The American Film Institute is one of the leading names in film quality, and roughly one decade ago, they began releasing a string of lists honoring the very best in film history. These lists included the greatest movies, the greatest songs, the greatest movies within specific genres (comedies, Westerns, etc.), and perhaps coolest of all, the greatest quotes.
A script is an integral ingredient in a film's success, and one fantastic line can long outlive the movie itself. Many movie lines have made their way into the wider cultural consciousness, and many continue to be quoted to this day.
"You Talking To Me?"
Taxi Driver is undeniably one of Martin Scorsese's best movies, and it comes with what is arguably the most famous line of his entire filmography. While practicing his "tough guy" routine in front of a mirror, the increasingly-unhinged Travis Bickle asks an imaginary foe, "You talking to me?" before taking out his pistol.
It's one of the most parodied and referenced scenes in movie history, and "You talkin' to me?" has been endlessly repeated in daily life.
"Fasten Your Seatbelts. It's Going To Be A Bumpy Night."
Released in 1950, All About Eve contains one of Bette Davis's most iconic roles in Margo Channing, one of the most self-obsessed characters in movie history. Margo has a distinct flair for the dramatic, as evidenced during the famous dinner party sequence.
Margo downs her entire martini in one swig, dramatically turns to the party guests, and with a flair for the theatrical, announces, "Fasten your seatbelts. It's going to be a bumpy night." It's a very famous quote (that is also vastly misquoted) with many people thinking it is "bumpy ride" instead of "bumpy night".
"May The Force Be With You."
Serving as one of the most popular aspects of the Star Wars franchise, The Force has long entered the wider pop culture zeitgeist. Even people who have never seen Star Wars know about The Force and its many uses. And while the original trilogy contains many famous lines, it is "May the Force be with you" that lands at #8 on the American Film Institute's list.
It's a great line, and it has since become a recurring quote throughout the long-running franchise. In fact, it has been made into a small in-joke, with "May the Fourth be with you" often being quoted on "Star Wars Day," May 4.
"All Right, Mr. DeMille. I'm Ready For My Close-Up."
Sunset Boulevard was deemed the 7th best-written film in movie history by the Writers Guild of America, and, coincidentally, its famous final line was ranked the 7th greatest quote of all time by the American Film Institute. The story concerns an increasingly unwell silent film star named Norma Desmond who vies for fame and attention.
The story ends in tragedy, with Norma embracing her desperate hallucinations while being arrested for the killing of Joe. The final line has a devastating impact, and it leaves viewers reeling from the tragedy.
"Go Ahead, Make My Day."
One of Clint Eastwood's signature lines, "Go ahead, make my day" is often falsely attributed to Dirty Harry. And while the iconic line is indeed spoken by Harry Callahan, it can actually be found in the fourth Dirty Harry film, Sudden Impact.
In the context of the movie, Harry says the line while aiming his gun at a robber, insinuating that his day would be made by putting the robber down. It's one of the most oft-repeated lines in movie history, being widely parodied and referenced, not to mention spoken with a grumble through clenched teeth.
"Here's Looking At You, Kid."
Deemed the best-written movie of all time by the Writers Guild of America, Casablanca contains numerous lines that have become popular mainstays in the cultural consciousness. This includes the final line, "I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship," and of course, "Here's looking at you, kid".
The latter line is an absolutely beautiful and poetic way to honor someone, and it's spoken with incredible tenderness by Humphrey Bogart.
"Toto, I've A Feeling We're Not In Kansas Anymore."
The Wizard of Oz has many timeless qualities, including its wonderful script. The sudden shift from Kansas to the colorful world of Oz needed a memorable line to sell the amazing moment, and the movie certainly delivered with "I've a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore."
It's a funny, tongue-in-cheek manner of addressing the sudden shift in tone and filmmaking, and it has since become one of the most repeated lines in movie history. It's the type of line that transcends the medium of film and is often used in every day life.
"You Don't Understand! I Coulda Had Class. I Coulda Been A Contender. I Could've Been Somebody, Instead Of A Bum, Which Is What I Am."
Feel good, inspirational sports movies are a dime a dozen, and many follow the same formulaic story. But that's exactly what makes On the Waterfront such a revelation. Marlon Brando plays Terry Malloy, a down-on-his-luck dockworker and one of the most tragic characters in movie history.
This is summed up by the American Film Institute's third-greatest quote, in which Terry pathetically bemoans his disappointing life. It's one of the most depressing lines - and line readings - ever spoken in a film.
"I'm Gonna Make Him An Offer He Can't Refuse."
Marlon Brando is widely heralded as one of the greatest actors of all time, and maybe even the greatest. The Godfather is one of his best efforts, and Vito Corleone is arguably his most famous character.
"I'm gonna make him an offer he can't refuse" is repeatedly spoken throughout the film by numerous characters, but it's widely attributed to Vito while discussing his problem with Hollywood studio head Jack Woltz. It's a great line, full of ambiguous menace and mumbled with Brando's iconic whispery voice.
"Frankly, My Dear, I Don't Give A Damn."
Arguably the most famous line in movie history (and deemed the greatest by the American Film Institute), "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn" serves as one of the punchiest ending lines to a movie. It is defiantly spoken by Rhett Butler after Scarlett O'Hara asks "Where shall I go? What shall I do?"
It has lost a bit of its impact over the years, as "damn" isn't quite the taboo swear it was back in 1939 (or 1861 for that matter, which is when the film takes place). Still, it's a savage goodbye and a harsh ending to one of cinema's most famous relationships.