Most popular movie quotes of all time

What makes a movie cross-generational kick? Good acting? Great storytelling? Cinematography? Or perfect casting? Sure, a good movie needs all of them — but to become "great" it needs memorable quotes, and catchphrases. And oftentimes they struck some chord, and become the most popular movie quotes of all time.

"I believe in America." 

If you're an American, you sure have used these four words on multiple occasions. True movie fans know which movie it's taken from. (Answer below)

But I can't help but notice that these days movies lack iconic lines. Ever heard anyone quoting any random lines from Avengers? 

Which brings me to today…

Here I've collected the ten most popular movie quotes of all time which are also my personal favorite. But before we jump into them, let's find out,

What Makes A Movie Quote Popular? 

Ever wonder how quotes like "Bond, James Bond," or "Elementary, my dear Watson,"  became so popular?

Screenwriter William Goldman, in his interview with CNN, explains, "Some movie quotes become popular because they evoke a great film, or a great scene, or a great actor." 

"Sometimes the words of the quote become proverbial, and thus they enter into the language," he adds.

The Ten Most Popular Movie Quotes:

This list of ten most popular movie quotes have been compiled from various sources around the internet, such as The Hollywood Reporter, American Film Institute, The Village Voice, and New York Times.

Here are the popular quotes. And to kick things off: a ranking. 

10. "They may take our lives, but they'll never take our freedom!" — William Wallace, Braveheart

One of my all time favorite movie quotes is by Scottish rebel William Wallace (played by Mel Gibson) from Braveheart.

Set in the 13th century, the movie tells the story of Wallace leading the Scottish independence war against King Edward I of England who had earlier invaded Scotland.

Although criticized for being historically inaccurate, the epic historical drama was a box office success and won five Academy Awards. Highly recommend it if you're looking for "sword-and-sandal on steroids."

9. "After all, tomorrow is another day!" — Scarlett O'Hara, Gone With the Wind

Name the best romance film in history. Vanilla Sky? Twilight? Get the weak sauce out of here. Gone with the Wind is the best romance film in movie history as any cinephile would tell you. It is also the highest grossing film in history when adjusted for inflation.

Set in the 1860s, the movie follows the story of Scarlett who fell in love with Ashley. However, upon knowing he intends to marry her cousin, she marries Ashley's brother. But after her husband's death in the American Civil war, Scarlett falls in love with another man named Rhett.

Although a 84-year-old movie, the issues Scarlett and Rhett face in their relationship feel contemporary and relevant.

The above line, considered one of the best by critics, comes right from Margaret Mitchell's book the movie is adapted from.

8. "I don't want to survive. I want to live." — Solomon Northup, 12 Years a Slave

This line is lifted directly from Solomon Northup’s 1853 book on which the movie is based. 

Solomon Northup (played by Chiwetel Ejiofor) was a free Black man and made his living as a violinist. Unfortunately, two men named Brown and Hamilton, betrayed him and sold him into slavery. 

For the next 12 years he worked as a slave in the state of Louisiana before being released in 1853.

The movie did well at the box office and was praised by critics and filmmakers. Film critic Susan Wloszczyna lauded the film for being a "rare first-hand" representation of the slavery in American cinema.

7. "I mean, funny like I'm a clown? I amuse you?" — Tommy DeVito, Goodfellas

Frequently quoted by redditors of all ages, the Goodfellas is considered a classic for a reason. It's a tour de force of cinematography, storytelling, and superb acting from Martin Scorsese when he was at the top of his game. 

Goodfellas, often stylized as GoodFellas, also has some of best quotes, which makes the characters memorable even after three decades.

The plot of the film takes place in New York City, and shows how Young Henry Hill, and his friends Jimmy (played by Robert De Niro) and Tommy DeVito (played by Joe Pesci), becomes a gangster from being a petty criminal. 

The above Joe Pesci’s words come from his real life encounter with a mobster, by the way. Sounds crazy right?

6. "My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius…" — Maximus, Gladiator

Gladiator needs no introduction. 

Directed by Ridley Scott, Gladiator is about a fictional Roman general, Maximus, who was sold as a slave but returns to Rome as a Gladiator. After one vicious fight in the arena, he address the evil emperor, and the spectators:

"My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius, commander of the Armies of the North, General of the Felix Legions and loyal servant to the true emperor, Marcus Aurelius. Father to a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife. And I will have my vengeance, in this life or the next."

The movie took inspiration from a 1958 book The Way of the Gladiator, and a 1960 historical fiction film Spartacus, which also is the story of a slave who rebels against the corrupted Roman Republic.

Despite Roger Ebert’s harsh criticism, Gladiator was a massive hit in the box office and won five Academy Awards. It definitely is a must watch, if you haven't yet.

5. "I'm going to make him an offer he can't refuse." — Vito Corleone, The Godfather

I'd be a fraud if I don't include this quote by legendary actor Marlon Brando in this list. It is one of the most popular movie quotes of all time and deserves the top-most spot.

Based on Mario Puzo's novel of the same name, the movie takes place mostly in the 1940s' New York City. 

I don't want to ruin your experience by revealing too much of the plot — but at its core, it's about the transformation of Michael Corleone, a WWII veteran, into the head of his gangster family. Basically, becoming the godfather.

The Godfather had a strong showing at the box office in 1972, growing over $250 million on a $6 million budget. Plus, it won three Academy Awards including Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Picture.

The movie also includes catchphrases like "I believe in America" which has become a cross-generational kick. Those four words were in fact, the first thing spoken in the movie.

4. "You talkin' to me?" — Travis Bickle, Taxi Driver

It's been two weeks since I last saw the movie, but I can recall the quote in the exact same way Robert De Niro said it. It's almost like that particular scene is playing over and over again in my head.

Martin Scorsese's signature style — bloody violence, complex camera movements, contemporary music, and blonde leading ladies — is prominent in the Taxi Driver. In 1999, The Village Voice ranked it as the 34th-best film of the century.

Plus, the ending has stuck with me for years. Did Travis really get away with all his crimes? Or, was it happening inside his head, as he's dying? I don't think we'll ever get a sure answer to these.

3. "Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer." — Michael Corleone, The Godfather Part II

I tell everyone to watch this movie because it's. just. that. good.

Directed by Francis Coppola, The Godfather Part II is both a sequel and a prequel of the previous film, The Godfather. Although not as iconic as the latter one, the film certainly has some of the most popular movie quotes of all time.

And the above one is also one of my favorite movie quotes. Plus, I guarantee that after you watch this movie, all the other gangster characters of these days will feel cartoonish.

2. "Why so serious?" — Joker, The Dark Knight

There are superhero movies and there is MCU, and then there is Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight. It is one of the greatest superhero movies of all time with a 94% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Heath Ledger's portrayal of the Joker is also one of the most iconic, for which he won the Academy Award, posthumously.

Well, what makes the Joker character so special? A lot of antagonists in superhero movies intend to destroy the Earth, and the job of our superhero is to protect it. This is exactly what Nolan's The Dark Knight doesn't do.

Here the stakes are much smaller, and more personal which creates high tension in the film. Remember when Joker puts a bomb in the bank manager's mouth? Or, how about when he kills Rachel?

These are what makes Heath Ledger's character so terrifying.

And now I've an urge to watch The Dark Knight again…

1. "I'm the king of the world!" — Jack Dawson, Titanic

Titanic isn't the first movie about the 1912 tragedy — but it may be the one which people will remember even after a century. 

Director James Cameron once said, "Titanic just struck some kind of chord." Today, 26 years later, it's easy to see why.

There are many quotes about love, ennui, and hope that reflect our thoughts in a straightforward manner. They have become a part of our collective memory.

After playing in cinemas for almost 10 months, winning 11 Academy Awards and making over $1.84 billion at the box office (remember it’s 1997 and there’s no Avatar), Titanic truly became the part of the cultural zeitgeist, evidenced in all its parodies and homages that you can see on social media(s).

As a side note, Titanic was also the first American film to do well in the Indian box office.

Too long; didn't read

The most popular movie quote of all time is "I'm the king of the world," from Titanic (1997). 

However, the American Film Institute puts - "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn" from Gone with the Wind, as the most popular movie quote on their AFI's 100 Years...100 Movie Quotes list.

Bottom Line

I know this list of most popular movie quotes isn't perfect. 

For example, I didn't include "May the Force be with you" from the classic sci-fi film Star Wars, and “Go ahead, make my day” from Clint Eastwood's Sudden Impact — because it's already been covered by thousands of articles.

And some other popular quotes which barely missed the list are: 

  1. "I am your father" from The Empire Strikes Back,
  2. "I'm Batman" from Batman,
  3. "There's no place like home" from The Wizard of Oz, and
  4. "Hasta la vista, baby" from the Terminator 2.
  5. "I'm gonna get Medieval on your ass" from the Pulp Fiction

With that said, I hope you enjoyed reading this article. Which one is your favorite movie quote from this list? Let me know in the comments. ❝❞