Fade Out: 25 of Hollywood’s Greatest Closing Lines

Everyone wants their last words to be memorable. This is the same for screenwriters. If the movie ends with a great last line, it tends to be more memorable and leave you with a feeling of “that was clever”. While re-watching Almost Famous recently for the millionth time, I chuckled out loud to myself as Russell Hammond says to William: “and you can tell Rolling Stone my last words were… I’M ON DRUGS!” William yells to him: “Russell… I think we should work on those last words”.

This is my list of the 25 greatest closing movie lines of all time.

MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS!

Casablanca

Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

Fight Club

You met me at a very strange time of my life.

Psycho

It’s sad, when a mother has to speak the words that condemn her own son. But I couldn’t allow them to believe that I would commit murder. They’ll put him away now, as I should have years ago. He was always bad, and in the end he intended to tell them I killed those girls and that man… as if I could do anything but just sit and stare, like one of his stuffed birds. They know I can’t move a finger, and I won’t. I’ll just sit here and be quiet, just in case they do… suspect me. They’re probably watching me. Well, let them. Let them see what kind of a person I am. I’m not even going to swat that fly. I hope they are watching… they’ll see. They’ll see and they’ll know, and they’ll say, “Why, she wouldn’t even harm a fly…”

American Psycho

This confession has meant nothing.

Se7en

Ernest Hemingway once wrote: ‘The world is a fine place and worth fighting for.’ I agree with the second part.

Silence of the Lambs

I do wish we could chat longer, but… I’m having an old friend for dinner. Bye. 

Beauty and the Beast

Do I still have to sleep in the cupboard?

Stand by Me

I never had any friends later on like the ones I had when I was 12. Jesus, does anyone?

The Wizard Of Oz

There’s no place like home.

The Dark Knight

Because he’s the hero Gotham deserves, but not the one it needs right now. So we’ll hunt him because he can take it. Because he’s not our hero. He’s a silent guardian, a watchful protector. A dark knight.

American History X

We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory will swell when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature.

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory:

But Charlie, don’t forget what happened to the man that suddenly got everything he always wanted...He lived happily ever after.

Friday the 13^th

But he…then he’s still there.

Memento

Now, where was I?

Spider-Man

Whatever life holds in store for me, I will never forget these words: ‘With great power comes great responsibility.’ This is my gift. My curse. Who am I? I’m Spider-Man.

Kill Bill: Vol. 1

One more thing Sophie… Is she aware her daughter is still alive?

Back to the Future

Roads? Where we’re going, we don’t need roads.

The Shawshank Redemption

I find I am so excited I can barely sit still or hold a thought in my head. I think it’s the excitement only a free man can feel, a free man at the start of a long journey whose conclusion is uncertain. I hope I can make it across the border. I hope to see my friend and shake his hand. I hope the Pacific is as blue as it has been in my dreams. I hope.

Serenity

-Storm’s getting worse.
-We’ll pass through it soon enough…What was that?

No Country for Old Men

And in the dream I knew that he was goin’ on ahead and he was fixin’ to make a fire somewhere out there in all that dark and all that cold. And I knew that whenever I got there, he’d be there. And then I woke up.

The Usual Suspects

The greatest trick the devil ever pulled, was convincing the world he didn’t exist. And like that…he’s gone.

Unforgiven

You better not cut up nor otherwise harm whores, or I’ll come back and kill every one of you sons of bitches.   

The Princess Bride

As You Wish.  

Don’t Tell Mom The Babysitter’s Dead

 Where is the babysitter? 

The Devil’s Advocate

  Vanity, definitely my favorite sin.

Superman II

 Good afternoon, Mr. President. Sorry I’ve been away so long. I won’t let you down again.

An honorable mention goes to Lost in Translation for the whispers. Feel free to comment with your input…

Thank you Rachael Ann, Jason Wild, Dr. Kronner, and SupaScoot for your input.