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. Charlie says:

    “I drink your milkshake! I drink it up!”

    -Daniel Planview, “There Will Be Blood”

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  2. Klep says:

    “That’s it! I’ve had it with these mother******* snakes on this mother******* plane!” – Snakes on a Plane

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  3. Dave G says:

    Every line of Caddyshack.

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  4. Joel says:

    “I’m Ron Burgundy, go f*** yourselves San Diego.”

    -Anchorman

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  5. Xindi says:

    “Jack! Jack! I’m flying!”

    “I carried the watermelon.” -Dirty Dancing

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  6. Chad says:

    I know what you’re thinking. “Did he fire six shots or only five?” Well, to tell you the truth, in all this excitement I kind of lost track myself. But being as this is a .44 Magnum, the most powerful handgun in the world, and would blow your head clean off, you’ve got to ask yourself one question: Do I feel lucky? Well, do ya, punk?

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  7. matt says:

    “Roads? Where we’re going, you don’t need roads.” – Back to the Future

    “You’ll find I’m full of surprises.” – Return of the Jedi

    “The bet is 20$. Carnal knowledge, on the premises. Of a *woman* this time.” – Top Gun

    “She’s lost that loving feeling.” – ibid

    “You *are* *dangerous*.” – ibid

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  8. Cure of Ars says:

    You know what else everybody likes? Parfaits. Have you ever met a person, you say, “Let’s get some parfait,” they say, “Hell no, I don’t like no parfait”? Parfaits are delicious. (Shrek)

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