Our Daily Bleg: What Are the Film Quotes of the Century?

Our resident quote bleggar Fred Shapiro, editor of the Yale Book of Quotations, is back with another request. If you have a bleg of your own, send it along here.

Thanks again to all who contributed great suggestions of TV catchphrases, U.S. and British.

Now I turn to film quotes, which have probably supplanted literary quotations in cultural resonance. The American Film Institute has named the following as its top film quotes of all time:

1. “Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn.” Gone With the Wind

2. “I’m going to make him an offer he can’t refuse.” The Godfather

3. “You don’t understand! I coulda had class. I coulda been a contender. I could’ve been somebody, instead of a bum, which is what I am.” On the Waterfront

4. “Toto, I’ve got a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore.” The Wizard of Oz

I have no illusions that contemporary movie lines resemble such classics in any way, but precisely for the reason that things have gone downhill in the film quote world, I bleg for assistance in identifying the most memorable cinematic quotes of the 21st century so far. Please identify the film as well as the quote.

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COMMENTS: 269

  1. Seth Davis says:

    The Notorious BIG said it best: “Either you’re slingin’ crack-rock, or you’ve got a wicked jump-shot.” Nobody wants to work for it anymore. There’s no honor in taking that after school job at Mickey Dee’s, honor’s in the dollar, kid. So I went the white boy way of slinging crack-rock: I became a stock broker.

    -Seth Davis Boiler Room

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  2. JAK says:

    I’ll be back – Terminator

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  3. Sean Bateman says:

    I need to return some videotapes.

    American Pyscho

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  4. doug says:

    “Fat, drunk and stupid is no way to go through life” — Animal House

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  5. Laura says:

    “You can’t handle the truth!” – A Few Good Men

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  6. Jenny says:

    I’m walkin’ here! -Midnight Cowboy

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  7. Dingham says:

    When I was your age they would say we can become cops, or criminals. Today, what I’m saying to you is this: when you’re facing a loaded gun, what’s the difference?

    The Departed

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  8. Al says:

    “Say hello to my little friend!” -Scarface

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