Top 10 Monologues of All Time

We all love good dialogue in movies - two characters talking at cross purposes creates some great dramatic tension. But sometimes, the best moment in a film comes when one character steps forward and leaves it all on the table in an overwhelming monologue. These are the 10 best. Subscribe: goo.gl/9AGRm
What did you think of the list? Do you agree with our selections, or do you think some of our picks are overrated? Do you think one of our honorable mentions should have taken the prize? What do you think is the greatest movie speech ever made? Do any of these monologues still bring tears to your eyes, or a cheer to your heart?
Let us know in the comments!
THE LIST
Caddyshack (1980)
Bill Murray’s purportedly 100% improvised speech about his character meeting the Dalai “Laama” is one of the many high points of the film.
The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
Voice over can be pretty egregious, but Morgan Freeman’s delivery of Red’s final thoughts of the film really brings the whole thing together.
TIE: The Devil’s Advocate (1997) & Cape Fear (1991)
Two great performances where two villains are literally shouting at the heavens.
Persona (1996)
Ingmar Berman’s take on the declaration-of-love monologue really takes the monologue to another level.
Good Will Hunting (1997)
Robin Williams’ delivers a speech that breaks down the audience - and Will’s - guard, and changes the dynamic of the two characters’ relationships.
Rocky Balboa (2006)
A father-son talk that caps of a series full of Rocky wrestling with heartbreak, disappointment, and everything else life could throw at him, we could pick no better monologue to represent the “inspirational” speech trope.
Network (1976)
We’d be mad as hell if we’d left this speech off our list.
Jaws (1975)
Quint’s story of how he survived a shipwreck as his crewmates were slowly picked off by sharks succeeds in creating a truly chilling mood.
The Great Dictator (1940)
A bold condemnation of fascism in an era when few were so bold, this movie would not be the same without Shultz’s speech.
A Few Good Men (1992)
There may be no greater setting in movies for a good speech than a court of law, and Jack Nicholson’s speech in A Few Good Men is simply perfection of the art form.

[@OniricChef]

I am ridiculously disappointed you missed a very important monologue: the dying breath speech. By all means, my favourite is Blade Runner's (tears in the rain). You didn't even mention it :(

[@CineFix]

Malsanity Blade runner's is super interesting because we love tears in the rain, but when we were throwing ideas around we thought of it as a really well delivered line, more than a monologue.

[@OniricChef]

CineFix We'll just agree to disagree. At least you put Ozymandias' speech, which I appreciate

[@qwiksquirrel]

+Malsanity Stuff like that has to be cut to make room for the obligatory pretentious hipster entries, that no one gives a shit about.

[@WJK117]

+Dire Squirrel You mean good choices.

[@qwiksquirrel]

Willie Knight Go away little hipster. No one likes you. Not even your parents.

[@KungaMatata]

"AND YOU WILL KNOW MY NAME IS THE LORD, WHEN I LAY MY VENGENCE UPON THEE..."

[@1lamafarmer]

Matthew McConaughey's courtroom speech in A Time To Kill is one of the most moving I've ever seen, I'm genuinely stunned that neither that one nor Tears in Rain even got a mention

[@TheNinnyfee]

Fully agree, that was an amazing courtroom monologue.

[@idalaursen8935]

It’s one of the few “non obvious” monologues. It was so gripping and resonates just as much now as it did then.

[@Once_More_With_Feeling]

I really love that movie and made my boyfriend watch it because of that scene! The first time I saw it, I had chills and was crying.

[@brandonblaney1545]

Now imagine... imagine she was... white

[@craigdamage]

"I've seen thing you people wouldn't believe, attack ships on fire......"

[@TheShadowHatter]

what I love most about CineFix's top 10s is that each individual winner is a "#1 choice" in a specific field. So when you look at it that way they're all #1 instead of the number they landed on the list.

[@CineFix]

ShadowHatter I agree ;)

[@CapnHolic]

ShadowHatter yea. it's a great way to do a list.

[@Daniel-Rosa.]

ShadowHatter Yes! He previously didn't handle his "honorable mentions" too well (they felt like picks he was obliged to not miss out and would just get them out of the way). But this. This was excellent!

[@manthasagittarius1]

Yes. Much more thoughtful and just plain smart way of assessing altogether. It's a pleasure to watch these ratings. That said -- Nicholson does not trump Gregory Peck. Good grief.

[@laurahubbard6906]

What I lovve is that you-unlike Ms. Mojo-are aware that great filmmaking didn't start after 1970.

[@JHallenbeck]

'Network' is THE monologue. It's the single greatest monologue written for the screen of all time.

[@katerehahn]

Quint's monologue is my favorite. Its done just perfectly by Shaw. A brilliant balance between nostalgia and fear.

[@clintgirdler38]

Kate Rehahn same. I wished it was number 1. Not that JN didn’t deserve it. Shaw was brilliant in the film, and the monologue is awesome. Along with the quote “you’re gonna need a bigger boat”. Classic.

[@briant7265]

It was the first thing I thought of as I clicked on this.

[@TheLeiaShow]

I thought this was a shoe-in for no.1

[@marvinstheman88]

It's the only monologue that I've ever had a visceral reaction to. I got chills all the way up my back the first time I saw it. I still get chills whenever I rewatch it.

[@RogueRocker1]

Japanese submarine slammed two torpedoes into our side, chief. It was comin’ back, from the island of Tinian to Leyte, just delivered the bomb. The Hiroshima bomb. Eleven hundred men went into the water. Vessel went down in twelve minutes. Didn’t see the first shark for about a half an hour. Tiger. Thirteen footer. You know, you know that when you’re in the water, chief? You tell by lookin’ from the dorsal to the tail. Well, we didn’t know. `Cause our bomb mission had been so secret, no distress signal had been sent. They didn’t even list us overdue for a week. Very first light, chief. The sharks come cruisin’. So we formed ourselves into tight groups. You know it’s kinda like `ol squares in battle like a, you see on a calendar, like the battle of Waterloo. And the idea was, the shark nearest man and then he’d start poundin’ and hollerin’ and screamin’ and sometimes the shark would go away. Sometimes he wouldn’t go away. Sometimes that shark, he looks right into you. Right into your eyes. You know the thing about a shark, he’s got lifeless eyes, black eyes, like a doll’s eye. When he comes at ya, doesn’t seem to be livin’. Until he bites ya and those black eyes roll over white. And then, ah then you hear that terrible high pitch screamin’ and the ocean turns red and spite of all the poundin’ and the hollerin’ they all come in and rip you to pieces. Y’know by the end of that first dawn, lost a hundred men. I don’t know how many sharks, maybe a thousand. I don’t know how many men, they averaged six an hour. On Thursday mornin’ chief, I bumped into a friend of mine, Herbie Robinson from Cleveland. Baseball player, bosom’s mate. I thought he was asleep, reached over to wake him up. Bobbed up and down in the water, just like a kinda top. Up ended. Well, he’d been bitten in half below the waist. Noon the fifth day, Mr. Hooper, a Lockheed Ventura saw us, he swung in low and he saw us. He’d a young pilot, a lot younger than Mr. Hooper, anyway he saw us and come in low. And three hours later a big fat PBY comes down and start to pick us up. You know that was the time I was most frightened? Waitin’ for my turn. I’ll never put on a lifejacket again. So, eleven hundred men went in the water, three hundred and sixteen men come out, the sharks took the rest, June the 29, 1945. Anyway, we delivered the bomb.

[@joshuapatrick682]

“I hope to meet my friend and shake his hand, I hope the pacific ocean’s as blue as it’s been in my dreams, I hope....” gets me every time. the redemption in that film is Red’s, not Andy. Andy never lost hope

[@pommie5093]

Yep, the whole film is a masterpiece and the last part about hope brings to me tears every time.

[@MLStanleyK]

"Get busy living or get busy dying - God Damn right!" Yes, a Masterpiece movie.

[@fredjones554]

I'm crying with just the highlight

[@spicy110]

The speech from the great dictator is IMO one of the finest speeches ever written end of! It is truly timeless, leagues above just a speech in a film!

[@zvimur]

spicy110 A small nitpick: The barber in the movie is nameless. Schultz is the former aviator who escapes with the barber from the camp.

[@sebas8062]

Zvi mur i think everyone knows that -.- Well, this film is a masterpiece and TRULY timeless.

[@Spelgodis]

+spicy110 My thoughts too. Always the best part in any movie ever.

[@PointingMonkey1]

+Zvi mur I thought that when he said it. Hasn't he always been referred to as "A Jewish Barber"?

[@axelwedelin92]

Feels like Hans Landa deserves a spot here somewhere

[@delaware137]

Dr Evil's monologue on his childhood: "The details of my life are quite inconsequential"

[@TreatzTMA]

Moniker yes yes. Brilliant!!!

[@Dismas444]

Meat helmets.

[@bigtony1434]

My mother was a fifteen year old French pros-ti-tute named Chloe with webbed feet

[@ebinrock]

"That's enough."

[@0Myles0]

I loved seeing Quint from Jaws. That scene of the movie was so perfect. From terrifying action during the day, to the men hanging out together talking and comparing scars... then it's calm, we're tuned into every word their saying, and Quint in his sharp, clear and calm voice continues to cut the silence with his terrifying story. PERFECT!

[@bobbysealejunior6590]

0Myles0 yeah, that seen easily makes the movie....f they were to replace Robert Shaw and take that scene out entirely, the whole movie would be good but forgotten, like deep blue sea....Shaw’s monologue gave that movie depth.

[@shawnthompson2303]

"I'll never put on a life jacket again."

[@mz2004a]

"I know. It’s all wrong. By rights we shouldn’t even be here. But we are. It’s like in the great stories, Mr. Frodo. The ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger, they were. And sometimes you didn’t want to know the end. Because how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad had happened? But in the end, it’s only a passing thing, this shadow. Even darkness must pass. A new day will come. And when the sun shines it will shine out the clearer. Those were the stories that stayed with you. That meant something, even if you were too small to understand why. But I think, Mr. Frodo, I do understand. I know now. Folk in those stories had lots of chances of turning back, only they didn’t. They kept going. Because they were holding on to something. That there’s some good in this world, Mr. Frodo… and it’s worth fighting for."

[@roxasbuddy]

Where is this from

[@diddymuck]

+roxasbuddy gee you think maybe one of the Lord of the Rings flicks?

[@roxasbuddy]

+diddymuck I never seen it lol movie toooo long

[@anthonyweinersnose2583]

8_BitMario Ain't a soul could've played that character better than Astin, and personally he's my favorite character in the books. Great fkn character.

[@maddyjohnson3868]

i started crying just reading this omg i have no words to explain how beautiful, moving, and inspiring this monologue was. sam is truly the greatest character ever

[@jordanneal576]

Christoph Walz at the beginning of Inglorious Basterds.

[@DerWaidmann_]

Jordan Neal Yes

[@phillytheflyerable]

good one

[@angkitrajkumar5969]

It's not exactly a monologue. There are questions asked and then answered. It is almost a mono logue

[@Spike.SpiegeI]

great speech but it's more of a dialogue between him and the farmer

[@jeremybrown9611]

Then couldn't the same thing be said about the courtroom scene in A Few Good Men?!

[@jordandwiggins1026]

It’s amazing how many people don’t seem to understand that this a list compiling ten examples among millions of choices. Not every monologue is going to be on here, and the choices are going to be extremely subjective.

[@TheNinnyfee]

Agreed. But they often have their hearts set on one film in list after list after list. They should mix it up a little more.

[@TimeTravelingBunnis]

Cinafix does ask for things the audience feels they missed.

[@kcbh24]

Yeah, but they talk about the same fifteen movies in their top tens.

[@MrPhilmullen]

Fair enough and it starts a good dialogue - all credit to them for what they do

[@JennyMack]

I think Matthew McCoughney's monologue of A Time to Kill was truly overlooked.

[@isaacfernandes560]

Hmmmm I think it falls short. Doesn't has the impact it has on the book and I didn't like the way he delivered it. The words are good but the acting wasn't on point.

[@willyBOB77]

Absolutely agree...Nicholson was great, and no disrespect, but McConaughey's was powerful, and deserved consideration, if not to win it outright.

[@cirofesta1027]

Also his speech in Contact about not being able to have faith in someone (Jodi Foster) who didn't believe in God

[@JenniferBrigitteOpticalVortex]

@@willyBOB77 Matthew is honestly one of the all-time greatest monologists in movies. He packs the punch in ways, most actors simply fail.

[@caribstu]

Don't forget Reese Witherspoon's dismantling of the wet perm in Legally Blonde

[@paulinaenck5797]

Nothing deserved the #1 spot like A Few Good Men. Absolutely perfect monologue from a perfect scene in a brilliant film.

[@2011littleguy]

It's a salute to possibly the greatest similar scene in The Caine Mutiny. After the Captain is convicted, the men have a party. In walks the lawyer who tells them what REALLY just happened. They didn't win a victory. They shamed themselves for not helping a battle weary war hero when he needed their support aboard ship. But they turned on him and didn't help him. The men realize that THEY are the bad guys, not the Captain. That's just like Nicholson being shamed that HE is the bad guy. Of course, he doesn't accept responsibility like the men of the Caine did.

[@opunaya8955]

That speech Quint gave in Jaws is one of the greatest things ever put to film.

[@denisweimer8791]

Amen.

[@anonymous3174]

thing about a shark, cheif,......the eyes, black eyes..........like a dolls eyes. hardly seems to be livin'. till he bite ye. and those balcony eyes roll into white......... BESR MONOLOGUE EVER

[@davidhatred1583]

the indianapolis story.

[@CH-sl5eq]

Robert Shaw is excellent in everything.

[@cathleencooks748]

@@CH-sl5eq One of my all all time favorite actors. I will always wonder what other great acting performances he would have treated us to if he hadn't died so suddenly at just 51. He left behind 9 children.

[@honeybee1256]

The court room monologue from To Kill a Mockingbird was so moving to me. I recently watched the movie in class and everyone was completely silent. Groundbreaking.

[@bdsbethypoo]

Deserving of a shout out-Sally Field’s monologue in Steel Magnolias-breaks me up every time I watch it.

[@paulinaenck5797]

Patrick Bateman in American Psycho has so many great monologues, particularly the morning routine and the hip to be square ones, I can't believe not even one got mentioned. Any of Verbal's monologues in Usual Suspects are inspired and perfectly performed by Kevin Spacey. Audrey Hepburn's Holly Golightly also had a few heart wrenching monologues.

[@ahope3333]

Matt Damon's speech to Robin Williams about why he doesn't want to go to work for the NSA in Good Will Hunting.

[@schigara]

That was spectacular. Loved everything about that movie.

[@KeyDash753]

I thought he made that speech to the NSA recruiter, not Robin Williams. Anyway, the park bench was better.

[@Aminangela]

Paul Taylor he repeated it to robin Williams, the scene transitioned super smoothly though so lots of people didn’t notice

[@jozepedro27]

That was beyond awesome. I tired myself from listening to that alone hundreds of times.

[@gs8388]

@@KeyDash753 Don't forget Ben Affleck's The Best Part of My Day mini-monologue, which works because it comes out of nowhere.

[@Giovanni-od7if]

That Jaws scene gives me chills every time I hear it. Fantastically written and beautifully delivered.

[@rgrex1]

What about Tommy Lee Jones' character at the end of No Country For Old Men?

[@mysticy111]

Yes, a real true grit. Including the reference to 'digging in that ole caliche soil'.

[@Shah-of-the-Shinebox]

I still don't get the ending of No Country for Old Men

[@ralelunar]

@@Shah-of-the-Shinebox I'd recommend the book, every chapter starts with a monologue by Sheriff Bell. In the movie, you only get the last few monologues, so they don't make sense.

[@rybrentmannftw]

No tears in the rain from blade runner?

[@AchimaelProductions]

rybrentmannftw Not really a speech though. It's very short. Beautiful and poetic, DEFINITELY.

[@TheMrBiermann]

***** i think they could have at least mentioned it since they need to follow what the theme of the episode is: Top 10 Monologues

[@pierrelaporte7708]

rybrentmannftw Definitely, a great monologue, deep and inspired. It's a shame it's not even mentioned. Although, to be fair, it doesn't fit in any of their categories.

[@definitelynotofficial7350]

***** It is not that short. But it's really really great.

[@botono9]

Pierre Laporte There was a death category, which it would fit in perfectly.

[@lisaschaefer1524]

One of my favorites is Bill's monologue in Kill Bill II. At the end about Superman. Brilliant.

[@LazyYes]

He's wrong though, Superman isn't Superman when he wakes up, He's Clark Kent with superpower. Clark Kent isnt the act, it's who he is and how he was raised. Superman is the alter ego. Superman was raised and at heart as a Sweet Kansas farmers boy.

[@masterrserch3971]

@@LazyYes im sorry, it's a nice take, but it's just not correct....just because he was RAISED as Clark Kent, doesn't mean that's who he is. He IS Kal-El.. he IS Superman...the glasses is what he puts on to "disguise" himself (and i think we can ALL Agree it's the greatest disguise of all time...lol, hope you detect the sarcasm). You can be raised something, and that can determine who you are at heart, but regardless, in his blood, down to his DNA, he IS an alien, and he is a super powered being. In order to "hide" this, he does exactly what Bill says; dons the glasses, acts goofy, nerdy, even wimpy, in order to throw off people who may SOMEHOW see through that AMAZING disguise I mentioned (lol again), and think that this nerdy goof couldn't possibly be the greatest hero of their time...

[@scottferguson3842]

Kill Bill; yeah I like watching him make those bologna sandwiches.

[@masterrserch3971]

@@scottferguson3842 lol i like that too, for some reason...im sure you're being sarcastic, but it's funny to see him make the full sandwich, and then someone actually eats it...while talking about her daughter murdering a goldfish ...

[@IvorPresents]

Dennis Hopper giving his "last cigarette" speech to hitman Christopher Walken in,"True Romance."

[@cirofesta1027]

100% agreed. This is an amazing speech by a characters who knows he is going to die so therefore is brutally honest. Remember too, Tarantino wrote the screenplay

[@toddgaak422]

@@cirofesta1027 No, he was baiting Don Coccotti (Walken) into anger so he would kill him quickly. Otherwise, they were going to torture him until he gave up Clarence.

[@Fakeaorta]

@@toddgaak422 EXACTLY! I tell people all the time the same thing.

[@kylesantos8190]

Half eggplant

[@kylesantos8190]

RIP Rutger Hauer

[@binkymagnus]

"As far back as I could remember, I always wanted to be a gangster" is as good as "Call me Ishmael" in my book.

[@TTFMjock]

Wow! You wrote Moby Dick!

[@chris230230]

It's a great line, that's for certain, but that scene is made by a combination of things. I mean, the lighting on that set is beautiful, but also the cinematography and editing. The decision to show his face right at the crux of the line as he slams the trunk shut. Priceless! And of course the low angle of the shot making Liotta appear all the more imposing, as if we're the ones in that trunk!

[@raahimkamaal5363]

@@TTFMjock is that a monty python reference. If so always look on the bright side of life

[@jamesalexander5623]

@@TTFMjock No! But he stayed in a Holiday Inn Express last night!

[@motoXcR]

that chaplin scene is mind blowing...and im not really into those older movies..but he fuckin nailed it...literal goosebumps

[@NevRmind182]

Pulp Fiction's Ezekiel 25 17 and Brick Top's monologue in Snatch. Still, great list.

[@undead2live]

Jules ...Every word!

[@grimreaper1655]

Which brick top monologue?

[@NevRmind182]

Grim Reaper "As greedy as a pig" and "Do you know what nemesis means?"

[@grimreaper1655]

Ight

[@mohhamedrafi4763]

Kotano You know what should be on the list is Glory with Denzel Washington and Morgan Freeman

[@TheFrugalVideoGamer]

I really wish that "A Few Good Men" had included the rebuttal, where Cruise's character tears down the Colonel's argument as being 100% self-serving instead of altruistic.

[@kolizar666]

How about the monologue in "The Usual Suspects" that ends the whole movie? That one always amazes me.

[@2011littleguy]

Kevin Spacey stands disgraced today. But there's no taking away his acting chops. He can do more with one look or one gesture that most other actors can do with a whole film. If ever Spacey,. Nicholson and Brando had done a scene together, the movie projector would explode!

[@shawnn7502]

1. Mel Gibson's battle speech- Braveheart 2. Kevin Costner in JFK- longest monologue in cinema history. 3. Al Pacino's rant against God in The Devil's Advocate. 4. Jack Nicholson's rant against God for creating women in The Witches of Eastwick 5. The opening monologue to PATTON

[@meganhartmann180]

After watching this video, I realized just how good Al Pacino is at monologues. He has some great speeches in "The Recruit"

[@randymaynard514]

Love the Braveheart speech.

[@legoC97]

Charlie Chaplin's speech from The Great Dictator is my all-time favorite monologue!

[@carlosmontilla1804]

Yeah is great

[@MarcBrewer]

+legoC97 The one from Verdoux aint chopped liver

[@furyrage2011]

By far!

[@gshivs793]

James Earl Jones baseball speech in Field Of Dreams

[@willyBOB77]

Agree 100%

[@iluvdissheet]

Yasssssss!

[@americansuperdad5769]

Frank Slade from Scent of a Woman was one of my favorite motivational monologues ever. Goosebumps!

[@jameskirkley7229]

Matthew McConaughey's closing argument in A Time to Kill. "Now imagine she's white."

[@JenniferBrigitteOpticalVortex]

James Kirkley he was just brilliant there

[@frisbite]

My #1. Absolutely brilliant.

[@JanosXyn]

Agreed, how did this not even get an honourable mention!?

[@mollykapping9040]

I was coming here to write this exact one. Best courtroom monologue ever.

[@texasred2702]

@@mollykapping9040 I would give that honor to Nels Gudmunsen's summation in Snow Falling on Cedars. Not a particularly good movie--unnecessarily stylized and Ethan Hawke was miscast and hadn't yet come into his own as an actor--but Max von Sydow was truly masterful in this scene.

[@miraprime474]

It's short but the "Tears in the rain" monologue from Blade Runner The horror monologue from Apocalypse Now I know this video wasn't out at the time, but every Punisher monologue from Daredevil season 2 Rutger Hauer's monologue from Hobo With a Shotgun is great, but I didn't really like the rest of the movie Any of Christian Bale's monologues from American Psycho You guys should do a 10 Most Unnerving Performances list. I'd be very excited to see what you come up with.

[@creyrey6706]

Yeah blade runner had a good one

[@toxicturtle9077]

American Psycho had by far the best monologues, especially the final one where Patrick Bateman comes to terms with the fact that his life, everything around it, and everyone in it is inconsequential and homogenous, and how he cannot even derive meaning or pleasure from being a psychopath. Absolutely chilling delivery from Christian Bale, and surprised that it did not even get a mention.

[@yaswanthgosukonda311]

Tom Joad's monologue is great. I think it is so simple and could be interpreted in many different ways.

[@aidans8716]

“So do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us. There are other forces at work in this world Frodo, besides the will of evil. Bilbo was meant to find the Ring. In which case, you were also meant to have it. And that is an encouraging thought.”

[@daltondeverell4039]

so happy that Shawshank was on here

[@07foxmulder]

Matt Damon in Saving Private Ryan talking about his brothers. I always loved that scene.

[@jsswells100]

That's also rumored to be improv that Damon came up with the day before.

[@Anaphriel]

It's not a rumor. It was improv. Damon made it up as he went, and Spielberg decided to keep it in

[@jsswells100]

Rumors aren't inherently false. Seeing as I have no source, and the person I heard it from had no source, it's a rumor. Even if it's factually correct, it's still a rumor unless there's a direct source.

[@jsswells100]

Not being a dick btw. Just saying that I agree with you about it being true.

[@07foxmulder]

I've heard that before, too. I wouldn't be surprised if it was true, though. Damon was just getting off working with Robin Williams and Williams had a pretty awesome monologue in Good Will Hunting. Maybe Damon learned a thing or two.

[@gavinjones3933]

The Third Man - Cuckoo clocks Paris, Texas - one way glass Withnail and I - Hamlet

[@texasred2702]

Dear God this needs more upvotes. Wtf, internet?

[@zenhaelcero8481]

That scene from Paris, Texas is one of my favorites.

[@billcook4768]

As much as Cinefix loves Third Man, it’s surprising it didn’t get a mention.

[@nigelft]

Naturally, everyone knows (or least, ought to know ...), Quint's story/monologue was based directly off of the real life sinking of the USS Indianapolis, where so many men whom ended up in the water, where killed by the sharks. It still is, by far, the biggest single loss of life to shark attacks in history. ... no wonder Hooper went from drunk to stone colder sober in under 5 seconds. In fact, watch Richard Dreyfuss's face, even as the camera pushes in; he conveys that mixture of absolute shock, being, as a shark biologist, he knows very well the story, yet at the same time is hanging on every word, no doubt because he (Hooper) clearly never met an actual survivor of that horror ... which stands in utter contrast to the prior jollity of the pair comparing 'battle injuries' they have had from sharks, and the first time they started liking each other ... brilliant piece of 'stillness' on his part ...

[@johnkinsella5358]

Apparently the scene was first made with the actors drunk as are the characters (method style) but was a disaster so they did it again the next day, hungover.

[@EpicGamer-eb5ww]

Also hoopers expression was very genuine. Richard Dreyfus just sat in awe at Shaw the whole time

[@QuestionableLifeChoices]

i love the closing statement from a time to kill

[@ryancbarrett96]

that is also one i thought would get it for courtroom scene. tough to argue with a few good men though

[@psykomystro]

+Questionable Life Choices When he mentioned courts. That's the one I was looking for.

[@nelbelmont]

+Questionable Life Choices that one was incredible... i tear up everytime... it really makes you think...

[@AndrewErwin73]

Kenneth Branagh as Hamlet (Hamlet's Soliloquy) was pretty memorable.

[@lindaliriel]

I guess they couldn't use any Shakespeare plays, he'd win too many...

[@Adam13Chalmers]

We Happy few..KB

[@laurenbennett7674]

Andrew Erwin which soliloquy? My personal favorite is the last one.

[@rickrose5377]

Andrew Erwin Yeah, but that's a bit of a cheat, Andrew, since those monologues long pre-date the movies as an art form. They weren't written for a screenplay. If you use those criteria, you could include anything from, say, 'Streetcar Named Desire', 'Long Day's Journey Into Night', or any screen adaptation of Chekhov.

[@rickrose5377]

Thomas Headley Sorry you went to crappy schools, Thomas. Long ago -- before we de-funded our once-great public school system, and put stupid ideologues like Betsey De Vos in charge -- Shakespeare was better taught.

[@sVieira151]

I've always loved the monologue at the start of Lord of the Rings by Cate Blanchett. It both sets the tone and provides historical context for the film perfectly. The score behind her helps, of course, but she's excellent.

[@tiffsaver]

I've been an actor all my life, and finding "the best" of anything is extremely difficult. Just too much good stuff out there. That said, I must agree with El Viajero, below. Rutger Hauer's "Tear in rain" speech by David Peoples must remain the most dramatically vivid in my mind. Better still, Rutger actually improved upon it, adding his own lines for drama, only the night before. Here are 10 more of my all-time favorites: 1) Stirling Hayden's 'rainwater' speech in "Dr. Strangelove." 2) Everything Orson Welles said in "Citizen Kane." 3) Bogart's farewell speech in "Casablanca." 4) Viola Davis' explanation in "Doubt." 5) Kirk Douglas' final battle speech in "Spartacus" and losing it in "Paths Of Glory." 6) Henry Fonda's farewell speech in "Mr. Roberts." 7) Murry Hamilton's 'heart to heart' speech with Dustin Hoffman in "The Graduate." 8) Hoagy Carmichael's advice to wounded sailor in "The Best Days of our Lives." 9) James Dean's "you're tearing me apart!" speech in "Rebel Without A Cause." 10) *My Number One Favorite is,* Spencer Tracy's closing address in "Judgment at Nuremberg."

[@randymaynard514]

Yes! 😂Bogie’s goodbye speech to Ilsa in Casablanca is one of the very best.

[@tiffsaver]

@@randymaynard514 What was so amazing about this film is that nearly ALL of the dialogue was ad libbed, either the day before or right on the set.

[@MovieManOfPetersham]

Probably my favourite is Al Pacino's in "The Devil's Advocate" because it is simply electrifying and said with so much energy.

[@eliasmg9144]

no taxi driver "u talking to me?" monologue? no "ezekiel 25:17" from pulp fiction? no blade runner' "like tears in rain"? no? no? no? ok, nevermind

[@guibox3]

+Elías MG Taxi Driver is not a monologue. A monologue needs an audience. Number 9 on this list is not a monologue either.

[@neverlandhunter6988]

+guibox3 It is an inner monologue. The audience he is giving it to is us, as it is with almost (all?) all inner monologues.

[@randmiller88]

It most certainly does not require an audience. Mono- means "one", -logue means "speech", no matter who else is present.

[@neverlandhunter6988]

+Randy Miller III That's not true. A monologue is a speech that is given for an audience. When it is not intended for a ln audience it is called a soliloquy.

[@eliasmg9144]

NeverlandHunter But isn't a soliloquy supposed to be a variation of a monologue?

[@lilibetp]

Scarlett's "I'll never be hungry again" speech from Gone With the Wind.

[@2011littleguy]

That line always makes me head to the refrigerator for a cheese sammich!

[@wheatgerm1208]

The entire script of Network is one fabulous monologue after another. You could have filled all 10 spots with that film alone.

[@canonblackwell1]

My favorite monologue is Daniel Day Lewis’ “it’s my name” monologue in The Crucible.

[@markcopeland4448]

Paul Newman's summation from The Verdict is probably my favorite monologue.

[@kjwolfgramm]

Sam Jackson in the diner of Pulp Fiction when he’s talking about why he says his scripture

[@mlfeathers7527]

It’s not really scripture. At least not from the Holy Bible.

[@kjwolfgramm]

ML Feathers yeah it’s an adaptation of the real Ezekiel 25:17. However, in regards to the movie it is scripture to him.

[@radiof00le]

Damn straight.

[@MFCMG23]

Excuse me but where the hell is Colonel Kurt's monologue from apocalypse now?

[@Dirtzoo]

Kurtz

[@huseyin2093]

Damn that's a good one

[@alicemonstrinho]

I miss Ezekiel 25/17 from Pulp Fiction :(

[@andreraymond6860]

Some writers specialize in great monologues. Tarantino is one. I love the story Tim Roth practices in Reservoir Dogs. Also the Jew Hunter from Inglorious Basterds and the Christopher Walken scene from True Romance.

[@alicemonstrinho]

Tarantino's dialogues are just amazing. They sound like very a legit (and many times relatable) conversation. On reservoir dogs I aldo love the scene where they talk about tips. Great director :)

[@armensog87]

Tarantino is a clown, his dialogues are stylish and shallow.

[@andreraymond6860]

I should resist comparing a Paddy Chayevsky to a Quentin Tarantino, I guess. One wrote a screenplay that predicted the rise of the reality television craze and the complete backrupcy of corporate media. The other wrote a great little piece on why we shouldn't tip waiters. Yeah, they are pretty equivalent.

[@armensog87]

whatever I replied, wouldn't satisfy you.

[@humbertojimmy]

The Cruise - Nicholson court scene is a dialogue, not a monologue.

[@zarkoff45]

+Jimmy David I agree, but Nicholson is given a monologue's worth of words and Cruise isn't.

[@thegooseinator9614]

Nicholson has a pretty lengthy monologue towards the end.

[@desmondm728]

End of Rambo First Blood: "...I was in charge of a million dollars worth of equipment. Back here, I can't even get a job pumping gas"

[@ebinrock]

"...parking cars"

[@SheenaWilde]

I'm really glad you mentioned the watch-in-the-ass monologue from Pulp Fiction. I think it's hilarious!

[@hairychest7865]

sally field's emotional rant at the cemetery in Steel Magnolias.

[@elizabeths4371]

I agree, and I still cry everytime

[@iluvdissheet]

😭😭😭 so good

[@RhinocerosProductions]

I did that one in a stage version..great monologue..

[@anne-gabriellemarquet5895]

Disappointed that Marlin Brando's "horror' monologue in Apocalypse Now wasn't mentioned. Would have mentioned John Doe in Se7en too. I love your channel !

[@rockinfreakapotamuxs]

Those Pacino and De Niro monologues, are pure art

[@nickolivette9518]

In my opinion the great dictator will always have the greatest monologue. It’s so real and visceral, it could give goosebumps and tears to even the most hardest individuals.

[@mr.womblordofunmercifultor4110]

"I'm an oil man." speech from There Will Be Blood.

[@bluy6]

No mention of Jules' one tasty burger/Ezekiel 25:17 monologue?

[@rickrose5377]

Gene Suddenly I'm in the mood for a Big Kahuna burger. Uh, you want fries with that?

[@rickycollins7723]

My favorite monologue of all time is the "Rube" monologue from Silence Of The Lambs.

[@eanayac]

02:17 Freeman just NAILED it!!!!! And Thomas Newman’s music made it even better!

[@KeyserSoseRulz]

No way you left Colonel Kurtz's monologue in Apocalypse Now out of this list !!! Oh the horror...

[@cirofesta1027]

Agreed. Also little known, this was improvised and Brando famously said after that he had nothing left to say

[@anniewalker5683]

That's what I was thinking too!

[@jeffvanmeter1330]

Every inspiring pre-battle speech comes from one source: the "St. Crispin's Day monologue from Shakespeare's Henry V.

[@WildeFyre69]

I'm not sure that the people who are complaining that you left such and such a movie of your list because if you didn't, we'd be here all week watching it. I am sometimes displeased that something I like is left off of one of your lists, but I understand why it has to be done. Don't let the haters get to you... I love your videos and appreciate all of the hard work you put into them! Thank you!

[@robrunyon3146]

10 brilliant monologues. And you managed to talk over all of them. Awesome vid.

[@samgasp9]

Funny enough, I was assigned to memorize and perform Jack Nicholson's triade from A Few Good Men in my freshmen year theatre class. Very powerful!

[@2011littleguy]

Aaron Sorkin kinda knows something about writing!

[@Sorkastic]

I love the battle speech monologue. I am surprised yall didnt give an honorable mention to one of the greatest battle speech's ever written, Henry V St. Crispin's day speech, given in movie form by Kenneth Branagh in 1989. My personal all time favorite is in Lord of the Rings: Return of the King, not the one given by Aragorn at the end, but the one given by Theodin at the battle of Minas Tirith

[@lindaliriel]

I was thinking of Theoden, too! Note about the film: the scene where he rides down the front row striking their swords with his own was epic and the actor's idea

[@arklytte]

Agreed, with both posts. Theoden had the absolute best speeches in those movies.

[@monkeymouse]

Shakespeare's St. Crispin's Day speech is amazing in its own right, but IMO the best cinematic use of it is in Penny Marshall's "Renaissance Man" as a New York Puerto Rican recites it in uniform, on bivouac, in the rain, rifle in hand, during a thunderstorm. Totally nailed it!

[@VinnyDaQ]

I still believe the opening speech in "Patton" is the greatest speech ( and opening shot ) in any film. Pure cinematic brilliance.

[@geraldward9765]

That's a good one.

[@linagarcia7081]

The father's speech at the end of Call Me By Your Name is so beautiful. Please include it next time!

[@jerryjanski551]

Wow. The whole list is kinda bogus without Karl Childers "I reckon you wanna know what I'm a-doin' here, mmm" monologue from "Sling Blade." Also suspiciously absent, any of Alex's monologues from "A Clockwork Orange."

[@georgecherry1536]

Yeah that was pretty good .

[@BasilOmoriFan]

V for Vendetta's revolutionary speach. "Remember, remember the 5th of November..."

[@monstergod888]

In "Misery",Kathy Bates does an insane monologue about matinee movies or something alike

[@laustcawz2089]

...cliffhangers...serials... chapter plays...

[@adagiobreeze8493]

Clarice’s story about the screaming lambs always broke my heart

[@rosemorris7912]

The all-time best monologue: "Friends, Romans, countrymen! Lend me your ears!"

[@mangraskinbeauti]

I'm surprised that Matt McConaughey's closing courtroom argument in A Time to Kill wasn't even mentioned. That's was awesome.

[@Frangeliko38]

You saved me a post.

[@Zkkr429]

'Time to Die' Bladerunner.

[@dillonhunter7543]

You got my top three favourite movies in here, loved it!

[@billcook4768]

Can’t believe “Phoebe Cates finds out there is no Santa Claus“ didn’t make the list :)

[@matoussa71]

Kurtz's monologue from Apocalypse Now ? Anyone ?

[@mariothorp7464]

¨Horror and moral terror¨

[@TheMrRewo]

From what I've read, the initial idea was for that scene to take 10-15 mins, but they'd decided to cut it.

[@CharlyBGoode]

" We train young men to drop fire on people, but their commanders won't allow them to write "fuck" on their airplanes because it's obscene! " has to be my favorite line ever. I also loved the "You have to have men who are moral... and at the same time who are able to utilize their primordial instincts to kill without feeling... without passion... without judgment... without judgment! Because it's judgment that defeats us. " part

[@cha5]

"The Horror....The Horror." Not exactly an original quote, Thank you Joseph Conrad. :-) But God that was a beautiful scene.

[@Revelwoodie]

I logged in specifically to make this comment. I'll just upvote yours :)

[@Customerbuilder]

I don't love Braveheart, bu I would have picked that monologue. There have been a million counterfeits over the past 20 years.

[@wildcatso]

Excellent video!!! I would only add two of my favorites. The last monologue of Edward Furlong in American History X, and Rosamund Pike in Gone Girl. Absolutely breath-taking!!!

[@maikwessels4642]

I realy miss Rudger Hauer's monologue as Roy Batty at the end of "Blade Runner". Because THAT was awesome!

[@cultitem]

The "I believe" speech from Bull Durham is brilliant, too.

[@nicholasgenovese2454]

The Great Dictator monalogue is the best speech ever

[@rickrose5377]

Nicholas Genovese You could make an entire reel of Sorkin monologues...if you included television. But this list is weak, because two of your choices displayed an uncharacteristic (for Cinefix) susceptibility to sentimental cliché--and ham-fisted acting. 'Rocky Balboa'?!? Are you kidding me? A string of sentimental clichés delivered by the most overrated vulgarian among major stars since John Wayne. And much as I love Chaplin, uh...no. Great comedian, best when silent. Sentimental truths, stridently overacted. Y'know what you look like with your good bag, and your cheap shoes, CineFix?

[@Alltoofinite]

Anything from network,,,,,,,,crispin glover in dead man,or rivers edge,,,,,,,,dennis hopper in true romance.......and about 3 or 4 scenes from the witch,,,,,,,,,oh yeah,,,,,,harry dean stanton in paris texas. Probably more,,,,,,,,

[@ianpleasant]

Nicholas Genovese nothing will ever touch glengarry Glenn Ross

[@matheus5230]

rick rose Cliche or not, it could not be more true and inspirational for tons of people, including me! It is incisive and direct to the point the speech of Rocky Balboa

[@rickrose5377]

Nicholas Genovese You couldn't be more wrong, Nick: a string of fatuous clichés, stridently overacted straight to the camera. Empty and obvious -- the worst sort of preachy grandstanding.

[@TheNinnyfee]

My favourite courtroom monologue is Matthew McConaughey in A Time To Kill. "...And now imagine she's white." That really hits your core.

[@petej.kingmusicianwriterpo2776]

A Few Good Men is one of the top movies of all time PERIOD! I’ve watched it at least 1X a week over the last 20 years & have not tired of it in any way/shape/form! A true masterpiece!

[@Xanatos712]

"Did I ever tell you the definition of insanity?"

[@CineFix]

Tell us again! :-p

[@Xanatos712]

+CineFix Insanity is doing the exact same fucking thing over and over and over again, expecting shit to change. That. Is. Crazy. See, the first time someone told me that... I don't know, I thought they were bullshitting me. So, boom, I shot him. See the thing is, the thing is... he was right. And then I started seeing everywhere I looked... everywhere I looked all these fucking pricks, doing the exact same, fucking thing over and over and over again thinking "This time, it's gonna be different." "Nonononono, please, this time it's gonna be different." I'm sorry I don't LIKE - the way you are looking at me! Do you have a fucking problem in your head? Do you think I am bullshitting you? You think I am lying? FUCK YOU! Okay?! FUCK! YOU! It's okay, man. I'm gonna chill, hermano, I'm gonna chill. The thing is, alright, the thing is I killed you once already. And it's not like I am fucking crazy. It's okay; it's like water under the bridge. Did I ever tell you the definition, of insanity?

[@chalkies]

+Xanatos712 What is it?

[@Fourtgru123]

+Sam Laoshi Vaas Montenegro from Far Cry 3 :D

[@subroy7123]

+The ZenOne I never realised until now, but they stole that definition from Einstein, who defined insanity as doing the same work over and over again and expecting different results each time. Thanks for bringing that back to me! :)

[@gamepopper101]

My favourite is V's introduction from V for Vendetta, how he describes his own character, his back story and his goals in a monologue where most of the words start with the letter v is just amazing and funny to watch.

[@CineFix]

***** NICE ONE!

[@DanL-lf9ec]

the requiem for a dream monologue is one of the most emotional things i've ever seen

[@njords77]

One of my favorites is by Sonny Chiba as Hattori Hanzo having just finished making the sword and about to give it to Beatrix. Short but very powerful.

[@hirsch133]

cant believe Samuel L Jackson's monologue from the begging of pulp fiction didn't make the list

[@canturgan]

Samuel L Jackson in Pulp Fiction should be at the top.

[@SidPhoenix2211]

yes!!! where the fuck is it?!

[@OIFEagle]

I'm glad you included Walken among your list, but one of my favorite monologues of his was his introduction to the troops in "Biloxi Blues."

[@russiandrago821]

Antonio Salieri's monologue about Don Giovanni and Leopold Mozart's death has to be one of THE best performances in any movie, the awe, jealousy, sadness, and anguish is so palpable! I loved it so much I used it for a monologue assignment in one of my middle school drama classes.

[@johnrobinsoniii4028]

I agree. Tony’s monologue was spot on.