Nora Ephron's movies are so beloved thanks to her unique writing style and the intelligent way that she saw the world. From Sleepless In Seattle to You've Got Mail, these movies are incredibly comforting and warm, and they also feature characters having totally relatable experiences. The filmmaker's characters are trying to find love and themselves while staying true to their passions, and they can't help but laugh and crack jokes along the way.
When watching Nora Ephron's movies, fans can pick out the most compelling quotes as they often allow the character to explain their quest for happiness or how they see themselves and other people. Whether funny or emotional, these lines always stand out.
"I have conversations with her while I'm cooking. And I feel like she is there with me in the kitchen."
Julie and Julia tells the sweet story of writer Julie Powell and her goal to cook Julia Child's recipes and blog about the experience. While Meryl Streep's performance as the famous chef is a lot of fun to watch, the movie is also well-written and this quote in particular explains the theme.
Julie's words detail what many people feel when cooking a favorite cookbook author or food blogger's recipes, along with how it feels to be a fan of an actor, musician, or another artist. It's heartwarming and relatable to learn about the connection that Julie feels.
"Don't you love New York in the fall? It makes me wanna buy school supplies."
Fans can relate to You've Got Mail quotes, including when Joe Fox talks about his enjoyment of autumn in NYC and pencils.
Many who love this movie would agree that this quote leaves a huge impression. Even though Joe is positioned as the enemy at first, since his corporate bookstores are going to put Kathleen Kelly's children's bookshop out of business, Joe is still charming and full of charming and adorable sentiments. When Joe explains his love of fall, fans know that he and Kathleen will definitely end up together as they share a positive outlook on life.
"Look, Annie... I love you. But let's leave that out of this. I don't want to be someone that you're settling for. I don't want to be someone that anyone settles for..."
"Marriage is hard enough without bringing such low expectations into it, isn't it?"
When audiences meet Annie Reed in Sleepless In Seattle, she's going to marry Walter, but it's clear that they aren't well-suited to each other. Walter has a brilliant quote about how he can tell that they aren't mean to be together and that sometimes, love just isn't enough to keep a relationship going.
Annie might be a bit surprised by Walter's candor and boldness, but fans definitely appreciate his wisdom, and this quote is more proof of Nora Eprhon's admirable way with words. These characters talk about love and relationships in a smart way that is anything but corny.
"Sometimes I wonder about my life. I lead a small life - well, valuable, but small - and sometimes I wonder, do I do it because I like it or because I haven't been brave?"
"So much of what I see reminds me of something I read in a book, when shouldn't it be the other way around?"
You've Got Mail holds up today, especially Kathleen's character and her description of her life.
In what is one of the most compelling quotes from a Nora Ephron movie, Kathleen asks a legitimate question that so many people wonder about. Audiences see Kathleen go through a huge transformation and journey in You've Got Mail, as she opens herself up to new love and decides that she wants to take more risks in life. When Kathleen mentions living vicariously through fictional stories, this is a situation that many find themselves in.
"You're high maintenance but you think you're low maintenance."
The popularity of When Harry Met Sally endures thanks to the way that the two main characters analyze each other and whether they can stay platonic. In this memorable scene, Harry explains that Sally can be intense as she orders her food in a very specific way. She responds, "I just want it the way I want it."
Sally is a hilarious and offbeat character for many reasons, including her ordering style. It's great that she listens carefully to Harry's interpretation of her personality and then stands up for herself. She's not going to change for anyone.
"I don't want to do it, honey. Can't we get somebody else to do it?"
Nora Ephron's 1986 movie Heartburn is famous thanks to the great performances by Meryl Streep as Rachel and Jack Nicholson as Mark. It's also known for funny lines, including Rachel's quote when she goes into labour and gets ready to deliver her baby.
While movies can often depict pregnancy and childbirth in a cheesy way, this quote is special and truly laugh-out-loud hilarious. Rachel is so blunt and honest here and says what many people think when they finally arrive at the hospital and realize that their life is about to change forever.
"I came here tonight because when you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible."
When Harry Met Sally is a beloved rom-com and many fans recall the movie's happy ending when the two characters finally realize that they love each other.
Harry's speech to Sally is one of the things that people love most about the movie as he explains that he enjoys Sally's quirks. While other people might find her strange, he loves it all and appreciates that she's different and completely herself. This is such a popular quote since many people dream of finding a partner who feels the same way as Harry.
"You always ignore me! Ever since I was 7 years old for Halloween and I dressed up as a carrot and you two snuck off without me. I'm just as much a part of this family as either of you... and I wanna fight!"
The 2000 movie Hanging Up tells the story of three sisters dealing with the passing of their dad and it has Nora Ephron's trademark smart dialogue and good characterization.
With this hilarious quote, Maddy tells her sisters Eve and Georgia that she still has some leftover childhood resentment, which is definitely relatable. This might not be the Nora Ephron movie that people talk about all the time, but this scene does seem perfectly logical to anyone who has experienced conflict with siblings.
"I’m gonna get out of bed every morning … breathe in and out all day long. Then after a while, I won’t have to remind myself to get out of bed every morning and breathe in and out..."
"And then after a while, I won’t have to think about how I had it great and perfect for a while."
Sleepless In Seattle has aged well because Sam Baldwin's love for his late wife is a tragic story that is still so relevant.
With this famous quote, Sam perfectly explains the process of grief and how hard it can be to face each new day when that beloved person is gone. Sam's words ring true as he realizes that although right now, life feels very difficult and sad, he will feel so much better someday, although of course he'll always keep his wife's memory alive.
"The odd thing about this form of communication is that you're more likely to talk about nothing than something. But I just want to say that all this nothing has meant more to me than so many somethings."
While You've Got Mail was released decades ago, but so much of it still rings true, including Kathleen's explanation of chatting with Joe online.
This quote stands out even more in 2021 as people text more than they talk on the phone or even in person sometimes, and yet just like Kathleen says, it's still totally possible to have a real connection when texting or chatting with someone via social media.