10 Movies with the Best Dialogue and Famous Movie Quotes - The Script Lab (2025)

While movies are a visual medium, there’s nothing like the audial enhancement of a great soundtrack, effective sound design, and, by far, the most vital audial element of cinema — engaging movie dialogue, which of course leads to famous movie quotes.

There are generally four types of compelling and engaging movie dialogue:

  1. Kinetic Dialogue that bolsters adrenaline within the audience through outstanding dialogue exchanges or long and powerful monologues.
  2. Cathartic Dialogue that creates an empathetic and cathartic reaction amidst emotion, no matter how long or how short the dialogue is.
  3. Hilarious Dialogue that makes us laugh for a number of reasons.
  4. Realistic/Natural Dialogue that seems to flow, unplanned and unprepared (even though it usually is planned and prepared within the script).

And the best movies combine these three types of cinematic dialogue whenever they can.

With that in mind, here we present our Top 10 list of the best dialogue in movies as well as the famous movie quotes they left behind. We’ve scoured the history of cinema for the best examples of the above. While we can’t include all of the best dialogue movies, this list represents what we feel are the clear best of the best.

Editor’s Note: Beware of Spoilers

10 Movies with the Best Dialogue and Famous Movie Quotes - The Script Lab (1)

Uma Thurman in ‘Pulp Fiction’

1. Reservoir Dogs/Pulp Fiction (1992, 1994)

When a simple jewelry heist goes horribly wrong, the surviving criminals begin to suspect that one of them is a police informant. Later on, The lives of two mob hitmen, a boxer, a gangster and his wife, and a pair of diner bandits intertwine in four tales of violence and redemption.

Famous Movie Quote

“Say ‘what’ again. Say ‘what’ again. I dare you. I double-dare you, motherfucker, say ‘what’ one more goddamn time!” — Samuel L. Jackson as Jules

You can’t have a “best dialogue” list without Quentin Tarantino appearing more than once. He’s another master. And, yes, we’re cheating here by including Tarantino’s first two films (that he both wrote and directed) counted as one entry. But how can they not be? They are as equally powerful and outstanding. And they exist within the same universe, so it “kind of” counts as one. Tarantino’s whole resume could be on this list, so consider these two as his personal best of the best.

Tarantino’s dialogue is the perfect combination of kinetic, cathartic, realistic, natural, and hilarious dialogue.Whether it’s a long dialogue scene or a short kinetic scene injected with humor, chaos, and stakes…

…Tarantino’s dialogue is so good that you can’t just pinpoint and feature one marque scene. Why? Because they’reallmarque scenes.

Read More: 3 Keys to Writing Dialogue Like Quentin Tarantino

2. The Social Network (2010)

As Harvard student Mark Zuckerberg creates the social networking site that would become known as Facebook, he is sued by the twins who claimed he stole their idea and by the co-founder who was later squeezed out of the business.

Famous Movie Quote

“I think if your clients want to sit on my shoulders and call themselves tall, they have the right to give it a try – but there’s no requirement that I enjoy sitting here listening to people lie.” – Jesse Eisenberg as Mark Zuckerberg

You’ll find a common theme within this list — dialogue masters. Most of their screenplays and films contain the best of the best examples of dialogue. And they are ever-consistent in their delivery — even if some of their films aren’t as good as others. Aaron Sorkin is one of those masters of dialogue. He’s arguably the master in most cinephiles’ eyes. And his best screenplay (the film was directed by David Fincher), at least when it comes to dialogue, is from the Oscar-winning script The Social Network. It offers the perfect mix of all types of cinematic dialogue. In particular, he is the master of rapid-fire dialogue, which is not just about characters talking fast. Sorkin manages to create this marriage of fast-paced lines and narrative information, both of which combine to create a medley of cinematic dialogue that plays like an action movie for the ears.

Read More: Aaron Sorkin: Screenwriting and The Social Network

It’s these types of moments, as well as the subtle exchanges in other scenes, that make this a truly enthralling film when it comes to the dialogue alone.

3. The Man From Earth (2007)

An impromptu goodbye party for Professor John Oldman becomes a mysterious interrogation after the retiring scholar reveals to his colleagues he has a longer and stranger past than they can imagine.

Famous Movie Quote

“I’m going home and watch Star Trek for a dose of sanity.” – Tony Todd as Dan

Most may not have seen this film, but those that have heralded the dialogue-driven scenes written by Jerome Bixby. This is an example of a talking heads film, where nothing much happens beyond characters in one location talking with each other. It could very well have been a stage play with one location and multiple characters, all offering their own take on a single question posed to them. Their conversations drive the compelling concept that Oldman (Get it? Old man?) could be telling the truth when he says that he’s immortal and has walked the Earth for tens of thousands of years. Their dialogue asks the questions we’d all ask. And each answer that he offers is addictively enthralling.

4. The Big Chill (1983)

A group of seven former college friends gathers for a weekend reunion at a South Carolina vacation home after the funeral of another of their college friends.

Famous Movie Quote

“I don’t know anyone who could get through the day without two or three juicy rationalizations. They’re more important than sex.” – Jeff Goldblum as Michael

Another talking head film, only this one takes place in multiple locations. Written by Lawrence Kasdan and Barbara Benedek, The Big Chill is a story in which each character is going through their own stages of grief and catharsis amidst the collective mourning of their dear friend. We get philosophy and humor. We cry, and we laugh. And the dialogue explores universal themes of friendship, love, lust, and loss.

It matches every moment of emotion with levity.

5. Juno (2007)

Faced with an unplanned pregnancy, an offbeat young woman makes a selfless decision regarding the unborn child.

Famous Movie Quote

“Yea, you just take Soupy-Sales to prom I can think of so many cooler things to do that night. Like, you know what Bleek? I might pumice my feet, uh, I might go to Bren’s Unitarian Church, maybe get hit by a truck full of hot garbage juice, you know? Cause all those things, would be exponentially cooler than going to prom with you.” – Elliot Page as Juno

Screenwriter Diablo Cody captures lightning in a bottle in her dialogue scenes. She managed to formulate a different style of speaking — a style unique to her own voice. The scenes within this film (which won the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay) could have been handled with rudimentary and average dialogue. Cody pushed the envelope though by creating Juno’s unique way of speaking, which sounds like beat poetry filled with pop culture, word play and sass.

Read More: Diablo Cody Talks ‘Juno’ and How She Just Kept Screenwriting

6. Lady Bird (2017)

In 2002, an artistically inclined 17-year-old girl comes of age in Sacramento, California.

Famous Movie Quote

“I was on top! Who the fuck is on top their first time!” – Saoirse Ronan as Lady Bird

Like Junoa decade before it, Lady Bird tells the coming-of-age story of a teenage girl written and directed by Greta Gerwig. While Juno‘s dialogue was eccentric, the dialogue within Lady Bird focuses more on emotional truth through the eyes of a unique young woman. The exchanges she has with her mother (and others) are kinetic, relatable, and hilarious.

Read More: Screenwriting Wisdom from LITTLE WOMEN Writer/Director Greta Gerwig

7. Glengarry Glen Ross (1992)

An examination of the machinations behind the scenes at a real estate office.

Famous Movie Quote

“Put that coffee down! Coffee’s for closers only.” – Alec Baldwin as Blake

Another master of dialogue — David Mamet. Adapted from his own stage play, the dialogue is crisp, kinetic, and realistic/natural. In fact, it is so good that these characters feel more real than others we’ve met in the movies. Each of these salesmen has a different philosophy and confidence level, all of which is communicated by the way they speak, what they say, and how they say it.

Read More: Ten Storytelling Secrets From David Mamet’s MasterClass

For most of the film, Al Pacino’s character has been drinking in a bar with a random guy he has just met. Watch how it’s revealed that he’s been selling this guy the whole time.

And then see the impact the dialogue makes in moments of pure conflict.

Read More: Ten Storytelling Secrets From David Mamet’s MasterClass

8. Before Sunrise (1995)

A young man and woman meet on a train in Europe, and wind up spending one evening together in Vienna. Unfortunately, both know that this will probably be their only night together.

Famous Movie Quote

“Isn’t everything we do in life a way to be loved a little more?” – Julie Delpy as Celine

The first installment of a trilogy of films that focused on the interactions between the same two characters. Yes, another talking heads film. Writer/director Richard Linklater excels at creating entertaining conversations that draw us in, much like he did with a good choice for honorable mention, Dazed and Confused. The dialogue feels real and natural as they interrupt each other, and as we see their trains of thought go down different paths through different tangents, leading to new conversations and communicated thoughts/perspectives. We fall in love with these characters as they fall in love with each other.

And before anyone says that it’s too talky, just look at what Linklater does when he uses no dialogue.

9. Good Will Hunting (1997)

Will Hunting, a janitor at M.I.T., has a gift for mathematics, but needs help from a psychologist to find direction in his life.

Famous Movie Quote

“You think I know the first thing about how hard your life has been, how you feel, who you are, because I read Oliver Twist? Does that encapsulate you? Personally… I don’t give a shit about all that, because you know what, I can’t learn anything from you, I can’t read in some fuckin’ book. Unless you want to talk about you, who you are. Then I’m fascinated. I’m in. But you don’t want to do that do you sport? You’re terrified of what you might say. Your move, chief.” – Robin Williams as Sean

Written by Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, the dialogue in this film is a master lesson in character exploration. Will and Sean learn from one another. They are two intellectuals from the same brutal streets of Southie and are constantly sparring. Sean wants Will to open up. Will wants to do nothing of the sort.

But somehow through the dialogue, they manage to become friends. And they also manage to help each other in life. It doesn’t stop there either. Will uses his intellect to spar with words, when he’s not getting into brutal fights. The confrontation in the bar is perhaps the best bar fight scene in cinematic history, without one punch being thrown. Then we have the climactic scene where the dialogue isn’t flashy and full of content. Instead, it’s direct and purposeful — with one single line. And, yes, the screenplay won Best Original Screenplay at the Oscars.

Read More: 5 Plot Points: Good Will Hunting

10. Fargo (1996)

Minnesota car salesman Jerry Lundegaard’s inept crime falls apart due to his and his henchmen’s bungling and the persistent police work of the quite pregnant Marge Gunderson.

Famous Movie Quote

“So, that was Mrs. Lundegaard on the floor in there. And I guess that was your accomplice in the wood chipper. And those three people in Brainerd. And for what? For a little bit of money? There’s more to life than a little money, you know. Don’tcha know that? And here ya are, and it’s a beautiful day. Well. I just don’t understand it.” – Frances McDormand as Marge

Joel and Ethan Coen are two of the most talented screenwriters of all time in part thanks to their hilariously acerbic wit. We could list every Coen Brothers movie here, but I’m trying to follow the rules here (aside from Tarantino) and include arguably their best example of great movie dialogue withFargo.

The film features grizzly murders and insatiable greed, but the Coens manage to create something truly unique by juxtaposing the darkness with the innocence of the Midwest. This is represented perfectly in the scene in which Chief of Police Marge Gunderson arrives on the scene of multiple homicides only to double over with nausea — not because of the bloodstained snow and dead bodies, but because she has morning sickness because she’s super, super pregnant.

Read More: Fargo: The Best Fake True Screenplay Ever

Okay, which favorite dialogue movies of yours did we miss?

Read More: 7 Examples of How Great Dialogue Can Reveal Character

Ken Miyamoto has worked in the film industry for nearly two decades, most notably as a studio liaison for Sony Studios and then as a script reader and story analyst for Sony Pictures.

He has many studio meetings under his belt as a produced screenwriter, meeting with the likes of Sony, Dreamworks, Universal, Disney, and Warner Brothers, as well as many production and management companies. He has had a previous development deal with Lionsgate, as well as multiple writing assignments, including the produced miniseriesBlackout, starring Anne Heche, Sean Patrick Flanery, Billy Zane, James Brolin, Haylie Duff, Brian Bloom, Eric La Salle, and Bruce Boxleitner, the feature thrillerHunter’sCreed, and many produced Lifetime thrillers. Follow Ken on Twitter@KenMoviesand Instagram@KenMovies76.

10 Movies with the Best Dialogue and Famous Movie Quotes - The Script Lab (2025)
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