10 Famous Movie Quotes

How do you start compiling a Top 10 of movie quotes? Without thinking too hard, I already came up with at least 30 that should have made the list. Which criteria do you use: do you include good quotes from bad movies? Or rather meaningless quotes from great movies? Since there is no way to come up with a list that will appeal to all, the list became more personal than originally intended. A list like this can by no means be objective, as movies appeal to people for a large variety of reasons. If you're favorite is not quoted, I'm sorry, but frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn.

'Charlie don't surf.'
'I love the smell of napalm in the morning.'
Apocalypse now - 1979

Still one of the best movies ever made. Almost every single line could have made the list. From Hopper's improvised monologue to Brando's horrible glorification of war. The reason these 2 quotes were chosen, is that they are most symbolic for the madness of the situation. While thousands of soldiers are fighting and dieing on the battlefield, there is still time for some surfing.

'Look at me, jerking off in the shower. This will be the high point of my day, it's all downhill from here.'
American Beauty - 1999

Kevin Spacey is one of those actors you'll seldom see in a bad movie. His choice for roles isn't always the most obvious one, but he somehow manages to make it a good part in almost all his movies. Here he gets the chance to shine as the bored salesman who wants to escape from it all. Absolutely brilliant.

'E.T. Phone Home.'
E.T. : The Extra-Terrestrial - 1982

Every single man cried when he first saw this movie. Whether it was because of Elliott's friendship with the alien or the presumed death of E.T. , this was one of the first films that made alien life almost believable. And cute. Afterward, the movie became even more famous as it introduced Drew Barrymore to the world and to the delights of drugs. Addicted before her 10th birthday, she still provides one of Hollywood's most dramatic stories.

'I know what you're thinking: 'Did he fire six shots or only five'"
'Go ahead, make my day.'
Dirty Harry - 1971

The proof that following the rules is not necessarily the right way. Callahan's less than conservative ways of dealing with punks made a lot of schoolboys dream of a career in the police force and made it perfectly acceptable to behave macho.

'Play it again, Sam.'
Casablanca - 1942

I added this for a whole different reason, namely that the line never appeared in the movie. It is always quoted like this, and became one of the most quoted line in movie history, but in the movie, Ilsa actually says: 'Play it once, Sam. For old time's sake'.

'I lied to you. I did fuck Alice.'
Closer - 2004

As far as movie quality goes, definitely the weakest link in this list. This line marks a brilliant twist in the plot, though, and just for Portman and Owen's roles, I feel it belongs in here.

'And you will know my name is The Lord when I lay my vengeance upon thee.'
Pulp Fiction - 1994

Whether you like his movies or not, the least you can say about Tarantino is that the boy can write. His dialogs have become his trademark, and people all over the world can recite them entirely. What's more, we now all know what burgers are like in France, what the difference is between a shopper and a motorcycle, and he made Travolta cool again. What more could you ask for? I choose for this quote to make the religious people happy. It's the quote from Ezekiel that Jackson says before blasting his enemy to pieces.

'It's only after we've lost everything that we can do anything.'
Fight Club - 1999

The deepest quote in the list comes from the freakiest movie. Anarchy against the system, written by Chuck Palahniuk. That just has to result in some good quotes. The movie in itself is memorable, Pitt and Norton's performances lift it up to unforgettable (just check Durden's clothes, how cool are they....)

'Breathtaking, I shall call him ... Mini-me!'
Austin Powers : The spy who shagged me - 1999

Suddenly I realized there were no comedies in this list. Mike Myers' place in this list is already justified for his 'Wayne's World'-isms, but the uber-nerdy over-sexed spy, loosely based on James Bond still puts a smile on many faces. Speaking of James Bond....

'Bond, James Bond.'
'Shaken, not stirred.'
Almost every James Bond movie.

Even after so many years still the most popular secret agent. The toys, the Bond-girls, his Martini's.... Who wouldn't want to be him. And he always ends up with the girl.

Again, this list is by no means complete and only represents what I found appropriate at the time. Written last week, the list would probably have been entirely different. But if you like it, I'll be back.