There are many criteria for what makes a great movie, and while there's no Oscar category for quotability, it certainly plays a role. The movies audiences love to quote in their day-to-day lives, or speak the dialogue along with a rewatch, are some of the most beloved and timeless.
The movie buffs at Letterboxd offered their picks for the most quotable movies. These selections represent the most mentioned across -generated lists for the "Say Anything" showdown and are ranked according to their Letterboxd rating (out of five stars).
The Room (2003) - 2.6
The Room gained infamy in the years following its release for being "so bad it's good." Considered one of the worst films ever made, it nonetheless made waves as a midnight movie and cult fodder; eventually, its bizarre narrative and behind-the-scenes stories would elevate The Room to cultural phenomenon status.
Much to the chagrin of anyone named Mark or Lisa, The Room's stilted dialogue is unforgettable. Just try to unhear Tommy Wiseau's delivery of "oh hi, Mark!" or "You are tearing me apart, Lisa!" The writing is so contrived and melodramatic that it creates unintentional humor - and somehow, keeps audiences coming back.
Mean Girls (2004) - 3.8
Mean Girls gets a lot right about being a teenager, making it both cringeworthy and cathartic to revisit.
With Tina Fey's sharp humor driving the script, nearly every line in Mean Girls is a stand-out. Meanwhile, because the characters are such perfectly defined high school types, audiences can easily identify with their endearing teenage absurdity. For viewers who felt like second-best growing up, Gretchen's attempts to make "fetch" happen and insistence that "we should totally just stab Caesar" will ring hilariously true. Those who watch the movie now as parents love to brand themselves as "not a regular mom... a cool mom."
The Princess Bride (1987) - 4.1
There's a shortage of perfect movies in the world, but The Princess Bride may be one of them. It has fencing, fighting, miracles, true love, and everything in between - rolled into a swashbuckling fairy tale. The dialogue, often anachronistic and out-of-sync with its pseudo-medieval setting, is nonetheless full of wit and charm. The incongruity between the period and the dialogue style, coupled with the nimble shifting between comedy and melodrama, makes the characters sing with specificity.
While Billy Crystal's Miracle Max spun some wonderfully memorable lines ("Have fun storming the castle!" for one), and Wallace Shawn became synonymous with the single word "inconceivable" for his turn as Vincini, it's Mandy Patinkin's Inigo who delivers one of the most quotable lines in movie history: "Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die."
Monty Python & The Holy Grail (1975) - 4.1
British comedy troupe Monty Python's hysterical send-up of the Arthurian legend is marked by absurd humor, outrageous characters, and unforgettable jokes. As King Arthur and his motley crew of knights roam the countryside in search of the Holy Grail, they encounter rude French castellans, disgruntled peasants, and the Knights Who Say "Ni," among others. Each encounter is more bizarre than the last, leading to brilliant wordplay and hilarious debates.
Monty Python & The Holy Grail's quotability is so indisputable that it became the entire premise for the climax of the bestselling novel Ready Player One (via Inverse). King Arthur's confrontation with Dennis, the politically savvy peasant, is particularly memorable for its reflections on ideal collectivist government structures - and the insistence that "supreme executive power derives from a mandate from the masses, not from some farcical aquatic ceremony!"
The Big Lebowski (1998) - 4.1
The Coen Brothers' cult classic The Big Lebowski features, at its center, a charming slacker who's thrust into a complex noir-esque mystery. Jeffrey "The Dude" Lebowski, played to lackadaisical perfection by Jeff Bridges, is so magnetic in his inertia that an entire religion (Dudeism) has spawned in his wake (via The Guardian). Followers of Dudeism and fans of the movie alike take comfort in the simple fact that "the Dude abides."
Indeed, The Big Lebowski is chock-full of little Zen nuggets of wisdom, from the blissful resignation of "F*ck it, let's go bowling" to the serene acceptance of life's "strikes and gutters, ups and downs." The movie's beloved quotes can be litanies to live by, or jokes to enjoy again and again.
Star Wars (1977) - 4.2
Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope brought awestruck audiences to a galaxy far, far away. Along with stunning visuals and an epic heroic journey, Star Wars created a mythology and language around its story world. Now recognized as one of the most culturally significant movie franchises of all time, the earliest installment inspired fans to utter "May the Force be with you" as a greeting, farewell, or motivational phrase.
Each year, May 4 is celebrated as "Star Wars Day" for the pun "May the Fourth be with you," and the line recurs in some permutation in nearly every piece of Star Wars media. While later installments of Star Wars would contribute beloved quotes to the fandom - including one the most mised movie quotes in The Empire Strikes Back - the franchise's signature mantra has taken on a life of its own.
Casablanca (1942) - 4.2
Casablanca's signature lines are so culturally ingrained that it's possible to quote Casablanca without ever having seen Casablanca. Whether decrying how "of all the gin ts in all the towns of the world, she had to walk into mine," or wistfully remarking "we'll always have Paris," the dialogue is universally recognizable.
One of the film's most frequently referenced lines is also often mised. Ilse's line "Play it, Sam," is commonly misquoted as "Play it again, Sam." The incorrect version of the line even became the title of Woody Allen's Casablanca homage.
Pulp Fiction (1994) - 4.3
Quentin Tarantino followed up his outstanding debut feature Reservoir Dogs with the even more widely acclaimed Pulp Fiction. The script sizzles with Tarantino's signature memorable dialogue as it follows numerous intertwined storylines. Pulp Fiction contains numerous quotable one-liners; Honey Bunny's exclamation during the diner robbery was even sampled by the alt-rock band Scooby Snacks.
Arguably, Jules and Vincent's conversation about Parisian Big Macs is the film's most quotable moment. Coupled with the inspired casting of Samuel L. Jackson and John Travolta, the "Royale with Cheese" is so prosaic, yet so specific that it leaps off the page. It may have grown old at the McDonald's drive-thru, but to movie buffs, it's evergreen.
The Dark Knight (2008) - 4.4
The second installment in Christopher Nolan's lauded Batman trilogy, The Dark Knight oozes with philosophical musings and debates over the nature of heroism. It pits the eternal archenemies of Batman and the Joker against each other, leading to scintillating wordplay. Heath Ledger's Joker delivers brilliant, quotable one-liners with terrifying panache ("why so serious?" and "do you want to know how I got these scars?" send chills down the spine).
Among the most memorable quotes in The Dark Knight, however, is Jim Gordon's meditation on "the hero Gotham deserves." Gordon's words perfectly capture the duality of Nolan's Batman while finding application outside the movies. It's been ironically applied to sports mascots (NJ.com), earnestly bestowed in political discourse, and relentlessly memed across the internet.
The Godfather (1972) - 4.5
Widely considered one of the best movies of all time, The Godfather's epic length is justified by a near flawless script. Much of the story is told through long, sweeping visual sequences and montage, so when The Godfather turns to dialogue, that dialogue is thoughtful and intentional.
The most iconic lines are spoken by Don Vito Corleone, in a quintessential performance by Marlon Brando. His unique vocal patterns and mannerisms make lines like "I'm gonna make him an offer he can't refuse," stand out even more. The line is oft-quoted and parodied in pop culture, from The Simpsons to Sesame Street. While The Godfather and its sequels feature many famous lines and speeches, Vito's promise remains one of the most enduring quotes in cinema history.
