Summary

  • The best La La Land quotes showcase the emotional power of the movie's romance and relatable flawed characters.
  • The film is a mix of old-school Hollywood and modern dialogue, making it a standout movie musical.
  • La La Land's quotes tug at the heartstrings, highlighting the characters' dreams, love for Los Angeles, and passion for their art.

Though the music and big dance set pieces might grab the audience's attention, the best La La Land quotes show the emotional power of the movie. The romance between Mia (Emma Stone) and Sebastian (Ryan Gosling) is full of heart and sadness all conveyed in some of the movie's most memorable lines. The characters are flawed, which makes them relatable and while it has the glitz and the glamor of an old-school Hollywood throwback, this movie is also very modern with its dialogue. These La La Land quotes pull on the heartstrings of its audience with thoughtful lines, many of which help to make this one of the best movie musicals of all time.

With Babylon bombing at the box office, it continues to show that, as talented a filmmaker as Damien Chazelle is, he has had trouble following up the movie that earned him a Best Director Oscar. Along with First Man, Chazelle's movies have failed to capture that same emotional journey La La Land took audiences on. While he surely has many great movies in his future, La La Land will continue to be a hard one to top with some of its best quotes proving why.

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20 "See You In The Movies."

Sebastian (Ryan Gosling)

Emma Stone gazes at Ryan Gosling longingly the way we all would in La La Land.

There is some nice foreshadowing in the movie including the opening La La Land song revealing the ending, but another subtle nod to where the characters end up comes very early. After two brief and rather unfriendly encounters, Seb and Mia meet once again at a party, and while there are sparks, they still have a playful hostility to their encounter. After learning Mia is an actor, Seb acts unimpressed and bids her farewell with the line "See you in the movies." Looking back, it is a bittersweet line that speaks to his belief in her making her acting dreams come true and that he will watch that success from afar.

19 "Welcome To Seb's."

Sebastian (Ryan Gosling)

La La Land: Sebastian (Ryan Gosling) looks back at Mia one last time

La La Land is a movie about heartbreak while also suggesting a bittersweet ending for these two. They meant so much to each other and their journeys to follow their impossible dreams. However, it is undeniable the sadness in that final scene when Mia and Seb see each other again. After taking the stage at his jazz club, Seb spots Mia in the audience with her husband. Though he speaks to the whole audience, his emotional line "Welcome to Seb's" is directed at her, letting her finally see how she was such a big part in making this come true for him.

18 "This Is Home."

Sebastian (Ryan Gosling)

Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling dancing in La La Land

As the title suggests, La La Land is a movie about Los Angeles and the people who try to make their dreams there. The movie shows the kind of bravery and strength people have to have to really make it in this town and make it their home, especially when the city itself can seem like it doesn't want them. Following her disastrous one-woman show, Mia decides she is going back home to Nevada which causes Seb to insist, "This is home." It is a layered like that speaks to the moment of Mia deciding her time in L.A. hasn't worked out and that the home she built there with Seb is no more.

17 "City Of Stars. Are You Shining Just For Me?"

Sebastian (Ryan Gosling)

Ryan Gosling sitting at a piano, looking to the side at someone in a scene from La La Land.

While La La Land presents Los Angeles as a place that can be quite inhospitable, it also is presented as somewhere with so many possibilities. This is especially seen through Seb's eyes. While he can be a cynic in many ways, he is also someone who is relentless in making his dreams come true and he sees the city as a somewhat magical place, especially when Mia comes into his life. After making a date with her, Seb sings this song that imagines the city filled with millions of people is shining especially for him and communicates that special feeling a new love can have for a person.

16 "They Worship Everything And Value Nothing."

Sebastian (Ryan Gosling)

Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling looking at each other in La La Land

Even though Seb is able to see the magic in Los Angeles, he still voices his frustrations in what the city thinks of his art. While Mia is struggling with rejection in her search for success, Seb is filled with bitterness at a world that doesn't appreciate the beauty of jazz. As he complains about a jazz club being turned into a samba tapas place, he makes this astute observation about the difference between displaying culture and embracing culture. La La Land celebrates those with a deep passion for their art even when the rest of the world seems uninterested.

15 "Somewhere, There’s A Place Where I Find Who I’m Gonna Be. Somewhere, That’s Just Waiting To Be Found."

Mia (Emma Stone)

Mia and Seb in La La Land dream sequence

Both Mia and Sebastian have clear dreams of turning their love of music and acting into careers. However, as passionate and determined as they might be to turn these dreams into a reality, it's still true that they have their own separate doubts as it's taking longer than they would've hoped to break into their industries, with the movie's view of the acting world being particularly insightful. This quote is from one of Mia's songs, "Someone in the Crowd" as she sings about hoping to find her place in Los Angeles in the acting world. It speaks to those who have such strong desires but know they need a little luck to succeed.

14 "A Bit Of Madness Is Key To Give Us New Colors To See. Who Knows Where It Will Lead Us?"

Mia (Emma Stone)

Emma Stone's character at a spring pool party in La La Land

This line is a lyric from Mia's audition song and a moment in the movie where she's able to completely bear her heart and soul to the audience. The opening line of the song is an emotional and adventurous sentiment as Mia isn't afraid to try new things and is excited to see what her future holds and is sure to strike a chord with countless viewers watching the movie. La La Land's ending certainly packs a punch, but it would have been interesting to stop it here and embrace Mia's thoughts on the uncertainty ahead.

13 "I Don't Know What You Came To Do, But I Wanna Do It With You."

Keith (John Legend)

John Legend singing on stage in La La Land

Sebastian reluctantly joins Keith's band and the movie shows one of their live performances with the real-life musician John Legend performing as the lead singer and guitarist. This quote is one of the lyrics from the song "Start a Fire" and while it's meant to be a synthesized mess that Sebastian looks down upon, a lot of fans actually really enjoyed the song overall and this one lyric conveys a lovely and emotional moment between two people who have a connection right when they meet.

12 "People Love What Other People Are Passionate About."

Mia (Emma Stone)

Sebastian and Mia sit in a movie theatre together in La La Land

Sebastian and Mia are clear about their passions as Seb wants to open a jazz club and Mia wants to become an actress. Though the movie shows Seb's love of jazz is real, he wonders whether enough people are interested in it to make his dream come true. Mia tells him that people will enjoy the club and it would be successful because people tend to appreciate people sharing their genuine passions. It also speaks to the way each of them helps the other on their journeys to make their passions become their future.

11 "How Are You Gonna Be A Revolutionary If You're Such A Traditionalist?"

Keith (John Legend)

John Legend and Ryan Gosling talk in a club in La La Land

Keith and Sebastian butt heads throughout the movie as Keith has more of a modern approach to music and isn't afraid to try new things in his work while Sebastian approaches his music in a more traditional way. Although the audience is meant to root for Sebastian, Keith makes a good point in asking how Sebastian plans to succeed if he isn't willing to try anything new and revolutionary. Seb's snobbish way of viewing music does indeed hold him back at times.

10 "Maybe I'm Not Good Enough!"

Mia (Emma Stone)

Emma Stone as Mia in a coffee shop in La La Land
emma stone la la land

Given Emma Stone's performance in this movie earned La La Land one of its many Oscar wins, it is somewhat ironic to see her playing the role of the actress who is unsure of herself. However, Stone sells Mia's vulnerability. This La La Land quote sums it up perfectly, where she questions whether or not she is good enough to make it, which is certainly an emotional thing to see. Life isn't perfect for the lead characters in La La Land, and because Mia has a lot of knockbacks, it is easy to see why she would have some self-doubt. However, it is certainly emotional to hear that out loud.

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9 "'Cause I Think It Hurts A Little Bit Too Much."

Mia (Emma Stone)

Emma Stone as Mia looking sad in La La Land

Speaking of Mia and her battles with confidence over her acting, this is another very emotional line from the movie where she questions herself. It's a moment where Mia is ready to throw in the towel, and she makes it perfectly clear that it's because of all the heartache she's suffered throughout the years. From failed movie auditions to shows not working out, it's clear that Mia has had enough. Thankfully, Sebastian motivates her once again to jump back into the saddle and make a go of things, but that doesn't stop this initial moment from being an emotional one.

8 "It's Conflict And It's Compromise, And It's Just... It's New Every Time. It's Brand New Every Night."

Sebastian (Ryan Gosling)

Emma Stone as Mia and Ryan Gosling as Sebatian sitting in a club in La La Land

This is an emotional quote, but it's one that is full of passion and excitement, with Sebastian's love for jazz just bursting out of him. It was a clear moment of joy and energy and the fact that Mia doesn't initially enjoy jazz music is something that genuinely upsets him. The moment between them is incredibly enjoyable while showing the wonderful chemistry Stone and Goslong have. It is also a moment that allows audiences to understand exactly what makes Seb tick and why he loves it so much even if no one around him seems as enthusiastic about jazz.

7 "I'm Letting Life Hit Me Until It Gets Tired."

Sebastian (Ryan Gosling)

Ryan Gosling as Seb playing a piano in La La Land

Sebastian may eventually end up living out his dream of owning his own jazz bar, but at the start he is certainly struggling from gig to gig, trying his best to earn as much money as possible. This moment is him trying to convince himself that everything is fine when talking with his sister. Sebastian is actually struggling at this point, although he manages to take a positive outlook on things. However, this quote perfectly sums up the emotional point in his life and is something that will relate to a lot of people.

6 "Yeah, I See The Decorations. Good Luck In The New Year."

Bill (J.K. Simmons)

J.K. Simmons as Bill standing in a restaurant with Christmas lights in La La Land

J.K. Simmons joins Damien Chazelle's La La Land following their Whiplash collaboration. He has a small role as Seb's boss at a restaurant who isn't shy about delivering some harsh news. Sebastian tries to play music that is too flashy for what Bill wants, rather than just playing the simple Christmas songs as requested. Bill doesn't mince his words when it comes to firing him either, despite the fact that Sebastian tries to protest that it's Christmas, which certainly creates an emotional and very harsh moment. Simmons is particularly good at these roles and delivers in the small part.

5 "That Will Kill Me."

Mia (Emma Stone)

Emma Stone as Mia standing in a jazz club in La La Land

After Sebastian finds out that someone was interested in Mia's one-woman play, he tries his best to convince Mia to take her up on the offer and head to another audition. However, Mia is very against it after struggling with her confidence at this stage. Emma Stone's performance in the movie is funny and charming at times, but she also has these raw moments showing Mia's pain. She makes it clear that another knockback wouldn't just hurt her, but it would figuratively kill her, which is when it becomes clear just how much she is hurting, which really brings in the emotional aspect.

4 "No, It's Not Anymore."

Mia (Emma Stone)

Emma Stone smiling as Mia in La La Land

After Mia's show doesn't quite go to plan, with Sebastian himself missing it, she finally snaps and has had enough. When she says she is going home, Seb things that she means to where they live, but that's not the case, she actually means back to her parent's house. When he claims that where they live is home and Mia delivers this line, it's a real sucker punch to those who are emotionally invested in this relationship. It's a real rocky patch for them, which is something that creates an obviously emotional moment.

3 "And Here's To The Fools Who Dream."

Mia (Emma Stone)

Emma Stone as Mia standing on stage at an audition in La La Land

The songs of La La Land are obviously a massive part of what makes it work, and it provides some very emotional moments throughout. This is one of those moments, with Emma Stone providing a perfect performance that makes it all the more powerful. With her agreeing to this final audition, the song is Mia putting everything she has out there and leaving nothing back. It could result in more heartbreak, but she is embracing that there is something beautiful in having these dreams even if they don't become anything.

2 "You Said Yourself No One Wants To Go That Club. No One Wants To Go To A Club Called 'Chicken On A Stick.'"

Sebastian (Ryan Gosling)

Emma Stone gazes at Ryan Gosling longingly the way we all would in La La Land.

For the most part, Sebastian and Mia are each other's best friends and most eager supporters. Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling work so well together that is makes the relationship easy to buy. However, the two of them end up getting into a slight argument which leads to Seb doubting himself. His dream of owning a jazz club seems to be getting more and more unattainable. Mia wishes him to stick with it and not abandon his dreams for a stable gig. He uses her past criticism of the club name as an excuse to leave it behind. It shows how easy it can be to abandon a passion when it gets too hard.

1 "I'm Always Gonna Love You."

Mia (Emma Stone)

Ryan Gosling as Seb and Emma Stone as Mia sitting outside in La La Land

Initially, the movie makes people think that this will be the classic romantic tale where, in the end, the two lead characters live happily ever after. However, La La Land is actually the sad love story of "right person but wrong time." Though they were each other's biggest supporters in pursuing their respective dreams, Mia and Sebastian realize those dreams are taking them in different directions. Before saying goodbye, Mia admits that she will always love Seb and he says the same. Given the bittersweet montage at the end as they imagine the life they might have had, those words are clearly true.