One of the most fun things you can do in life is quote your favorite movies. It’s simple and seems silly, but my sense of humor is inherently tied to repeating my favorites. My family and I often chuckle using these in everyday conversations.
Every generation has its iconic films that are endlessly quotable. From the classics that stand the test of time to the modern gems of today, here are some of our favorites.
1 – The Godfather (1972)
This first of The Godfather Saga tells the engrossing and fascinating tale of the mafia and the Corleone family. The rich story depicts the gruesome realities of the mob through the lens of a family drama. The film is iconic for many reasons, including the numerous quotes that make the film so captivating.
The Godfather film has many lines that those of the boomer generation like to emulate to amusing results. Watch the hilarious You’ve Got Mail scene where Tom Hanks waxes poetic about how The Godfather is the “sum of all wisdom.”
Most iconic quotes:
– “I’m going to make him an offer he can’t refuse.”
– “Leave the gun. Take the cannoli.”
2 – Airplane! (1980)
There are few parody films as wacky, hilarious, and quotable as Airplane! The film’s premise (led by comedic legend Leslie Nielsen) leaves ample opportunity for plenty of funny lines. A former WWII pilot who fears flying boards a flight from Los Angeles to Chicago. He must face that fear when many passengers and the pilot come down with food poisoning. It’s absurd, but the characters and writing are so clever, with many quotes that the boomer generation loves.
Most iconic quotes:
– “Surely, you can’t be serious?”
“I am serious. And don’t call me Shirley.”
– “Well, we had a choice. Steak or fish.”
“Yes, yes, I remember I had lasagna.”
3 – Forrest Gump (1994)
Forrest Gump is a seminal film for the boomer generation. When released, the oldest was 48, and the youngest was 30. The film depicts the evolving eras of their lives with the formative events and figures that shaped their generation, from Elvis Presley and John F. Kennedy to the Vietnam War and Counter Culture movement. The viewers see everything through the eyes of Forrest Gump, the simple man who leads a remarkable life.
It’s not surprising Forrest Gump is a film that this generation latched onto and still enjoys quoting. After all, many of the film’s best lines range from wise to funny to profound.
Most iconic quotes:
– “My mama always said life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.”
– “Run, Forrest! Run!”
4 – Back to the Future (1985)
There are some films whose popularity and appeal continue generation after generation. Back to the Future is a fine example of that. But boomers are the ones who were young adults when this movie was released, and understandably fell in love with this hilarious film about Marty McFly’s trip back in time where he must get his parents together after interrupting their first meeting.
Back to the Future is often taught in film schools as an example of a perfect script. So, it’s debatable which line is the most quoted. This is a movie both my boomer parents and I (a millennial) love to laugh and quote together, forever engrained in our collective minds. It would take 1.21 gigawatts to get them out of our heads!!
Most iconic quotes:
– “Great, Scott!”
– “Are you telling me you built a time machine out of a Delorean?”
– “Roads? Where we’re going, we don’t need roads.”
5 – Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (1977)
The original Star Wars film is another incredible example of a movie whose appeal spans generations. But for boomers, when George Lucas first introduced the world to a galaxy far, far away, they were at their oldest, 31, and at their youngest, 13. Especially for the youngest of them, Star Wars is a film like they’d never seen.
A great deal of what makes Star Wars so remarkable is the script and performances. This iconic film is such because it is quotable, and there is no shortage of funny or moving lines. It’s one of the few films in existence that is instantly recognizable from their famous quotations. But there are just as many deep cuts that the Star Wars aficionados love. My boomer father and I always laugh, reciting Han Solo’s “We’re all fine here now, thank you. How are you?”
Most iconic quotes:
– “May the Force be with you.”
– “Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi. You’re my only hope.”
– “I find your lack of faith disturbing.”
6 – Spaceballs (1987)
If you are going to parody a beloved and instant classic, you better know how to write a film that is a hilarious homage that does not insult the source’s material. And there is no one better than Mel Brooks.
His parody of another boomer favorite, Star Wars, is hilarious, intelligent, and clever, with the characters and plot following the Star Wars blueprint and adding a modern, irreverent twist. The boomers I know love outrageous comedies, and unlike other parodies, Spaceballs can proudly sit beside the original.
Most iconic quotes:
– “I’m your father’s brother’s nephew’s cousin’s former roommate.”
– “I’m a mog- half man, half dog. I’m my own best friend.”
– “You idiot! These are not them. You’ve captured their stunt doubles.”
7 – Three Amigos! (1986)
If there is a film my father loves to quote more than any other, it would be Three Amigos. As I said, many of the boomer generation love silly comedies with stellar casts, and this film fits the bill. It’s the hilarious tale of three actors who travel to a small village thinking they’ll perform their personas from their famous silent movie.
But in reality, they are mistaken for genuine heroes and are expected to fight the ruthless man terrorizing this village. Their situation is dire, but the results are hilarious, with one witty or outrageous line after the next. You are not alone if you learned the word “plethora” from Three Amigos.
Most iconic quotes:
– “Would you say I have a plethora of piñatas?”
– “Sew, very old one. Sew like the wind.”
8 – When Harry Met Sally (1988)
When Harry Met Sally is the ultimate and most iconic romantic comedy of the boomer generation because it depicts characters roughly the same age and all their relationship ups and downs. Harry and Sally meet intermittently throughout the years, ultimately becoming best friends. When that friendship blossoms into love, things become complicated.
Starring Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan and written by the incredible Nora Ephron, When Harry Met Sally is funny, witty, and very quotable. Ephron’s writing is natural, and she has a keen sense of people’s neurosis, desires, and how men and women communicate.
Most iconic quotes:
– “I’ll have what she’s having.”
– “I came here tonight because when you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.”
9 – Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)
Is there any other film that compares to Monty Python’s outlandishly riotous comedy? For many baby boomers, Monty Python is their Adventures of Robin Hood. It has all the swashbuckling elements of a classic adventure film mixed with hilarity. It’s side-splittingly hysterical, with lines that even those who have never seen the film are familiar with.
Most iconic quotes:
– “It’s just a flesh wound.”
– “We are the Knights that say Ni!”
10 – The Graduate (1967)
The Graduate is a formative and influential film for many in the boomer generation. The story of a young man floundering in life, seduced by an older woman, and falling in love with her daughter is a dark but profound coming-of-age film. It’s a classic thanks to its intelligent and thoughtful script and exceptional Simon & Garfunkel music, including the brilliant “Sound of Silence” and catchy “Mrs. Robinson.”
Most Iconic Quotes:
– “Mrs. Robinson, you’re trying to seduce me.”
– “I just want to say one word to you…Plastics.”
11. The Big Lebowski (1998)
The Coen Brothers cult classic is one of the most quotable movies ever made. Between Jeff Bridges’ The Dude’s carefree lifestyle and John Goodman’s over-the-top performance as Walter Sobchak, there are plenty of quotes to choose from.
Most Iconic Quotes:
– “Yeah, well, you know, that’s just like your opinion, man.”
– “Am I the only one here who cares about the rules?”
12. Dumb and Dumber (1994)
The iconic 90s comedy starring Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels may have been met with a middling critical response, but it became an instant classic with fans. Despite being now 30 years old, the most iconic movie quotes are still often repeated today by moviegoers.
Most Iconic Quotes:
– “So you’re saying there’s a chance.”
– “Samsonite! I was way off.”
13. Superbad (2007)
The coming-of-age film from the late aughts is a perfect example of how raunch-comedy can still exist in modern society. Written by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg and featuring an ensemble cast, Superbad impressed audiences in 2007 and continues to do so today, no doubt thanks to its countless memorable quotes.
Most Iconic Quotes:
– “Gangsters. What’s up, guys?”
– “It doesn’t even have a first name, it just says McLovin!!”
– “Well, Jules, the funny thing about my back is…”
14. Mean Girls (2004)
From one coming-of-age film to another. Tina Fey’s movie about being a girl in high school has spawned a franchise. We don’t talk about the direct sequel. We do, however, talk about the Broadway adaptation, which premiered in 2017 and also spawned a movie adaptation in 2024.
Mean Girls has also spawned an unofficial holiday: October 3rd, the day Aaron Samuels asked Cady Heron what day it was.
Most Iconic Quotes:
– “That’s so fetch.”
– “She doesn’t even go here!”
15. The Princess Bride (1987)
The classic fairy tale movie is what many call a perfect film. Despite its failure at the box office, it became a cult classic after its release on home video. The biggest reason why? It’s iconic quotes many people still say today.
Most Iconic Quotes:
– “As you wish.”
– “It doesn’t even have a first name, it just says McLovin!!”
– “And you: friendless, brainless, helpless, hopeless! Do you want me to send you back to where you were? Unemployed in Greenland!”
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Image Credit: Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.
