on a journey through these cinematic gems, where every quote tells a deeper story.
Classic Movie Quotes
"Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn." - Gone with the Wind, 1939
"Here's looking at you, kid." - Casablanca, 1942
"You're gonna need a bigger boat." - Jaws, 1975
"May the Force be with you." - Star Wars, 1977
"You talking to me?" - Taxi Driver, 1976
"I love the smell of napalm in the morning." - Apocalypse Now, 1979
"I am big! It's the pictures that got small." - Sunset Boulevard, 1950
"I'll be back." - The Terminator, 1984
"Mama always said life was like a box of chocolates." - Forrest Gump, 1994
"To infinity and beyond!" - Toy Story, 1995
"There's no place like home." - The Wizard of Oz, 1939
"Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer." - The Godfather Part II, 1974
Inspirational Quotes from AFI's Top Films
"You can't handle the truth!" - A Few Good Men, 1992
"Carpe diem. Seize the day, boys." - Dead Poets Society, 1989
"Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies." - The Shawshank Redemption, 1994
"Why do we fall? So we can learn to pick ourselves up." - Batman Begins, 2005
"Life is like a great big canvas; throw all the paint you can at it." - The Greatest Show on Earth, 1952
"There’s no crying in baseball!" - A League of Their Own, 1992
"It’s supposed to be hard. If it wasn’t hard, everyone would do it." - A League of Their Own, 1992
"Every man dies, not every man really lives." - Braveheart, 1995
"Get busy living, or get busy dying." - The Shawshank Redemption, 1994
"You have to do the best with what God gave you." - Forrest Gump, 1994
"The flower that blooms in adversity is the most rare and beautiful of all." - Mulan, 1998
"After all, tomorrow is another day!" - Gone with the Wind, 1939
Quotes for Life and Love
"Love means never having to say you're sorry." - Love Story, 1970
"You had me at ‘hello’." - Jerry Maguire, 1996
"I wish I knew how to quit you." - Brokeback Mountain, 2005
"I’m just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her." - Notting Hill, 1999
"To me, you are perfect." - Love Actually, 2003
"You make me want to be a better man." - As Good as It Gets, 1997
"The best thing you can do is find a person who loves you for exactly what you are." - Juno, 2007
"They say when you meet the love of your life, time stops." - Big Fish, 2003
"I will return. I will find you. Love you. Marry you. And live without shame." - Atonement, 2007
"I’m scared of not being with you." - P.S. I Love You, 2007
"I would rather spend one lifetime with you, than face all the ages of this world alone." - The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, 2001
"You complete me." - Jerry Maguire, 1996
Comedy Quotes You Can't Forget
"It’s only a flesh wound." - Monty Python and the Holy Grail, 1975
"I am serious… and don’t call me Shirley." - Airplane!, 1980
"Toto, I’ve a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore." - The Wizard of Oz, 1939
"I'm having an old friend for dinner." - The Silence of the Lambs, 1991
"We all go a little mad sometimes." - Psycho, 1960
"A boy’s best friend is his mother." - Psycho, 1960
"Gentlemen, you can't fight in here! This is the War Room!" - Dr. Strangelove, 1964
"What a dump." - Beyond the Forest, 1949
"Think you used enough dynamite there, Butch?" - Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, 1969
"Well, nobody's perfect." - Some Like It Hot, 1959
"Soylent Green is people!" - Soylent Green, 1973
"Always." - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, 2011
Quotes of the Epic and Fantastic
"My precious." - The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, 2002
"You shall not pass!" - The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, 2001
"Winter is coming." - Game of Thrones, 2011
"It's a trap!" - Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi, 1983
"The night is dark and full of terrors." - Game of Thrones, 2011
"The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few." - Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, 1982
"One does not simply walk into Mordor." - The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, 2001
"Inconceivable!" - The Princess Bride, 1987
"With great power comes great responsibility." - Spider-Man, 2002
"This is the way." - The Mandalorian, 2019
"I am Groot." - Guardians of the Galaxy, 2014
"I solemnly swear that I am up to no good." - Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, 2004
Drama and Tension: Unforgettable Quotes
"You don’t understand! I coulda had class. I coulda been a contender." - On the Waterfront, 1954
"Fasten your seatbelts. It’s going to be a bumpy night." - All About Eve, 1950
"I’ll have what she’s having." - When Harry Met Sally, 1989
"Heeeere's Johnny!" - The Shining, 1980
"I see dead people." - The Sixth Sense, 1999
"It's alive! It's alive!" - Frankenstein, 1931
"The stuff that dreams are made of." - The Maltese Falcon, 1941
"I’m the king of the world!" - Titanic, 1997
"The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn’t exist." - The Usual Suspects, 1995
"You had me at ‘hello’." - Jerry Maguire, 1996
"Adventure is out there." - Up, 2009
"As God is my witness, I’ll never be hungry again." - Gone with the Wind, 1939
Impactful Quotes from AFI's Recognized Films
"The first rule of Fight Club is: you do not talk about Fight Club." - Fight Club, 1999
"I drink your milkshake!" - There Will Be Blood, 2007
"Why so serious?" - The Dark Knight, 2008
"Houston, we have a problem." - Apollo 13, 1995
"Bond. James Bond." - Dr. No, 1962
"I’ll be right here." - E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, 1982
"Say ‘hello’ to my little friend!" - Scarface, 1983
"I am your father." - Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back, 1980
"I feel the need — the need for speed." - Top Gun, 1986
"Elementary, my dear Watson." - The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, 1939
"These go to eleven." - This Is Spinal Tap, 1984
"I wish I could quit you." - Brokeback Mountain, 2005
Heartfelt and Poignant Movie Quotes
"Infinity is a feeling, not a number." - The Fault in Our Stars, 2014
"You may only see darkness, but there's light somewhere." - Life is Beautiful, 1997
"Oh yes, the past can hurt. But you can either run from it, or learn from it." - The Lion King, 1994
"Why do you want to marry me? So I can kiss you anytime I want." - Sweet Home Alabama, 2002
"Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple." - Dr. Seuss' The Lorax, 2012
"You have bewitched me, body and soul." - Pride and Prejudice, 2005
"A dream is a wish your heart makes." - Cinderella, 1950
"It's like in the great stories, Mr. Frodo. The ones that really mattered." - The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, 2002
"I'm not a smart man, but I know what love is." - Forrest Gump, 1994
"The best love is the kind that awakens the soul." - The Notebook, 2004
"Some people are worth melting for." - Frozen, 2013
"All I ever wanted was you." - Blood Diamond, 2006
Quotes that Define a Generation of Filmmaking
"Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans." - John Lennon, quoted in multiple films
"That rug really tied the room together." - The Big Lebowski, 1998
"You can’t handle the truth!" - A Few Good Men, 1992
"Welcome to the real world." - The Matrix, 1999
"It's not the years, honey. It's the mileage." - Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark, 1981
"People will come, Ray." - Field of Dreams, 1989
"The truth is out there." - The X-Files, 1993
"There's no crying in baseball!" - A League of Their Own, 1992
"A martini. Shaken, not stirred." - Goldfinger, 1964
"With great power comes great responsibility." - Spider-Man, 2002
"Certainty of death. Small chance of success." - The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, 2003
"Hasta la vista, baby." - Terminator 2: Judgment Day, 1991
Quotes That Changed the Landscape of Film
"We're on a mission from God." - The Blues Brothers, 1980
"Yippie-ki-yay, motherf**ker!" - Die Hard, 1988
"It’s alive! It’s alive!" - Frankenstein, 1931
"The name’s Bond. James Bond." - Dr. No, 1962
"The seaweed is always greener in somebody else’s lake." - The Little Mermaid, 1989
"The world is asking you: what do you intend to do with your one wild and precious life?" - Mary Oliver's poem quoted in various indie films
"Dreams feel real while we're in them." - Inception, 2010
"If you build it, he will come." - Field of Dreams, 1989
"You’re tearing me apart, Lisa!" - The Room, 2003
"This is a man's world, but it wouldn't be nothing, nothing without a woman." - James Brown, featured in numerous films
"Keep your feet on the ground, and keep reaching for the stars." - Casey Kasem, quoted in films and shows
"E.T. phone home." - E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, 1982
Final words
The American Film Institute has been pivotal in celebrating the artistry of cinema through iconic quotations. These quotes transcend their original contexts, becoming part of cultural lexica and influencing popular culture and everyday conversations. Through this curated list, one can witness the diverse genres and styles of films that have left indelible marks on audiences worldwide. From classic lines to contemporary revelations, each quote encapsulates moments of humor, love, tension, or profound truth and continues to resonate long after the credits roll. As you reflect on these words, consider how they not only define characters and story arcs but also serve as a mirror, reflecting our own lives and emotions. It is through such astoundingly crafted dialogue that the magic of movies continues to captivate and inspire countless generations. In the words of one illustrious line, "Here's looking at you, kid," let these quotes remain timeless companions on your cinematic journey.
