These 10 famous movie monologues span the history of American cinema, from 1939 to 2003. They are tragic, comic, stirring, romantic, and occasionally just silly. Whether you like sports films, classics, or armies dressed in chain mail, there's something on this list for you.
- "Bull Durham." Kevin Costner starts out with "Well, I believe in the soul," but immediately heads below-the-belt — and by the time he's finished, he's made this one of the most masculinely sexy famous movie monologues ever.
- "To Kill a Mockingbird." "To begin with, this case should never have come to trial." Gregory Peck takes the gentlemen of the jury through a moving, passionate, and above all fair closing argument defending an innocent man. It doesn't do him much good, of course, but it's an extremely good try.
- "The Return of the King." There may be a day, Viggo Mortenson concedes, when men lose their courage and their honor, but "it is not this day!" Who wouldn't follow a leader like that into battle?
- "Network." " I want all of you to get up out of your chairs…" Peter Finch's famous movie monologue is a crusade against complacency, and remains as relevant today as it was in 1976.
- "When Harry Met Sally." When Billy Crystal finally realizes just how he feels about Meg Ryan, he shows a whole new side of his character in this sweepingly romantic speech. "I love that you get cold when it's 71 degrees out…"
- "Dirty Harry." This famous movie monologue is tough-guy Clint Eastwood at his best. "You've gotta ask yourself one question. Do I feel lucky?"
- "Citizen Kane." Everett Sloane's totally un-frilly speech about memory sums up a simple truth about being human. "A fellow will remember a lot of things you wouldn't think he'd remember…"
- "Gone with the Wind." When everything is falling apart for Vivien Leigh — and everything is falling apart for Vivien Leigh — she makes a vow of determination that is not merely famous, but classic. "As God is my witness, as God is my witness they're not going to lick me…"
- "Forrest Gump." Mykelti Williamson's variations-on-a-theme regarding shrimp may not have much dramatic substance, but it's so quotable that it spawned a restaurant chain. "You can barbecue it, boil it, broil it, bake it…"
- "Pulp Fiction." Christopher Walken's speech about one man's five-year stint hiding a watch in a rather personal location is one of his iconic famous movie monologues. "This watch was on your daddy's wrist when he was shot down over Hannoi…"
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