One-liners can be hilarious. Other movie one-liners are deep, even dark, while others are just straight up weird. Regardless of the genre, they’re usually remembered long after the movie’s release, and the words can impact an entire generation. Don’t believe me? See if you’ve ever said or heard any of these phrases in conversation. You might not even know what movie they’re from. But that’s okay!
We’ve curated a list of some of the best funny movie one-liners, some dramatic examples, and even a few creepy mentions. Let’s take a look.
Iconic, Dramatic, and Funny Movie One-Liners
The best movie one-liners
Ranking seems silly but we did it anyway. We didn’t rank by category, just based on a gut feeling and what the line did for the scene or film.
What’s considered “the best” is always up for debate, and honestly, I’m not a fan of ranking. But, just for fun, let’s start with some classics and see where we end up.
MIDNIGHT COWBOY
55. “I’m walking here!”
If you missed Dustin Hoffman's performance in Midnight Cowboy, you likely didn't miss the famous phrase it bore. You know a line is truly indelible as this one when it gets parodied this many times.
Midnight Cowboy gives not only a line, but an attitude
NETWORK
54. "I'm as mad as hell, and I'm not going to take this anymore!"
You may have never seen Network, but it's strangely relevant for today's socioeconomic and political climate. Whichever side you sit, it's also just really good movie.
Speech from Network sounds weirdly relevant today
JERRY MAgUIRE
53. “Show me the money!”
Reiterated in many movies (most notably Austin Powers), "show me the money," is surely used by everyone, even those who have never seen Jerry Maguire.
Tom Cruise and Cuba Gooding Jr. "show me the money" scene
TOY STORY 2
52. “To infinity and beyond!”
Now, I'm not sure this one-liner necessarily "beats" the few above in quality or depth, but its use spans (at least) two generations. Not to mention, the sequels are actually pretty good.
This also became the Buzz Lightyear toy catchphrase
IT: CHAPTER ONE
51. "Now I'm Gonna Have To Kill This F***ing Clown."
Actor, Finn Wolfhard delivers the line and it's probably the more badass than all of his lines from Stranger Things, combined.
It movie ending one-liner
WHEN HARRY MET SALLY
50. "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."
And now we side-step over to romantic comedies. Cheesy or adorable, maybe a little bit of both, When Harry Met Sally boasts a few memorable one-liners. We'll see another a little later in the list.
Billy Crystal's one-liner
LOVE STORY
49. “Love means never having to say you’re sorry.”
Aw, how many decorative wall art pieces did this inspire. Just kidding, cheesy or not, this line has been repeated a number of times since the film's release in 1970.
Run with him to a minute and 30 seconds to hear the line
GOLDFINGER
48. “Shaken, not stirred.”
For every corny dad out there, or maybe just for mine, because that's definitely how I learned this line. Luckily, I stopped saying it by the time I was actually old enough to order a drink.
This line was said in many Bond movies
SUDDEN IMPACT
47. “Go ahead, make my day.”
Clint Eastwood had to make the list, so we went ahead and added this iconic scene from Sudden Impact.
Wait for the one-liner towards the end of the scene
CASABLANCA
46. “Here’s lookin at you, kid.”
So famous and so iconic, you know that's true because this one really does span generations.
One the most famous lines of all time
TERMINATOR
45. “I’ll be back.”
Said in the Terminator voice, of course. And often quickly followed by "Hasta la vista, baby." May we never forget how our 10-year-old selves used to leave a room.
Arnold Schwarzenegger in Terminator
Field of Dreams
44. “If you build it, he will come.”
Not to be confused with "if they build it, they will come," which never actually said in this film. But I guess people hear what they want to hear, thanks to the real phrase for giving us something to work with. Below, wait for it at about one minute and 30 seconds.
Life lessons from Field of Dreams
E.T. the Extra Terrestrial
43. “E.T. phone home.”
Yeah, sometimes we say this one for no real reason at all. It's cute, and it's a little weird, just like the movie.
Drew Barrymore is almost as adorable as E.T.
Taxi Driver
42. “You talkin to me?”
The best part about this iconic movie one-liner is that it comes directly from De Niro improvising.
Taxi Drive infamous movie one-liner
The Shining
41. “Here’s Johnny!”
And then there are those that are iconic because the level at which they freaked us the hell out. I've heard people say this in real life, and I really question who they are as a person.
And there he is: Jack Nicholson in the Shining
Apollo 13
40. “Houston, we have a problem.”
We do don't we? Because whenever you hear this phrase, there usually is an issue with whatever situation you're in. The gravity of how often this phrase is used is overwhelming. Pun absolutely intended.
Tom Hanks delivers the famous line
Die Hard
39. "Yippie-ki-yay, motherf—er."
Bruce Willis added the "the mother f--ker" part for fun. It did so well with the test audience, it stuck.
Sometimes actors write the lines
A League of Their Own
38. “There’s no crying in baseball!”
Sage advice from Tom Hanks' Jimmy Dugan that can be applied to any situation. Love this film and this line.
A League of Their Own movie one-liner
Titanic
37. “I’m the king of the world!”
I've said this at least a hundred times as a kid. And maybe even as an adult, just in my head.
Liberating movie one-liners
The Usual Suspects
35. "The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist."
I didn't even realize this was from a movie, I just assumed some sage said it. Maybe they did. Either way, it entered into the cultural ether in The Usual Suspects.
One-liners frame interesting perspectives
Best in Show
34. “We could not talk or talk forever and still find things to not talk about.”
It doesn't really matter what's being said in this movie, it's all hilarious because the characters are incredible. To refresh your memory, or if you've never seen Best in Show, watch below.
Best in Show one-liner
Star Wars: The Last Jedi
33. "The greatest teacher, failure is."
Ah, yes, how could we leave Yoda out. Forget, we must not. Include him, we must. I don't know. Here's a good one-liner from Yoda.
Learning from Yoda's one-liners
Spider-Man: Homecoming
32. "If you're nothing without the suit, then you shouldn't have it."
It's too new to be iconic, but I think it has the most depth than the majority of this list. Maybe one day it will be considered iconic, but for now, I'll just appreciate it for it's truth.
Robert Downy Jr. schools Spiderman
When Harry Met Sally
31. “I’ll have what she’s having.”
Iconic, fun, and has probably been repeated by anyone capable of speaking. The rando who delivers the line is definitely not talking about food, but that's typically how it's used in real life.
When Harry Met Sally has a few one-liners
Airplane
30. “I am serious. And don’t call me Shirley.”
Airplane! I love this movie! The humor can be enjoyed by literally anyone, and the plays on words are almost too perfect.
Anyone who knows it probably loves this line
Frankenstein (1931)
29. “It’s alive! It’s alive!”
If this list reflected the most known phrases, this would be number one. It's actually a little creepier than I remember. I said it as a child so many times but now that I watch the clip, I'm not sure I'll want to pass it along to my own kids. Though, I'm sure they'll hear it somewhere.
The original "It's alive!"
The Jazz Singer (1927)
28. “You ain’t heard nothin yet.”
There could probably be separate article just on how many times this one-liner was used in cinema. But it originated in 1920s.
How many times have you heard this?
Almost Famous
27. “I am a golden god!”
I'm not sure how often this is yelled from rooftops, but I personally have always wanted to.
"I'm on drugs" isn't a terrible preface to this one-liner
CLUELESS
26. “As if.”
Quite possibly one of the greatest teen movies of all time, Clueless created its own language, way before Mean Girls was a thing.
90s one-liners are always a favorite
The Big Lebowski
25. “The Dude abides.”
He sure does. I mean, is it really a one-liner or is it more of a motto? What's the difference? In light of the Dude, whatever.
Funny movie one-liners
Jaws
24. “You’re gonna need a bigger boat.”
Classic, iconic, and over-used. But it definitely deserves a mention.
Infamous movie one-liners
Star Wars
23. “May the force be with you.”
So powerful, May the fourth is now Star Wars Day.
Bordering historic one-liner
Star Wars
22. “I am your father.”
This line is so ubiquitous, it's hard to imagine how powerful this twist actually was.
Where would the movies be without this scene
The Wizard of Oz
21. “I'll get you, my pretty, and your little dog, too!"
One of the most known phrases in cinematic history, this one-liner can give a child and a 90-year-old something to talk about.
Wizard of Oz one-liner
Almost Famous
20. “Your aura is purple.”
Another Almost Famous line because what a great movie. Hippies love this one. I love this one. Your parents probably have never heard of it.
Almost Famous is filled with great one-liners
Bridesmaids
19. “I’m glad he’s single, because I’m going to climb that like a tree.”
Melissa McCarthy makes my life. She spits out ridiculousness regularly and while they can't be considered "classics" just yet, at least one of her lines deserves a spot.
Bridesmaids movie one-liner
The Godfather
18. "I'm going to make him an offer he can't refuse."
Back to basics, but not in the boring sense. This is one of those sayings that you probably forgot where it originated from.
The Godfather famous lines
Pulp Fiction
17. “They call it a Royale with cheese.”
Of course, we couldn't have a list of lines without Tarantino. John Travolta delivers hits magically delicious line in Pulp Fiction.
Try ordering this out
The Wizard of Oz
16. "Toto, I've a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore."
I think I heard someone say this before I even saw the movie, which is actually hard to accomplish, because this is like the first movie every child sees.
Great set design aided this iconic phrase
Apocalypse Now
15. "I love the smell of napalm in the morning."
The fact that this one caught on in mainstream society reminds just how weird and awesome people can be.
Famous Apocalypse Now move line
Scarface
14. “Say hello to my little friend!”
Al Pacino gives us the best (violent) one-liner probably in cinematic history. It's ridiculous, and if we heard it today, it probably wouldn't even stick. But for some reason, Al Pacino in 1983 as Tony Montana wins every time.
One of the most notorious lines in movie history
The Wizard of Oz
13. “There’s no place like home.”
This phrase and those ruby red slippers will be around forever.
Most famous Wizard of Oz line
The Godfather
12. “Leave the gun. Take the cannoli.”
This probably should've been lower on the list in comparison to the "classics," but honestly, it's my favorite, and I say it's number 12.
Best movie one-liners
The Godfather Part 2
11. “Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer."
So many quotes, life lessons, and ideas came from this franchise. It's crazy to think about how many parts of our speech and ways we think, actually came from cinema, especially mafia cinema.
Part 2 still delivering
The Big Lebowski
10. “This is not ‘Nam. This is bowling. There are rules.”
This one isn't "better" than The Godfather's lines, it's just number 10 because it's different, it's unique, and it's also perfectly stupid for this stupidly perfect movie.
John Goodman delivers the line
Gone with the Wind
9. "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn."
The OG of the best movie one-liners.
Gone with the Wind clip
Dr. Strangelove
8. “Gentlemen, you can’t fight in here. This is the War Room!”
Even if you haven't seen it, just read it, it's amazing.
Older one-liners
Zoolander
7. “What is this? A center for ants?
Popularized amongst millennials, this one-liner has weirdly become one of the most comedic ways to express the size of anything.
Perfect way to end the film
The Dark Knight
6. “Why so serious?”
This phrase introduced us to Heath Ledger's Joker. The first time we see him in The Dark Knight, is the first time we hear it, it was powerful then, and it still is now...though, still super creepy.
Ledger's line introduces us to his character
Jerry Maguire
5. “You had me at hello.”
Probably the most romantic movie one-liner ever. I wish I could go back to the day I heard it for the first time.
Watch the full scene
Back to the Future
4. “Roads? Where we’re going, we don’t need roads.”
I still say this, all the time. It makes no sense when I say it, and that's the power of it. It's fantastical, quirky, and everybody loves it.
Back to the Future one-liner
Mean Girls
3. “She doesn’t even go here!”
This line is in this particular spot because I think it's more difficult for younger films to get noticed for their incredible one-liners. Films like The Godfather, Star Wars, or what's considered "classic cinema" tend to get all of the attention for noteworthy lines.
She doesn't even go here
The Silence of the Lambs
2. “I’m having an old friend for dinner.”
I cringe just thinking about this, but it's also so good and perfect for what's actually going on in the film.
What a line
Get Out
1. "I told you not to go in that house."
Okay, so this line may not be something repeated for generations, but it will definitely be remembered. It brings the film full circle and it's a near perfect ending. It may not be a universal line like those in The Godfather, but I put it here because not only does it provide comedic relief for the scene, it provides it for the entire film.
One-liners bring comedic relief in Get Out
UP NEXT
Best Movie Taglines & Why They Work
You saw some of the best examples of one-liners in movie history, but how good are you at describing the entire film in a line. If you're a writer, you'll probably have to do that at some point. Learn from the best in the next article.