The 7 Greatest Movie Speeches Of All Time

Every young man and woman reaches a point in their lives when the wise words of fictional characters outweigh the actual advice given to them by their parents. What is it about movies that allow Mel Gibson’s words to inspire you more than the people who literally gave you life? Cinema has a long and illustrious history of providing great words of motivation and encouragement, sometimes for the benefit of the characters and sometimes for the benefit of the audience. Here are The 7 Greatest Movie Speeches Of All Time that should suit almost any occasion.

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

Convict Andy would not let his bleak circumstances prevent him from hoping and pursuing his dreams. When you’re feeling sorry for yourself, watch this speech.

This inspiring speech reflects a person’s belief in a successful and happy future, even if it takes a lot of effort to achieve this goal, whereas another man gives up. At this point, each person can choose their own path, as the main hero says, “get busy living” or “get busy dying.” As a result, you should always think positively about your future life and imagine how and where you will be happy.

READ NEXT: The Fast & The Furious: The 7 Greatest Scenes In The Franchises History

6. Good Will Hunting (1997) – “Your move, Chief”

Robin Williams was a living legend in the world of acting. From comedies to dramas, the late actor delivered memorable performance after memorable performance. There are a number of inspirational and hilarious Williams-led movie monologues in the film Good Will Hunting. Williams plays Sean Macguire, a therapist tasked with assisting Will Hunting, a troubled mathematical genius (Matt Damon). After Will uses his cold intelligence to dismantle Sean, Williams delivers an affectionate speech in which he claims that the genius knows nothing about life.

READ NEXT: Bruce Willis 7 Greatest Movie Roles Ranked

5. 300 (2006) –“Final Speech”

The image of King Leonidas (Gerard Butler) yelling, “This is Sparta!” The moment Leonidas kicks the Persian into a deep pit 300 quickly gained popularity. The scene quickly devolves into parody and imitation. But what remained untouched was a Spartan warrior and sole survivor Dilios’s criminally underappreciated war speech and storytelling (David Wenham).

Dilios returns to Sparta, scarred from the final battle, with the hopes of a King to inspire the Greek people, and tells the story of the 300 Spartans who inspired all of Greece to unite.

The deaths of Leonidas and his men not only inspired them but also dealt a severe blow to the Persian army’s morale: “Right there, the barbarians huddle, sheer terror gripping their hearts with icy fingers, knowing full well what merciless horrors they suffered at the hands of three hundred swords and spears.”

Yet, across the plain, they see ten thousand Spartans commanding thirty thousand free Greeks.” Dilios was not only a natural storyteller but also a wordsmith, capable of conjuring tension and imagery, inspiring the Greek army to victory at the pivotal Battle of Plataea.

READ NEXT: The 7 Highest Grossing Movies Of All Time

4. Gladiator (2000) – “My name is Maximus”

Former Roman General Maximus, accompanied by a motley crew of gladiators, stands in front of a bloodthirsty crowd. He recognizes the plan for their demise and gathers the gladiators to form an effective fighting unit. His message is that if you stand alone, you will die, but if we work together we just might survive this.

While Russell Crowe keeps this speech short and sweet, the idea behind it — gladiators fighting together rather than against one another — is insane in the eyes of everyone he speaks to. At this point, Crowe as Maximus has established himself as the crowd favorite as well as the man who simply cannot be defeated (he’s already delivered at least one other rousing speech in the film). In one of the final battles, they do collaborate to defeat the opposing forces. The victory and subsequent cheers at the end really hit home as you realize the other gladiators respect Maximus — something he’s exploited.

READ NEXT: The 7 Greatest Book-To-Movie Adaptations

3. Any Given Sunday (1999) – “Life is a game of inches”

Coaches’ speeches are a work of art. Many great actors have taken on the role, including Denzel Washington, Matthew McConaughey, Billy Bob Thornton, Samuel L. Jackson, and Gene Hackman, but none have come close to Al Pacino’s raw intensity as Tony D’Amato, a once-great coach forced to retire by the new owner.

D’Amato addresses the team in the locker room after the team has miraculously made it to the playoffs. “I’m not sure what to say really,” he mulls, pacing ahead of the team. He describes their situation before admitting all of his flaws: the loss of his family, the loss of his money, and his intense self-loathing, “We’re in hell gentleman.” But it’s D’Amato’s description of football as a game of inches that stands out: “One half a step too late or too early and you don’t quite make it.” One half-second too slow, one half-second too fast, and you miss it.”

READ NEXT: 7 Actors Who Completely Changed Their Bodies To Join The Epic Marvel MCU

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

Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone), a 60-ish-year-old widower and ex-boxer, was struggling to maintain a relationship with his estranged son Robert (Milo Ventimiglia), a struggling corporate employee. Later in the film, outside his Italian restaurant, Rocky discussed his upcoming fight with Robert, which Robert discouraged him from doing. He understood the difficulties of growing up in the shadow of Rocky’s celebrity (“People see me, but they think of you…This is only going to end up bad for you, and it’s going to end up bad for me”). Rocky realized his son was blaming him for all of his difficulties and personal problems: “And when things got tough, you started looking for something to blame, like a big shadow.” Rocky teaches his son a massive lesson here and teaches him how to not only win in the ring but in life.

READ NEXT: The Greatest Irish Movies Of All Time And Where To Watch Them

1. Braveheart (1995) – “Freedom Speech”

The 7 Greatest Movie Speeches Of All Time

Although the face of Scottish independence is now through a legally binding referendum, 400 years ago, the Scottish took to the fields and dealt with their problems with swords, spears, and kilts. William Wallace (Mel Gibson) was one of their most famous commanders, leading the Scottish against the English led by King Edward the Longshanks (Patrick McGoohan).

The Scottish are nervous as they prepare for their first major engagement against the English at Stirling Bridge. This is their first battle, and the sight of the English archers and cavalry causes even the most tenacious veterans to consider retreating until Wallace arrives on horseback.

The sight of him does not reassure the Scots, who have heard of his enormous size and bloodlust. Wallace acknowledges their dissatisfaction, saying, “Yes, I’ve heard. Kills hundreds of men, and if he were here, he could consume the English with fireballs from his eyes and lightning bolts from his arse.” It takes a special kind of person to be able to use self-deprecating humor to motivate an army, and Wallace possesses it. However, it is his screams of freedom that ultimately rally a mostly divided army into battle.

Make sure to follow us on Facebook & Instagram for more movie news and content.

Who Is Richer: Iron Man Or Batman?