best motivational speeches of all time movies

32 Most Inspiring Speeches In Film History

There's nothing better to fire you up than an inspiring speech.

A lot of great speeches come from sports movies, but that's not the only genre that can make us want to run through walls. Some speeches are so good it has us rooting for the bad guys. Most are by the good guys though, and we'll follow those good guys anywhere. Here is our list of the most inspiring speeches in film history. 

Independence Day - President Witmore

President Thomas J. Whitmore's ( Bill Pullman ) speech in Independence Day has become one of the most iconic film moments of the last 50 years. While the movie can be polarizing, some people can't get enough of it, others hope to never see it again. Still, it's hard to find anyone who truly hates the speech and that moment in the film. If you ever find yourself fighting against annihilation by a bunch of E.T.s, this is the speech for you. 

The Hunt For Red October - Captain Ramius

If you thought you could never get fired up about the Soviet Union picking a fight on the United States during the Cold War, check it out. When Captain Marko Ramius ( Sean Connery ) tells his crew that the salad days of the Cold War are not behind them, and the United States will "tremble again - at the sound of our silence," it makes you want to stand up and fight for communism. At least for a brief moment. 

Any Given Sunday (Coach D'Amato)

It's used at almost every professional football game in America, almost every Sunday, because in Any Given Sunday , Coach D'Amato implores his team and the rest of us to claw for every inch we can. It might not be Pacino's most award-winning role, but that scene... that scene is some of his finest and most enduring work. 

Gladiator (Maximus)

"My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius." If those words don't immediately fire you up, it's time to check for a pulse. Audiences spend most of Gladiator waiting for Maximus ( Russell Crowe ) to finally get his revenge on that conniving Commodus ( Joaquin Phoenix ) and finally we get it. Maximus will have his vengeance, in this life or the next.

Friday Night Lights (Coach Gaines)

In Friday Night Lights , Coach Gaines ( Billy Bob Thornton ) tells us how to be perfect. It has nothing to do with the final score, or winning. It's about how we treat each other and ourselves. It's about telling the truth and not letting anyone down. Live in the moment, "with joy in your heart." That's what makes us perfect. The swelling music by Explosions in the Sky only adds to the drama of the moment. 

While he doesn't say "Clear Eyes, Full Hearts, Can't Lose," (that comes from the TV show), he does mention his clear eyes and his full heart and afterward, none of us lose. 

CINEMABLEND NEWSLETTER

Your Daily Blend of Entertainment News

Henry V (Henry V)

It's not just one of the most inspiring speeches in film history, it's one of the most famous speeches in human history. When William Shakespeare wrote the words to the famous St. Crispin's Day Speech in Henry V , he could not have known that it would be used for centuries afterward to inspire men. For we few, we lucky few, we can watch the speech brilliantly delivered by Kenneth Branagh in one of his finest roles , in his film version from 1989. 

Animal House (Bluto)

"Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?" Of course it wasn't! Bluto (John Belushi) does a lot to inspire the brothers of the Delta house in Animal House but nothing more so than his speech after "Wormer dropped the big one" and suspended the fraternity. Instead of wallowing in self-pity, the men of Delta are inspired to have the best time of their lives, and Wormer? He's a dead man! Marmalard? Dead! Niedermeyer...

Gone With The Wind (Scarlett O'Hara)

Scarlett O'Hara (Vivien Leigh) is not the most sympathetic movie character of all time. In fact, she ranks close to the bottom in that category, but you can't deny the power of her speech just before the end of the first part of the movie. Her family's plantation, Tara, is in shambles, her mother is dead, and her father has lost his mind. When all hope is lost, she promises herself she will fix it, and she will "never be hungry again."

Barbie (Gloria)

It's truly a show-stopping moment in Barbie when Gloria ( America Ferrera ) lays out what it's like to be a woman in today's world. The entire essence of the movie's message is summed up in that brilliant speech. It makes everyone want to jump up on their feet and applaud. It's a moment that will forever live in cinema history. 

Good Will Hunting (Sean Maguire)

It's not just the words that matter. It takes a special actor to deliver a speech like Sean Maguire's in Good Will Hunting . Thankfully there was the great Robin Williams. In a speech that is meant to devastate and inspire Will (Matt Damon), Williams tells him everything he is doing wrong but manages to show him how he can fix it, and open up an entirely new world for himself. It's cutting and loving. And brilliant. "Your move, chief."

Lord Of The Rings: Return Of The King (Aragorn)

Like so many other battle scenes in movies, Aragorn's (Viggo Mortensen) speech at the Black Gates in Lord Of The Rings: Return Of The King has us willing to fight to the death with our fellow soldiers. There is nothing like a leader riding back and forth on horse inspiring his troops. 

Braveheart (William Wallace)

Always remember, that no matter how badly you are treated by a tyrannical English king, he can never take your freedom! William Wallace (Mel Gibson) brilliantly reminds us of that in Braveheart . While it's easy to mock the poor history telling in the movie (and we argue if it was really one of the best movies of 1995 ), you can never say that the speech Wallace gives before the biggest battle in the movie won't have you ready to take on the entire British Empire. 

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (Elizabeth)

Speeches made by leaders to inspire men in battle aren't unique in movies. What makes the speech unique in Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End is that the speech is made by a woman. Elizabeth's (Keira Knightly) speech isn't a lot different than a lot of its ilk, but it's more inspiring to hear it from a woman because we've never heard that before. So hoist the colors! 

Stripes (John Winger)

John Winger (Bill Murray) is the biggest misfit in a platoon filled with them in Stripes . He's the least likely to inspire the rest with a razzle-dazzle speech firing them up, yet that's exactly what he does before their graduation from boot camp. Bill Murray has some of the best lines in movie history, and this speech is near the top of them. 

Miracle (Herb Brooks)

"Great moments are born from great opportunity." That is something we can all stand to remember. In Miracle , Herb Brooks inspires his rag-tag team of college kids to defeat maybe the greatest hockey team ever assembled in the Soviet National Team at the 1980 Winter Olympics. The movie is based on a true story and while it's impossible to know exactly with the real Brooks said, if it was anywhere close to what Russell delivers, it's no surprise we all believe in miracles today. 

Rocky IV (Rocky Balboa)

The Cold War inspired a lot of movies, even sports movies like Rocky IV . Early in the Rocky series, Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) wasn't a man of many words, but at the end of Rocky IV , he finds some of the most inspiring words of the whole series, imploring all of us to get along, despite our differences. 

Swingers (Trent)

What's a good friend if not someone to pep you up when you're feeling low? That's exactly who Trent (Vince Vaughn) is to Mike (Jon Favreau) in Swingers . Not only does he take him to Vegas for a night of fun, on the way home, after the trip doesn't pep Mike up as much as it should, Trent explains exactly why Mike is so money, and he doesn't even know it. 

Network (Howard Beale)

It's scary just how much a movie like Network , released almost 50 years ago is still so relevant. We don't need Howard Beale (Peter Finch) to tell us just how bad things are, we just need to him to inspire us to go to the window, open the window and yell to the world that we're not going to take it anymore! 

The Goonies (Mikey)

"The Goonies never say die!" When all seems lost in the Goonies quest to rescue their neighborhood from developers, Mikey (Sean Astin) reminds them all exactly how far they've come in the quest for One-Eyed Willie's gold. We don't get a lot of inspirational speeches from kids, but when we do, we love them. 

Clueless (Cher)

When Cher (Alicia Silverstone) compares her garden party to a refugee crisis, your inclination is to think she's an airhead. But like so many before and after her, there is kind of a subtle brilliance to her thought process. She takes what she knows and uses that to find the emotion we should all feel for her side of the argument. 

Milk (Harvey Milk)

Milk , based on the true story of Harvey Milk (Sean Penn), is inspiring in and of itself, but Milk's speech on the steps of San Fransisco City Hall at the Gay Pride Rally is a masterpiece. 

Troy (Achilles)

In another classic example of a military leader inspiring his troops, Achilles' (Brad Pitt) speech reminding his men that they are lions, is enough to get anyone to storm the beaches of Troy. There's a reason the story has been told for thousands of years. 

Norma Rae (Norma Rae)

The best thing about Norma Rae's (Sally Field, in one of her best roles ) speech in Norma Rae is that the most important word isn't spoken at all. She simply holds up a sign that says "Union" in the middle of her sweatshop. That's all she needs to "say" to get everyone in the textile mill to agree. It's brilliant. 

We Are Marshall (Jack Lengyel)

We Are Marshall tells the tragic and heroic story of the 1971 Marshall University football team. At the end of the 1970 season, a plane carrying most of the team and its coaches crashed in North Carolina. Before the start of the next season, the new coach, Jack Lengyel (Matthew McConaughey) makes a speech at a memorial for some of the lost players and what he says about never forgetting the past but looking to the future will bring a tear to anyone's eyes.

Legally Blonde (Elle Woods)

More than 20 years after the first Legally Blonde movie was released Elle Woods (Reese Witherspoon) continues to inspire us. With an address like the one she makes at the end of the movie, as she's graduating, it's easy to see why. "You must always have faith in people. And most importantly, you must always have faith in yourself."

Avengers: Endgame (Captain America)

In a room full of superheroes, leave it to Captain America to make the hype speech. In Avengers: Endgame , that's exactly when Cap (Chris Evans) psyches the cadre up for their mission to reverse the Snap. "Whatever it takes."

Hoosiers (Norman Dale)

When tiny Hickman High School makes it to the Indiana State Basketball Finals, they are facing a huge school, in a huge arena. Coach Norman Dale (Gene Hackman) takes only a minute or so to lay out what will make them successful, and a minute is all he needs. It's why Hoosiers one of the best sports movies ever made. 

Rudy (Rudy)

The speech in Rudy is a little different. Rudy really has no audience, save for one person, but that doesn't stop him from delivering a first-rate speech that any Notre Dame alum gets goosebumps when they hear it, including the parts he lifted from the great Knute Rockne.

Juno (Mac MacGuff)

When Juno MacGuff (Elliot Page) is wondering what her future holds, her father Mac MacGuff (J.K. Simmons) explains simply and succinctly, "The best thing you can do is find a person who loves you for exactly what you are." We couldn't have said it better ourselves. 

Stand And Deliver (Jaime Escalante) 

Jaime Escalante (Edward James Olmos) is a no-nonsense math teacher who is determined to get the most from his students. He decides he needs to raise the level of expectations inside and outside of the classroom and he starts by breaking down when he is going to be so hard on his students, to get the most out of them. All they need is ganas – motivation. 

Rocky Balboa (Rocky)

Leave it to Rocky to make a speech in 2006's Rocky Balboa meant to inspire his son to inspire all of us together. It's pure Rocky, leave it all out, don't accept things you don't like, and never make excuses, no matter how hard it is. And it seems like this was advice he took to heart when it became a struggle to make the film . 

300 (Dilios)

Dilios (David Wenham) fires up the Spartans like no other person could. It's truly one of the great hype speeches in film history. It's exactly what you would expect from a civilization of warriors. Whether it really happened or not is irrelevant. The message is the same, "Remember us."

From sports to war, love to education, and beyond, a great speech raises goosebumps like nothing else in film can. These examples are some of the best speeches we've used to inspire us. 

Hugh Scott is the Syndication Editor for CinemaBlend. Before CinemaBlend, he was the managing editor for Suggest.com and Gossipcop.com, covering celebrity news and debunking false gossip. He has been in the publishing industry for almost two decades, covering pop culture – movies and TV shows, especially – with a keen interest and love for Gen X culture, the older influences on it, and what it has since inspired. He graduated from Boston University with a degree in Political Science but cured himself of the desire to be a politician almost immediately after graduation.

Of Course, Hugh Jackman Had A Cheeky Four-Word Response After Ryan Reynolds Was Called ‘Not So Funny’ By Martha Stewart

Ghostbusters OG Ernie Hudson Recalls The Sweet Way Bill Murray Helped Him Return For Sequel: ‘That Was Just Very, Very Special’

A Fan Just Pointed Out How NCIS, Suits, And The Royal Family Are All Super Connected, And My Mind Is Blown

Most Popular

• 2 9-1-1: Lone Star's Big Reveal For Tommy Is A Final Season Heartbreaker, But I'm Hyped For Gina Torres
• 3 The House Of The Dragon Cast Doesn't Know Jack About Season 3 Yet, But Emma D'Arcy Has A Great Idea For Rhaenyra
• 4 While NCIS: Origins Delved Into One Of Mike Franks’ Toughest Cases, I’m Glad What Was In Gibbs’ Psych Eval Was Finally Revealed
• 5 ‘He Did Have To Act Like He Liked It’: Charles Barkley Doesn’t Hold Back On Dwyane Wade’s Viral Statue While Reflecting On His Own Struggles With Monuments

The 30 Best Movie Inspirational Speeches

Cinema's most stirring oratories and spirit-raising team talks.

In times of trouble, you need a little help getting up and going, and film can often provide just that. Cinema has a long and storied history of providing great words of motivation and encouragement, sometimes for the characters' own benefit and occasionally to the audience. Here, we've chosen 30 of the best that should fit almost any occasion - but if you're really pressed for time, here are 40 condensed into a two-minute span { =nofollow}. If you have a little longer, read on!

Also: The 25 Best Movie Bollockings

The Great Dictator

Made at a time when the shadow of World War II was looming over Europe, Charlie Chaplin’s speech here – he’s playing a poor Jewish barber in disguise as a preening dictator and forced to address a Nuremberg-style rally – is a heartfelt plea for sanity and compassion in a time of madness. It’s the perfect antidote to extremism, and uses fiery rhetoric for good. If only we’d be able to pull this switcheroo in real life.

Buy The Great Dictator

Independence Day

Sure, there are cheesemongers with less cheese on offer than you see here and OK, the American jingoism doesn’t work at all for those of us not of a Yank disposition. But Bill Pullman’s slightly sheepish style blends here with steely determination, and he delivers the American St Crispin’s Day speech with conviction. Then, like any US President, he leaps into his fighter jet and flies off to battle aliens.

Buy Independence Day

For those who prefer a little humour in their motivational speeches, try the pitch-black streak in this opener, establishing Russell Crowe’s Maximus Decimus Meridius as a leader of men and a helluva guy. Galloping around the Legions in his cool armour and fur-lined cloak, you might question whether he really needs an entire army to back him up, but you’ll never doubt for a moment that they’d choose to follow him as he unleashes hell.

Buy Gladiator

Any Given Sunday

There’s a lot to be said for a little personal touch to leaven your high-flung rhetoric, and it’s a trick that Al Pacino uses well here, in the first of three American football speeches we’re going to include (hey, we can’t help it if the heavily-padded sport produces some great pep talks). Pacino’s troubled Tony D’Amato unveils his own problems with brutal honesty before using his own failures as a spur to rev on his team to greatness, speaking of team spirit and commitment as someone who has been known to suck at both.

Buy Any Given Sunday

Friday Night Lights

The film has been somewhat overshadowed nowadays by the equally good TV show that followed it, but watch Billy Bob Thornton here and be reminded that Kyle Chandler isn’t the only fundamentally decent man who can inspire a team of small-town boys to great efforts in pursuit of perfection. It’s also worth noting that he puts his emphasis here on excelling and not winning, making it clear that victory isn’t only measured by the scoreboard. Clear eyes, full hearts, can’t lose.

Buy Friday Night Lights

It is, and will probably always be, the greatest inspirational speech ever made. It’s endlessly flexible, and works even when not declaimed by the classically trained (see this Renaissance Man version for proof). And it’s by Shakespeare, still the best writer in Hollywood. We have, controversially perhaps, chosen Branagh’s version over Olivier’s because the latter sounds a little shrill to the modern ear, while Branagh convinces us that he could convince his men. This speech, given by the titular monarch to a vastly outnumbered force about to fight the French, obviously works especially well for English people, but by God, Harry and St George, it’s universal in its rousing effect.

Buy Henry V

This is a little-known film in the UK but it’s revered in certain communities in the US. Sean Astin’s Rudy has overcome dyslexia, poor grades and his relatively small stature to win a place on Notre Dame’s famous Fighting Irish American football team. Only problem is that he’s never been off the bench, and with his final game approaching he threatens to quit the team if he isn’t allowed to play – prompting this inspirational speech / telling off from a friend who points out that he’s being whiny and entitled and needs to grow a pair. Soon he’s back on the bench and given a starting position when his entire team threatens not to play unless he’s given a shot.

An honourable mention for Hector’s pep talk but Achilles wins the battle of the inspirational speeches just as he wins their duel (c’mon, that’s not a spoiler; it’s in the 2000 year-old Iliad). This is a short snippet, but then godlike Achilles, the man-killer, is a man of action rather than words. And what he does say – focusing on lions, glory and the manifold abilities of his small, hand-picked group of Myrmidons – would convince a rock to fight any Trojan who dared oppose it.

Animal House

Not every inspirational speech is about trying to inspire his cohorts to kill people or batter them up and down the length of a football field. Some aspire to a higher goal. Some aspire to debauchery, drinking and probably nudity. Some aspire to party like 1999 might have done had it tried harder. Some aspire to a particular kind of grubby, deranged greatness. One such is John Belushi’s Bluto, and this is the greatest night of his life.

Buy Animal House

The Goonies

Come the hour, cometh the man – and in this case the man is a small, asthmatic Sean Astin, inspiring his fellow Goonies to never say die and to keep going in their quest to find treasure and save their community. In his yellow rain slicker and with his voice on the edge of breaking he may not look like a modern Napoleon, but he has the same effect on his exhausted and discouraged troopers. He’s so good you’ll almost forget to laugh at his mentions of One-Eyed Willy. snigger

Buy The Goonies

The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King

Death comes to us all, and Aragorn ain’t going to lie about it. But he still gees up his troops with the assurance that their civilisation will survive the onslaught of the forces of Mordor. Sure, they’re vastly outnumbered and sure, it seems likely that Frodo has failed in his quest to destroy the Ring in Mount Doom (especially if you’re watching the Extended Edition) but Viggo Mortensen’s Aragorn ensures that no one will be quitting any time soon. Not this day!

Buy The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King

Bill Murray isn’t usually the guy you turn to for sincere, inspiring words of comfort. He’s more the type to puncture any attempt at same, and probably to fast-talk his opponents into giving up and going for a karaoke session while he’s about it. But after his heart grows two sizes during the course of Scrooged, he makes a plea for kindness and niceness from all mankind. He still does it in a recognisably Murray, manic and scattershot way, but that just makes him all the more compelling. Someone hire this man to play Santa Claus.

Buy Scrooged

Stirring sports speeches are limited to American Football. Miracle On Ice chronicles the based-on-truth tale of how the US Olympic hockey team triumphed over their Russian rivals. Kurt Russell's the speech-giver here, playing coach Herb Brooks. "Tonight, we are the greatest hockey team in the world," he tells them. You'll feel a swell of pride and inspiration too.

Rent Miracle

Deep Blue Sea

“You think water’s fast? You should see ice.” Samuel L. Jackson’s been around the block more than once, and he’s seen the worst of mankind. It’s with the weight of that history behind him that he takes charge and orders his fellow survivors of a marine disaster to start pulling together and quit arguing. His speech also has what is, unquestionably, the greatest punchline on this list. Still, it achieves the desired effect once everyone has quit screaming.

Buy Deep Blue Sea

If in doubt, steal from classical history, something that David Wenham’s Dilios demonstrates with aplomb here. In actual history, the one survivor of the 300 was so shamed by his survival that he executed a suicidal one-man attack on the Persians at this Battle of Plataea, but Wenham seems more in control and also like he has quite a bit of back-up. “The enemy outnumber us a paltry three-to-one,” notes Dilios triumphantly. Why, it was hardly worth the Persians turning up.

Good Will Hunting

Here’s an inspirational speech well-suited to highly-paid sports teams and the enormously talented. Ben Affleck’s argument is, basically, that if you’re lucky enough to get extraordinary chances in your life, it’s your duty to the rest of us schmoes to actually take those chances and run with them as far as you can. If you can get past the shellsuit and the hair, he’s basically Yoda-like in his wisdom.

Buy Good Will Hunting

Most people only remember the last word – “Freedom!” – but the rest of the speech is pretty killer too. Mel Gibson’s William Wallace starts off by puncturing his own legend, and acknowledges the urge to cut and run in the face of a far superior English force. But then he reminds his men what they’d be missing if they do, and soon they’re all back on side and facing down the hated English. By the end of this speech, you’ll all hate the English with them – even if you are one.

Buy Braveheart

Coach Carter

You’d expect the inspiration in this basketball film to come from the titular no-nonsense coach, played by a fiery Samuel L. Jackson. But in fact it’s one of his players who nabs the best lines, as he and the team sit studying to keep their grades as high as their scores. There is a little cheating here: Rick Gonzalez’ Timo actually steals his inspirational speech from Marianne Williamson (it’s sometimes wrongly attributed to Nelson Mandela) but he delivers it well so we’re going to allow it.

Buy Coach Carter

While it’s his skills in the ring that he is most lauded for, Rocky Balboa is something of a poet to boot. An incoherent one, certainly; a poet who says “I guess” a lot more often than Wordsworth might like, but a poet nevertheless. His moving words here, as he single-handedly ends the Cold War and ushers in a new era of East-West relations, are just one example. Another is…

Buy Rocky IV

Rocky Balboa

If his last speech was incoherent – in fairness, his rhythm may have been thrown off by the translator – this one verges on incomprehensible when he really gets going. Still, there’s real passion in Rocky’s plea for one last shot and an argument that’s applicable to all sorts of situations of institutional injustice or unfeeling bureaucracy.

Buy Rocky Balboa

Stand And Deliver

Those who've watched him on the modern Battlestar Galactica know that Edward James Olmos is a past master at giving speeches. This is him from a little earlier in his career, playing Jaime Escalante, a real-life teacher who inspired his students to stop dropping out and start taking calculus seriously. Here, he's handing out as pop quiz, so anyone having to home school their kids can take note.

Rent Stand And Deliver

Good Night, And Good Luck

This one is couched particularly at media moguls, but there’s a call for excellence and the highest moral standards here that we would all do well to live by. David Strathairn’s Edward R. Murrow, in a speech lifted directly from Murrow’s actual address to the Radio and Television News Directors Association in 1958, pleads for TV to inform as well as entertain. We feel that if more people saw this speech, Made In Chelsea would be cancelled immediately and reality TV would be banned, so spread the word!

Buy Good Night, And Good Luck

Anyone who has ever flirted with a romantic interest knows the risk of being knocked back, and Jon Favreau's Mike is experiencing a crisis of confidence. Luckily for him, he has Vince Vaughn's Trent to talk him back into the game, and Alex Désert's Charles to remind him that he's so money. He's a bear! And she's a bunny! Everything is going to be fine.

Buy Swingers

Charles Dutton’s second appearance on this list, after Rudy, sees him once again reminding lesser men (and women) to get with the programme, pull the finger out and generally stand up and be counted. But this time they’re facing unstoppable acid-blooded xenomorphs rather than American football players, so he has to be extra-emphatic.

Buy Alien 3

Pirates Of The Caribbean: At World’s End

Remarkably few women get to deliver inspirational speeches in movies – apparently they’re relegated to clapping admiringly from the sidelines. Thank goodness for Elizabeth Swan (Keira Knightley) who is elected King of the Pirates and rouses her troops into action for a last-ditch fight against the Lord Beckett’s overwhelming forces, led by the Flying Dutchman. She may not have quite the lungs of others on the list, but there’s no doubting her conviction as she calls for them to “Hoist the colours!” – the Jolly Roger – and sail out one last time.

Buy Pirates Of The Caribbean: At World’s End

The Replacements

One doesn’t expect lengthy speeches from Keanu “Woah” Reeves (although he’s done his share of Shakespeare actually) but he’s rarely more succinct and to the point than in this chat with his fellow Replacements. And in fact there are few speeches more likely to be effective in motivating an exhausted team for one last effort. “Chicks dig scars” could be used by virtually every example here to drive on the listeners.

Buy The Replacements

Bill Murray at it again, and once more an unconventional speech. This time out, he's John Winger, a loser who decides that he and best pal Russell Ziskey (Harold Ramis) will join the Army. Stuck with a group of oddballs, and, after a night of partying, decides to rally his fellow troops. It works... Sort of. But Murray's typically laconic style works well for the speech itself.

Rent or buy Stripes

The Lord Of The Rings: Return Of The King

All seems lost for Samwise Gamgee (Sean Astin again) and Frodo Baggins (Elijah Wood) as they lie, exhausted, on the slopes of Mount Doom. Frodo’s beyond endurance and raving as the influence of the Ring grows ever stronger on him, and his desperate straits drive Sam to one last push. It’s barely a speech, really – he uses his words better here – but there are few moments more inspirational.

Buy The Lord Of The Rings: Return of The King

The Shawshank Redemption

A quiet moment between Tim Robbins' Andy Dufresne and Morgan Freeman's Red became one of the more memorable moments in Shawshank , a movie with no shortage of them. And for those who are spending more time inside than perhaps they might be used to, Andy's musing on what he would do if he got out of prison are inspirational in themselves, even before he gets to that iconic line.

Rent The Shawshank Redemption

Avengers: Endgame

Steve Rogers, AKA Captain America, is not shy of breaking out speech mode when the moment calls for it. And inspiring the Avengers as they're about to embark on a trip through space and time to retrieve the Infinity Stones certainly seems like that moment. "Whatever it takes," indeed.

Rent Avengers: Endgame

15 Best Movie Speeches of All Time

Dialogues and speeches are the string, which binds the beads of a good cinema. Acting, cinematography, production they can all fall apart if the writing sucks. There are so many movies with great stories who aren’t impactful, because of lame dialogues. On the other hand, people remember even mediocre movies because of a powerful speech. These speeches are so inspirational that they make the listener believe that anything’s possible. The sheer power of words is strong enough to move mountains. In these speeches, the speaker enthralls the audience with his wisdom and experience and motivates them to carry out the impossible in life. We, at the Cinemaholic, made a list of top movie speeches ever that will inspire you. Be ready to get motivated!

15. Pirates Of The Caribbean: At World’s End (2007) – “Hoist The Colours”

Consider this. A fleet of pirate ship have been surrounded by the elite force of Her Majesty’s Royal Navy. The pirates are broken, without any command and their faith lies in their pirate queen Elizabeth who probably due to a turn of fate, became their leader. Tricked into a cornered position, by a cunning lord Beckett, she is left with no choice but retaliate with whatever she has. And she choses this moment to rise to the occasion. She thunders at her fellow pirates, asking them to fight like free men and not surrender meekly like cowards. And it resonates with pirates, irrespective of their clans and they roar as every version of Jolly Roger starts flying high in the wind.

14. V For Vendetta (2005) – “The Revolutionary Speech”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKvvOFIHs4k

Just like Hitler crafted a dictatorship, disguised within a so-called superior race driven government, in a not so distant future version of London, the chancellor Adam Sutler formed a reign where in the name of security, privacy was looted. In return of order and peace to the society, the people traded their foremost weapon – consent. In the garb of protecting the people, the reigning government unleashed tyranny and oppression. In such times, one fine day, every TV gets tuned into a channel where a man wearing a Guy Fawkes mask speaks to them. He reminds them of Guy Fawkes, who brought a revolution to the people 400 years ago. To end this cruelty and meek submission, he asks everyone to join him in exactly one year later, on 5th of September on the gates of the Parliament. This speech sets in motion, of the events of ‘V for Vendetta’.

13. The Wolf Of Wall Street (2013) – “I’m not fuckin’ leaving”

The high flying, corrupt and megalomaniac Jordan Belfort is finally caught and as a part of the deal with the FBI, he’s supposed to leave Stratton Oakmont and never ever indulge in the market of share trading, which made him so rich. He appears in his office and makes an announcement about his stepping down from the company, in front of his beleaguered colleagues. He explains his pain in leaving them in lurch and how he’s going to miss them all. While talking about their collective effort to make money overcoming their individual struggles in life, all of sudden he realizes, this is place where he belongs after all. And despite the warning of FBI, he screams his lungs out – ‘I’m not fuckin’ leaving !!’

12. Rocky Balboa (2006) – “It ain’t about how hard you hit”

https://youtu.be/mk82j1jQw_8

Rocky Balboa is an ageing boxer, who has left the sport, only to come back to it again. His wife’s dead and his son is sick and tired of the name and pressure of being related to Rocky. His father’s fame has started to affect him professionally and personally as well. So he gets the news of his arthritic father, gearing up for another bout of boxing, he discourages him by stating his example of being a failure, despite of being a Balboa. Rocky thunders when he says, ‘It’s ain’t about how hard you hit, it’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward.’ He asks him to stop blaming others for his failure. It’s an moving speech with some profound advice for life. Life’s meant to be unfair and its sole plan is to keep you down. Instead of cribbing, you’ve to accept your loses and move forward. That’s how you win.

11. Any Given Sunday (1999) – “Life’s a game of inches”

Before an all important play off game, coach D’Amato, played by Al Pacino gathers around his players. Through many difficulties and infightings, they’ve reached a place where one mistake can cost them everything. He begins the talk with comparing their current position to being in a shit hole and it’s totally up to them to get beat the shit out of themselves or fight hard to come back. He cites his own example of being a broken man who lost money, family and himself for taking bad decisions in life. But life is just like a game of football . It’s all about the margin of error. Just like a game of football, where once one starts losing, he gets the drift of the game and then tries crawl into those inches. He urges them to come together as a team and win it for themselves.

10. Wall Street (1987) – “Greed, for lack of a better word, is Good”

Wall street is about money. Wall street is about power. Wall street is about greed. And greed, ladies and gentlemen, for the lack of a better word, is good. That’s what Gordon Gekko believed in. In a speech to the investors of a loss making paper company Teldar, he explains meticulously that the sole reason the company lost so much of money is because of inefficient people at the top and not because he broke the company to pieces. He argues that his greed of making money actually liberates loss making industries. Greed is an evolutionary trait and it’s greed which has made man go for more, be it knowledge, technology or profit. It’s an amazing take on something which itself is labelled as a biblical sin. Michael Douglas as Gordon Gekko, gives an amazing performance.

9. Dead Poet’s Society (1989) – “Carpe Diem, seize the day boys”

In a school, where discipline is revered, a new English teacher comes in a breather among the strict disciplinarians. To a motley group of students, he reaches out and asks them to come out of their shell. He tells them to live their lives in their own way and not to someone’s expectations. One’s life duration is limited and eventually everyone will die. What will be left, is his legacy. So instead of living a dull life, one should do something to make it extraordinary. That’s the essence of Carpe Diem. The character of John Keating was played by the late Robin Williams , who demonstrates the importance of individuality to the students through this inspiring speech. He inspires them to be achieve greatness rather than to be successful.

8. Remember The Titans (2000) – “Take a lesson from the dead”

At the heights of racism, a black man is appointed as the head coach of a school, where traditionally it’s usually filled up by a white man. Tackling racism and discrimination at every step, coach Boone takes up the challenge. The team suffers from racially motivated conflicts and its success is deterred due to the ever meddling school authorities. Coach Boone takes everything to his stride and takes his team through a gruelling schedule of training at the Gettysburg cemetery where thousands of men died during the battle of Gettysburg. Through this speech, he asks his team to learn from those people, who laid their lives while fighting for each other. He urges them to be better by coming together and play as one team. His speech motivates his team to achieve success. Denzel Washington plays coach Boone in the sports drama ‘Remember The Titans’.

7. Braveheart (1995) – “They may take our lives, but they’ll never take our freedom”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIvRkjOd1f8

In an English ruled Scotland, a young William Wallace witnesses the English massacring his family. He flees from the country only to return as a rebel who takes charge to lead the rebellion against the English. As he leads a rag-tag army of Scottish peasants and farmers, he asks them to fight as free men, against the enormous English army. When somebody from the army says that it’s better to hide and live than to fight and die, Wallace roars back by saying that the enemy may take their lives but they will never be able to take their freedom. Mel Gibson acted as well as directed this film, which went on to win five academy awards, including Best Picture and Best Director.

6. Scent Of A Woman (1992) – “When shit hits the fan, some guys run and some guys stay”

At the Baird school, which traditionally has given the country many leaders and achievers, a disciplinary meeting takes place, for an act of mischief. While the reason remains trivial at its best, the focus shifts to two persons, who were supposed to be the witnesses of the events. One of those witnesses is a boy, whose father is a key figure in the school management. Hence he gets off the hook, after naming the suspects. Naturally it’s the other guy Charlie, who despite of being innocent, gets to take the blame. And it almost happens but for the presence of Lt Colonel Frank Slade. He makes his point that while everyone chose to be indifferent to the situation, Charlie showed integrity by not behaving as a snitch. And this is the stuff leaders are made of. Al Pacino played Lt Colonel Slade and gave a performance of a lifetime.

Read More:  Best Nuclear War Movies of All Time

5. Independence Day (1996) – “Today, we celebrate our independence day”

While the world burns and is at the mercy of aliens, it comes down to a few brave men who decide to join forces to fight against the aliens. After repeated attempts of failure, a final assault is planned in the lines of a kamikaze attack, similar to a suicide mission. The president, himself a pilot mans the mission. Before they leave the base, he reminds them that this mission, incidentally to commence on 4th of July will be the biggest battle of their lives. And should they win, it will no longer be an American holiday. Rather it will be the day, when the world will be liberated of their common enemy. It shall be the world’s independence day. It’s a speech that evokes thunderous applause from everyone, as their belief in their leader becomes firm.

Read More:  Best Movies About Alcoholism of All Time

4. Network (1976) – “I’m mad as hell and am not going to take it anymore”

News these days, are more of shock inducing and eye grabbing details rather than journalism based on facts. In ‘Network’, a TV network’s struggle with declining viewership turns into a full-blown war when its own people start making factory made shows to get ratings. The movie is primarily about how TV controls the life and through it audio-visual medium, can sway public opinion about everything. In a way, this is what controls the masses today. When the veteran news anchor Howard Beale screams at his viewers to shout that they’ re mad as hell and are not going to take it anymore, he vents out his frustration at the growing influence of TV on the people. He cites example of life going astray while the TV shows paint a rosy picture. Many years later, as we see today, the real has imitated the reel and today literally the TV controls everything. This speech is truly pathbreaking.

Read More:  Best Airplane Hijack Movies of All Time

3. The Shawshank Redemption (1994) – “Get busy living or get busy dying”

There’s nothing new that can be told about ‘The Shawshank Redemption’ . Arguably the best movie ever, this is Andy Dufresne’s story spanning across nineteen years in the infamous Shawshank penitentiary. While Andy makes the most out of his time at the prison doing various jobs, he also gets into a tiff with a corrupt warden over his discharge which leads him into a solitary confinement. When he’s out, his friend Red becomes afraid that this may break him forever. However a nonchalant Andy tells him about his dream destination and his wish to spend rest of his life there, thus explaining that life is all about hope and at times, it comes down to one simple choice – Get busy living or get busy dying. This speech is also a metaphor for being hopeful in the most hopeless of situations.

Read More:  Best Haunted House Movies of All Time

2. A Few Good Men (1992) – “You can’t handle the truth”

A soldier dies at GITMO base camp and the blame goes to couple of fellow soldiers as an act of negligence. While the soldiers plead that they were under order to punish the dying soldier, it comes down to one of the most laziest of military lawyers to take up their case. As the case reaches its final stage, upon repeated provocation from the defence lawyer, Colonel Nathan Jessup becomes enraged and tells that at times, despite being wrong, people need to take decision that may take one life but in return save thousands. Freedom comes at a price and being a provider of the same, that’s what entitles him to take decisions which may or may not be ethical. This’s the truth and that possibly cannot be fathomed by a layman. A stunning performance by Jack Nicholson !

Read More:  Best Cheerleading Movies of All Time

1. The Great Dictator (1940)- “We think too much and feel too little”

Charlie Chaplin ’s ‘The Great Dictator’ is a political satire, in the garb of comedy and it condemns the ways of the contemporary dictators of the time, namely Hitler and Mussolini. A Jewish barber, who’s also a lookalike of the tyrant ruler of a fictional country gets to replace the dictator and ends up in a podium where he has to deliver a speech. He rises to the occasion when he tells his subjects that instead of ruling everyone as a dictator, he wants to help everyone. As human beings, one should rise above the ever engulfing greed. Though the world has progressed into future through numerous innovations, still it does distinguish people based on their caste, creed and colour. Humanity has been lost its meaning in the countless machinery that does our jobs. We’ve become cynical due to our ever growing penchant for knowledge. And that’s where we all lose as mankind.

Read More:  Best Adolf Hitler Movies of All Time

SPONSORED LINKS

• Movie Explainers
• TV Explainers

• Movie Monologues That Are More Evocative Than A...
• Haunting Final Lines
• Dying Words
• Filmmakers Talk
• Mandela Effect
• Uh... What?
• Inspirational Movie Monologues That Keep Us Goi...
• Heartbreaking
• Terrifying Single Lines
• Wise Villains
• Cold-Blooded
• Described by the Actors

The Most Inspiring Speeches In Movie History

Inspiring movie speeches can be found in so many films, it's really hard to narrow down the top ones. These, however, are some of the absolute best, most inspiring, and highly-motivational speeches in movie history. From principals trying to inspire students to reach their potential to coaches attempting to get their teams fired up to great leaders (both fictional and non-fictional) striving to prepare their troops for epic battles, these speeches are worth remembering and recognizing. 

What are the most inspiring monologues from movies ? Do you prefer inspirational sports monologues to great Disney movie speeches? Would you be ready to go into battle after hearing that iconic Braveheart monologue? See any glaring omissions? Add them. And be sure to vote on your favorites.

To Kill A Mockingbird

"Gentlemen, I shall be brief, but I would like to use my remaining time with you to remind you that the case of Mayella Ewell vs. Tom Robinson is not a difficult one. To begin with, this case should have never come to trial. The State has not produced one iota of medical evidence that shows that the crime Tom Robinson is charged with ever took place. This case is as simple as black and white. It requires no minute sifting of complicated facts, but it does require you to be sure beyond all reasonable doubt as to the guilt of the defendant.

Miss Ewell did something that in our society is unspeakable: she is white, and she tempted a Negro. The defendant is not guilty, but someone in this courtroom is. I have nothing but pity in my heart for the chief witness for the state, but my pity does not extend so far as to her putting a man's life at stake. She knew full well the enormity of her offense, but because her desires were stronger than the code she was breaking, she persisted. The state of Alabama has relied solely upon the testimony of two witnesses who's evidence has not only been called into serious question, but has been flatly contradicted by the defendant.

I need not remind you of their appearance and conduct on the stand. They have presented themselves in the cynical confidence that their testimony would not be doubted. They were confident that you, the jury, would go along with the evil assumption that all Negro's lie, and are immoral. Mr. Robinson is accused of rape, when it was she who made the advances on him. He put his word against two white people's, and now he is on trial for no apparent reason- except that he is Black.

Thomas Jefferson once said that all men are created equal, a phrase that the government is fond of hurling at us. There is a tendency in this year of grace, 1935, for certain people to use that phrase out of context, to satisfy all conditions. We know that all men are not created equal in the sense that some people would have us believe. Some people are smarter than others, some people have more opportunity because they are born with it, some men have more money than others, and some people are more gifted than others.

But there is one way in this country in which all men are created equal. An institution that makes a pauper the equal of a Rockefeller, the ignorant man the equal of any president, and the stupid man the equal of Einstein. That institution is the court. But a court is only as sound as its jury, and the jury is only as sound as the men who make it up.

I am confident that you gentlemen will review without passion the evidence you have heard, come to a decision, and restore the defendant to his family. In the name of God, do your duty. In the name of God, gentlemen, believe Tom Robinson."

Remember the Titans

"Anybody know what this place is? This is Gettysburg. This is where they fought the battle of Gettysburg. Fifty thousand men died right here on this field, fightin' the same fight that we're still fightin' amongst ourselves today.

This green field right here, painted red, bubblin' with the blood of young boys. Smoke and hot lead pourin' right through their bodies. Listen to their souls, men. I killed my brother with malice in my heart. Hatred destroyed my family. You listen, you take a lesson from the dead.

If we don't come together right now on this hallowed ground, we too will be destroyed, just like they were. I don't care if you like each other right now, but you will respect each other. And maybe - I don't know, maybe we'll learn to play this game like men."

Independence Day

"Good morning. In less than an hour, aircraft from here will join others from around the world. And you will be launching the largest aerial battle in the history of mankind. Mankind - that word should have new meaning for all of us today. We can't be consumed by our petty differences anymore.

We will be united in our common interests. Perhaps it's fate that today is the 4th of July, and you will once again be fighting for our freedom. Not from tyranny, oppression, or persecution, but from annihilation. We're fighting for our right to live, to exist.

And should we win the day, the 4th of July will no longer be known as an American holiday, but as the day when the world declared in one voice: 'We will not go quietly into the night! We will not vanish without a fight! We're going to live on!' We're going to survive!' Today we celebrate our Independence Day!"

Dead Poets Society

"'O Captain, my Captain.' Who knows where that comes from? Anybody? Not a clue? It's from a poem by Walt Whitman about Mr. Abraham Lincoln. Now in this class, you can either call me Mr. Keating, or if you're slightly more daring, O Captain, my Captain. Now let me dispel a few rumors so they don't fester into facts. Yes, I too attended Hell-ton and survived. And no, at that time I was not the mental giant you see before you. I was the intellectual equivalent of a ninety-eight pound weakling. I would go to the beach and people would kick copies of Byron in my face...

'Gather ye rosebuds while ye may.' The Latin term for that sentiment is Carpe Diem. Now who knows what that means?...Seize the day. Gather ye rosebuds while ye may. Why does the writer use these lines?...Because we are food for worms, lads. Because, believe it or not, each and every one of us in this room is one day gonna stop breathing, turn cold, and die.

Now I would like you to step forward over here and peruse some of the faces from the past. You've walked past them many times. I don't think you've really looked at them. They're not that different from you, are they? Same haircuts. Full of hormones, just like you. Invincible, just like you feel. The world is their oyster. They believe they're destined for great things, just like many of you. Their eyes are full of hope, just like you. Did they wait until it was too late to make from their lives even one iota of what they were capable? Because you see gentlemen, these boys are now fertilizing daffodils. But if you listen real close, you can hear them whisper their legacy to you. Go on, lean in. Listen. Do you hear it? Carpe. Hear it? Carpe. Carpe Diem. Seize the day boys. Make your lives extraordinary."

"Sons of Scotland! I am William Wallace....Yes, I've heard. Kills men by the hundreds. And if he were here, he'd consume the English with fireballs from his eyes, and bolts of lightning from his arse. I am William Wallace! And I see a whole army of my country men, here, in defiance of tyranny.

You've come to fight as free men, and free men you are. What will you do with that freedom? Will you fight? ...Aye, fight and you may die, run and you'll live, at least a while. And dying in your beds many years from now, would you be willing to trade all the days from this day to that for one chance, just one chance to come back here and tell our enemies that they may take our lives , but they'll never take our freedom! Alba gu bra! (Scotland forever!)"

• MGM Distribution Co.

Rocky Balboa

"Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It’s a very mean and nasty place and I don’t care how tough you are it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t about how hard ya hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward.

That’s how winning is done! Now if you know what you’re worth then go out and get what you’re worth. But ya gotta be willing to take the hits, and not pointing fingers saying you ain’t where you wanna be because of him, or her, or anybody! Cowards do that and that ain’t you! You’re better than that!

I’m always gonna love you no matter what. No matter what happens. You’re my son and you’re my blood. You’re the best thing in my life. But until you start believing in yourself, ya ain’t gonna have a life."

The Great Dictator

"I'm sorry, but I don't want to be an emperor. That's not my business. I don't want to rule or conquer anyone. I should like to help everyone if possible: Jew, Gentile, Black men, white. We all want to help one another. Human beings are like that. We want to live by each others' happiness, not by each other's misery. We don't want to hate and despise one another. In this world, there's room for everyone and the good earth is rich and can provide for everyone. The way of life can be free and beautiful, but we have lost the way. Greed has poisoned men's souls, has barricaded the world with hate, has goose-stepped us into misery and bloodshed.

We have developed speed, but we have shut ourselves in. Machinery that gives abundance has left us in want. Our knowledge has made us cynical, our cleverness, hard and unkind. We think too much and feel too little. More than machinery, we need humanity. More than cleverness, we need kindness and gentleness. Without these qualities, life will be violent and all will be lost. The aeroplane and the radio have brought us closer together. The very nature of these inventions cries out for the goodness in men, cries out for universal brotherhood for the unity of us all.

Even now, my voice is reaching millions throughout the world, millions of despairing men, women, and little children, victims of a system that makes men torture and imprison innocent people. To those who can hear me, I say: 'Do not despair.' The misery that is now upon us is but the passing of greed, the bitterness of men who fear the way of human progress. The hate of men will pass, and dictators die, and the power they took from the people will return to the people. And so long as men die, liberty will never perish.

Soldiers! Don't give yourselves to brutes. Men who despise you, enslave you, who regiment your lives, tell you what to do, what to think and what to feel! Who drill you, diet you, treat you like cattle, use you as cannon fodder! Don't give yourselves to these unnatural men - machine men with machine minds and machine hearts! You are not machines! You are not cattle! You are men! You have the love of humanity in your hearts! You don't hate! Only the unloved hate, the unloved and the unnatural. Soldiers! Don't fight for slavery! Fight for liberty!

In the seventeenth chapter of St. Luke, it is written the kingdom of God is within man, not one man nor a group of men, but in all men! In you! You, the people, have the power, the power to create machines, the power to create happiness! You, the people, have the power to make this life free and beautiful, to make this life a wonderful adventure. Then in the name of democracy, let us use that power. Let us all unite. Let us fight for a new world, a decent world that will give men a chance to work, that will give youth a f*ture and old age a security.

By the promise of these things, brutes have risen to power. But they lie! They do not fulfill their promise. They never will! Dictators free themselves but they enslave the people! Now let us fight to fulfill that promise! Let us fight to free the world! To do away with national barriers! To do away with greed, with hate and intolerance! Let us fight for a world of reason, a world where science and progress will lead to all men's happiness. Soldiers, in the name of democracy, let us all unite! (Cheers)

Hannah, can you hear me? Wherever you are, look up, Hannah! The clouds are lifting! The sun is breaking through! We are coming out of the darkness into the light! We are coming into a new world, a kindlier world, where men will rise above their hate, their greed and brutality.

Look up, Hannah! The soul of man has been given wings and at last he is beginning to fly. He is flying into the rainbow! Into the light of hope! Into the f*ture, the glorious f*ture that belongs to you, to me, and to all of us. Look up, Hannah! Look up!"

Mr. Smith Goes To Washington

"Just get up off the ground, that's all I ask. Get up there with that lady that's up on top of this Capitol dome, that lady that stands for liberty. Take a look at this country through her eyes if you really want to see something.

And you won't just see scenery; you'll see the whole parade of what Man's carved out for himself, after centuries of fighting. Fighting for something better than just jungle law, fighting so as he can stand on his own two feet, free and decent, like he was created, no matter what his race, color, or creed. That's what you'd see.

There's no place out there for graft, or greed, or lies, or compromise with human liberties. And, uh, if that's what the grownups have done with this world that was given to them, then we'd better get those boys' camps started fast and see what the kids can do. And it's not too late, because this country is bigger than the Taylors, or you, or me, or anything else. Great principles don't get lost once they come to light. They're right here; you just have to see them again..."

Scent Of A Woman

"...No, I'm just gettin' warmed up. I don't know who went to this place - William Howard Taft, William Jennings Bryan, William Tell, whoever. Their spirit is dead, if they ever had one. It's gone. You're buildin' a rat ship here. A vessel for sea-goin' snitches. And if you think you're preparin' these minnows for manhood, you better think again. Because I say you are killin' the very spirit this institution proclaims it instills! What a sham! What kind of a show are you guys puttin' on here today. I mean, the only class in this act is sittin' next to me. And I'm here to tell ya, this boy's soul is intact. It's non-negotiable. You know how I know? Someone here, and I'm not gonna say who, offered to buy it. Only Charlie here wasn't sellin'....

Out of order, I'll show you out of order! You don't know what out of order is, Mr.Trask! I'd show you, but I'm too old, I'm too tired, I'm too f--kin' blind. If I were the man I was five years ago, I'd take a  flame-thrower  to this place. Out of order, who the hell do you think you're talking to? I've been around, you know? There was a time I could see. And I have seen. Boys like these, younger than these, their arms torn out, their legs ripped off. But there isn't nothin' like the sight of an amputated spirit. There is no prosthetic for that. You think you're merely sending this splendid foot soldier back home to Oregon with his tail between his legs, but I say you are executin' his  soul !  And why ? Because he's not a Baird man. Baird men. You hurt this boy, you're gonna be Baird bums, the lot of ya. And Harry, Jimmy, Trent, wherever you are out there,  F--k You Too !...

I'm not finished! As I came in here, I heard those words - 'Cradle of Leadership.' Well, when the bow breaks, the cradle will fall. And it has fallen here. It has fallen. Makers of men. Creators of leaders. Be careful what kind of leaders you're producin' here. I don't know if Charlie's silence here today is right or wrong. I'm not a judge or jury. But I can tell you this. He won't sell anybody out to buy his future! And that, my friends, is called integrity! That's called courage! Now that's the stuff leaders should be made of. Now I have come to the crossroads in my life. I always knew what the right path was. Without exception, I knew. But I never took it. You know why? It was too damn hard. Now here's Charlie. He's come to the crossroads. He has chosen a path. It's the right path. It's a path made of principle that leads to character. Let him continue on his journey. You hold this boy's future in your hands, Committee. It's a valuable future. Believe me. Don't destroy it! Protect it. Embrace it. It's gonna make ya proud one day, I promise you."

"Alright people, here we are. In one hour, you are going to take an exam administered by the State to test your basic skills and the quality of education at East Side High. I want to tell you what the people are saying about you and what they think about your chances.

They say you're inferior! You are just a bunch of n****rs and s***s and poor...trash! Education is wasted on you! You cannot learn! You're lost! I mean ALL of you! I want all the white students to stand up. All my white students, stand up. Stand up. C'mon, stand up.

These are my white children and they're the same as all of you! They've got no place to go, if they had, they'd have abandoned us a long time ago like everybody else did. So, here they are in East Side High, just like the rest of us. You can sit down. Are you getting my point, people? Is it beginning to sink in? We sink, we swim, we rise, we fall, we meet our fate together! Now, it took the help of a good, good friend to make me know and understand that and I do understand that and I'm grateful. I'm eternally grateful.

And now, I've got a message for those people out there who've abandoned you and written you off! Can you hear me? Can you hear me? Good! You are NOT inferior! Your grades may be, your school may have been. But you can turn that around and make liars out of those bastards in exactly one hour when you take that test and pass it and win! So here's what I want you to do. When you find your thoughts wandering, I want you to knuckle back down and concentrate. Concentrate! Remember what's at stake and show them what East Side High's all about: a spirit that will not die!"

V For Vendetta

“Good evening, London.

Allow me first to apologize for this interruption. I do, like many of you, appreciate the comforts of everyday routine, the security of the familiar, the tranquility of repetition. I enjoy them as much as any bloke. But in the spirit of commemoration, thereby those important events of the past usually associated with someone’s death or the end of some awful bloody struggle, a celebration of a nice holiday, I thought we could mark this November the 5th, a day that is sadly no longer remembered, by taking some time out of our daily lives to sit down and have a little chat. There are of course those who do not want us to speak. I suspect even now, orders are being shouted into telephones, and men with guns will soon be on their way. Why? Because while the truncheon may be used in lieu of conversation, words will always retain their power. Words offer the means to meaning, and for those who will listen, the enunciation of truth. And the truth is, there is something terribly wrong with this country, isn’t there?

Cruelty and injustice, intolerance and oppression. And where once you had the freedom to object, to think and speak as you saw fit, you now have censors and systems of surveillance coercing your conformity and soliciting your submission. How did this happen? Who’s to blame? Well certainly there are those more responsible than others, and they will be held accountable, but again truth be told, if you’re looking for the guilty, you need only look into a mirror.

I know why you did it. I know you were afraid. Who wouldn’t be? War, terror, disease. There was a myriad of problems which conspired to corrupt your reason and rob you of your common sense. Fear got the best of you, and in your panic, you turned to the now high chancellor, Adam Sutler. He promised you order, he promised you peace, and all he demanded in return was your silent, obedient consent. Last night I sought to end that silence. Last night I destroyed the Old Bailey, to remind this country of what it has forgotten. More than four hundred years ago a great citizen wished to embed the fifth of November forever in our memory. His hope was to remind the world that fairness, justice, and freedom are more than words, they are perspectives.

So if you’ve seen nothing, if the crimes of this government remain unknown to you then I would suggest you allow the fifth of November to pass unmarked. But if you see what I see, if you feel as I feel, and if you would seek as I seek, then I ask you to stand beside me one year from tonight, outside the gates of Parliament, and together we shall give them a fifth of November that shall never, ever be forgot.”

"Men, all this stuff you've heard about America not wanting to fight - wanting to stay out of the war, is a lot of horse dung. Americans traditionally love to fight. All real Americans love the sting of battle. When you were kids, you all admired the champion marble shooter, the fastest runner, big league ball players, the toughest boxers. Americans love a winner and will not tolerate a loser. Americans play to win all the time. I wouldn't give a hoot in hell for a man who lost and laughed. That's why Americans have never lost and will never lose a war, because the very thought of losing is hateful to Americans.

Now, an army is a team - it lives, eats, sleeps, fights as a team. This individuality stuff is a bunch of crap. The bilious [people] who wrote that stuff about individuality for the Saturday Evening Post don't know anything more about real battle than they do about fornicating. Now, we have the finest food and equipment, the best spirit, and the best men in the world. You know, by God, I actually pity those poor [people] we're goin' up against. By God, I do. We're not just gonna shoot the [person], we're going to cut out their living guts and use them to grease the treads of our tanks. We're going to murder those lousy Hun...by the bushel.

Now there's another thing I want you to remember. I don't want to get any messages saying that we are holding our position. We're not holding anything. Let the Hun do that. We are advancing constantly and we're not interested in holding onto anything except the enemy. We're going to hold onto him by the nose and we're gonna kick him in the [behind]. We're gonna kick...him all the time and we're gonna go through him like crap through a goose.

Now, there's one thing that you men will be able to say when you get back home, and you may thank God for it. Thirty years from now when you're sitting around your fireside with your grandson on your knee, and he asks you: 'What did you do in the Great World War II?', you won't have to say: 'Well, I shoveled s--t in Louisiana.'

All right now...you know how I feel - and I will be proud to lead you wonderful guys into battle anytime, anywhere. That's all."

"What's he that wishes so? My cousin Westmoreland? No, my fair cousin. If we are mark'd to die, we are enough to do our country loss. And if to live, the fewer men the greater share of honour. God's will! I pray thee, wish not one man more. Rather proclaim it, Westmoreland, through my host, that he which hath no stomach to this fight, let him depart. His passport shall be made and crowns for convoy put into his purse. We would not die in that man's company that fears his fellowship to die with us.

This day is called the feast of Crispian. He that outlives this day and comes safe home will stand a tip-toe when this day is named and rouse him at the name of Crispian. He that shall see this day and live old age will yearly on the vigil, feast his neighbors and say: 'To-morrow is Saint Crispin's'. Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars, and say: 'These wounds I had on Crispin's Day.' Old men forget yet all shall be forgot but he'll remember with advantages what feats he did that day. Then shall our names familiar in their mouths as household words: Harry the king, Bedford and Exeter, Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloucester, be in their flowing cups freshly remembered. This story shall the good man teach his son. And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by from this day to the ending of the world, but we in it shall be remember'd.

We few, we happy few, we band of brothers. For he today that sheds his blood with me shall be my brother, be he ne'er so vile, this day shall gentle his condition. And gentlemen in England now a-bed shall think themselves accursed they were not here, and hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks that fought with us upon St. Crispin's Day."

"There's a, uhm, tradition in tournament play to not talk about the next step until you've climbed the one in front of you. I'm sure going to the State finals is beyond your wildest dreams, so let's just keep it right there. Forget about the crowds, the size of the school, their fancy uniforms, and remember what got you here.

Focus on the fundamentals that we've gone over time and time again. And most important, don't get caught up thinking about winning or losing this game. If you put your effort and concentration into playing to your potential, to be the best that you can be, I don't care what the scoreboard says at the end of the game. In my book, we're gonna be winners! OK?!"

"I rode the bench for two years. Thought I wasn't being played because of my color, I got filled up with a lotta attitude. So I quit. Still not a week goes by I don't regret it.

And I guarantee a week won't go by in your life you won't regret walking out, letting them get the best of ya. You hear me clear enough?:

Any Given Sunday

"I don't know what to say really. Three minutes to the biggest battle of our professional lives, all comes down to today. Now either we heal as a team, or we're gonna crumble. Inch by inch, play by play -- till we're finished. We're in hell right now gentleman. Believe me. And we can stay here, get the s**t kicked out of us, or we can fight our way back, into the light. We can climb out of hell, one inch at a time.

Now I can't do it for you, I'm too old. I look around I see these young faces and I think, I mean, I made every wrong choice a middle aged man can make. I, uh, I pissed away all my money, believe it or not, I chased off anyone who's ever loved me, and lately I can't even stand the face I see in the mirror.

Y'know when you get old in life things get taken from you, I mean that's that's that's part of life. But you only learn that when you start losin' stuff. You find out life's this game of inches, and so is football. Because in either game, life or football, the margin for error is so small, I mean, one half a step too late or too early and you don't quite make it, one half second to slow or to fast, you don't quite catch it. The inches we need are everywhere around us. They're in every break in the game, every minute, every second. On this team we fight for that inch. On this team we tear ourselves and everyone else around us to pieces for that inch. We claw with our fingernails for that inch. Because we know when we add up all those inches that's going to make the f**king difference between winning and losing. Between livin' and dying.

I'll tell you this in any fight it's the guy whose willing to die who's gonna win that inch , and I know that if I'm going to have any life anymore it's because I'm still willin' to fight and die for that inch. Because that's what livin is. The six inches in front of your face. Now I can't make you do it. You gotta look at the guy next to you, look into his eyes. Now, I think you're gonna see a guy who will go that inch with you. You're gonna see a guy who will sacrifice himself for this team because he knows when it comes down to it, you're going to do the same for him.

That's a team gentlemen and either we heal now as a team or we will die as individuals. That's football guys. That's all it is. Now, What are you going to do?"

Wall Street

"America, America has become a second-rate power. Its trade deficit and its fiscal deficit are at nightmare proportions. Now, in the days of the free market, when our country was a top industrial power, there was accountability to the stockholder. The Carnegies, the Mellons, the men that built this great industrial empire, made sure of it because it was their money at stake. Today, management has no stake in the company! All together, these men sitting up here own less than three percent of the company. And where does Mr. Cromwell put his million-dollar salary? Not in Teldar stock. He owns less than one percent. You own the company. That's right - you, the stockholder. And you are all being royally screwed over by these, these bureaucrats, with their, their steak lunches, their hunting and fishing trips, their, their corporate jets and golden parachutes...

Teldar Paper, Mr. Cromwell, Teldar Paper has 33 different Vice Presidents, each earning over $200,000 a year. Now, I have spent the last two months analyzing what all these guys do, and I still can't figure it out. One thing I do know is that our paper company lost $110 million last year, and I'll bet that half of that was spent in all the paperwork going back and forth between all these Vice Presidents.

The new law of evolution in corporate America seems to be survival of the unfittest. Well, in my book, you either do it right or you get eliminated. In the last seven deals that I've been involved with, there were 2.5 million stockholders who have made a pre-tax profit of 12 billion dollars. (Thank you. I am not a destroyer of companies. I am a liberator of them!

The point is, ladies and gentleman, that greed - for lack of a better word - is good. Greed is right. Greed works. Greed clarifies, cuts through and captures the essence of the evolutionary spirit. Greed, in all of its forms - greed for life, for money, for love, knowledge - has marked the upward surge of mankind. And Greed - you mark my words - will not only save Teldar Paper but that other malfunctioning corporation called the USA. Thank you very much."

Glengarry Glen Ross

Alec Baldwin: Let me have your attention for a moment. 'Cause you're talkin' about what...you're talkin' 'bout...[complaining] about that sale you shot....don't want to buy land, somebody don't want what you're selling, some broad you're trying to screw, so forth, let's talk about something important. Are they all here?

Kevin Spacey: All but one.

Baldwin: Well, I'm going anyway. Let's talk about something important. (sees Lemmon pouring coffee). Put that coffee down. Coffee's for closer's only. You think I'm f**kin' with you? I am not... I'm here from downtown. I'm here from Mitch and Murray. And I'm here on a mission of mercy. Your name's Levine?

Jack Lemmon: Yeah.

Baldwin: You call yourself a salesman...

Ed Harris: I don't gotta listen to this s**t.

Baldwin: You certainly don't pal 'cause the good news is you're fired. The bad news is you got all you got, just one week to regain your job, starting with tonight, starting with tonight's sits. Oh, have I got your attention now? Good. 'Cause we're adding a little something to this month's sale contest. As you all know, first prize is a Cadillac El Dorado. Anybody want to see second prize? Second prize is a set of steak knives. Third prize is your fired. You get the picture? You laughing now? You got leads. Mitch and Murray paid good money. Get their names to sell them. You can't close the leads you're given, you can't close s**t, you are s**t, hit the bricks pal and beat it 'cause you are going out.

Lemmon: The leads are weak .

Baldwin: The leads are weak. The f**kin' leads are weak? You're weak. I've been in this business 15 years...

Harris: What's your name?

Baldwin: F**k you, that's my name. You know why mister? Cause you drove a Hyundai to get here tonight, I drove an 80,000 dollar BMW. That's my name. And your name is you're wanting. You can't play in the man's game, you can't close them? Then go home and tell your wife your troubles. Because only one thing counts in this life. Get them to sign on the line which is dotted. You hear me...

ABC. A, Always, B, Be, C, Closing. Always be closing. Always be closing. AIDA. Attention. Interest. Decision. Action. Attention. Do I have your attention? Interest. Are you interested? I know you are 'cause it's f**k or walk. You close or you hit the bricks. Decision. Have you made your decision for Christ? And action. AIDA. Get out there. You got the prospects coming in, you think they came in to get out of the rain? A guy don't walk on the lot lest he wants to buy. They're sitting out there waiting to give you their money. Are you going to take it? Are you man enough to take it? What's the problem, pal?

Harris: You, boss, you're such a hero, you're so rich, how come you're coming down here and wasting your time with such a bunch of bums?

Baldwin: You see this watch? You see this watch?

Harris: Yeah.

Baldwin: That watch costs more than your car. I made 970,000 dollars last year, how much you make? You see pal, that's who I am, and you're nothing. Nice guy? I don't give a s**t. Good father. F**k you, go home and play with your kids. You want to work here, close. You think this is abuse? You think this is abuse... You can't take this, how can you take the abuse you get on a sit. If you don't like it, leave. I can go out there tonight, the materials you got, make myself 15,000 dollars. Tonight. In two hours. Can you? Can you?

Go and do likewise. AIDA. Get mad... Get mad. You know what it takes to sell real-estate? It takes brass balls to sell real estate. Go and do likewise, gents. The money's out there, you pick it up, it's yours, you don't, I got no sympathy for you. You want to go out on those sits tonight and close, close, it's yours, if not, you're going to be shining my shoes. And you know what you'll be saying. Bunch of losers sitting around in a bar: 'Oh yeah, I used to be a salesman. It's a tough racket.'

These are the new leads. These are the Glengarry leads. And to you, they're gold. And you don't get them. Why? Because to give them to you is just throwing them away. They're for closers. I'd wish you good luck, but you wouldn't know what to do with it if you got it. (To Harris) And to answer your question, pal: Why am I here? I came here because Mitch and Murray asked me to, they asked me for a favor. I said the real favor, follow my advice and fire your [behind] because a loser is a loser.

• Entertainment
• Movie Quotes
• Watchworthy

All about the unforgettable (but also misquoted) lines in TV and film.

The 20 Best Movie Speeches of All Time

Public speaking is not just a skill, it is an art form, one that very few can master.

For most, it is a source for anxiety. The sight of a large crowd and all the attention on one person can make even the most confident individual turn into a stuttering mess. However, when done correctly, they can inspire the very best and, sometimes, the very worst in humanity.

For these 20 films, the art of the speech is on full display, perfectly crafted by screenwriters and actors. Whether it is inspiring a team before the big game, soldiers before the big battle, students before entering the real world or as a rally cry against evil, corruption and the wicked, these speeches have transcended art and have entered the popular lexicon, sometimes as satire, but sometimes as a source of inspirations.

20. Invictus (2009) – “This is it! This is our Destiny!”

Following his release from prison in 1990, Nelson Mandela (Morgan Freeman) ran for government and became President of South Africa, effectively ending Apartheid. Despite this, the country still remained divided and tense. Mandela, however, saw hope in the form of the Springboks, South Africa’s National Rugby Union team.

After beating heavyweights France, Western Samoa and Australia in the 1995 Rugby World Cup, the team faces the number one side: the Legendary New Zealand All Blacks. Overcoming the odds and securing a 15-12 lead, the team only has to hold out for seven minutes. Team captain Francois Pienaar (Matt Damon) addresses his team, telling them to listen to the crowd, all singing in unison, “Heads up, look into my eyes”.

This is a real team captain talking, his message still simple for a rugby team, “Defence, defence, defence”. Plain yet inspiring. Pienaar is portrayed as a man who knows exactly the history he is about create. When asked at the end of the game if he could have done it without the 60,000 South Africans present at the game, “We didn’t have the support of 60,000 South Africans…we had the support of 43 million South Africans”.

The finale with Pienaar receiving the Web Ellis Trophy from a Springbok Jersey wearing Mandela remains not only one of the great moments of sport, but a great moment in human history.

19. Henry V (1989) – “We few, we happy few, we band of brothers”

Very few actors have been able to transport the Bard to the big screen. Lawrence Olivier, Orson Welles, John Gielgud, Ian McKellan are just a few that have succeeded. Today, most of Shakespeare’s plays are adapted into contemporary settings, from fairy tale Venice Beach (Romeo + Juliet) to gangland Melbourne (Macbeth).

However, Kenneth Branagh’s performance in Henry V (following in the footsteps of Laurence Olivier) shows that one can still enjoy a classic, especially when watching the St Crispin’s Day speech.

“From this day to the ending of the world, but we shall be remembered – we few, we happy few, we band of brothers; for he to-day that sheds his blood with me shall be my brother”. Branagh does not deliver this line with awe and gravitas, but rather with joy. A great smile burnt across his face as he rallies his men with promises of immortality.

Perhaps Henry’s heart is filled with joy at the concept of being side by side with his men at his longest hour, or is Branagh portraying a naive boy king who is yet to understand the true horrors of war? One thing is for certain: audience will seldom find such passion and truth in modern Shakespeare.

18. Rudy (1993) – “Since when are you the quitting kind”

There are only a handful of films that men will acknowledge crying in. Rudy (Sean Astin) is one of them. How can you keep a dry eye when watching every member of the University of Notre Dame’s football team walk into the head office before the final game of the year, offering their position up for Rudy.

But before this immortal moment, Rudy quit the team, frustrated at failing to make the final team list of the year. It is only after the dressing down he receives from stadium janitor Fortune (Charles S. Dutton) that he changes his mind, “Since when are you the quitting kind,” he barks at a defeated Rudy. This not only acts as the key turning point for the film, it reveals the true character of Fortune, finally breaking down the emotional brick wall he built between himself and others.

Fortune, just like Rudy, had an opportunity but threw it away out of anger, “And I guarantee a week won’t go by in your life you won’t regret walking out, letting them get the best of you”. There is not softness, no compassion. Not Fortune’s style. Instead he gives Rudy the kick up the arse he needs to continue fighting to earn the title of ‘Fighting Irish’.

17. Mr Smith Goes to Washington (1939) – “Well, I guess this is just another lost cause, Mr Paine”

There is no worse feeling than the moment you realise you have been beat. No second chances, no extra time. Nothing. You have lost. This was the moment that underdog Senator Jefferson Smith (James Stewart) not only realised he had lost but that he had been powerless all along. His first bill draws the wrath of a corrupt politician, not only destroying the bill, but turning Smith’s own constituents against him. Where he is shown the letters and telegrams sent demanding his resignation.

Beaten, exhausted and near collapse he seems resigned to his fate, “well, I guess this is just another lost cause, Mr Paine,” he mumbles, now barely conscious.

Instead, he finds one last ounce of energy, promising to continue the fight against political corruption, “You think I’m licked? Well, I’m not licked and I’m gonna stay right here and fight for this lost cause. Even if this room is filled with lies like these”. Mr Smith goes to Washington remains one of Frank Capra’s best and one of the truly great films on American politics.

16. Dead Poet’s Society (1989) – “Carpe, carpe diem, seize the day boys, make your lives extraordinary”

A good teacher is not meant to simply teach, but rather inspire his students. Guide them into finding their passion and push them into pursuing it. Inspiring teachers are a popular market with films like Stand and Deliver, Mr. Holland’s Opus and October Sky. However, nothing matches the wit, charm and passion found in Dead Poet’s Society’s John Keating (Robin Williams).

Despite the strict and conservative foundations of the school they attend, former student turned poetry teacher Keating encourages his students to rip out the mathematic formula for rating poetry and to stand on their desk shouting poetry, much to the chagrin of the headmaster.

But Keating’s teaching philosophy is laid bare when he shows his students photos of the past alumni who attended, “They’re not that different from you, are they? Same haircuts, full of hormones”, before whispering his magnum opus, “Carpe diem”. Keating is not just teaching poetry, he is teaching the boys to become individuals. To not be constrained by the social mores that there very school is trying to implement.

15. Friday Night Lights (2004) – “I want you to put each other in your hearts forever, because forever is about to happen here”

So inspiring is the coach’s speech to his team that it has become almost cliché. Halftime, down by a lot, exhausted and low morale, the team finds solace in the inspirational words of the calm and collected coach. Friday Night Lights is part of this cliché, but it is one of the few that gets it right.

Only gaining entry into the state final by virtue of a coin toss, the Permian Panthers and their coach Gary Gaines (Billy Bob Thornton) know they are the underdogs. But more than that, Gaines knows for many of them it will be their last game. Some may get a chance to play College Football and there might be that lucky one who goes on to play for the NFL. However, many of these boys will graduate from high school and live out the rest of their life.

In the end, it comes down to how they remember the game, “And that truth is you did everything you could. There wasn’t one more thing you could’ve done. Can you live in that moment as best you can, with clear eyes, and love in your heart, with joy in your heart? If you can do that gentlemen, then you’re perfect”. For the film, football is not about winning or losing, it is about character.

30 Replies to “The 20 Best Movie Speeches of All Time”

Alec Baldwin as Blake in Glengarry Glen Ross.

Shocked this wasn’t here

Tim Robbins in Antitrust.

That speech in Rocky Balboa is awesome. Never gets a lot of love as it says a lot about life.

Anything by Brando as Kurtz in Apocalypse now… snail on a straight razor… but especially this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPPGMNOLaMw

Kikuchiyo’s speech about the true nature of farmers and samurai in “Seven Samurai” (1954).

Theoden’s Speech from LotR: The Return of the King.

Belushi’s speech in Animal House!!

Jim Garrison’s closing argument to the jury in JFK

Jim Garrison’s closing speech to the jury in JFK

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BckPa2_A8gI

25th hour(not public but we all saw it) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgL_5QcZCMo

This is a great idea for a list but Jesus F-ck, this list is embarrassing. The author seems to think that a great movie speech has to always be a motivational one. I mean sh-t, half of his picks are nothing but generic, clichéd sports movies. All the motivational sports speeches have the same message, just worded differently. The only pass I’d give is to “Rocky” because boxing is arguably the purest metaphor of life– “it’s not about how hard you hit, it’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward” is poetry.

If you wanna go for a sports speech, then why not one of the most iconic speeches in American history? 1. “Today, I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth.” –Lou Gehrig’s farewell speech, The Pride of the Yankees https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OyT4mPBe4YQ

2. “In the name of God, do your duty.” –Atticus Finch pleading with the jury to commit to social justice, To Kill a Mockingbird https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYNxQL87tAY

3. “Every time you break the seal on that liquor bottle, that’s a government seal you’re breaking!” –Malcolm X opening the eyes and ears of folks living in Harlem, Malcolm X https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cT1jLY20tLo&t=40s

4. “Rehabilitated, it’s just a bullshit word.” –Ellis Boyd Redding lecturing to the parole board about the truth of prisoner rehabilitation, The Shawshank Redemption https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcn6v7IaIfA

5. “You’re no crazier than the average asshole out walking on the streets!” –Randall McMurphy advising the other patients that a person isn’t crazy simply cuz he doesn’t conform to society’s arbitrary standards, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehPcYibzUKc

6. “Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?? HELL NO!!!” — Parody of clichéd motivational movie speeches, Animal House https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ep-xgd_eETE

7. “Our great war is a spiritual war.” –Tyler Durden offering sobering realizations about life in the modern age, Fight Club https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zi9ivZL7vmA

8. “Macho shithead” –Dorothy Michaels calling out a director for perpetuating female stereotypes, Tootsie https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V95u7t_4WVc

9. “I have killed for my country and I don’t feel good about it.” –Luke Martin, a Vietnam vet laying out the truth about war to high school students, Coming Home https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=duyYbn2TkvY

10. “Together we shall give them a 5th of November that shall never ever be forgot.” –V rallying the citizens of the UK to rebel against their tyrannical government, V for Vendetta https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKvvOFIHs4k

11. “I’m trying real hard to be the shepherd.” –Hitman Jules Winnefield lecturing a small time crook on the errors of his ways, Pulp Fiction https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PeyiU3uWJ8

12. “The whole trial’s out of order!” –Arthur Kirkland pointing out the inherent flaws of the American legal system, And Justice For All https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGomfEiWS9Q&t=137s

13. “It’s called gentrification.” –Furious Styles speaking the truth about life in the ghettos of America https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BadSZDpvq-s

The Return of The King – both Théoden’s and Aragorn’s pre-battle speeches definitely deserved a spot on here.

Apparently the best movie speeches of all time were all in english…

“We few, we happy few, we band of brothers”

Peter Graves’ final speech in It Conquered the World 1956 (MST3K version)

“He learned almost too late that man is a feeling creature… and, because of it, the greatest in the universe. He learned too late for himself that men have to find their own way, to make their own mistakes. There can’t be any gift of perfection from outside ourselves. And when men seek such perfection… they find only death… fire… loss… disillusionment… the end of everything that’s gone forward. Men have always sought an end to the toil and misery, but it can’t be given, it has to be achieved. There is hope, but it has to come from inside — from man himself.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tx7A6eQqBc8

Scent of a Woman – Slades speech

Paltry, surely??

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

The 25 Most Inspirational Speeches from ’80s Movies

I really enjoy this video montage of “ 40 Inspirational Speeches in 2 Minutes ”…

That inspired me to put together a list of the best inspirational/motivational speeches just from ’80s movies . There were several choices that came immediately to mind, but some might be a little less obvious. Some are short and some are long. Some are made to big groups of people and some are made to just one. Some are funny and some are very serious. Whether they were intended to be or not, they all share the fact that they are inspirational to at least one character in the movie. In addition, they can also be inspirational to us, the audience.

I took a trip through my ’80s movie library and came up with quite a list of such inspirational monologues. With all of them, I will include at least a portion of the script and a video of the scene. So let’s get right to it then. Here are Old School’s Favorite Inspirational Speeches from ’80s Movies :

Honorable Mention.   Animal House (1978) – One of the best of all time, but I am only listing it as an honorable mention because it is technically from a ’70s movie. I kind of consider it an ’80s movie since that is when I saw it for the first time and it inspired the comedy genre for years to come.

“Over? Did you say ‘over’? Nothing is over until we decide it is! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no! And it ain’t over now. ‘Cause when the goin’ gets tough… the tough get goin’! Who’s with me? Let’s go!” -“John ‘Bluto’ Blutarsky” played by John Belushi

25. The Outsiders (1983) – This is a favorite coming-of-age film of mine with a star-studded cast (before they were stars) based on the S.E. Hinton novel. The story features the Robert Frost poem “Nothing Gold Can Stay” which is a personal favorite of mine. The scene when “Ponyboy” recites it to “Johnny” is very inspirational to me.  When “Johnny” dies near the end of the film, he leaves a letter for his friend “Ponyboy” and I find what he says to be an inspirational monologue.

“Ponyboy, I asked the nurse to give you this book so you could finish it. The doctor came in a while ago but I knew anyway. I keep getting tireder and tireder. Listen, I don’t mind dying now. It was worth it. It’s worth saving those kids. Their lives are worth more than mine, they have more to live for. Some of their parents came by to thank me and I know it was worth it. Tell Dally it was worth it. I’m just gonna miss you guys. I’ve been thinking about it, and that poem, that guy that wrote it, he meant you’re gold when you’re a kid, like green. When you’re a kid everything’s new, dawn. It’s just when you get used to everything that it’s day. Like the way you dig sunsets, Pony. That’s gold. Keep that way, it’s a good way to be. I want you to tell Dally to look at one. He’ll probably think you’re crazy, but ask for me. I don’t think he’s ever really seen a sunset. And don’t be so bugged over being a greaser. You still have a lot of time to make yourself be what you want. There’s still lots of good in the world. Tell Dally. I don’t think he knows. Your buddy, Johnny.” – “Johnny Cade” played by Ralph Macchio

24. On Golden Pond (1981) – This is an interesting story about family relationships from several different angles. It stars Henry Fonda and Katherine Hepburn as an aging couple who have been married for a long time. The scene that I find inspirational takes place when Hepburn’s character shows how strong the ties of love and marriage can remain even after so many years.

“Listen to me, mister. You’re my knight in shining armor. Don’t forget it. You’re going to get back on that horse and I’m going to be right behind you, holding on tight and away we’re going to go, go, go!”

– “Ethel Thayer” played by Katherine Hepburn

23. The Princess Bride (1987) – This is a great fairytale of a movie that I recently was able to share with my daughter for the first time. She loved it because of the Princess, but my favorite character is “Inigo Montoya” the sword fighter who is on a life long search for vengeance against the “six-fingered man” who murdered his father. At one point, he explains why he is on this mission and I find it somewhat inspirational, so I decided to include this scene on my list.

“I was eleven years old. And when I was strong enough, I dedicated my life to the study of fencing. So the next time we meet, I will not fail. I will go up to the six-fingered man and say, ‘Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.’”

– “Inigo Montoya” played by Mandy Patinkin

23. Full Metal Jacket (1987) – I don’t know about you, but I am not personally motivated or inspired by someone berating me. Nevertheless, that seems to be the tactic often employed by Drill Sergeants in the armed forces (or at least that is how it is depicted in the movies which is all I have to go by). R. Lee Ermey has several outstanding monologues during the basic training scenes of this film which Stanley Kubrick wrote the screenplay and directed. I rank them lower on this list because I would not find them personally inspiring, but it does motivate the characters in the film. There are several that would qualify, but I will include the one he makes when they are graduating.

“Today, you people are no longer maggots. Today, you are Marines. You’re part of a brotherhood. From now on until the day you die, wherever you are, every Marine is your brother. Most of you will go to Vietnam. Some of you will not come back. But always remember this: Marines die. That’s what we’re here for. But the Marine Corps lives forever. And that means YOU live forever.”

– “Gunnery Sergeant Hartmann” played by R. Lee Ermey

21. National Lampoon’s Vacation (1983) – This one did not come immediately to mind, but I remember a profane rant that “Clark” goes on as his family is ready to give up. He drops a few f-bombs to help get their attention, but his passion is inspiring and afterward you know that he is resolved to get to Wally World.

“I think you’re all f****d in the head. We’re ten hours from the f***ing fun park and you want to bail out. Well I’ll tell you something. This is no longer a vacation. It’s a quest. It’s a quest for fun. I’m gonna have fun and you’re gonna have fun. We’re all gonna have so much fucking fun we’ll need plastic surgery to remove our godamn smiles. You’ll be whistling ‘Zip-A-Dee Doo-Dah’ out of you’re a**holes! I gotta be crazy! I’m on a pilgrimage to see a moose. Praise Marty Moose! Holy S**t!”

– “Clark W. Griswold” played by Chevy Chase

20. Road House (1989) – This movie does not have too many redeeming qualities (except being fun to watch), but “Dalton” has the self-confidence and experience to certainly motivate others. When the character is first introduced to help clean up the seedy small-town Missouri bar, he delivers his message to the rest of the bar’s staff. The severity of the situation and by just looking at “Dalton,” I am sure they had their doubts about his methods. It does not take long for him to prove that it is his way or the highway.

“All you have to do is follow three simple rules. One, never underestimate your opponent. Expect the unexpected. Two, take it outside. Never start anything inside the bar unless it’s absolutely necessary. And three, be nice.”

– “Dalton” played by Patrick Swayze

19. Caddyshack (1980) – One of my very favorite comedies of all time, this is another movie which you would not expect to necessarily be on this list, but there are a few inspiring (although comedic) monologues made by “Ty Webb” to young “Danny” during the course of the film. Here is one of them…

“I’m going to give you a little advice. There’s a force in the universe that makes things happen. And all you have to do is get in touch with it, stop thinking, let things happen, and be the ball.”

–  “Ty Webb” played by Chevy Chase

18. Stand By Me (1986) – This is one of my very favorite movies of all time. There is a particular scene where “Gordie” and “Chris” are talking about their future. “Gordie” implies that he was not going to take advantage of his opportunities and this angers “Chris” who responds. “Gordie” does not like “Chris” preaching at him and says, “Oh, gee, thanks, Dad!”

“Wish the hell I was your dad. You wouldn’t be goin’ around talkin’ about takin’ these stupid shop courses if I was. It’s like God gave you something man, all those stories you can make up. And He said, ‘this is what we got for ya kid, try not to lose it.’ Kids lose everything unless there’s someone there to look out for them. And if your parents are too f****d up to do it, then maybe I should!”

– “Chris Chambers” played by River Phoenix

17. Bull Durham (1988) – Sports movies are generally good sources for inspirational moments and speeches. There are some amazing monologues given in this movie which is about much more than just minor league baseball in North Carolina. “Annie” provides a great one as an introduction at the start of the film and “Crash” delivers a famous monologue about what he believes in. Both are great, but my favorite motivational speech is given by the team’s manager after “Crash” gave him advice on how to light a fire under the team.

“You guys. You lollygag the ball around the infield. You lollygag your way down to first. You lollygag in and out of the dugout. You know what that makes you? Larry! LOLLYGAGGERS!”

– “Joe ‘Skip’ Riggins” played by Trey Wilson

16. The Karate Kid (1984) – This movie is inspiring overall with the underdog coming out victorious in multiple ways. “Mr. Miyagi” provides many karate lessons that are also life lessons during the course of the film. One such lesson is when he tells “Daniel” that he “Better learn balance. Balance is key. Balance good, karate good. Everything good. Balance bad, better pack up, go home. Understand?” One of my favorites and particularly motivational is an analogy that he uses before he begins to train “Daniel.”

“Walk on road, hm? Walk left side, safe. Walk right side, safe. Walk middle, sooner or later (makes squish gesture)… get squish just like grape. Here, karate, same thing. Either you karate do ‘yes’ or karate do ‘no.’ You karate do ‘guess so,’ (makes squish gesture again) just like grape. Understand?”

– “Mr. Miyagi” played by Pat Morita

15. Glory (1989) – This movie is based on an extremely inspiring story, though some parts are difficult to watch. It depicts the story of a regiment of African-American soldiers in the American Civil War. Denzel Washington earned an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor with an outstanding performance, but to me, many of the inspirational scenes featured Morgan Freeman’s character “John Rawlins.” One in particular takes place as a prayer the night before they go into battle.

“Lord, we stand before you this evening, to say thank you! And we thank you, father, for your grace, and your many blessings! Now I run off, leaving all my young ones and my kinfolk, in bondage. So I’m standing here this evening, heavenly father, to ask your blessings on all of us. So that if tomorrow is the great getting up morning, if that tomorrow we have to meet the Judgment Day, oh heavenly father, we want you to let our folks know that we died facing the enemy! We want ‘em to know that we went down standing up! Amongst those that are fighting against our oppression. We want ‘em to know, heavenly father, that we died for FREEDOM! We ask these blessings in Jesus’ name. Amen!”

– “John Rawlins” played by Morgan Freeman

14. Rocky IV (1985) – Interesting that this movie has one of the LEAST inspirational speeches by Rocky’s wife when she says, “You can’t go with what you are. You’ve read the papers, it’s suicide! You’ve seen him you know how strong he is! YOU CAN’T WIN!” But later in the movie, there are a couple speeches that I feel are very inspirational. There is a scene before Rocky leaves for Russia and he is saying goodbye to his son. He tells him, “ By going that one more round when you think you can’t, that’s what makes all the difference in your life .” Words to live by for sure. There is another where his trainer “Duke” says to Rocky shortly after they arrive in Russia,

“ Apollo was like my son. I raised him. And when he died a part of me died. But now you’re the one. You’re the one that’s gonna keep his spirit alive. You’re the one that’s gonna make sure that he didn’t die for nothing. Now you’re gonna have to go through hell. Worse than any nightmare you ever dreamed. But in the end, I know you’ll be the one standing.”

– “Duke” played by Tony Burton

13. Three Amigos (1986) – Another movie you would not expect to be on this list, but there is one speech delivered by “Lucky Day” which is quite inspirational in an over-the-top comedic sort of way.

“In a way, each of us has an El Guapo to face. For some, shyness might be their El Guapo. For others, a lack of education might be their El Guapo. For us, El Guapo is a big, dangerous man who wants to kill us. But as sure as my name is Lucky Day, the people of Santa Poco can conquer their own personal El Guapo, who also happens to be the actual El Guapo!”

– “Lucky Day” played by Steve Martin

12. Lean On Me (1989) – This film is based on the very inspiring true story of Joe Clark who became the principal of an inner-city New Jersey high school in dire need of some changes. I love to see anybody overcome the odds and triumph due to hard work and perseverance. That is what happens with the students at Eastside High. The principal delivers several motivational monologues, but the best is probably at the “pep rally” before the students are to take a basic skills exam which is to determine the future of the school (and quite possibly the future of many of the students themselves).

“ I want to tell you what the people are saying about you and what they think about your chances. They say you’re inferior! You are just a bunch of n****rs and sp**s and poor white trash! Education is wasted on you! You cannot learn! You’re lost! I mean ALL of you! … Are you getting my point, people? Is it beginning to sink in? We sink, we swim, we rise, we fall, we meet our fate together! Now, it took the help of a good, good friend to make me know and understand that and I do understand that and I’m grateful. I’m eternally grateful. And now, I’ve got a message for those people out there who’ve abandoned you and written you off! Can you hear me? Can you hear me? Good! You are NOT inferior! Your grades may be, your school may have been. But you can turn that around and make liars out of those bastards in exactly one hour when you take that test and pass it and win! So here’s what I want you to do. When you find your thoughts wandering, I want you to knuckle back down and concentrate. Concentrate! Remember what’s at stake and show them what Eastside High’s all about: a spirit that will not die!”

– “Joe Clark” played by Morgan Freeman

11. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986) – This is one of my very favorite movies from the ’80s, but not necessarily because it is inspirational. That does not mean there are not any inspiring moments within it, though. “Cameron” is “Ferris’” best friend and experiences a great amount of change during the course of his day of misbehavior. This is evident in a scene towards the end of the film when “Cameron” declares his epiphany. I could not find a video link for this scene, but here is what he says just prior to the car crashing through the glass wall into the ravine.

“I am not going to sit on my ass as the events that affect me unfold to determine the course of my life. I’m going to take a stand. I’m going to defend it. Right or wrong, I’m going to defend it.”

– “Cameron Frye” played by Alan Ruck

10. Can’t Buy Me Love (1987) – This silly movie about what kids are willing to do to gain acceptance is one of my favorite ’80s teen comedies. It stars Patrick Dempsey 18 years before he became “McDreamy” on Grey’s Anatomy . He delivers a great speech at the end which includes the real moral of the story and one that I wish more kids would recognize.

“Nerds, jocks. My side, your side. It’s all bulls**t. Its hard enough just trying to be yourself.”

– “Ronald Miller” played by Patrick Dempsey

9. Stripes (1981) – Here is a movie that you would not expect to be all that inspirational, but “John Winger” (played by the brilliant Bill Murray) seems to be a natural leader who takes control when necessary. And that is just what this rag-tag platoon needs. My favorite such moment takes place when the platoon is attempting to get ready to perform at graduation and the group starts to lose patience with each other. “Winger” jumps in and, in his own comedic way, inspires the guys to do what they need to do. This results in one of the funnier scenes in the movie. For this list, I include the motivational speech that gets them there.

“Cut it out! Cut it out! Cut it out! The hell’s the matter with you? Stupid! We’re all very different people. We’re not Watusi. We’re not Spartans. We’re Americans, with a capital ‘A’, huh? You know what that means? Do ya? That means that our forefathers were kicked out of every decent country in the world. We are the wretched refuse. We’re the underdog. We’re mutts! Here’s proof: his nose is cold! But there’s no animal that’s more faithful, that’s more loyal, more loveable than the mutt. Who saw Old Yeller? Who cried when Old Yeller got shot at the end? (raises his hand) Nobody cried when Old Yeller got shot? I’m sure. (other hands are reluctantly raised) I cried my eyes out. So we’re all dogfaces, we’re all very, very different, but there is one thing that we all have in common: we were all stupid enough to enlist in the Army. We’re mutants. There’s something wrong with us, something very, very wrong with us. Something seriously wrong with us – we’re soldiers. But we’re American soldiers! We’ve been kicking ass for 200 years! We’re 10 and 1! Now we don’t have to worry about whether or not we practiced. We don’t have to worry about whether Captain Stillman wants to have us hung. All we have to do is to be the great American fighting soldier that is inside each one of us. Now do what I do, and say what I say. And make me proud.”

– “John Winger” played by Bill Murray

8. The Goonies (1985) – This movie is about kids going on a treasure hunt in the hopes of saving their homes from being foreclosed on. At one point the kids are considering giving up, but “Mikey” gives an inspiring speech trying to convince them to continue on their adventure.

“Don’t you realize? The next time you see sky, it’ll be over another town. The next time you take a test, it’ll be in some other school. Our parents, they want the best of stuff for us. But right now, they got to do what’s right for them. Because it’s their time. Their time! Up there! Down here, it’s our time. It’s our time down here.”

– “Mikey Walsh” played by Sean Astin

7. The Empire Strikes Back (1980) – I have always been a huge fan of the original trilogy. I feel George Lucas’ movies encourage and inspire you to imagine a whole different galaxy “far, far away.” The battle of good versus evil is also usually inspiring especially when the good side prevails. There are two particular monologues that I felt were appropriate for this list and they both take place as “Luke” is training in the swamps of Dagobah with “Yoda” to become a Jedi. First, “Luke” says he’ll try and Yoda quickly rebukes, “No, try NOT. Do or do not. There is no try.” Then there is another scene when “Luke” becomes frustrated and “Yoda” schools him again on some of the finer points regarding the Force.

“Size matters not. Look at me. Judge me by my size, do you? Hmm? Hmm. And well you should not. For my ally is the Force, and a powerful ally it is. Life creates it, makes it grow. Its energy surrounds us and binds us. Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter. You must feel the Force around you; here, between you, me, the tree, the rock, everywhere, yes. Even between the land and the ship.”

– “Yoda” voiced by Frank Oz

6. Revenge of the Nerds (1984) – This is another movie that inspires through the eventual triumph of the underdogs. The nerds keep on battling until they earn victory over the jocks and respect from everybody else. This is another of my very favorite ’80s teen comedies. The movie culminates with a great inspirational speech by “Gilbert” and “Louis” with the film ultimately ending as Queen’s song “We Are The Champions” plays.

“I just wanted to say that I’m a nerd, and I’m here tonight to stand up for the rights of other nerds. I mean uh, all our lives we’ve been laughed at and made to feel inferior. And tonight, those bastards, they trashed our house. Why? Cause we’re smart? Cause we look different? Well, we’re not. I’m a nerd, and uh, I’m pretty proud of it… Just join us ‘cause uh, no-one’s gonna really be free until nerd persecution ends.”

– “Gilbert Lowe” played by Anthony Edwards

5. UHF (1989) – This Weird Al Yankovic movie is actually kind of funny, but I would never had expected it to appear on this list (especially at #5). Those who know me probably are not surprised because of my fondness for this cult classic. For the majority, this film is just silly and campy, but in one of those moments I found a surprisingly inspirational monologue. It was delivered by the character “Stanley Spadowski” played by Michael Richards (before he became known as “Kramer” from Seinfeld ) and is about, of all things, his mop.

“This is my new mop. George, my friend, he gave me this mop. This is a pretty good mop. It’s not as good as my first mop. I miss my first mop, but this is still a good mop. Sometimes you just hafta take what life gives ya, ’cause life is like a mop and sometimes life gets full of dirt and crud and bugs and hairballs and stuff… you, you, you gotta clean it out. You, you, you gotta put it in here and rinse it off and start all over again and, and sometimes, sometimes life sticks to the floor so bad you know a mop, a mop, it’s not good enough, it’s not good enough. You, you gotta get down there, like, with a toothbrush, you know, and you gotta, you gotta really scrub ’cause you gotta get it off. You gotta really try to get it off. But if that doesn’t work, that doesn’t work, you can’t give up. You gotta, you gotta stand right up. You, you gotta run to a window and say, ‘Hey! These floors are dirty as hell, and I’m not gonna take it any more!’”

– “Stanley Spadowski” played by Michael Richards

4. Wall Street (1987) – First, there is a scene featuring Hal Holbrook’s character “Lou Mannheim giving some advice in which he says, “Just remember something. Man looks in the abyss, there’s nothing staring back at him. At that moment man finds his character. And that is what keeps him out of the abyss.” That is one of my favorite movie quotes from this film. It is not as well recognized as another speech made by Michael Douglas who won the Best Actor Oscar for his outstanding portrayal of the “Gordon Gekko” character. His “greed” speech is a favorite cinematic moment of mine. If you can see past the more literal translation and hear what he is really implying, I think it is quite inspirational. I like that he says “for lack of a better word” which makes me believe that it’s a composite of the hard work, determination, and ability that it takes to accomplish your goals. You have to be vigilant and focused on those goals and keep on keepin’ on until you achieve each and every one of them. You can’t take what “Gekko” says literally at face value, but instead, apply your own perspective and morals (because generosity can be just as important). The movie tells a story of the “make a fast buck” era that it took place in, but this particular speech says A LOT more to me. Here is the entire speech, so you can decide for yourself.

“The new law of evolution in corporate America seems to be survival of the unfittest. Well, in my book you either do it right or you get eliminated. …The point is, ladies and gentleman, that greed, for lack of a better word, is good. Greed is right, greed works. Greed clarifies, cuts through, and captures the essence of the evolutionary spirit. Greed, in all of its forms; greed for life, for money, for love, knowledge has marked the upward surge of mankind. And greed, you mark my words, will not only save Teldar Paper, but that other malfunctioning corporation called the USA. Thank you very much.”

– “Gordon Gekko” played by Michael Douglas

3. Hoosiers (1986) – You won’t find many movies about the underdog coming out victorious better than this movie inspired by a true story. The analogy of David slaying Goliath fits perfectly for this story, but it all happens due to hard work and trust. In my opinion, trust is one of the biggest factors in this movie and it is not just between the coach and his players, but between almost every character or group of characters. Like I said earlier, sports movies are naturals to have some great motivational speeches. There are not many moments more inspirational than when a coach is firing up his team before a big game. “Coach Dale” has a few of these speeches in this movie. Here is one of them.

“I’m sure going to the State finals is beyond your wildest dreams, so let’s just keep it right there. Forget about the crowds, the size of the school, their fancy uniforms, and remember what got you here. Focus on the fundamentals that we’ve gone over time and time again. And most important, don’t get caught up thinking about winning or losing this game. If you put your effort and concentration into playing to your potential, to be the best that you can be, I don’t care what the scoreboard says at the end of the game, in my book we’re gonna be winners!”

– “Coach Norman Dale” played by Gene Hackman

2. Field of Dreams (1989) – This is the film starring Kevin Costner about a farmer who builds a baseball diamond in the middle of his cornfield to ultimately resolve feelings of regret he had regarding his relationship with his father. That is all well and good, but it also includes what might quite possibly be my favorite monologue in cinema history.

“Ray, people will come Ray. They’ll come to Iowa for reasons they can’t even fathom. They’ll turn up your driveway not knowing for sure why they’re doing it. They’ll arrive at your door as innocent as children, longing for the past. Of course, we won’t mind if you look around, you’ll say. It’s only $20 per person. They’ll pass over the money without even thinking about it: for it is money they have and peace they lack. And they’ll walk out to the bleachers; sit in shirtsleeves on a perfect afternoon. They’ll find they have reserved seats somewhere along one of the baselines, where they sat when they were children and cheered their heroes. And they’ll watch the game and it’ll be as if they dipped themselves in magic waters. The memories will be so thick they’ll have to brush them away from their faces. People will come Ray. The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It has been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased again. But baseball has marked the time. This field, this game: it’s a part of our past, Ray. It reminds of us of all that once was good and it could be again. Oh… people will come Ray. People will most definitely come.”

– “Terrence Mann” played by James Earl Jones

1. Dead Poets Society (1989) – This film is filled with inspirational monologues. Most are delivered by “John Keating” played wonderfully by Robin Williams. He is encouraging his students to experience life and think for themselves which is what I really feel the school should be all about. One of the best happens during his first-class with the boys and sets the tone for what is to come. Everybody can use a reminder no matter how old you are.

“They believe they’re destined for great things, just like many of you, their eyes are full of hope, just like you. Did they wait until it was too late to make from their lives even one iota of what they were capable? Because, you see gentlemen, these boys are now fertilizing daffodils. But if you listen real close, you can hear them whisper their legacy to you. Go on, lean in. Listen, you hear it? – – Carpe – – hear it? – – Carpe, carpe diem, seize the day boys, make your lives extraordinary.”

– “John Keating” played by Robin Williams

There’s my list. As always, the order can be debated and could vary on any given day. I tried to catch my favorites, but I could have easily overlooked a bunch as well. I would love to hear about any scenes from ’80s movies you think I might have missed. Leave them in the comments below. There are so many more inspirational moments in movies from other decades as well, but for now I decided to narrow it down to my favorite decade only. Everybody finds inspiration in different ways. Movies have always been a source for me and these moments are some of the finest.

You may also enjoy:

• 30 Years On:  The Pop Culture of 1989
• Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid at 50
• Top Scenes From ’80s Movies Featuring a Bathtub or Shower
• VHS Collecting:  A Visual Guide to Retro Home Media
• Great Movies With One REALLY Messed Up Scene

More From Geekster

Mall Stores of the ’80s (and ’90s) that You’ll Never Shop at Again

The Shopping Mall was once an essential destination especially for those of us who grew up from the late-70s through the ’90s. The shopping aspect has been more-or-less replaced by online retailers, but the social CONTINUE READING…

Five Wrestlers From the ’90s You’ve Probably Forgotten

The ’90s were such a fascinating time in pro wrestling. While the second half of the decade saw a record rise in fans and revenue due to the Monday Night Wars and stars such as CONTINUE READING…

A Brief History of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe

I cannot think of a better example of the quintessential Saturday morning cartoon than He-man and the Masters of the Universe. It had everything a kid could ask for as part of their weekend plans: CONTINUE READING…

Be the first to comment

Leave a reply cancel reply.

© 2019-24 Geekster Media and The Retro Network. All Rights Reserved.

• Entertainment

The Most Memorable Acceptance Speeches in Oscar History

T he most memorable Academy Awards speeches are those that stay with you long after the ceremony is over. Those that feel raw, emotional, and sometimes even a little unhinged because they are being given by someone who is genuinely shocked to hear their name called on Hollywood’s biggest night. Think Olivia Colman’s charming 2019 speech in which she ended by shouting out Lady Gaga who she spotted in the front row because, well, Lady Gaga! 

Sometimes a speech sticks in your head because the winner makes Oscar history ; it’s hard not to be moved by the heartfelt words Hattie McDaniel spoke when she became the first Black American to ever win an Oscar, for Gone With the Wind , in 1940. Other times the speech makes an unforgettable political statement, as when Indigenous actor and activist Sacheen Littlefeather accepted Marlon Brando’s Oscar for The Godfather on his behalf, in an act of protest.

From Jennifer Lawrence tripping up the stairs to Tom Hanks’ passionate tribute to the LGBTQ+ community, these are the 29 most memorable speeches in Oscar history. 

Sally Field Didn’t Say What You Thought She Said

When Sally Field won the Best Actress Oscar in 1985 for Places in the Heart, she said three words that would live in pop culture infamy: “You like me.” The Academy really did; she won the same award just five years earlier for her performance as the titular union organizer in Norma Rae. But the line from her speech that has been endlessly spoofed by everyone, including Field herself , has been remembered all wrong. She didn’t actually say, “You like me. You really like me.” She said, “I can’t deny the fact that you like me. Right now, you like me!” 

Whether you like her speech or not, Field has chosen to stop caring what anyone thinks about it. “First of all, I was winning my second Oscar,” she told New York Magazine in 2017. “So I’m allowed to say anything I f-cking want.” It’s hard to argue with a two-time Oscar winner. 

Patricia Arquette Inspires a Beautiful Meryl Streep GIF

When Patricia Arquette won Best Supporting Actress for Boyhood in 2015, she used her speech to stump for gender equality. “To every woman who gave birth. To every taxpayer and citizen of this nation,” she said. “We have fought for everybody else's equal rights. It's our time to have wage equality once and for all and equal rights for women in the United States of America.” While Arquette’s speech had its critics , she found fans in fellow nominee Meryl Streep and Jennifer Lopez, whose supportive responses turned them into the perfect GIF for those times when you need to hype yourself up.

Hattie McDaniel Makes Bittersweet History

In 1940, Gone With the Wind ’s Hattie McDaniel became the first African American to ever win an Academy Award, but she was almost not allowed to attend the ceremony. Her film’s producer David O. Selznick had to ask the then segregated Ambassador Hotel for permission to invite McDaniel, which they granted, but she was relegated to a separate table away from her white co-stars. 

Yet despite this, McDaniel, the daughter of formerly enslaved Americans, graciously thanked the Academy for their “kindness” in her Best Supporting Actress speech, which was not the one Selznick had prepared for her. She instead delivered a more personal one that she had written with help from her close friend Ruby Berkley Goodwin. “It has made me feel very, very humble, and I shall always hold it as a beacon for anything I may be able to do in the future,” McDaniel said. “I sincerely hope I shall always be a credit to my race and to the motion picture industry.”

Following her win, McDaniel would become a polarizing figure in the Black community, with some arguing that she made a career out of playing racial stereotypes. Historian Jill Watts, who wrote the 2007 biography Hattie McDaniel: Black Ambition, White Hollywood , believes McDaniel’s place in Hollywood has been misunderstood. “She's an artist who's been resisting white domination with performance—up until she becomes involved in white show business,” Watts told Entertainment Weekly last year. “If you watch those performances, she's straitjacketed [by the writing], but she's trying to move her way out of that.”

Sacheen Littlefeather Rejects Marlon Brando’s Oscar

When Marlon Brando won the Best Actor Oscar for The Godfather in 1973, he chose to boycott the ceremony, sending Apache and Yaqui actor and activist Sacheen Littlefeather in his place. The then-26-year-old respectfully refused the honor on his behalf in protest of Hollywood’s treatment and portrayal of Native Americans in film. Her speech received cheers, but also jeers from the crowd. (It has been reported that John Wayne was so angered by Littlefeather’s speech that he had to be restrained by security guards so he wouldn’t storm the stage.)

In 2022, four months before Littlefeather’s death, the Academy formally apologized to her for how she was treated that night. Littlefeather told The Guardian in 2021 that despite the boos she always knew what she had done that day was a necessary disruption. “It was not a performance, it was a real presentation,” she said. “I think that’s what took people by surprise: that it was so real. It really touches people’s hearts to this day.”

The Time the Oscars Got the Wrong Envelope

And the winner is … not La La Land . But for a few minutes in 2017, the cast and crew of the Damien Chazelle musical believed that they had won Best Picture. After all, presenter Faye Dunaway announced their film’s name as the winner. La La Land ’s producers were in the middle of giving their victory speeches when the truth was revealed: There was a mix-up with the envelopes and Moonlight had actually won the night’s top prize. It was one of the most shocking moments in Oscars history, and there are photos to prove just how flabbergasted stars like Matt Damon, Meryl Streep, and Busy Philipps felt in the moment that was very much happening live. 

Amidst all the hullabaloo, Moonlight director Barry Jenkins managed to give a speech that embraced the joy, but also the absurdity of the moment. “Very clearly, very clearly, even in my dreams, this could not be true,” he said. “But to hell with dreams, I'm done with it, 'cause this is true. Oh my goodness.” 

Joe Pesci Proves He Is a Man of Few Words

With just six words, Joe Pesci gave one of the most memorable Oscar speeches of all time. After winning Best Supporting Actor for Goodfellas in 1991, he walked up to the podium, shook his head in disbelief, and said, “It was my privilege. Thank you.” Later, when Pesci returned to the stage as a presenter, he smiled and said, “I still can’t talk,” amusing the crowd—but definitely not like a clown .

Irving Berlin Gives the Academy Award to Irving Berlin

Composer and lyricist Irving Berlin has the unique honor of handing the statue for Best Original Song to himself. In 1943, when he won the prize for his song “White Christmas” from Holiday Inn, he was also the award’s presenter. According to the Los Angeles Times , after opening the envelope and seeing his name, he told the crowd, “I’m glad to present the award. I’ve known him for a long time.”

Anna Paquin Is Nearly Speechless

Anna Paquin won Best Supporting Actress for The Piano in 1994 when she was just 11 years old, becoming one of the youngest performers to ever win an Academy Award. ( Tatum O’Neal holds the record for the youngest Oscar winner, having won Best Supporting Actress statue 20 years earlier at the age of 10 for Paper Moon .) So you can’t blame the girl for being in utter shock when she heard her name called. For nearly 23 seconds, she stood at the podium wide-eyed in her adorable bedazzled beret searching for the right words to say. It’s one of the purest displays of shock and joy you’ll ever see. 

Roberto Benigni Shows How to Make an Entrance

When Life Is Beautiful won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film (now known as the Best International Feature Film) in 1999, the Italian film’s director, writer, and star Roberto Benigni made his way to the stage by climbing over the furniture and then bunny-hopping up the stairs into the arms of presenter Sophia Loren. The bit of acrobatics earned him a standing ovation, but he was too excited to even notice, telling the crowd, “I want to kiss everybody.” With all of that energy, we wouldn’t have put it past him to do it. 

Bong Joon Ho Pays Tribute to Martin Scorsese

By the time Bong Joon Ho had won Best Director for 2019’s Parasite , he had already collected awards for Best Original Screenplay and Best International Feature. So it was no surprise he wanted to talk about someone other than himself when he reached the podium that third time. “When I was young and studying cinema there was a saying that I carved deep into my heart, which is, ‘The most personal is the most creative,’” he said with help from his translator Sharon Choi. “That quote was from our great Martin Scorsese .” The line earned Scorsese, who was nominated for The Irishman, a standing ovation and showed just how much he means to a new generation of filmmakers. 

Halle Berry Knew the Moment Was Bigger Than Her

In 2002, Halle Berry became the first Black woman to win Best Actress, for her film Monster’s Ball. In her speech she paid tribute to those who came before her, including Dorothy Dandridge , who, in 1955, became the first African American woman nominated in that category. And those actresses who stood beside her in the fight for equality in Hollywood: Jada Pinkett Smith, Angela Bassett, Vivica A. Fox. “This moment is so much bigger than me,” Berry said through tears, adding, “It’s for every nameless, faceless woman of color that now has a chance because this door tonight has been opened.”

Olivia Colman Is All of Us

Olivia Colman didn’t expect to win Best Actress for The Favourite in 2019 so, lucky for us, she hadn’t prepared a speech. Instead, when she got to the stage, she admitted how stressful award shows can be, apologized to fellow nominee (and projected winner) Glenn Close for stealing her thunder, and blew a kiss to Lady Gaga. All in all it may go down as the most relatable speech in Academy Awards history.

Adrien Brody’s Cringeworthy Kiss

In 2003, 29-year-old Adrien Brody went home with a little gold man for his Best Actor win for The Pianist , becoming the youngest actor to ever take home that prize . But not before stealing a kiss from his category’s presenter Halle Berry. “I bet they didn’t tell you that was in the gift bag,” he said after the off-the-cuff embrace, which reads as completely cringe now. 

Brody called the kiss one of the “most memorable moments ever. You could say time slowed down,” he told Vanity Fair in 2017. But Berry told Watch What Happens Live in 2017 that she was completely taken aback by the non-consensual smooch. “I was like, ‘What the f-ck is happening right now?!’” she joked. “And because I was there the year before and I know the feeling of being out of your body, I just f-cking went with it.” Maybe Berry deserves a second Oscar for that performance.

Rita Moreno Keeps it Short and Sweet

Rita Moreno made history when she won the Best Supporting Actress statue for West Side Story in 1962. Moreno, who is Puerto Rican, became the first Latina to win an acting Oscar. She also gave one of the shortest speeches in Academy Award history, saying just 11 words in seven seconds: “I can't believe it! Good Lord. I leave you with that.” 

In 2022, Moreno told the New York Times that she was convinced that Judy Garland was going to win the prize for her performance in Judgment at Nuremberg , and was even practicing her “loser face” for when the camera inevitably panned to her. But, when she won, she decided that she wasn’t going to thank anyone. “They didn’t give you the part as a favor,” she remembered thinking. “They were forced to give it to you because you did the best screen test.” Once she made that decision, she realized she didn’t have anything else to say. “And,” she told the Times. “I’ve been trying to make up for it with long acceptance speeches ever since.”

Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová Get a Second Try

The Once songwriters won for Best Original Song in 2008, but only Glen Hansard was able to give a speech. Just as Markéta Irglová stepped in front of the microphone, the orchestra began playing the duo off the stage. Luckily, host Jon Stewart invited Irglová back to the podium so she could get a chance to deliver a lovely dedication to all the dreamers out there. “The fact that we’re standing here tonight, the fact that we’re able to hold this [award] is just proof that no matter how far out your dreams are, it’s possible,” she said. “Fair play to those who dare to dream, and don’t give up.” 

James Cameron Becomes King of the Oscars

Titanic ruled the 1998 Academy Awards, taking home 11 awards, tying it with 1959’s Ben-Hur for most wins . ( Lord of the Rings: Return of the King has since joined those two films, tyingthat record in 2004.) Perhaps all that gold went to Cameron’s head. In his Best Director speech, he quoted his film’s iconic “I’m king of the world” line and barked like a dog. Almost immediately, Cameron regretted the self-referential choice. “[Warren Beatty] was just looking at me like, ‘You poor boob, what the f-ck did you just do?'” he told the Hollywood Reporter in 2023. “And I went, ‘Oh, was that not cool? OK.’”

Jennifer Lawrence’s Oscar-worthy Trip and Fall

After winning Best Actress for Silver Linings Playbook in 2013, Jennifer Lawrence stumbled on her way to the Oscar stage. Her beautiful floor-length Dior gown may have tripped her up, but she didn’t miss a beat once she finally got to the podium. “You guys are just standing up because you feel bad that I fell and that's really embarrassing,” she said. “But thank you. This is nuts.”

Ben Affleck and Matt Damon Get Hyped

Childhood besties Ben Affleck and Matt Damon were in their twenties when they won their first Oscar for Best Original Screenplay in 1998. (At 25, Affleck became the youngest person to ever win an Academy Award for screenwriting.) So when the Good Will Hunting writers took the stage, they couldn’t hide their youth. “I just said to Matt, losing would suck and winning would be really scary,” Affleck said to open their speech. “It's really, really scary.” Perhaps, that’s why Affleck’s voice cracked as he thanked everyone they knew including their moms, who were also their dates.

Michelle Yeoh Proves Age Is Just a Number

In 2023, Michelle Yeoh became the first Southeast Asian woman to win Best Actress for her performance in Everything Everywhere All At Once . “For all the little boys and girls who look like me watching tonight, this is a beacon of hope and possibilities,” she said. “This is proof that dreams dream big, and dreams do come true.” But the 60-year-old actress also gave a special shoutout to those women of a certain age. “And, ladies,” she said. “Don't let anybody tell you you are ever past your prime.” 

Michael Moore Gets Political and Gets Booed

When Michael Moore won Best Documentary for Bowling For Columbine in 2003 , he decided to get political with his speech. Many in the crowd, however, seemed uninterested in hearing his opinions on President George W. Bush, booing at the first mention of the U.S.’s invasion of Iraq to destroy weapons of mass destruction, which had happened only days earlier. The less than supportive reaction didn’t stop the director from admonishing the Commander in Chief. “We are against this war, Mr. Bush!” Moore shouted just as the music began to play him off. “Shame on you, Mr. Bush! Shame on you!” 

In a 2017 op-ed for the Hollywood Reporter , Moore wrote that despite the criticisms of his speech at the time, he knows that he was right to speak out against the U.S. government's false claims that Iraq had WMDs . “People would later remember,” he wrote, “I’m ‘that guy who told the truth.’”

Sidney Poitier’s Speech Lives up to the Moment

Sidney Poitier ’s 1964 win for Best Actor in Lilies of the Field marked the first time a Black man had ever won in that category. It was a monumental win for the man who broke the color barrier in Hollywood , becoming a matinee idol who played characters that explored the full Black experience at a time when Black actors were too often expected to play racist stereotypes. 

“Because it is a long journey to this moment I am naturally indebted to countless numbers of people,” Poitier said before thanking his Lilies of the Field director and co-stars, as well as the members of the Academy. “For all of them, all I can say is a very special thank you.”

Jack Palance Shows Why You Shouldn’t Skip Arm Day

At the age of 73, Jack Palance won Best Actor in a Supporting Role for City Slickers . He celebrated his 1992 win by doing three one-armed push ups on stage to let Hollywood know that he wasn’t planning on slowing down anytime soon. And he didn’t; he appeared in nine more movies before his death in 2006 at the age of 87. 

Viola Davis Proves Why She’s the GOAT

Viola Davis began her 2017 Best Supporting Actress speech for Fences in the cemetery. “You know, there's one place that all the people with the greatest potential are gathered. One place. And that's the graveyard,” she said. “People ask me all the time, ‘What kind of stories do you want to tell, Viola?’ And I say, exhume those bodies. Exhume those stories.” She went on to explain that as an actor she gets to tell the stories of those ordinary people who live phenomenal lives. It’s only fitting then that she ended her emotional speech by thanking her parents, “the people who taught me, good or bad, how to fail, how to love, how to hold an award, how to lose.” It also seems that they taught her how to give a speech for the ages.

Ruth Gordon’s Win Boosts Her Ego

Ruth Gordon made her film debut in 1915, but it took another 50 years for her to win an Oscar. In 1969, when she won Best Actress in a Supporting Role for Rosemary’s Baby, she admitted that the little gold man was a boost to her self-esteem. “I can't tell you how encouragin' a thing like this is,” she told the audience, before thanking those who voted for her. “And all of you who didn't,” she said, “please excuse me.”

Marion Cotillard’s Perfect Hollywood Ending

Marion Cotillard began her 2008 Best Actress speech for the Edith Piaf biopic La Vie en Rose by telling the crowd that she was speechless. The French actress then went on to deliver a speech so quotable that it felt as if it had been written by a Hollywood screenwriter. “Thank you life, thank you love,” she said in English. “And it is true, there is some angels in this city.”

Denzel Washington’s Honors Sidney Poitier With Grace & Humor

Nearly 40 years after Sidney Poitier’s historic Best Actor win, Denzel Washington became the second Black man to take home the prize. (He had previously won for Supporting Actor in Glory in 1990.) Fittingly, Washington’s 2002 win happened on the same night Poitier received his honorary Oscar, a bit of happenstance that the Training Day actor just couldn’t ignore. “Forty years I've been chasing Sidney, they finally give it to me, what'd they do? They give it to him the same night,” he joked before gracefully paying tribute to the icon. “I'll always be chasing you, Sidney. I'll always be following in your footsteps,” he said. “There's nothing I would rather do, sir. Nothing I would rather do.”

Cuba Gooding Jr. Won’t Be Played Off

When Cuba Gooding Jr. won Best Supporting Actor for Jerry Maguire in 1997 , he knew he didn’t have much time. “I'm gonna rush and say everybody, and you cut away, I won't be mad at you,” he said. And when the Academy attempted to play him off, he just kept going, screaming his thank yous loud enough to be heard over the orchestra. Gooding’s career hasn’t reached similar heights since then, and in 2022 he pleaded guilty to a harassment charge. But all these years later, it remains one of the most exuberant speeches in Oscars history.

Tilda Swinton Thanks George Clooney and His Bat-Nipples

Tilda Swinton began her 2008 Best Supporting Actress speech by admitting that her agent looked very much like an Oscar. “Truly the same shape head,” she said. “And, it has to be said, the buttocks.” She ended it by thanking her Michael Clayton costar George Clooney for “the seriousness and the dedication to your art. Seeing you climb into that rubber bat suit from Batman & Robin , the one with the nipples, every morning under your costume, on the set, off the set, hanging upside-down at lunch,” she said. “You rock, man.” For many, it was a charming introduction to an actress whose talent knows no bounds—nor, apparently, do her speeches. 

Tom Hanks Brings the Audience to Tears

In 1994, Tom Hanks won Best Actor for Philadelphia , in which he plays an attorney who faces discrimination because he is gay and has AIDS. Hanks seemed to understand the importance of this moment and used it to pay tribute to his high school drama teacher Rawley Farnsworth and his classmate John Gilkerson. “Two of the finest gay Americans, two wonderful men that I had the good fortune to be associated with, to fall under their inspiration at such a young age,” he said. “I wish my babies could have the same sort of teacher, the same sort of friends.”

Hanks then eulogized AIDS victims including Gilkerson, an actor and puppeteer who died in 1989. “The streets of heaven are too crowded with angels,” he said with tears in his eyes. “We know their names.” 

More Must-Reads from TIME

• How Donald Trump Won
• The Best Inventions of 2024
• Why Sleep Is the Key to Living Longer
• Robert Zemeckis Just Wants to Move You
• How to Break 8 Toxic Communication Habits
• Nicola Coughlan Bet on Herself—And Won
• Why Vinegar Is So Good for You
• Meet TIME's Newest Class of Next Generation Leaders

Contact us at [email protected]

Screen Rant

11 best inspirational pep talks in movies.

Your changes have been saved

Email is sent

Email has already been sent

Please verify your email address.

You’ve reached your account maximum for followed topics.

George Lucas Defends The Star Wars Special Editions, Insists Unaltered Versions Of The OT Will Never Be Released

10 things that make no sense about the millennium falcon, the 15 best star wars characters.

The pen may be mightier than the sword, but a good speech or pep talk in a movie is more powerful than any villain, deadlier than any weapon, and can make the impossible possible. As the Bee Gees once crooned, “It’s only words,” but sometimes words are all heroes have. And what’s more, words are the spark which can move mountains, save worlds, turn the tide and win the day.

You want to inspire, you want to galvanize, you want to defy the odds, upset the apple-cart, and make flights of fancy and figments of the imaginations realer than real? Then by Christ you need a good speech and someone who knows a thing or two about delivering words with meaning, majesty and might.

A good speech or pep talk can define the message of a movie in a nutshell. So without further ado, listen up, as Screen Rant presents its list of 11 Best Inspirational Pep Talks In Movies.

11. Rocky Balboa (2006) - “It Ain’t About How Hard Ya Hit!”

Although the crown of the rhyming and styling king of the ring would most definitely go to Muhammad Ali, you’d have to go a long way to find a better pugilist poet than Rocky Balboa . Although never the most articulate tool in the box, the Italian Stallion has always been something of a bar-room philosopher and boasts a strangely beautiful, albeit broken way with words.

The back street brawler’s inner bar room philosopher comes into his own in Rocky Balboa with a father to son speech that is second to none. After having a stomach full of his boy telling him how he’s failed in life because of the shadow cast over him by his famous father, Rocky dishes out some tough love and tells Robert (Milo Ventimiglia), that somewhere along the way he stopped being true to himself and “Let people stick a finger in your face and tell you you’re no good.” Rocky then begins to really wax lyrical and delivers the sort of words everyone needs at times when they’re thinking of throwing in the towel.

“Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It’s a very mean and nasty place and I don’t care how tough you are, it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t about how hard ya hit. It’s about how hard you can get it and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done!”

The beauty of this speech and its core message of self-belief, is, it doesn’t just sum up a scene, or the essence of Rocky’s character, it’s homespun words of wisdom are the driving force behind every single Rocky film right up to Creed, and it’s a philosophy which everyone, from waitresses to five star generals can take to heart when times are tough and the road is long.

10. Watership Down (1978) - “All The World Shall Be Your Enemy”

An animated film about bunny rabbits would, at face value, be the last place you’d expect to find the sort of pep talk capable of shining like a beacon of hope in the darkest of nights, but scratch the surface of Martin Rosen’s classic and you’ll find Watership Down is all about the underdog. It’s all about how a “Prince with a Thousand Enemies” must be full of street smarts and guile if they’re to survive in a world inhabited by sharp-toothed and razor clawed monsters who want to savagely kill and eat them.

The sun god Frith delivers the speech and sets the tone for the rest of the film by warning the rabbit prince El-ahrairah that,

“All the world will be your enemy, Prince of a thousand enemies. And when they catch you, they will kill you. But first they must catch you; digger, listener, runner, Prince with the swift warning. Be cunning, and full of tricks, and your people will never be destroyed.”

9. The Empire Strikes Back (1980) - “Do Or Not Do. There Is No Try”

By rights, little green creatures with bizarre voices shouldn’t be capable of delivering the sort of speeches which are passed down through the generations with knowing nods of the head and serious facial expressions. Yet such is the power of Star Wars and Yoda in particular, that his speeches from The Empire Strikes Back onward have been given the same sort of gravity usually reserved for passages from the Old Testament.

However, the standout quote from Yoda, and the one which has become a catchphrase of our times has to be the one said during the X-wing sequence on Dagobah, just before Luke Skywalker attempts to raise the fighter from the swamp through the power of the force alone. When Yoda tells Luke , “Do. Or not do. There is no try.” He’s not just telling the young Jedi hopeful to stop acting like a baby and man up, he’s giving us all an invaluable lesson. And that lesson is, for Jedis and all living things alike, the moment is everything. You have to live in it, own it and commit yourself 100% or face the consequences of being burdened by the past and crippled by the future.

8. Independence Day (1996) - “We’re Going To Live On”

When you’re battling to save your country from being invaded, your woman folk enslaved and your comrades obliterated, then you need a pretty red hot speech to give you added impetus to fight that little bit harder and go that extra inch. when the entire world as we know it is under threat of animation by an alien race, then the speech has got to be out of this world. And President Thomas Whitmore in Independence Day delivers the goods and makes the sort of speech that you’d expect from a politician who then jumps into a fighter jet and leads the charge to fight the little green men.

Of course, the good President is blessed with a cause the entire world can unite on and he’s lucky in the sense he gets to make his impassioned plea to save humanity on the Fourth of July, but when the man tells you, “We can’t be consumed by our petty differences anymore. We will be united in our common interests.” Then you better believe it, and if, after hearing the big fella snarl, “We are fighting for our right to live. To exist. We will not go quietly into the night! We will not vanish without a fight! We’re going to live on! We’re going to survive!” Then who amongst you isn’t tempted to pick up a ray gun and yell “Hell yeah! Let’s kick us some extraterrestrial ass!”

7. The Shawshank Redemption (1994) - “Get Busy Living”

You wouldn’t think the story of a banker wrongly banged up for double homicide and subjected to all manner of vile abuse and degradation would make for an uplifting film, but it does, and what’s more, The Shawshank Redemption boasts a handful of memorable lines that could easy be sliced and diced into one of those self-help and "power of positive thinking" books, perhaps titled, “How to Stay Upbeat when The World’s Tried Its Damnedest To Crush Your Spirit.”

After serving 19 years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit, the stoic Andy Dufrense (Tim Robbins) not only survives his ordeal, he comes out a better person, and one who’s quite good at making speeches and giving pep talks on the enduring power of hope and the ties which bind. Andy’s a man of few words, but when he does speak, every syllable is carefully measured and weighted like a philosophical nugget made out of nine carat gold. In fact, Andy’s entire outlook on life can be summed up in the often quoted and eternally memorable line he delivers to his old pal Ellis "Red" Redding (Morgan freeman), “I guess it comes down to a simple choice, really. Get busy living or get busy dying.” Something to remember the next time you’re in danger of being paralyzed by self-pity.

6. Any Given Sunday (1999) - “Inch By Inch”

A good speech or pep talk can not only help you win a big battle. More importantly, it can also help you win a big game. Sports coaches, as a rule, love the sound of their own voices, and from grassroots level to the professional leagues, the coach loves to make speeches. Few of them are any good at it, but when they are, they can hit a nail squarely on its head, unite the team, and inspire the players to go the distance and win the game.

In Any Given Sunday , Tony D’Amato (Al Pacino) is head coach of the Miami Sharks, a team who were once great but are in trouble, divided, and lacking in spirit. D’Amato isn’t having that and before the Sharks go out to decide their destiny in a playoff game, he cuts through all the bull and the lucrative sponsorship deals by ditching his old formulaic, jaded and worn out cliched speeches, and instead opts to tell the players he made every wrong choice a middle-aged man could make and, that when you start losing stuff in life, it becomes like football, a game of inches. D’Amato then give perhaps the best sporting pep talk committed to film and tells his players,

“In either game, life or football, the margin for error is so small. The inches we need are everywhere around us. On this team, we fight for that inch. On this team, we tear ourselves, and everyone around us to pieces for that inch. We claw with our finger nails for that inch. Cause we know when we add up all those inches that’s going to make the f**king difference between winning and losing, between living and dying.”

And who said poetry in the locker room was dead?

5. Dead Poet’s Society (1989) - “Seize The Day”

Any film with the words "Dead" and "Poets" in its title and Robin Williams in a lead role is going to be a wordy affair, but the beauty of Tom Schulman’s Dead Poet’s Society is that it’s all about breathing new life into literature and rescuing poetry from the graves of old wordsmiths by making it dynamic, fresh and free of cobwebs. It succeeds in this mainly through a dynamic turn by Robin Williams as unorthodox English teacher John Keating, who believes in individuality, standing on desks, speaking in Latin and the power of poetry when it comes to inspiring people to find their inner strength and live life on their own terms.

In a pep talk, Keating inspires his pupils to think outside of the box as life is short and we need to make the most of every minute of every day, because, “We are food for worms, lads. Believe it or not, each and every one of us in this room is one day gonna stop breathing, turn cold, and die.” He then encourages the pupils to not let life pass them by, their dreams die, and their hopes rust, by imploring, “Carpe Diem. Seize the day boys. Make your lives extraordinary.”

4. 300 (2007) - “The Enemy Outnumber Us A Paltry Three To One”

The Spartans were a strange bunch. Apart from a love of warfare, honor, wrestling bears, and battling ridiculous odds, they’re suckers for a good speech, especially pre-conflict. In fact, when they’re not busy proving their prowess in battle, and boasting about how many of the enemy they’ve killed, these battle-hardened warriors like nothing more than a spot of gushing oratory to get them in the mood.

Nowhere is this more apparent than in the closing scene of 300 , when after recounting King Leonidas’s legendary exploits as leader of 300 Spartans who took on 300,000 Persians, his friend Dilios rallies the Spartans and Greeks under his command by triumphantly crying, “ The enemy outnumber us a paltry three to one, good odds for any Greek. This day we rescue a world from mysticism and tyranny and usher in a future brighter than anything we can imagine. Give thanks, men, to Leonidas and the brave 300.” The Spartans answer their countryman’s call and give thanks in the only way they know how, by charging at the enemy in a rush of retribution.

3. Braveheart (1995) - “They’ll Never Take Our Freedom”

Convincing a mob of men that they should throw themselves head first into an orgy of violence and risk life, limb and vital organs, when they could be at home growing potatoes and admiring their livestock is a tricky proposition. When you’re thinking of marching to war against superior firepower, you need a leader with conviction, a leader with drive, and a leader with just a hint of the wild-eyed insanity of the shaman and the psychotic tendencies of a nutjob who paints his face blue before a fight, to convince you that no matter what, your sides going to win. In short, you need Mel Gibson’s take on Scottish nationalist William Wallace.

Gibson is at his most unhinged, rage driven, viciously righteous best as the Scottish rebel who believes in freedom and a violent and bloody end to the English tyrants who rule the roost like high-pitched, sexually perverse, foppishly dressed decadents.

Much imitated, but never surpassed, Gibson’s battles speeches in Braveheart have almost created a genre all their own. Gibson escalating passion almost makes him articulate as he spits out every word in an artery bursting rage. Frothing at the mouth in indignation he demands his men look at the big picture and asks, “And dying in your beds many years from now, would you be willing to trade all the days from this day to that for one chance, just one chance to come back here and tell our enemies that they may take our lives, but they'll never take our freedom!”

2. The Princess Bride (1987) - “My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die”

In Rob Reiner’s epic The Princess Bride , Inigo Montoya (Mandy Patinkin) doesn’t just make a speech to end all speeches, he lives the very words he utters, because they are his very lifeblood, his mission statement, and when he finally gets to deliver them, they are all that keep him alive to carry out his quest to avenge his father’s killer - the six-fingered Count Rugen.

Flamboyant fencer Inigo has a poetic soul and a burning desire for revenge after Count Rugen killed his father in front of hum when he was just a 11-year-old and left two dueling scars on the devastated boy’s face to remind him of the murderous act. In the eventual showdown with his father’s killer, the Count seriously wounds Rugen and mocks him for thinking he could ever avenge his death, before preparing to deliver the killing blow. Seemingly in a bad situation with no exit in sight, Inigio recovers his strength by repeating the mantra “My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die” over and over again with a growing ferocity.

Pleading for clemency, the Count begs for his life and offers Inigo anything he wants if he just spares him. Poignantly, Inigo answers , "I want my father back, you son of a bitch,” and then kills him.

1. Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King (2003) - “This Day We Fight”

When the world is on the brink of being plunged into a darkness without equal and hideously ugly creatures are baying for you blood and desperate to hack you into bloody pieces with a huge axe, it’s always nice to have a good looking chap who’s handy with his sword and a dab hand at making inspiring speeches on your side.

Such a fella keeps the morale up and it doesn’t matter how heavily outnumbered, outgunned, and out of the game you are, such a gung ho type of guy can always convince you, through sheer force of personality and a persuasive charisma, that winning is just a state of mind.

In The Return of The King , Aragorn is that man. As he rides back from the Black Gate ahead of the mother of all battles, he looks the orgy of violence and tsunami of terror to come squarely in the eye and tells his brothers in arms, “I see in your eyes the same fear that would take the heart of me!” Admittedly that’s not exactly what you want to hear from your leader prior to the big fight, but it gets better, as Aragorn ups the ante and shouts, “A day may come, when the courage of men fails, when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of Fellowship, but it is not this day! This day we fight!”

Now gather round’ people and listen up! you know of any rabble rousers, firebrands, extraordinary orators, and savvy speechmakers who should be on this list why not get on your soapbox and sound off in the comments section below.

The 10 Most Inspirational Movie Speeches For Cinephiles

Your changes have been saved

Email is sent

Email has already been sent

Please verify your email address.

You’ve reached your account maximum for followed topics.

Tom Hanks Blasts Movie Critics in Vulgar Rant as New Film Flops at Box Office

When mayans mc takes place in the sons of anarchy timeline, 'i tried': john wick director reveals which franchise character almost returned in chapter 4.

Although films can be more about visuals, many carry impactful dialogue. While body language and facial expressions are necessary for actors, some have proven the mastery of spoken word. Some of these speeches are filled with words, while others have only a few lines. Regardless of how long the moment is, these speeches inspire their audiences.

RELATED:  10 Great Movies That Surprisingly Aren't Adapted From A Book

Several films contain historically accurate and entertainingly original movie speeches. Many of them stand the test of time, and others mark a new era.

10 The King's Speech: King George VI Challenges Us To Overcome Our Greatest Enemies

The King's Speech's  protagonist, Prince Albert, is pushed to overcome his speech impediment, while dealing with the pressure of being a member of Britain's Royal Family. The Prince and his wife turn to actor and speech therapist Lionel Louge, who digs into the emotional trauma behind the impediment.

The audience's emotional attachment only increases when Prince Albert is named the new King of England and is expected to lead the country into war with Nazi Germany in the late 1930s. His first act as King George happens to be his first wartime radio broadcast. As he works through the stress of relaying his hopeful words for victory, he takes his first steps into overcoming his disability, an inspirational moment in history and cinema.

9 The Return Of The King: Aragorn's Speech Made For A Stirring Start To The Final Battle

Throughout  The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Aragorn makes for a brilliant leader, but often stands aside to let another take over. His hesitation to claim his birthright as King of Men, along with his great humility, is only a part of why his rousing speech at the end of  Return of the King is so impactful.

RELATED: 10 Best Fantasy Movies For Lord Of The Rings Fans

The final battle at Mordor is the last obstacle the heroes have to face to end Sauron's chaos , but even after all they've overcome, victory still seems bleak. It's Aragorn's speech that brings back hope for better days and stirs up the men, and the audience's courage, to face the challenge that's ahead of them.

8 Independence Day: The President's Speech Is Iconic For Its Bold Honesty And Empowerment For All

The power of a speech lies in how the speaker captures their audience. Though he struggles at first to rally his troops, President Whitmore's wartime speech is the spark to the war effort against the alien enemy in  Independence Day , .

His honest start defining the venture that they were about to embark on, avoided sugar-coating the situation; they were about to fight for their survival . It's his change in topic, focusing more on how the world is going to fight together and how  "we will not vanish without a fight" , that gives everyone strength.

7 Ratatouille: Anton Ego's Critique Is A Victory For The Artists Who Dream Big

Though the concept of a rat cooking in a restaurant might leave some with an upset stomach, Pixar  took the idea and created the inspirational masterpiece  Ratatouille . The film follows the rat Remy, whose passion for cooing leads him to secretly become a chef at his idol's famed restaurant, Gusteau's.

As the restaurant's popularity rises thanks to Remy's cooking, the harsh critic Anton Ego steps in to test his talent, not realizing he isn't human. After a mass exit from the kitchen staff, Remy is helped by his family to serve Anton his finest meal. Upon discovering Remy's true identity, Anton is forced to accept and now uphold the late Gusteau's ideology of  "anyone can cook" , calling Remy  "the finest chef in France" in his in-depth food critique.

6 Remember The Titans: Coach Boone's Speech Unifies His Team And The Audience

Following the story of the first racially integrated football team in Virginia, Remember The Titans balances its societal commentary and engaging storytelling brilliantly. In one of the film's serious moments, the team is led on a grueling run that leads them to the land where the Battle of Gettysburg historically took place.

As the young athletes take a moment to catch their breath, Coach Boone compares the team's struggle to work together to the bloody battle that happened nearly a century ago.  "If we don't come together, right now... we too will be destroyed -- just like they were" , are some of the influential words Boone shares. As haunting as his speech becomes, it ends on a hopeful note of  "maybe we'll learn to play this game like men."

5 Dead Poets Society: Mr. Keating's Passion For The Arts Breathes Life Into The Audience

Viewers were not prepared for the emotional tour de force of  Dead Poets Society , the story of one English teacher's unique efforts to help his students live their best lives and overcome the pressures pushed onto them. With many of his students carrying a misunderstanding of why they are studying poetry and the arts, Mr. Keating shares poetic words of his own on the connection between poetry and the passion of life.

In his speech, he shares the words,  "poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for" , and in an effort to convince the young students to think and live for themselves, he adds,  "you may contribute a verse."  The inspiring speech ends with a call to action, both for the characters and the audience,  "What will your verse be?"

4 Hidden Figures: Mary Jackson's Bold Speech Stirs Up Viewers' Courage

With the restriction of segregation holding her from her potential, Mary Jackson's historical fight for an equal education is shared in the remarkable film  Hidden Figures . Mary was already brilliant in engineering before she was given the official job, but she needed the credentials from an accredited school in order to be granted the promotion.

The only school available was, at the time, an all-white high school. Mary boldly stands before a judge and declares  "I have no choice but to be the first."  The genius of her character shines in this scene as she makes a direct connection with the judge, who she points out has done some history-making of his own. The bold approach works and the judge allows her to bend the segregation laws, an empowering step for Mary and for the audience watching.

3 Good Night, And Good Luck: Edward R Murrow's Harsh Criticisms On Media Still Have An Impact Today

Though a moody piece ,  Good Night, and Good Luck presents a light at the end of the tunnel as far as the abuse of mass media goes. It highlights the monumental work of reporter Edward R. Murrow and his fight against the extremes of McCarthyism. It also emphasizes his belief in the power of radio and television broadcasting.

His speech in the film may be a bit dreary for those looking to be uplifted, but it hits inspirational notes where it needs to. In the words from the film,  "This instrument can teach. It can illuminate and, yes, it can even inspire,"  a sentiment that means a great deal to those who share in Murrow's ideology on the power of media.

2 The Princess Bride: Inigo Montoya's 'Introduction' Was Worth The Great Build Up

Inigo Montoya is incredibly likable even though he's helping one of the villains in the  The Princess Bride . His life as a rogue swordsman has all been for the sake of finding the man who murdered his father and taking his vengeance. Coincidentally, that same man is an enemy of the story's hero, Wesley, giving Inigo the support he needs to reach his goal.

RELATED:  10 Modern Movies To Watch If You Like Princess Bride

For decades he practiced the same speech over and over again, introducing himself to his father's killer, but when he finally has the man in his clutches, he loses, or so it seems. Unwilling to give in to his devastating wounds, Inigo repeats the same speech, raising his voice louder and louder as his attacks grow in power. At last, he has the murderer right where he wants him and deals the final blow, making for one of the most exciting final battles in cinema that has stood the test of time.

1 Pursuit of Happyness: Chris Gardner's Speech On Chasing After Dreams Applies To All Ages

In one of his most inspirational films, Will Smith plays Chris Gardner, a man down on his luck after he and his son are evicted from their home. The father and son struggle living out on the street as Chris works hard to land a job at a brokerage firm. Toward the end of the film, Chris and his son are playing basketball together as the little boy proclaims one day he'll become a pro player. Without thinking, Chris shuts down his son's dream to spare him from disappointment .

After seeing the impact of his negative words, Chris tells his son,  "Don't ever let somebody tell you, you can't do something, not even me."  He then encourages his son to go after his dreams, telling him  "If you want something, go get it. Period." For everyone in the world, no matter their age, this speech inspired by a true underdog, means a lot.

NEXT:  10 Most Inspirational Anime Speeches That Will Motivate Anyone