Movies are a magical art form that leaves a lasting impression in your mind, especially when the acting is excellent, and the performances convey a lot of emotion. While most films are carefully crafted endeavors, some of the most memorable moments on the silver screen result from spontaneous creativity. In the realm of improvisation, some of the best lines delivered in cinema have transcended their scripted origins to become iconic gems in the history of cinema.
Most of the lines included in this ranking are delivered by the best-talented actors and actresses of all time, leaving an indelible mark on audiences worldwide. Every one of these improvisations conveys a different range of emotions. Some are funny one-liners, while others are poignant expressions of rage, pain, and sadness. All of them share a similar trait: these spontaneous additions have added a lot to each of these films, turning them into timeless classics.
21 "Here's looking at you, kid." - Casablanca (1942)
Casablanca is the quintessential classic of the golden age of Hollywood. Directed by Michael Curtiz and written by Julius J. Epstein, it features the talents of Humphrey Bogart as Rick Blaine and Ingrid Bergman as Ilsa Lund. After Rick decides to help Ilsa's husband make her escape, she sends her on her way alongside him, sacrificing his feelings for her in a heartfelt goodbye, where Bogart delivers the line that would become the ultimate showcase of stoicism.
20 "You can't handle the truth!" - A Few Good Men (1992)
A Few Good Men is one of the most solid political thrillers we have seen, one that takes aim at the unique justice system in place for military personnel in the USA. The film is directed by Rob Reiner and written by Aaron Sorkin, with Tom Cruise, Demi Moore, and Jack Nicholson leading the cast. In the film's climax, Colonel Nathan R. Jessup is being questioned about issuing a code red that led to the death of a private. After an intense round of questioning by prosecutor Kaffee, Jessup burst out the iconic phrase in disgust and contempt as the prosecutor seems to lack the understanding of the harsh realities of military service.
19 "I'm the king of the world!" - Titanic (1997)
Titanic was such a large production that each shot was carefully planned to achieve maximum realism and make the most of the large but constraining budget. While most of the cast delivers impeccable performances, some of the best bits in the film are ad-libbed, such as the moment when Jack Dawson, as played by Leonardo DiCaprio, explores The Titanic and stands at the bow of the ship with his arms outstretched to deliver the famous line that partly symbolizes Jack's youthful exuberance and the sense of freedom.
There are multiple highlights in Full Metal Jacket, the unique war film by Stanley Kubrick about the Vietnam War, which features a large cast of working actors in their young days. R. Lee Ermey stood out as Drill Instructor Gunnery Sergeant Hartman, the man training the recruits. While there was a script written by Michael Herr, and Gustav Hasford, Kubrick allowed Ermey to ad-lib most of his lines as he used to be a real former drill sergeant. While most of Hartman's most colorful lines could easily cut the ranking, we have to keep things PG-13 around these places.
17 "Here's Johnny!" - The Shining (1980)
Another Kubrick film? Hell yes! While it's true that Stanley Kubrick was an incredible perfectionist, said to repeat as many takes as possible for each shot of the film, he gave his actors a lot of leeway to play with the script to avoid making the process monotonous. The most famous shot in The Shining has Jack Nicholson breaking a door to pieces while grinding an axe as he slowly descends into madness. The famous line he says after showing his face through the hole is borrowed from the "Johnny Carson Show," while adding an eerie and iconic element to a film that would last for ages.
16 "You talking to me?" - Taxi Driver (1976)
So many people watch this film and miss the point of this whole scene. The worst part is that Taxi Driver is a film 50 years old and still has such a profound, resonating message for society, but most see it as the ultimate show of badassery by Robert De Niro. This masterpiece by Martin Scorsese and a script by Paul Schrader features De Niro as Travis Bickle, a mentally unstable Vietnam War veteran turned taxi driver.
With his perception of reality sliding away, Bickle sees the world in black and white and himself as a force of good that must stop all evil. He talks to himself in the mirror, showcasing an increasing detachment from reality while deeply descending into a violent and isolated mindset.
15 "I'm walking here!" - Midnight Cowboy (1969)
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Midnight Cowboy is a great film that shows the unforgiving nature of cities in the USA. In this movie, directed by John Schlesinger with a script by Waldo Salt, we have Dustin Hoffman playing Ratso Rizzo, a hustler walking around while holding a conversation and crossing the street without looking around. After a cabbie nearly hits him, Hoffman ad-libs the line, which would become a reflection of life in the big city.
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13 "Just give me my ****in' phone call" - RoboCop (1987)
RoboCop is one of those films that can get in your face with all its social commentary, but you hardly notice if you simply want to be entertained. This masterpiece by Paul Verhoeven had a very detailed script by Edward Neumeier and Michael Miner, but the cast got to play a little with it, with some of the best moments in the film being ad-libbed and kept in the final cut of the movie to make it more impactful.
Some of the best lines of dialog in the film are delivered by Kurtwood Smith as Clarence Boddicker, Alex Murphy's murderer and enforcer to Dick Jones in the old Detroit. After RoboCop busts a drug deal, killing everyone in the process, he beats the living tar out of Boddicker, who reminds him with his dying breath that he's a policeman and must uphold the law. Murphy takes him in to be booked, and Smiths proceeds to improvise the scene by spitting out blood in the form and asking for his call as stated in the Miranda rights.
12 "Why the ear?" - Fight Club (1999)
This one is a funny bit more than a memorable moment. Fight Club is a cult classic directed by David Fincher, with a script by Jim Uhls. The scene takes place out of a bar after Tyler meets the nameless narrator; while they are talking, Tyler dares the narrator to punch him with everything he's got.
The narrator goes for it and hits him on the side of the head with his fist closed, more specifically in his ear. Years later, We would learn that Edward Norton actually punched Brad Pitt in the ear, and his reaction is genuine and kept on film for the sake of humor and realism.
11 "Say hello to my little friend!" - Scarface (1983)
As a film, Scarface is a prominent show of defiance to the world. The film has garnered cult status, especially among the black community and rappers. Directed by Brian De Palma with a powerful script by Oliver Stone, we could make a whole ranking of memorable lines said in this film alone, but Al Pacino's performance as Tony Montana peaks in the film's last minutes. With his quarters surrounded by his enemies who are killing his men one by one, Tony stands up in defiance and says the famous line as he blows up the doors of his own studio with a grenade launcher.
10 "That's not a knife! This is a knife!" - Crocodile Dundee (1986)
Paul Hogan will always be a mystery for American audiences. The man showed up, did a trilogy of films playing Crocodile Dundee, and faded into obscurity with some minor roles. This doesn't take away the fact that these movies are hilarious, even by today's standards. The first film showcases the nuances of such a free spirit as Dundee living in New York in the 80s when the place was much more dangerous than it is now. Dundee is threatened by a mugger who pulls a switchblade. Amused by the threat, Dundee pulls a hunting knife on the mugger, making a run for his life.
9 "I'll have what she's having." - When Harry Met Sally... (1989)
When Harry Met Sally... is a solid romance film written by Nora Ephron and directed by Rob Reiner, the movie chronicles numerous encounters across the years between Sally (played by Meg Ryan) and Harry (played by Billy Crystal). In one of those encounters, Harry and Sally sit at a dinner discussing how women can fake an orgasm to make guys feel better about themselves. To prove Harry wrong, Sally fakes an orgasm on the spot while all the other patrons look in disbelief. The silence after the scene is broken by Estelle Reiner (Rob Reiner's mother), who ad-libs the famous line that makes the moment unforgettable.
8 "Leave the gun. Take the cannoli." - The Godfather (1974)
Francis Ford Coppola and Mario Puzo were so committed to making The Godfather a good movie that they went to great lengths to make sure all the dialogue was realistic. While it has never been confirmed, the mob wanted to be seen in a better light by American audiences. You can learn more details about this in the miniseries The Offer, streaming on Paramount+.
One of the most poignant moments in the film is totally improvised. After Clemenza is given the order to prepare the mattress, he's also tasked with killing Pauli, the guy responsible for the shooting of Don Vito. After the deed, Clemenza says the famous line that would be integrated into the pop-culture zeitgeist forever.
7 "I'm hearing this, and I want to hear this" - The Devil Wears Prada (2006)
Emily Blunt always shares a funny anecdote about this ad-libbed moment in The Devil Wears Prada. In this wonderful film directed by David Frankel, the great script by Aline Brosh McKenna had a lot of room for improvisation, especially since almost every character in the movie behaves terribly. The ad-libbed line was delivered instead of the actual line corresponding in the script after Emily saw a mother scolding her daughter in a shopping mall for making a scene. The actress suggested it to the director, who loved the idea.
6 "Gentlemen, you can't fight in here! This is the War Room!" - Dr. Strangelove (1964)
Dr. Strangelove is a magnificent film satirizing the sorry state of politics in the USA during the Cold War era. Written and directed by Stanley Kubrick, the movie presents an ensemble cast with Peter Sellers being the stand out by playing multiple roles in the story. One of his most convincing parts is the meek President Merkin Muffl, who is nothing but a pushover to his generals and advisors. As an argument gets heated over which course of action to take regarding a Russian intrusion in allied territories, Peters delivers the line, which is nothing short of genius in the full context of the scenario being played out.
5 "Can you hear that?" - Reservoir Dogs (1992)
Reservoir Dogs is the opera prima of Quentin Tarantino, written and directed by him, with a small budget and a lot of good intentions. The man delivered a timeless classic with some of the most relatable characters ever put on a screen (even if most are robbers, psychopaths, and killers). One that doesn't make the cut is Mr. Blonde, as played by Michael Madsen. The homicidal maniac flees the scene of the planned robbery unscathed while taking a cop hostage. After being left alone by Mr. Pink and Mr. White, he proceeds to torture and main the policeman. After cutting off his ear, he takes it off while dancing and asks the question while laughing maniacally.
4 "What? One name? ONE NAME? Who are you? Seal?" - Superbad (2007)
Superbad is the film that made a star out of Jonah Hill, who plays Seth in the movie and delivers some of the best lines in the whole movie. Given the fast-paced delivery of most of his dialog, it was natural for director Greg Mottola to let the actor run his mouth off with some of the best quips, many of which made it into the film's final cut.
The script by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg was uncompromised after Hill makes fun of Fogell's fake ID name "McLovin." Among the many funny bits in the movie, this one stands out for being completely ad-libbed and shot in a single take. On the other hand, Superbad would become the defining film of the millennial generation and a cult classic that still holds up pretty well.
3 "We're gonna need a bigger boat." - Jaws (1975)
Jaws is the first-ever summer blockbuster, but it also had one of the most troublesome productions ever endured by any filmmaker. Steven Spielberg had his work cut out, with a solid cast full of egos. Letting a few ad-libbed lines float around was a natural compromise, as each actor had to endure the same difficulties as the director.
The famous line is said by Roy Scheider, who plays Chief Martin Brody, as he throws chum down the board to the sea when the monster suddenly reveals itself to him for the first time. The ad-libbed line increased the impact as the audience hadn't had a chance to look at the shark clearly until that very moment.
2 "You're an errand boy sent by a grocery clerk" - Apocalypse Now (1979)
In his young days, Francis Ford Coppola was a man who undertook challenges no one else dared to take. After directing a trifecta of box office hits in the 70s, he closed the decade by taking on his most challenging yet. Apocalypse Now Is a film that took a lot out of the director. It compromised his health and almost his sanity.
The film written by John Milius faced his most enduring challenge when the time came to shoot the Marlon Brando scenes. The actor fulfilled his contract but was overweight and ad-libbed almost all his lines. Fortunately for Coppola, he worked with a great editor who took most of Brando's ramblings and created one of the best sequences in the movie, with this line being the best description of the role played by Martin Sheen in the story.
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