Nothing draws a viewer into the drama of a movie than an impassioned monologue from an incredible actor. There are so many out there, and Redditors are as passionate as the subject as the very actors delivering the monologues.
Between an undertaker trying to get on the Godfather's good side and a capitalist oil driller bullying a narcissistic preacher, Reddit users mostly stand inline with the consensus. However, though there are a lot of famous monologues that film buffs could call to memory in an instant, and while some of those do appear, there are just as many surprise picks too.
Inglourious Basterds (2009)
Of all the unpopular opinions about Inglourious Basterds, not one is about Hans Landa. It's unanimous that he's one of the best cinematic villains and more terrifying than any horror antagonist. That's no more clear than in the opening 20-minute scene of the movie, where the Jew Hunter questions a dairy farmer about sheltering Jews.
The character goes on a tirade about what he stands for, why he's there, and why he's so good at what he does. Cowboycoco thinks it's one of the best movie monologues because viewers "know nearly everything they need to know about the villain by the end of the scene." As great as Inglourious Basterds is as a whole, the movie never reaches the intensity of that sequence.
Blade Runner (1982)
Though it was a box office bomb when it was first released back in 1982, Blade Runner still holds up today and it has since become a cult classic. One of the reasons why is because of the final monologue from Roy Batty, the so-called villain of the movie.
Lordjord11 thinks it's one of the best movie monologues because it gives the audience "something incredibly moving." What's great about the monologue is that it goes against the typical villain tirade, and the character instead talks about how, despite not being human, he still believes he has a soul.
Jaws (1975)
In Jaws, Quint is a seasoned shark hunter, and he's hired to catch the shark based on his past experiences. While on the boat with Brodi, he goes into great detail in what it's like to come face to face with a shark, instilling absolute fear in Brody.
Lazarustls calls the monologue "the best ever put on film," and they're not wrong. The monologue goes on for four minutes, and it's hard to make out every word that Quint says, as he has such a thick local accent and vernacular, but that's what makes it feel more real.
The Matrix (1999)
The Matrix is known for being great in so many different ways. It's one of the most well-told sci-fi movies ever, and no film since has touched its brilliance. And on top of that, it pushed the boundaries of what was capable of computer-generated effects at the time. However, one area where the movie doesn't get credit for where perhaps it should is in the dialogue, and more specifically, the monologues.
Between Morpheus' monologue when he first meets Neo, and the Oracle's wisdom, there are tons of monologues, but romulan23 thinks the best comes from Agent Smith, the best villain in The Matrix. The monologue comes when the villain is speaking with Morpheus, and he explains how he hates Zion, calling it a zoo and finding it repulsive. Referring to Hugo Weaving, the user states that they have "always loved the utter disdain in his expressivity."
Synecdoche, New York (2008)
Not many people have seen Charlie Kaufman's Synecdoche, New York, as it bombed at the box office, but it's typically Kaufman-esque. That means that it's completely absurdist and forces audiences to look at life from a totally new perspective. The movie follows a theatre director who is given a huge grant, and with it, he creates a mini-New York inside a warehouse.
As the film is all about mortality as the director gets older, there's a funeral scene midway through the movie that'll have audiences in tears. ColonelGonvilleToast thinks the monologue given by the preacher steals the whole film. The user claims that it's "easily the most powerful scene in the movie." And though the New York is one big theatre production and the funeral is just an act, it's no less hard-hitting. What makes the monologue even better is that the actor, Christopher Evan Welch, had less than a day rehearsing Synecdoche the scene.
There Will Be Blood (2007)
Daniel Day-Lewis is such a great actor that other actors who share the screen with him pale in comparison. That's exactly what happened in There Will Be Blood, as the three-time Academy Award winner casts a shadow over his co-star Paul Dano, especially in the final scene.
DoubleTFan explains that Daniel's monologue is so great because it's "what Daniel Plainview thought he wanted, but he's clearly freaking out because it's actually not making him happy at all." That's just one way of looking at it, as there are so many other ideas and theories as to what that milkshake analogy really means.
The Godfather (1972)
Interestingly enough, C-de-vils_Advocate's favorite monologue from The Godfather doesn't come from the mouth of Vito, or even Michael, but Bonasera, an undertaker seeking Vito's help. It's the opening scene of the movie, and his monologue lasts for about two minutes, where he explains he wants revenge on the man who raped his daughter.
The Reddit user says, "it's a nutshell of the immigrant experience and sets the tone for the movie." The monologue is the perfect foundation for what's to come and reflective of the whole meaning of the entire trilogy. On top of that, "I believe in America" is one of the most well-known opening lines ever, not to mention one of the best quotes in The Godfather.
Deep Blue Sea (1999)
Deep Blue Sea didn't exactly win any awards, as the film is about genetically engineered sharks on a rampage, but it is massively entertaining. And Unkie-Fester is honest when they say that it "isn't uplifting or life-changing or anything along those lines" when referring to their favorite monologue.
The monologue in question is filled with hyperbole like "it moves like it has a mind." However, the monologue isn't memorable for the way it's delivered or how well-written it is, but because of how it's interrupted. While giving the impassioned speech, Russell gets bitten by a shark and dragged underwater. It's one of the biggest jumpscares outside of a horror movie.
Once Upon A Time In Hollywood (2019)
korraismyhero's off-the-cuff choice for the favorite movie monologue is fairly leftfield, as they admit that it's off the top of their head, but it's nevertheless an interesting one. They argue that in Once Upon A Time In Hollywood, Bruce Lee's monologue when he and Cliff Booth are on set of The Green Hornet is the best.
The scene portrays Lee as his own number-one fan and talks about how his fists are lethal weapons. And while it's one of the scenes that was polarizing, as some people didn't like the way the real-life martial arts fighter was depicted, the Reddit user claims "it’s hilarious in my opinion."
The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
One of the things The Shawshank Redemption is best known for is Morgan Freeman's narration of the events that take place. And though it could also be blamed for starting a neverending trend of Freeman narrating everything from penguin documentaries to War of the Worlds, the 1994 movie wouldn't be the same without it.
However, according to No-Acanthisitta423, Ellis' best moment comes when he has a parole meeting. The Redditor believes that it "encapsulated the message of the film so well." What's amazing and ironic about the scene is that it ends with Red telling the parole office to stop wasting his time, and he's the one who has been stuck in jail for 40 years.