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Believe it or not, some of the best movie quotes were completely improvised. Actors' improvisations on the fly demonstrate just how talented they *really* are. And frankly, these films wouldn't be the same without these unforgettable moments. Here are the most iconic improvised lines ever to appear on the big screen:
1. "Here Comes Johnny!" - The Shining (1980)
© Warner Brothers / Courtesy of the Everett Collection
Jack Nicholson deserves credit for the line that stole the show and became one of the most memorable (and terrifying) moments in The Shining. "Here comes Johnny!" is a reference to the opening theme from The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, and it was never in director Stanley Kubrick's original script or Stephen King's novel. Kubrick forced Nicholson to do numerous takes and rewrites, which ultimately led to the iconic line being improvised.
2. "Are You Talking to Me?" - Taxi Driver (1976)
Columbia Pictures
3. "You're going to need a bigger boat." - Jaws (1975)
Universal Pictures / Courtesy of the Everett Collection
Roy Scheider improvised the famous line at various points during filming, but the one that comes when the great white shark first appears made it into the final version. "[Richard] Zanuck and [David] Brown were very tight-fisted producers, so everyone kept telling them, 'You're going to need a bigger boat,'" said Carl Gottlieb, screenwriter of Jaws. "It became a catchphrase for all occasions—if dinner was late or the waves were rocking the camera, someone would say, 'You're going to need a bigger boat.'".
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4. "I'm the King of the World!" - Titanic (1997)
© 20th Century Fox Film Corp. / Courtesy of the Everett Collection
Director James Cameron revealed that one of the film's most iconic moments was "made up on the fly," with various other lines being tried out. "I had this idea right away of saying, 'Snake eyes.' And I said, 'Okay, I have something for you,'" Cameron said. "'Just say, 'I'm the king of the world,' and just throw your arms out and just enjoy the moment and just celebrate it and enjoy it.' And [Leo] goes, 'What?'" While Leonardo DiCaprio may not have been thrilled with the line at the time, audiences haven't been disappointed that it made it to the big screen.
5. "Here I Come!" - "Midnight Cowboy" (1969)
United Artists / Courtesy of Everett Collection
Jon Voight revealed that one of the most unforgettable moments in "Midnight Cowboy" came when a real New York City taxi driver unexpectedly drove past the filming location out of irritation and impatience. Luckily for us, Dustin Hoffman's apt reaction was captured perfectly.
6. "Okay, okay, okay." - "Dazed and Confused" (1993)
© GramercyPictures / Courtesy of the Everett Collection
Matthew McConaughey's signature line was never actually supposed to appear in Dazed and Confused. But did you know it was the first line he ever spoke on camera? "I had no idea that line would follow me for the rest of my life," he said. "People always ask me, 'Are you tired of having that follow you?' And I say, 'Hell no.'".
7. "You Can't Handle the Truth!" - A Few Good Men (1992)
© Columbia Pictures / Courtesy of the Everett Collection
The original line was "You already have the truth!" but Jack Nicholson decided to change it on the fly. The improvisation was a success, making his performance even more powerful and utterly unforgettable.
8. "I Know." - Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
Lucasfilm Ltd.
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9. "There's your answer, kid." - Casablanca (1942)
Warner Bros. Pictures
Casablanca fans can credit Humphrey Bogart for creating one of Rick Blaine's most iconic lines, which appeared between takes. Although the line "There's your answer, kid," is heard four times onscreen, the most important moment is Rick and Isla's final goodbye, and it still hasn't worn off after all these years.
10. "Smart Guy?" - Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)
© Walt Disney Co. / Courtesy of the Everett Collection
Captain Jack Sparrow is one of the most beloved characters in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, and Johnny Depp can be credited for some of his memorable lines and catchphrases. During the filming of the first movie, the two screenwriters encouraged improvisation, and frankly, it paid off.
11. "Leave the gun, take the cannoli." - The Godfather (1972)
Paramount Pictures
Richard Castellano added a touch of humor by including the line "get the cannoli" after his wife wittily suggested it. The original line was much simpler and, in the script, read "leave the gun," which wouldn't have had the same impact.
12. "I Am Iron Man." - Iron Man (2008)
Paramount Pictures
Thanks to a quick improvisation by Robert Downey Jr., Marvel Cinematic Universe fans were treated to the plot twist of a lifetime. The actor decided to break from the script to reveal his identity during a press conference scene in the 2008 film. "If you change something for no reason, that's one thing, but if you change something to emphasize the spirit of the character? Then we'll make that change," said Kevin Feige, film producer and president of Marvel Studios. "Tony Stark isn't reading from a card or sticking to a pre-written script? He just blurts out, 'I am Iron Man.' That fits the character very well.".
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13. "Hooray, you bastard!" - Die Hard (1988)
20th Century Fox
In an attempt to get everyone to laugh, Bruce Willis improvised one of the most iconic lines from the Die Hard franchise. It turned out it worked, as the famous line appeared in the remaining Die Hard films.
14. "How Funny Is That?" - The Nice Guys (1990)
Warner Bros.
Sometimes improvised dialogue creates the best on-screen exchanges, as Joe Pesci proved in Goodfellas. In one scene, Henry calls Tommy "funny guy." Since Tommy's character is known for his short temper, Pesci improvised a hurt response that made it into the final film.
15. "I Love Lamps" - "Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy" (2004)
DreamWorks Pictures
One of the funniest moments in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy is a completely improvised scene between Steve Carell and Will Ferrell. It occurs after Ron confesses his love to Veronica Corningstone and his closest coworkers gather in his office to discuss "feelings." Weatherman Brick Tamland exclaims everything he loves about the office, leading to his memorable line: "I love the lamp." Director Adam McKay wanted more lines from Carell, but since there wasn't anything in the script, it led to an on-screen improvisation that fans loved.
16. "I Don't Want to Go..." - Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
Marvel Studios/Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
One of the most heartbreaking scenes in Avengers: Infinity War is when Spider-Man utters, "I don't want to leave..." While we all cried when it happened onscreen, it was thanks to an acting trick by Tom Holland, who can cry on command. He'd been repeating the line silently to himself, but this time the words came out of his mouth. "I just decided to say it out loud, and it worked," he said. "It came out really well in the movie.".
17. "I Am Batman." - Batman (1989)
Warner Bros.
The line "I am Batman" was never scripted, but easily became one of the film's best lines. Other suggestions included "I am the night" and "I am vengeance," but Michael Keaton and director Tim Burton disliked them, leading to improvisation in the final version.
18. "King Kong wouldn't even come close to me." - Training Day (2001)
Warner Bros. Pictures
Denzel Washington stole the spotlight with his stunning monologue at the end of Training Day. But did you know that one of the most unforgettable lines wasn't even in the original script? "That King Kong moment was all because of Denzel. I remember that moment because we were shooting the scene, and he just started talking," said director Antoine Fuqua. "I remember looking at the cameraman and saying, 'I hope you caught that, because I don't think we'll ever get that again.'".
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19. "Molly, you're in danger, girl." - Ghost (1990)
Paramount Pictures
In the scene where Whoopi Goldberg mediates between Sam and Molly, the original script had something completely different than what ended up on screen. Instead of the line, "He says you're in danger," Goldberg ad-libbed, "Molly, you're in danger, girl," which perfectly captured her character's personality. And what's even better? She won an Oscar for the role.
20. "Look at me. I'm the captain now." — Captain Phillips (2013)
Sony Pictures Releasing
Barkhad Abdi made a splash by improvising his famous line in Captain Phillips. "I got into character. I tried to be that guy in that moment," he said. "I had to give it my all. I used a lot of imagination.".
21. "My mom and dad are going to be so mad at me!" - Scream (1996)
Dimension Films
Matthew Lillard's performance as Stu Macher is pure '90s horror gold. And if you remember the final scene in Scream, some of the best lines actually came from Lillard's brilliant improvisation. "We'd do a take, and I'd put something in there," he said. "And I was lucky [Wes Craven] only kept some of it.".
22. "I didn't know you could read." - Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)
Warner Bros. Pictures
Draco Malfoy became famous for his witty remarks in the Harry Potter franchise, but one of his best lines was actually improvised on the spot. Tom Felton deviated from the script when confronted by Crabbe and Goyle, who were actually Harry and Ron in disguise, in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. The line, "I didn't know you could read," added unexpected humor and remains one of Draco's funniest lines.
23. "Girdle Up!" - The Devil Wears Prada (2006)
20th Century Fox
If you know what I mean, The Devil Wears Prada has countless iconic lines, and improvisation was a huge part of the cast's work. Stanley Tucci deserves all the credit for the line "prepare for a fight," which Miranda Priestly nervously says as she enters the Runway magazine office. It will *always* be one of my favorite lines because it remains a classic even two decades later.
What's your favorite improvised quote or movie scene? Share your thoughts in the comments or anonymously below!
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