Where would movie lovers be without their movie quotes? From epic scripting to masterful ad-libs and improvisations, lines from our favorite onscreen stories can bring meaning to life outside the fictional world. Movie quotes that transcend their original film have no genre boundaries; they impact audiences from the second the character says their lines. Whether action, comedy, animated, or horror, our favorite movie quotes have moved us to adopt them as life affirmations, get them tattooed, printed on coffee mugs, and plaques on our walls.
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When a question, battle cry, admission, or expression from a character becomes quotable long after the film's release, it carries on a legacy that the film will never be forgotten. It cannot be overlooked as long as there's someone out there repeating the words of the iconic characters.
"Wakanda forever!" — 'Black Panther' (2018)
Taking the world by storm in 2018, Black Panther introduced a war cry that rippled across audiences, forming a movement no one was ready for. Proclaimed by Wakanda's Black Panther protector and driving force King T'Challa (Chadwick Boseman), "Wakanda forever!" became a cultural phenomenon following the movie's release, so much so that it became the title for this year's highly anticipated sequel, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.
The resonating line brought audiences to raise their arms across their chest, the American Sign Language sign for a hug. "Wakanda forever" symbolizes unity and passionate strength and evolved to signify Black excellence. After well-deserved Academy Award acknowledgment, Black Panther cemented its position in cinematic history as more than just a superhero movie.
"Just keep swimming." — 'Finding Nemo' (2003)
Animation's most forgetful fish provided one of the most unforgettable movie lines. Reminding us all that when life gets us down, we need to "Just keep swimming." Dory (voiced by Ellen DeGeneres) has a positive outlook on any situation, whether that's because she has short-term memory loss or because she's just upbeat. During one of the many hurdles she and Marlin (voiced by Albert Brooks) face during their search for Nemo (voiced by Alexander Gould), Dory tries to make light of their situation by singing, "Just keep swimming."
This simple lyric became an iconic affirmation that resonated with audiences during the toughest times. No matter what life throws at you, you have to keep pushing through. The popularity of Dory's positivity carried on from Finding Nemo into the Disney Pixar sequel Finding Dory.
"There's no place like home." — 'The Wizard of Oz' (1939)
Still relatable over eight decades later, this sentiment is something you quote even if you haven't seen the movie. Repeated by the film's heroine Dorothy Gale (Judy Garland) at the direction of Glinda (Billie Burke), "There's no place like home." sends Dorothy back to Kansas after her harrowing journey in Oz.
The iconic line originated from The Wizard of Oz source material by L.Frank Baum:The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. The line transcended the film franchise by emphasizing the importance of home and family. The concept is still relevant today, whether that means there's no place like your home with your snacks and blankets or there's no place like the home with the people you love most.
"May the Force be with you." — 'Star Wars' (1977)
First said in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, "May the Force be with you" has become a sensational expression of protective, honorable well-wishes. The first variation of the phrase came from Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi (Alec Guinness) to Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill). Obi-Wan tells Luke, "The Force will be with you. Always." Generally said as a goodbye or good luck sentiment, this quote remained a staple in the franchise spanning all nine episodes, prequel/backstory films, and television series.
Across Star Wars fans, young and old, this declaration carries a strong aura of love and camaraderie. Characters throughout the franchise installments utilize the mantra as a pillar of strength and to indicate they are not alone. The cultural phenomenon that is this franchise is led by the idea that the force is with us all. Always.
"We're Americans." — 'Us' (2019)
Horror master Jordan Peele gives audiences multiple puzzle pieces to connect in each of his films, but his (perhaps) most transcendent film, Us, had audiences Googling the answers. In a movie about doppelgängers, when asked, "Who are you people?" Red (Lupita Nyong'o) replies, "We're Americans." Startling to viewers and the film's characters, the identification forces everyone to understand that the "villains" of the movie are not otherworldly but rather real people.
Whether you've researched the enigma that is Us or got the concept after a few watches, the Tethered are the product of a government experiment, not a supernatural entity. The line, "We're Americans," can be read as a call for empathy, and those you perceive as "threats" are victims of an unjust system.
"Why so serious?" — 'The Dark Knight' (2008)
The product of an incomparable performance by Heath Ledger, "Why so serious?" will forever transcend the Christopher Nolan Batman films. Following the Joker's (Ledger) character introduction in The Dark Knight, audiences were privy to various alternative explanations for how the Joker got his scars, the first of which introduced the iconic line.
Extending beyond the film, "Why so serious?" became an internet sensation and the source of popular merchandise for the film. So many times in the movie industry, audiences remember the line and not the speaker—not this time. Ledger's Oscar-winning performance, alongside his delivery of "Why so serious?" will forever go down in movie history as one of the most transcendent questions.
"I see dead people." — 'The Sixth Sense' (1999)
With almost every scene stolen by the young Haley Joel Osment, The Sixth Sense remains historic for its epic twist and iconic lines. In one of our favorite doctor-patient characters duos, Malcolm Crowe (Bruce Willis) is a child psychologist tasked with helping the resigned and tormented young boy Cole (Osment). With Malcolm's help and understanding, Cole can find a purpose for his ability to see the spirits of the dead.
One of the most iconic deliveries, "I see dead people," not only foreshadows what's to come but also initiated yet another recognizable line in movie history. While it's not meant to be taken literally, this admission of ability is symbolic for movie lovers who may have special interests and quirks and use this line to uniquely express a hidden talent.
"Onions have layers. Ogres have layers." — 'Shrek' (2001)
A perfect non-Disney example of adult themes in animated movies, Shrek remains a classic movie we're still quoting today. Touching on the themes of stereotypes and social expectations long before Zootopia, Shrek's (voiced by Mike Meyers) conversation with Donkey (voiced by Eddie Murphy) about there being more than meets the eye with ogres provided viewers of all ages with an analogy still relevant today: "Onions have layers. Ogres have layers."
As a young viewer, the weight Shrek's words carry may not be as hard-hitting as they are for teen and adult viewers returning to the movie; however, the concept is a gentle lesson not to judge based on preconceived notions. Whether your quote this line for your dating app profile or use it as a daily mental health affirmation, Shrek's explanation of his personality will forever be stamped upon audiences.
"Are you not entertained?" — 'Gladiator' (2000)
Taking home five of its 12 Academy Award nominations, Gladiator maintains its legacy as one of the greatest revenge action movies of all time. During an early fight sequence, Maximus (Russell Crowe) brutally defeats his challengers, stunning the on-looking audience. He answers their bewilderment with, "Are you not entertained?" A once revered Roman General, Maximus is forced to fight his way out of slavery, never accepting defeat as he exacts his vengeance against Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix).
This iconic demonstration became one of the most quotable lines in movie history. Transcending the movie, the question Maximus posed forces an introspective look for not only the fictional spectators but ourselves as moviegoers. Are we entertained by the brutality of the gladiators and what it stands for?
"I'll be back." — 'The Terminator' (1984)
While it's not the most thought-provoking line in movie history, Arnold Schwarzenegger'sfamous line still impacted the popularity of The Terminator. "I'll be back." appeared during the sci-fi franchise's first film, in which The Terminator (Schwarzenegger) is hunting down Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton) at the police station. Following Terminator's declaration, he drives a car into the police station.
Paired with his distinct accent, the delivery of the line sparked audiences to quote the short sentence for decades to come. It's one of those lines where you may not have seen the movie, but you know who said it and in what movie it came from. We can only imagine the celebrations to come when 2029 actually arrives.
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