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The 75 Greatest Last Film Lines of the Modern Era

By Dustin Rowles | Posted Under Guides | Comments (103)



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(To be eligible, a movie must have been released between 1980 and the present.)

75. “A polar bear fell on me.” — Road House

74. -“I think we should be leaving now.
- Yeah, that’s probably a good idea. — Pulp Fiction

73. “Well, ma’am, if I see him, I’ll sure give him the message.” — Blood Simple

72. “Silencio…” — Mulholland Drive

71. “When I finally came in, Debbie was home from work. I told her everything about my dinner with Andre.” — My Dinner with Andre

70. Give them what they need. You have a son, maybe you name him James, it’s a good strong name, and maybe one day years from now years after I’m dead and gone reunited with your dear ma, you gather your whole family around and tell them the truth, who you are, where you come from, you tell them the whole story. Then you ask them if they know how lucky there are to be there. It all came so close to never happening. This life came so close to never happening. — 25th Hour

69. “How about 748 divided by 238? I got it! What’s the answer?” — Pi

68. “It was perfect.” — Black Swan

67. “And it is said that the Princess returned to her father’s kingdom. That she reigned there with justice and a kind heart for many centuries. That she was loved by her people. And that she left behind small traces of her time on Earth, visible only to those who know where to look.” — Pan’s Labyrinth

66. Let’s just wait here awhile, see what happens. — The Thing

65. - “I do love you and you know there is something very important we need to do as soon as possible.”
- “What’s that?”
- “Fuck.” — Eyes Wide Shut

64. “Guys out there is hurted.” — South Park: Bigger, Longer, Uncut

63. You just listen to the ol’ Pork Chop Express here and take his advice on a dark and stormy night when the lightnin’ crashin’ and the thunders rollin’ and the rains coming down in sheets thick as lead…. just remember what ol’ Jack Burton does when the poison arrows fall from the sky and the pillars of heaven shake….Yeah ol’ Jack Burton just looks that big ol’ storm square in the eye and says gimme your best shot pal, I can take it! — Big Trouble in Little China

62. “Tonight most people will be welcomed home by jumping dogs and squealing kids. Their spouses will ask about their day. Tonight they’ll sleep. The stars will wheel forth from their daytime hiding places, and one of those lights, slightly brighter than the rest, will be my wingtip passing over.” — Up in the Air

61. “I’m going to show them a world without you. A world without rules and controls, without borders or boundaries. A world where anything is possible. Where we go from there is a choice I leave to you.” — The Matrix

60. “Goodnight, you princes of Maine. You kings of New England.” — The Cider House Rules

59. “For it is plain as anyone can see. We’re simply meant to be.” — The Nightmare Before Christmas

58. “I am a star. I’m a star, I’m a star, I’m a star. I am a big, bright, shining star. That’s right.” — Boogie Nights

57. “That’s very profound, Jimmy. What does it mean? I’m fucked if I know, Terry!” — The Commitments

56. “This is Mr. Senor Love Daddy coming at you from what’s last on your dial but first in your hearts, and that’s the quintessential truth, Ruth. The next record goes out to Radio Raheem. We love you, brother.” — Do the Right Thing

55. “Well, uh, hope you folks enjoyed yourselves. Catch ya further on down the trail. Say, friend - you got any more of that good sarsaparilla?” — The Big Lebowski

54. - “Hey, Dad! You wanna have a catch?”
- “I’d like that.” — Field of Dreams

53. “Some people say it’s forgive and forget. Nah, I don’t know. I say forget about forgivin’ and just accept - and get the hell outta town.” — Grosse Point Blank

52. “And that’s the hardest part. Today, everything is different. There’s no action. I have to wait around like everyone else. Can’t even get decent food. Right after I got here, I ordered some spaghetti with marinara sauce and I got egg noodles and ketchup. I’m an average nobody. I get to live the rest of my life like a schnook.” — GoodFellas

51. “We are all faced throughout our lives with agonizing decisions, moral choices. Some are on a grand scale, most of these choices are on lesser points. But we define ourselves by the choices we have made. We are, in fact, the sum total of our choices. Events unfold so unpredictably, so unfairly. Human happiness does not seem to have been included in the design of creation. It is only we, with our capacity to love that give meaning to the indifferent universe. And yet, most human beings seem to have the ability to keep trying and even to find joy from simple things, like their family, their work, and from the hope that future generations might understand more.” — Crimes and Misdemeanors

50. “You look good wearing my future.” — Some Kind of Wonderful

49. “And that’s the story of how Norville Barnes climbed waaay up to the forty-fourth floor of the Hudsucker Buildling, and then fell all the way down but didn’t quite squish hisself. You know, they say there was a man who jumped from the forty-FIFTH floor? But that’s another story…” — Hudsucker Proxy

48. “Well, that’s the story. So if your air conditioner goes on the fritz or your washing machine blows up or your video recorder conks out, before you call the repairman, turn on all the lights, check all the closets and cupboards, look under all the beds, ‘cause you never can tell there just might be a gremlin in your house.” — Gremlins

47. Amid the chaos of that day, when all I could hear was the thunder of gunshots, and all I could smell was the violence in the air, I look back and am amazed that my thoughts were so clear and true, that three words went through my mind endlessly, repeating themselves like a broken record: you’re so cool, you’re so cool, you’re so cool. And sometimes Clarence asks me what I would have done if he had died, if that bullet had been two inches more to the left. To this, I always smile, as if I’m not going to satisfy him with a response. But I always do. I tell him of how I would want to die, but that the anguish and the want of death would fade like the stars at dawn, and that things would be much as they are now. Perhaps. Except maybe I wouldn’t have named our son Elvis. — True Romance

46. “Space, the final frontier. These are the continuing voyages of the starship Enterprise. Her ongoing mission to explore strange, new worlds, to seek out new life-forms and new civilizations, to boldly go where no man has gone before.” — Star Trek: Wrath of Khan

45. “And no matter what they did to build this city back up again … for the rest of time … it would be like nobody even knew we was ever here. ” — Gangs of New York

44. “It’s not like that at all. He’s my brother.” Return of the Jedi

43. “And how can this be? For he is the Kwisatz Haderach!” — Dune

42. “You have no idea what I’m talking about, I’m sure. But don’t worry: you will someday.” — American Beauty

41. “You’re still here? It’s over! Go home. Go!” — Ferris Bueller’s Day Off

40. “Ernest Hemingway once wrote: ‘The world is a fine place and worth fighting for.’ I agree with the second part.” — Se7en

39. - “Let’s go? Don’t you wanna see the rest of the movie?”
- “I don’t have to see it, Dottie. I lived it.” — Pee Wee’s Big Adventure

38. “…And here is your receipt.” — Blues Brothers

37. “You better bury Ned right. You better not cut up nor otherwise harm no whores, or I’ll come back and kill every one of you sons of bitches.” — Unforgiven

36. “Beep. Blip. Blip. Beep.” — Empire Strikes Back

35. “Asshole!” — A Fish Called Wanda

34. “I know the perfect place, you guys will love it. Trust me.” — Beverly Hills Cop

33. “I’ll be right here.” — E.T. The Extra Terrestrial

32. “…So we’ll hunt him because he can take it. Because he’s not our hero. He’s a silent guardian, a watchful protector. A dark knight.” — The Dark Knight

31. - “They say they’re going to repeal Prohibition. What will you do then?”
- “I think I’ll have a drink.” — Untouchables

30. “Baby, you’re going to miss that plane.” Before Sunset

29. “Walt Whitman once said, ‘I see great things in baseball. It’s our game. The American game. It will repair our losses and be a blessing to us.’ You could look it up.” — Bull Durham

28. “…What a piece of work is a man! How noble in reason! How infinite in faculties! How like an angel in apprehension, how like a God! The beauty of the world, paragon of animals! And yet to me, what is this quintessence of dust? Man delights not me: no, nor women neither. Nor women neither.” — Withnail and I

27. “It’s so beautiful! Let’s live here! We’ll rent to star.” — Groundhog Day

26. - “Sleep tight.”
- “Affirmative.” — Aliens

25. “That won’t be necessary. You see, Sarah, Harold, we took a secret vote. We’re not leaving. We’re never leaving.” — The Big Chill

24. “Whatever life holds in store for me, I will never forget these words: ‘With great power comes great responsibility.’ This is my gift. My curse. Who am I? I’m Spider-Man.” — Spider-Man

23. “Way back, way, way, way back, up high into the right field. That ball is still going. It’s way back, high up in there. He did it. Hobbs did it.” — The Natural

22. “Hey, everybody, we’re all gonna get laid.” — Caddyshack

21. “My name is Joel Goodson. I deal in human fulfillment. I grossed over eight thousand dollars in one night. The time of your life, huh, kid?” — Risky Business

20. ” …” — Lost in Translation

19. - “I do wish we could chat longer, but I’m having an old friend for dinner. Bye.”
— The Silence of the Lambs

18. “That’ll do, pig. That’ll do.” — Babe

17. - “Thanks for getting my undies back.”
- “Thanks for comin’ over.”
- “Thanks for coming to get me.”
- “Happy Birthday, Samantha. Make a wish.”
- “It already came true.” — Sixteen Candles

16. “I’m the boss, I’m the boss, I’m the boss, I’m the boss, I’m the boss boss, boss, boss, boss, boss, boss.” — Raging Bull

15. “I’m too old for this.” — Lethal Weapon

14. “My thoughts drift back to erect nipple wet dreams about Mary Jane Rottencrotch and the Great Homecoming Fuck Fantasy. I’m so happy that I am alive, in one piece and short. I’m in a world of shit, yes. But I am alive. And I am not afraid.” — Full Metal Jacket

13. “And now the prophecy is fulfilled. We are again one. Many ages ago, in our arrogance and delusion, we shattered the pure crystal. And our world split apart. Your courage and sacrifice have made us whole and restored the true power of the Crystal. Hold her to you. She is part of you, as we all are part of each other. Now we leave you the crystal of truth. Make your world in its light.” — The Dark Crystal

12. “One thing about living in Santa Carla I never could stomach, all the damn vampires.” — Lost Boys

11. - “Oh Captain, My Captain!…Oh Captain, My Captain!…”
- “Thank you, boys. Thank you.” — Dead Poets Society

10. - “Grandpa, maybe you could come over and read it again to me tomorrow.”
- “As you wish.” — The Princess Bride

9. “If not Arizona, then a land not too far away, where all parents are strong and wise and capable, and all children are happy and beloved. I don’t know. Maybe it was Utah.” — Raising Arizona

8. “The greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn’t exist. And like that, he’s gone.” — The Usual Suspects

7. “Now, where was I?” — Memento

6. “Jack, I swear…” — Brokeback Mountain

5. “Sure, I could have stayed in the past. I could have even been king. But in my own way, I am king. Hail to the king, baby.” — Army of Darkness

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

3. “You met me at a very strange time of my life ” — Fight Club

2. “I never had any friends later on like the ones I had when I was 12. Jesus, does anyone?” — Stand by Me

1. “I find I am so excited I can barely sit still or hold a thought in my head. I think it’s the excitement only a free man can feel, a free man at the start of a long journey whose conclusion is uncertain. I hope I can make it across the border. I hope to see my friend and shake his hand. I hope the Pacific is as blue as it has been in my dreams. I hope.” — The Shawshank Redemption









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Comments

"I am a star. I’m a star, I’m a star, I’m a star. I am a big, bright, shining star. That’s right."

I say this to myself every night before I go to bed.

(But my favorite one is “One thing about living in Santa Carla I never could stomach, all the damn vampires.” Aww, Granddad.)

Posted by: Anna von Beav at November 7, 2011 4:11 PM

I'm sorry, where are we drawing the line on the Modern Era?

Because there's always:

"Forget it, Jake, it's Chinatown."

And:

"This is the story of Howard Beale, the first known instance of a man who was killed because he had lousy ratings."

HOWEVER: Major props to No. 1.

(The line is drawn at 1980, sir. -- DR)

Posted by: , at November 7, 2011 4:17 PM

Love how a lot of those lines and the ending music still make my heart ache.

Posted by: scorzi at November 7, 2011 4:19 PM

"Baby, you're going to miss that plane." LOVE IT. That movie was everything I hoped it would be and so much more.

Posted by: Mel C. at November 7, 2011 4:19 PM

No Tarantino?
Hw is that even possible.

Posted by: daria at November 7, 2011 4:25 PM

I loved the Morse-coded last line from "Let The Right One In".

Posted by: sars at November 7, 2011 4:28 PM

Give them what they need. You have a son, maybe you name him James, it's a good strong name, and maybe one day years from now years after I'm dead and gone reunited with your dear ma, you gather your whole family around and tell them the truth, who you are, where you come from, you tell them the whole story. Then you ask them if they know how lucky there are to be there. It all came so close to never happening. This life came so close to never happening.

25th Hour.

The end.

Posted by: JakesAlterEgo at November 7, 2011 4:29 PM

Great list, but you missed a few whoppers. I had to find the TR quote, it was too long to do from memory:

Amid the chaos of that day, when all I could hear was the thunder of gunshots, and all I could smell was the violence in the air, I look back and am amazed that my thoughts were so clear and true, that three words went through my mind endlessly, repeating themselves like a broken record: you're so cool, you're so cool, you're so cool. And sometimes Clarence asks me what I would have done if he had died, if that bullet had been two inches more to the left. To this, I always smile, as if I'm not going to satisfy him with a response. But I always do. I tell him of how I would want to die, but that the anguish and the want of death would fade like the stars at dawn, and that things would be much as they are now. Perhaps. Except maybe I wouldn't have named our son Elvis. - TRUE ROMANCE

You just listen to the ol' Pork Chop Express here and take his advice on a dark and stormy night when the lightnin' crashin' and the thunders rollin' and the rains coming down in sheets thick as lead.... just remember what ol' Jack Burton does when the poison arrows fall from the sky and the pillars of heaven shake....Yeah ol' Jack Burton just looks that big ol' storm square in the eye and says gimme your best shot pal, I can take it! - BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA

and one more from Kurt:
Let's just wait here awhile, see what happens. - THE THING

And of course:
Zed's dead, baby. Zed's dead. - PULP FICTION


(What? You didn't shame me? You didn't yell? Or tell me what a horrible person I am for missing one? Oh, well, in that case: Your quotes have been added. Don't know how I missed them. 75 feels like a better number anyhow. Also, thank you. -- DR)

Posted by: TylerDFC at November 7, 2011 4:29 PM

One late autumn night, the disciple awoke crying. So the master asked the disciple, "Did you have a nightmare?" "No." "Did you have a sad dream?" "No," said the disciple. "I had a sweet dream." "Then why are you crying so sadly?" The disciple wiped his tears away and quietly answered, "Because the dream I had can't come true."

Posted by: googergieger at November 7, 2011 4:29 PM

70. “A polar bear fell on me.” — Road House

LOVE IT! My husband used to be a bouncer and this is his favorite movie (I know, I know). I have to say, there is outstanding cheese in this movie, and I think this may be the best line!

However, I think the wrong Princess Bride line was included...

Posted by: Laura at November 7, 2011 4:32 PM

Love love love that you included Back to the Future.

Posted by: Julie at November 7, 2011 4:37 PM

This bears repeating:

and one more from Kurt:
Let's just wait here awhile, see what happens. - THE THING

Posted by: klingonfree at November 7, 2011 4:37 PM

"Baby, you're going to miss that plane." LOVE IT. That movie was everything I hoped it would be and so much more.

One of the most memorable last lines and edits I've heard/seen in years.

Posted by: sars at November 7, 2011 4:38 PM

I'd forgotten the last lines from Withnail and I were from Hamlet.

Posted by: tc at November 7, 2011 4:39 PM

And a personal favorite, but not from ALIEN, from ALIEN3

This is Ripley, last survivor of the Nostromo, signing off.

Posted by: TylerDFC at November 7, 2011 4:40 PM

Wait, did this change from 70 to 75 when I was leaving my comment, or did I forget I smoked something?

Posted by: Laura at November 7, 2011 4:41 PM

Daria

they quoted Pulp Fiction, oddly, it's not the last line in the film, but chronologically (if all the events are in the proper time line) the last line of the story.

Posted by: Brian at November 7, 2011 4:42 PM

The Zed's dead line from Pulp Fiction wasn't the last line of the movie was it? I thought the last scene took place in the diner.

Posted by: OldRod at November 7, 2011 4:44 PM

and one more from Kurt:
Let's just wait here awhile, see what happens. - THE THING
---
This bears repeating:

and one more from Kurt:
Let's just wait here awhile, see what happens. - THE THING

Posted by: klingonfree at November 7, 2011 4:37 PM
---
Yep, if you're drawing the line at 1980, this is a major omission.

Posted by: , at November 7, 2011 4:45 PM

DR: Damn, dude! I'm honored. I wasn't meaning to add to the "official" list but it's cool you thought they were worthy of inclusion!

Posted by: TylerDFC at November 7, 2011 4:45 PM

Am I taking crazy pills? Since when is "Zed's dead," the last line from Pulp Fiction?

Maybe I'm just misinterpreting what last lines means...

Posted by: Pfft at November 7, 2011 4:45 PM

"Baby, you are gonna miss that plane"
"I know"

- it's the "I know" that makes it perfect.

Posted by: thesecondmouse at November 7, 2011 4:46 PM

Love #1, #2, #17, #19, #40 and #51. And that Roadhouse line I totally don't remember but is definitely the funniest on the list.

Can HH pretty please make this list into a video over which we all can drool? Pretty please with sugar and ice cream and caramel sauce and cherries on top?

Posted by: prairiegirl at November 7, 2011 4:47 PM

That Stand By Me line is such a cheesy line.
Shame on ye.

Posted by: PyD at November 7, 2011 4:48 PM

The Zed's dead line from Pulp Fiction wasn't the last line of the movie was it? I thought the last scene took place in the diner.

Posted by: OldRod at November 7, 2011 4:44 PM

You are absolutely right and I forgot that. Chronologically "Zed's dead" IS the last line from the movie, but the last line shown is, I think, something like "Can we leave now?" from Vincent to Jules.

Ooops. It did seem like one I wouldn't have missed given how specifically memorable it was. All well, it's been replaced with the actual last line, which is pretty good in context of the movie. Thanks again. -- DR

Posted by: TylerDFC at November 7, 2011 4:48 PM

Also, it may be 1975 and not eligible for inclusion, but this is easily one of the greatest closes of all time.

Brody: I used to hate the water.
Hooper: Heh, I can't imagine why.
-JAWS

Posted by: TylerDFC at November 7, 2011 4:50 PM

"Theo, the boat. The boat! It's OK. We are safe now. We're safe." - Children of Men

DeNiro: "Told you I'm never going back..."
Pacino: "Yeah..."
-Heat

Posted by: Jast at November 7, 2011 4:51 PM

@thesecondmouse You're absolutely right! Don't know how I forgot that. So perfect.

Posted by: Mel C. at November 7, 2011 4:56 PM

Awesome list and awesome concept. You guys did leave one out I'm sure you'll kick yourselves for forgetting:

"So: "Kaufman drives off from his encounter with Amelia, filled for the first time with hope." I like this. This is good."

In somewhat of a twist, that movie happens to have the best opening line as well.

Great article!

Posted by: NittyGritty at November 7, 2011 5:00 PM

I am deeply saddened by the lack of Stranger than Fiction on this list.

Posted by: Tyburn Blossom at November 7, 2011 5:10 PM

Good call Tyburn: "And, so it was, a wristwatch saved Harold Crick."

Posted by: NittyGritty at November 7, 2011 5:19 PM

LOVE LOVE LOVE 47. ONE OF MY TOP 5 ALL TIME MOVIES.

Posted by: wicked.whisper at November 7, 2011 5:24 PM

"I'm going to go home and sleep with my wife!" - Clue

Posted by: Macafee at November 7, 2011 5:26 PM

Pee-wee's Big Adventure and Babe are definitely two great picks.

"I'm a loner, Dottie... a rebel."

Posted by: JP at November 7, 2011 5:27 PM

I've always been more partial to the last lines of Star Trek VI:

"This is the final cruise of the starship Enterprise under my command. This ship and her history will shortly become the care of another crew. To them and their posterity will we commit our future. They will continue the voyages we have begun and journey to all the undiscovered countries, boldly going where no man...where no one... has gone before."

Posted by: jon29 at November 7, 2011 5:30 PM

@Mel C. - you forgot because Dustin did?

Ah, after so long, my grand de-lurking brought on by pedantry, for shame.

"But they weren't appreciating it PROPERLY! AARGH!"

Back to lurking. Apologies.

Posted by: thesecondmouse at November 7, 2011 5:38 PM

One surprising omission:

"I can't see anything that I don't like about you."
"But you will! But you will. You know, you will think of things. And I'll get bored with you and feel trapped because that's what happens with me."
"Okay."
[pause]
"Okay."

-Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

Posted by: thegardenhead at November 7, 2011 5:52 PM

Am I the only person who thinks that True Romance was a shitty film?

I can live with it if I am, but I just want to know.

Posted by: Rest In Peace at November 7, 2011 5:53 PM

Ok, how about a similar list of the best opening lines of movies? :)

Posted by: lubeg at November 7, 2011 5:55 PM

And now I want to go home and watch an Eternal Sunshine-Before Sunset double feature.

Thanks for this list. Great idea.

Posted by: Mel C. at November 7, 2011 5:58 PM

The end of Die Hard immediately came to mind.

"If this is their idea of Christmas, I gotta be here for New Year's."

Great list, though!

Posted by: AshFan at November 7, 2011 6:01 PM

"The name's Bond. James Bond."
- Casino Royale

Posted by: ivn at November 7, 2011 6:06 PM

“That’s very profound, Jimmy. What does it mean? I’m fucked if I know, Terry!” — The Commitments

This is probably my favorite. It might not be the best, but it's my favorite. So perfect. Damn, I love that movie.

Posted by: beckster at November 7, 2011 6:10 PM

I was surprised not to see Tommy Lee Jones recounting his dream to his wife at the end of No Country For Old Men.

Posted by: pissant at November 7, 2011 6:11 PM

The Big Chill has another of my favorite movie lines.

Sam: You know, we go back a long way. I'm not gonna piss that away because you're higher than a kite.
Nick: Wrong. A long time ago we knew each other for a short period of time; you don't know anything about me.

It embodies the reality of fading friendships perfectly, and I regret that I know the sensation all to well. Friends for a short time a long time ago.

Posted by: superasente at November 7, 2011 6:15 PM

Something...anything...from Anchorman. No? Ok well, while I agree with including The Princess Bride, should it's quote not have been "My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die" ?? There is no line from that film more quoted. Inconceivable.

Posted by: Lillie at November 7, 2011 6:16 PM

Good thing you indicated the 1980 barrier. I was considering giving you hell for your omission of "Blondie! You no good son of a.....!" from The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. That movie is waaay too far away from 1980.

Posted by: Four Eyes at November 7, 2011 6:16 PM

@Lillie:

You might want to take another look at the title of this post.

Posted by: thegardenhead at November 7, 2011 6:20 PM

I'm not going to come on here and debate your order or what you did or did not include. I'm only here to say that the Brokeback Mountain line killed me.

To the point where I saw the header image and got a bit verklempt. God, what a movie.

Posted by: Sara H at November 7, 2011 6:21 PM

Crap. Totally missed that. And now the list makes much more sense. Carry on without me again....

Posted by: Lillie at November 7, 2011 6:49 PM

Just imagining that Brokeback Mountain scene makes me want to curl up inside myself and cry myself to death.

Posted by: A-schaef at November 7, 2011 6:59 PM

I'm also surprised that "And then I woke up" isn't on here.

LOVE Before Sunset and totally agree with the choice, but one tiny thing...that's not actually the last line of the film. It's followed by Jesse saying "I know".

Posted by: Arran at November 7, 2011 7:02 PM

Time Bandits just makes the cut (1981).

Mom! Dad! It's evil! Don't touch it!

[Kevin's parents explode]

Mom? Dad?

Posted by: mswas at November 7, 2011 7:18 PM

I have to say, I really hate Gordon's last lines from The Dark Knight. It's like they said, "I don't know which line is best. Let's just use six that say the same thing in different ways." And the result is overkill that Mr. Nonymous and I mock every time we see it.

Posted by: KateNonymous at November 7, 2011 7:25 PM

I agree that the No Country for Old Men closing lines should be in here. But, it would be the parting shot of a fellow theater-goer in her southern drawl. When the credits began to roll and the lights went up, she looked at her companions in confusion and said: "Is it over?"

"Yeah, it's over."

"Well, what happened?"

Posted by: mattie at November 7, 2011 7:38 PM

That last line in Brokeback Mountain gets me Every. Single. Time. I can't even think about it without crying.

Posted by: Holly at November 7, 2011 7:42 PM

Thank you for including the last lines for Eyes Wide Shut and Before Sunset. Glad a few of you mentioned Jesse's "I know" makes the latter's so great.

I always loved the last line of Happiness: "I came." If you know the movie, you know how perfectly creepy this is.

Posted by: DizMixen at November 7, 2011 7:46 PM

Where's that guy that makes those nice videos? This is perfect! Memento would be my number 1, but the number 2 is perfect.

Posted by: zito at November 7, 2011 7:54 PM

I loved the last lines from The Dark Knight and would have put them higher on the list, but I'm a sucker for those. Really loved the Spider-Man lines too.

Posted by: jcollier at November 7, 2011 8:08 PM

That #1 always makes me tear up.

I really love "Well, I'm back." from LOTR, but I think that's just Tolkien being a genius.

Posted by: figgy at November 7, 2011 8:22 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oa2F1u3WD1s

^"Bittersweet Life" ending I was referring to.

Posted by: googergieger at November 7, 2011 8:29 PM

Daniel Plainview's last words after caving in stupid Eli's head with a bowling pin:

"I'm finished."

Posted by: mona sterling at November 7, 2011 8:34 PM

Loved the Boogie Nights of course.

Here are some others:

"I'm finished!" - There Will Be Blood

"I give him to you. I give you my son." - Tree of Life

"So, here we go." - Punch-Drunk Love

"We each owe a death - there are no exceptions - but, oh God, sometimes the Green Mile seems so long." - The Green Mile

"Where is it that we were together? Who were you that I lived with? The brother. The friend. Darkness, light. Strife and love. Are they the workings of one mind? The features of the same face? Oh, my soul. Let me be in you now. Look out through my eyes. Look out at the things you made. All things shining." - The Thin Red Line

" I am leaving soon, and you will forgive me if I speak bluntly. The universe grows smaller every day, and the threat of aggression by any group, anywhere, can no longer be tolerated. There must be security for all, or no one is secure. Now, this does not mean giving up any freedom, except the freedom to act irresponsibly. Your ancestors knew this when they made laws to govern themselves and hired policemen to enforce them. We, of the other planets, have long accepted this principle. We have an organization for the mutual protection of all planets and for the complete elimination of aggression. The test of any such higher authority is, of course, the police force that supports it. For our policemen, we created a race of robots. Their function is to patrol the planets in spaceships like this one and preserve the peace. In matters of aggression, we have given them absolute power over us. This power cannot be revoked. At the first sign of violence, they act automatically against the aggressor. The penalty for provoking their action is too terrible to risk. The result is, we live in peace, without arms or armies, secure in the knowledge that we are free from aggression and war. Free to pursue more... profitable enterprises. Now, we do not pretend to have achieved perfection, but we do have a system, and it works. I came here to give you these facts. It is no concern of ours how you run your own planet, but if you threaten to extend your violence, this Earth of yours will be reduced to a burned-out cinder. Your choice is simple: join us and live in peace, or pursue your present course and face obliteration. We shall be waiting for your answer. The decision rests with you." - The Day The Earth Stood Still

Posted by: Theseus at November 7, 2011 8:42 PM

"Well, I'm back."

The last line of the last film of the Lord of the Rings trilogy and also the last line of the book.

The Dune quote is one of my faves, but while Unforgiven is a great movie, the final lines of the movie are the narrator's.

Posted by: Protoguy at November 7, 2011 8:52 PM

Quickest way to make me feel old: defining me as being in existence longer than the "modern era."

I'd quibble with the order, the strength of some of these as truly powerful and relevant as "last lines," blah blah blah. Outside of that usual Internet bickering, reading this was a fun time. Thanks!

Good call on Daniel Plainview. Agree on No Country For Old Men too.

I'm in the negative camp on The Dark Knight final lines. Big eye roll.

Thanks, TylerDFC, for saving the day on Big Trouble In Little China and The Thing.

Posted by: DarthCorleone at November 7, 2011 8:52 PM

Okay, I'm really late to this party, but I am a bit surprised that

It's too bad she won't live...But then again, who does?

did not make the cut.

I really enjoyed reading this list, btw.

Posted by: Jerce at November 7, 2011 9:46 PM

I agree that the No Country for Old Men closing lines should be in here. But, it would be the parting shot of a fellow theater-goer in her southern drawl. When the credits began to roll and the lights went up, she looked at her companions in confusion and said: "Is it over?"
"Yeah, it's over."
"Well, what happened?"

Oh, lawd. I still remember walking out of Cast Away.

"Well, I wanted to know what was in that box."

It wasn't about what was in the box, it was...oh, never mind.

Posted by: pissant at November 7, 2011 10:08 PM

Loved it. Thanks for that :)

Posted by: Inquisitive Mind at November 7, 2011 10:11 PM

Once again, I love mock how Dustin defines "modern era". Fucking kids.

Posted by: Uriah Creep at November 7, 2011 10:13 PM

Similar to the audience comments about No Country, when I saw Before Sunset and the lights came up, someone VERY loudly said "IS THAT IT??" Well, some people aren't fans of ambiguity I guess.

This is making me remember how perfect the endings of all of Paul Thomas Anderson's films are. Magnolia doesn't count for this list because it's not dialogue-based, but the look into camera by Melora Walters as the electric guitars kick in on Save Me...oy. Kills me.

Posted by: Arran at November 7, 2011 10:27 PM

I met Heath Ledger about a year before his death when I was a nanny in New York. He was so centered and quiet and unassuming that I didn't know it was him at first. He was exactly as you'd picture him. Looked exactly as you'd picture him. And even when you realized who he was (I finally recognized the smile and the fact that MICHELLE WILLIAMS was standing there with him), he went out of his way to make everyone else in the room feel special and equally valued. He asked me the name of the little boy I was watching, did the little wave and the faces at the baby, and we compared notes about the play group we were in. So normal but so much better at the same time.

Posted by: scorzi at November 7, 2011 10:50 PM

Delurking in honor of one of my husband's favorite movies: Trading Places.

Louis: Looking good, Billy Ray!
Billy Ray: Feeling good, Louis!

Posted by: CaLi at November 7, 2011 11:05 PM

thesecondmouse is right, its the "I Know" In Before Sunset which makes the ending so amazing.

I also think the ending of Inglourious Basterds is too incredibly egotistical to not make a top 70 list.

FINALLY, you forgot the greatest final line in the history of cinema:

"I'm finished." There Will Be Blood.

Posted by: Vick at November 7, 2011 11:32 PM

Great list. I love the Top 10.

Some additions I might have included:

"We don't want your forgiveness; we won't make excuses. We're not gonna blame you, even if you are an accessory, but we will not accept your natural order. We didn't come for absolution, we didn't ask to be redeemed, but isn't that the way it is? Every goddamn time. Your prayers are always answered, in the order they're received." - The Way of the Gun

"I am Iron Man" - Iron Man

"Just in case. It's a long ride to the next town." - Desperado

"If this is your idea of Christmas, I gotta see what you do for New Year's!" - Die Hard

"Sargeant Butterman, the little hand says it's time to rock 'n' roll." - Hot Fuzz

"This isn't so bad, huh? Makin' bucks, gettin' exercise, workin' outside."
"Fuckin' A."
"Fuckin' A." - Office Space

Posted by: Fredo at November 7, 2011 11:43 PM

And this is why I love movies so much; the way they can stay with you so long after you've seen them and bring back that feeling with just a few words. Excellent list.

Posted by: Even Stevens at November 8, 2011 12:46 AM

I felt sure Kiss Kiss Bang Bang would be on here!

Harry: I guess, in the end, this is a movie about friendship. Friendship is precious...
Gay Perry: Will you shut up? [to the audience] Thanks for coming, please stay for the end credits. If you're wondering who the best boy is, it's somebody's nephew, um, don't forget to validate your parking, and to all you good people in the Midwest, sorry we said fuck so much.

Posted by: nigeltde at November 8, 2011 1:22 AM

How the hell isn't "“That’ll do, pig. That’ll do.” — Babe" Number 1? Utter magic.

Posted by: Sean at November 8, 2011 1:56 AM

You included The Natural! It's my favorite movie and it's so unostentatious that it never makes these type of lists. Oh Pajiba, you make me so happy. And yes, that single line from Brokeback can move me to tears as well. Shawshank is, as always, perfect.
Do you realize your top 2 come from Stephen King adaptations? Interestingly, they're both adaptations of short stories.
Further nerding out, 6 of your top 10 are adaptations of written works. (The Princess Bride, Memento Mori (short story by the director's brother), Brokeback Mountain (also a short story), Fight Club, The Body, and Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption) Good writers make good writing, I suppose! A nice argument for why screenwriters should be better appreciated.

My two bits:
What we have lost will never be returned to us. The land will not heal - too much blood. All we can do is learn from the past and make peace with it. - Cold Mountain (I could be wrong about the last line)
I thank whatever gods may be / For my unconquerable soul. / I am the master of my fate / I am the captain of my soul. - Invictus
Mal's little monologue at the end of Firefly.
Also, I second the inclusion of Stranger than Fiction, Eternal Sunshine, and 'I am Iron Man'. RDJ is such a badass.
And I second the vote for a HH video. That would be badass, too.

Posted by: BiblioGeek at November 8, 2011 2:56 AM

Ooh! Add ons:

"Well, Stephen - the bird's flightless?"
"Yes."
"It's not going anywhere."
- Master and Commander

"Fools. Bureaucratic fools. They don't know what they've got there."
"Well I know what I've got here. Come on, I'll buy you a drink. You know? A drink?
- Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

Oh! Lookie here. You didn't eat your Thanksgiving pie. Here, lemme help you, lemme help. I got it. - Driving Miss Daisy

What truly is logic? Who decides reason? My quest has taken me to the physical, the metaphysical, the delusional, and back. I've made the most important discovery of my career … the most important discovery of my life. It's only in the mysterious equation of love that any logical reasons can be found. I'm only here tonight because of you. You're the only reason I am. You are all my reasons. - A Beautiful Mind (may not be the final line)

Posted by: BiblioGeek at November 8, 2011 4:00 AM

Wow. Who knew that all it took was the actual line from Before Sunset written down to make me shiver from head to toe all over again?

Posted by: Caspar at November 8, 2011 4:36 AM

I know what was in the box, pissant. It's the same thing that was in the briefcase in Pulp Fiction.

Posted by: mswas at November 8, 2011 5:23 AM

nice list. i freaking love movies! My favourite is "into the wild" I think...

Posted by: zoekmachine adverteren at November 8, 2011 6:29 AM

I'm confused. The Princess Leia line, while great, is definitely not at the end of Return of the Jedi. Is this "last lines" as in a character's last line, or end of the movie last lines?

Thank you for including Nightmare Before Christmas, and I salute the commenters who brought up Master & Commander and A Beautiful Mind. Yay, Crowe fans.

Posted by: Samantha at November 8, 2011 8:43 AM

What's with lists? It seems that almost every article now is 10 or 20 or 75 something about something. Now, I like Pajiba and even lists provide me with joy and happiness, but lists are easy and ... lazy. When the Q magazine started to go down the dumper it occurred with lists & lists in every issue. Please don't do the same! Please!

Posted by: jormis at November 8, 2011 8:55 AM


this doesn't count but the note robin williams gets from matt damon at the conclusion of " good will hunting " would be high
on the list if the written word counted as much as the spoken word.
the demographics of the pajiba audience probably mitigate against
a similar list predating 1980 but it would be interesting.
great fun, dustin ... and the list dredges up great cinematic memories.

Posted by: snake at November 8, 2011 9:00 AM

I haven't seen a lot of love for this movie on Pajiba, but I love it.

"I'm in insurance." - Twelve Monkeys

Posted by: Tiger Lily at November 8, 2011 10:12 AM


i still have " good will hunting " on my mind.... can't remember the
last spoken line for certain. was it casey affleck shouting
" shotgun " as he went to the front seat of the pick up car ? if
so, i would include that on the list.

Posted by: snake at November 8, 2011 10:20 AM

And after that night, things were never the same. Each holiday now knew the other one's name. And, though that last Christmas things got out of hand, I'm still rather fond of that skeleton man.

So, many years later, I thought I'd drop in. And there was old Jack still looking quite thin with four or five skeleton children at hand playing strange little tunes in their xylophone band.

And I asked old Jack, "Do you remember the night when the sky was so dark and the moon shone so bright? When a million small children pretending to sleep nearly didn't have Christmas at all, so to speak? And would if you could turn that mighty clock back to that long fateful night, now think carefully Jack, would you do the whole thing all over again, knowing what you know now, knowing what you knew then?"

And he smiled like the old pumpkin king that I knew, then turned and asked softly of me:

"Wouldn't you?"

Posted by: Lucas at November 8, 2011 10:22 AM

snake (and any others talking about Good Will Hunting),
I believe the last line is, "Son of a bitch... He stole my line."

Posted by: pissant at November 8, 2011 10:56 AM

"The Red Sash Cowboy Gang was broken forever. Ike Clanton was shot and killed two years later during an attempted robbery. Mattie died of a drug overdose shortly after she left Tombstone. Virgil and Allie Earp moved to California where Virgil, despite the use of only one arm, became a town sheriff. Wyatt and Josephine embarked on a series of adventures. Up or down, thin or flush, in 47 years they never left each other's side. Wyatt Earp died in Los Angeles in 1929. Among the pallbearers at his funeral, were early western stars William S. Hart and Tom Mix. Tom Mix wept."

Classic. I actually get emotional whenever I hear that.

Posted by: Still Cathy After All These Years at November 8, 2011 11:13 AM

Arbitrary cutoff at 1980 is very annoying.
So many classics left out.

Posted by: OldSchool60 at November 8, 2011 1:05 PM

I liked the one from Sunshine.

(Capa:) So if you wake up one morning and it's a particularly beautiful day, you'll know we made it. Okay, I'm signing out.

Posted by: Addicct at November 8, 2011 2:59 PM

Call me a sap, but even thinking about the last lines, and of course, the line they don't need to say, in You Can Count On Me always makes me tear up a little.

"Hey, Sammy... Remember when we were kids, remember what we always used to say to each other? Remember when we were kids?"

"Of course I do!"

Posted by: scott at November 8, 2011 3:05 PM

My uncle (basically my surrogate father), travels around the world most of the year working in third world countries and is gone for about six months at a time. As a child I would kick and scream and cry and didn't understand why he had to leave. So we developed a little routine where the last time I see him before he walks down the concourse or gets into the taxi to the airport, we wait until the other one is about half a football field away and we quote the little boy at the end of the movie "Shane".

"Shane! Don't go Shane! I love you! I love you Shane!"

Crap. Who's chopping onions?

Posted by: scorzi at November 8, 2011 3:19 PM

@still cathy, - good call also

You're gonna fight him again? Hahaha, that's a laugh! - Barfly

Posted by: Otis at November 8, 2011 4:22 PM

My absolute favorite closing monologue comes from Trainspotting

Posted by: faintingviolet at November 8, 2011 9:18 PM

"It's too bad she won't live, but then again, who does?" -- Blade Runner.

Admittedly, this was not the final line in the theatrical version (with an ending that was very much a sop), but it is in the later versions.

Posted by: palaeologos at November 11, 2011 8:28 PM

I'm pretty sure Army of Darkness ends with "Oh god! No! No! I slept too long!"

Posted by: Hakobus at November 13, 2011 3:49 AM

The schnozberries taste like schnozberries

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Posted by: Andreas Minner at November 22, 2011 3:33 AM

A couple of my faves:

Heat- McCauley: "Told you I wasn't going back." Hanna: "Yeah..."

Batman Begins- Gordon: "Wait, I didn't say thank you." Batman: "And you'll never have to."

Spider-Man 2- Sirens wailing MJ: "Go get 'em Tiger."

Posted by: Battletide at December 19, 2011 4:25 PM

Dances With Wolves! I am Wind In His Hair. Do you see that I am your friend? Can you see that you will always be my friend?

Posted by: Billdog at December 20, 2011 7:13 PM