Any movie lover worth their DVD collection knows that there's never a time too dire or too strange to whip out a movie quote. It takes some practice, and the ability to read a room, but once that skill is mastered, quoting movies can be as easy and effective as breathing. However, parroting famous movie lines in public isn't always the best policy and can leave film lovers in awkward situations, especially when those around you have no idea what you're talking about. There's nothing worse than reciting the perfect movie quote, only to have to explain where it comes from — "'I'm king of the world!' ...You know, like Titanic?" To avoid situations like these, there's only one thing to do: stick to the most classic film lines there are. To help you out, I've collected the most iconic movie quotes of all time, perfect to be used in a whole host of situations.
There have been many lists of the most iconic movie quotes, so, to ensure this list brings a little something new, there will be no repeats — meaning one quote per movie. To find out which Jerry Maguire quote I chose — "You had me at hello" or "Show me the money" — check out the 21 most iconic movie quotes of all time, below, as well as tips on how to use them in your everyday life.
1. Gone With The Wind
"Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn." — Perfect for when you, well, don't give a damn.
2. The Wizard of Oz
"There's no place like home." — Can be used sincerely or sarcastically.
3. When Harry Met Sally
"I'll have what she's having." — For when you see someone having something that looks great.
4. Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
"My precious." — A creepy term of endearment (use Gollum voice for effect).
5. A Few Good Men
"You can't handle the truth!" — This is a nice quote to say when someone asks you a question you don't know the answer to.
6. Airplane
"Surely you can't be serious!"
"I am serious...and don't call me Shirley." — Because we're all a little Shirley.
7. Mean Girls
"She doesn't even go here." — For when someone offers their unwanted opinion.
8. A League of Their Own
"There's no crying in baseball!" — Perfect for when there are too many emotions.
9. Some Like It Hot
"Well, nobody's perfect." — A universal truth.
10. Clueless
"You're a virgin who can't drive." — An insult to end all insults. Use with caution.
11. Se7en
"What's in the box?" — The perfect movie quote to use on Christmas morning.
12. Psycho
"A boy's best friend is his mother." — You should definitely say this when you meet your boyfriend's mother for the first time.
13. The Notebook
"If you're a bird, I'm a bird." — Use this swoon-worthy quote when you want to say "I love you" without saying "I love you."
14. Casablanca
"Here's looking at you, kid." — Switch out "Goodbye" for this cool quote.
15. The Godfather
"I'm gonna make him an offer he can't refuse." — This line is appropriate whenever you are going to ask someone for something.
16. The Hunger Games
"I volunteer as tribute." — Perfect for when you see John Boyega walking down the street.
17. Jerry Maguire
"You had me at hello." — Another "I love you" substitute.
18. The Princess Bride
"Hello, my name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father, prepare to die!" — This Princess Bride quote is hard to work into everyday situations, but it can be done, if only for entertainment value.
19. Ferris Bueller's Day Off
"Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it." — If this quote isn't in a yearbook, did that year even happen?
20. Star Wars
"May the force be with you." — Self. Explanatory.
21. Whiplash
"Not my tempo." — Whip this out whenever something isn't quite to your liking.
And, there you have it, 21 iconic movie quotes and how to use them. Enjoy, and use them wisely.
Images: Paramount Pictures; Giphy (21)
