Many thanks to the many celebrated and unheralded screenwriters who have provided generations of movie-goers with such memorable movie quotes and lines of dialogue, from film speeches, one-liners, quips, punchlines, statements, insults, and even mis-quotes. Their words are remembered through popular use, critical acclaim, shock value and quotability, and for many other reasons.

Some lines become more visible or recognizable than was the original intention. Scores of memorable lines have captured our attention by the way the line was delivered, by the tone in the actor's voice, the electricity on the screen, or many have become catch phrases. Many memorable movie lines are not from the greatest films, but they have remained as part of the film's legacy (and etched a place in movie history) anyway!

What are the most famous movie quotes and great lines of dialogue from over 75 years of sound films? Listen to and check out some of the most popular and well-known lines of movie dialogue. These are the most iconic, most acclaimed 'cream of the crop' film quotes, not ranked but arranged chronologically by film title. All selections include an image of the moment the quote was spoken. Sometimes, additional dialogue surrounding the quote is also included to provide a context for the famed line. If your most favorite quote isn't included in this top 100 list, check out the next section: "Great Film Quotes By Decade."

Here are hundreds of Great Movie Quotes, memorable lines of dialogue, curtain-call lines, and catch phrases, arranged by decade.

Introduction | 1920s-1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s
1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s

With sound files for listening.

This collection includes 50 Great Movie Quotes of the Last Half Century, from Entertainment Weekly.

These are the top 10 best movie lines ever - the ranked winners in a survey taken by Odeon Cinemas in the UK.

These are the top 10 best comedy movie lines in classic films - the winners were determined by Turner Classic Movies (TCM).

AFI's 100 Years - 100 Movie Quotes revealed the 100 greatest movie quotes in American films, as chosen by leaders of the entertainment community in 2005, including a listing of the top 10. See also the link to AFI's 400 Greatest Movie Quotes (Nominees).

With sound files for listening.

These are the top 10 worst lines, according to a polling of 2,000 movie-goers in the UK in late 2004. The survey was commissioned by Warburtons, a UK bakery company, to mark the launch of its new snack food, Cheese Flavour Crumpets. Also included are the Top 10 Cheesiest Movie Moments of All-Time.

There are literally hundreds of obviously awful film quotes, in addition to the Top 10 Worst Movie Quotes from the previous section. Here's a selection of some of the worst ever heard, many of which were seriously delivered by the actors/actresses.

With sound files for listening.

What are the best film speeches and monologues ever made? Greatest Films has provided a very comprehensive selection of the Best Film Speeches and Monologues (in multiple parts, and illustrated) throughout cinematic history, with background for each speech/monologue, and the actual text.

What are the most famous film misquotations? In three parts (in chronological order), here are some of the most classic movie quotes that are really only legendary, misquoted, and/or apocryphal.

With sound files to prove the point.

What are the best-known opening lines of films? Here is a collection of many of the best-known opening lines, fade-ins, and first words of dialogue heard throughout cinematic history. These are the initial opening words of films often heard even before the title credits. Ordered chronologically by film title.

What are the best-known last lines of films? Here is a collection of many of the best-known curtain call lines and final words of dialogue in cinematic history. These are the last lingering words heard before the title "The End." Ordered chronologically by film title.

A collection of some of the funniest film quotes from the last 50 years.

With sound files for listening.

An extensive compilation, in multiple parts by decade, of the catchy, enticing short phrases, called taglines (or tag lines) used by marketers and film studios to advertise and sell a movie, and to sum up the plot, tone or themes of a film.

These 'sound-bite' epigrams are often placed on either film posters (above or below the film's title) or on the merchandise itself (DVD or video cassette box, etc.), to reinforce what the film is all about. Some are very clever and memorable, while others are plain stupid or obvious.

A great collection of brief, concise, succinct, and short retorts, remarks, insults, one-liners and film quotes (usually four to five words maximum), some from the greatest films of all time.

All are memorable, quick-to-read, and easily quotable.