Actors often improvise on movie sets, but only a handful of their improvised lines become iconic in an instant. Several movie quotes that are immediately recognizable were made up by the actors on the spot, demonstrating their rare talent. It is proof that they understand the character and the movie to come up with a casual line that resonates with both and is catchy enough to take off among audiences. In some rare cases, famous phrases and sayings only exist because of movies.
The behind-the-scenes stories of how these actors improvised such famous quotes are also entertaining — maybe not behind-the-scenes stories that deserve their own movies, but revealing as far as the filming process works. Sometimes something will naturally go wrong on set, but the actor manages to stay in character for an even better moment. Less dramatically, they will slip in an extra line or suggest it to the director, demonstrating a collaborative process that fosters truly brilliant filmmaking.
You are watching: 10 Improvised Movie Lines That Became Instant Iconic Quotes
10 “Here’s Johnny!” – Jack Torrance
The Shining (1980)
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The Shining is widely considered one of the best horror movies of all time, driven by Jack Nicholson’s nightmare-inducing performance. Under the influence of the supernatural forces at play at the Overlook Hotel, Jack goes after his wife and son with an axe. When Wendy locks them in a bathroom, Jack partially breaks down the door and pears in, creepily saying “Here’s Johnny!” Nicholson reportedly ad-libbed this line while filming, which has become the most famous line of the movie associated with its most memorable image.
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Stanley Kubrick’s horror classic starring Jack Nicholson and Shelley Duvall tells the story of the Torrance family, who move to the isolated Overlook Hotel so that father Jack Torrance can act as its winter caretaker. Stuck at the hotel due to the winter storms, the malevolent supernatural forces inhabiting the building slowly begin to drive Jack insane, causing his wife and psychically gifted son to be caught up in a fight for their lives when Jack is pushed over the edge.
Director Stanley Kubrick Release Date June 13, 1980 Writers Diane Johnson , Stanley Kubrick Cast Danny Lloyd , Shelley Duvall , Jack Nicholson , Scatman Crothers Runtime 146 minutes
Related 11 Amazing Improvised Moments In Horror Movies
The horror genre has seen some amazing improvised moments – from genuine reactions to unscripted lines and even entire scenes that weren’t planned.
However, the team didn’t know immediately that they had such a famous movie moment. Reportedly, director Stanley Kubrick didn’t get the “Here’s Johnny!” line and almost cut it from the movie. The history of The Shining as a movie is its unprecedented legacy despite some creative geniuses not quite getting it or criticizing it, as Stephen King famously hates the adaptation of his horror novel. Regardless, Nicholson originated a perfect horror moment on that day of filming which lives on in cinematic history.
9 “And What The Hell Is That Smell?!” – Capt. Steven Hiller
Independence Day (1996)
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This was a completely genuine reaction on Smith’s part.
Thanks to the talents of Will Smith and Jeff Goldblum, Independence Day was able to be a perfect summer blockbuster based on a simple alien invasion premise with some comedic undertones. Writer and producer Dean Devlin credits much of what is seen in the final movie to improvisation (via looper.com). Despite Independence Day generally not being considered a comedy, its most famous improvised moment is Smith’s hilarious line “And what the hell is that smell?” as he drags the body of an alien across the Utah salt flats.
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Roland Emmerich’s iconic 1996 sci-fi disaster movie Independence Day chronicles the attack of a hostile race of aliens against planet Earth. When extraterrestrial aircraft occupy Earth without warning, the forces of humanity quickly band together to stop them. At the behest of President Thomas J. Whitmore (Bill Pullman), US Marine pilot Captain Steven Hiller (Will Smith) and satellite engineer David Levinson (Jeff Goldblum) organize humanity’s last-ditch counterattack against the technologically-advanced alien mothership.
Director Roland Emmerich Release Date July 3, 1996 Writers Dean Devlin , Roland Emmerich Cast Will Smith , Bill Pullman , Jeff Goldblum , Mary McDonnell , Judd Hirsch , Robert Loggia , Randy Quaid , Margaret Colin , Vivica A. Fox , Harvey Fierstein Runtime 145 minutes
This was a completely genuine reaction on Smith’s part. The salt flats actually do smell awful as the millions of brine shrimp that live there sink to the bottom of the lake when they die, decomposing and creating a terrible smell. Steven Hiller is mad in general about his situation, allowing Smith to throw in a funny line complaining about something else that was bothering him (and probably everyone else) on the day of filming.
8 “You’re Gonna Need A Bigger Boat.” – Martin Brody
Jaws (1975)
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The three main characters who go out to hunt the shark terrorizing Amity’s beach can only guess at what they are hunting. Brody is throwing bloody meat into the water when the shark suddenly appears, frightening him when he realizes what they are up against. He slowly backs up and famously tells Quint, “You’re gonna need a bigger boat,” making for a moderately funny moment prompted by the fact that now that he has actually seen the shark.
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Steven Spielberg’s legendary tale of one man’s desperate battle with a killer Great White shark on his small seaside community. Faced with a mounting list of victims and a local authority dead-set against causing panic or destroying the tourist economy, he assembles a team to tackle the shark head-on.
Director Steven Spielberg Release Date June 18, 1975 Writers Peter Benchley , Carl Gottlieb , John Milius , Howard Sackler , Robert Shaw Cast Roy Scheider , Robert Shaw , Richard Dreyfuss , Lorraine Gary , Murray Hamilton , Carl Gottlieb Runtime 124 minutes
Jaws is a classic, suspenseful horror, its other major entertainment factor being the dry interactions among the three men. Additionally, Jaws’ iconic line is an in-joke of sorts referring to the movie’s troubled production. Jaws hit a lot of roadblocks during production regarding equipment and resources; Roy Scheider reportedly improvised the famous line based on a situation involving production buying a too-small barge to store equipment.
7 “I’m Walking Here!” — Ratso Rizzo
Midnight Cowboy (1969)
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As a con-man duo movie starring two actors on their way to becoming legends in the business, it makes sense that Midnight Cowboy would work best with some improvisation, allowing for natural interactions. However, the movie’s most famous moment surrounds Dustin Hoffman’s Ratso. It has been debated over the years whether this scene was improvised, but Jon Voight’s recent explanation of Hoffman’s iconic Midnight Cowboy moment is in favor of him coming up with it on the spot.
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Midnight Cowboy is a 1969 American drama directed by John Schlesinger. Starring Jon Voight as Joe Buck, a naive Texan who arrives in New York City with dreams of becoming a successful gigolo, and Dustin Hoffman as Ratso Rizzo, a con artist with health issues. The film explores their unlikely friendship and struggles for survival in the gritty urban landscape. It was notable for its raw and unflinching portrayal of city life and complex characters.
Director John Schlesinger Release Date May 25, 1969 Writers Waldo Salt , James Leo Herlihy Cast Dustin Hoffman , Jon Voight , Sylvia Miles , John McGiver , Brenda Vaccaro , Barnard Hughes Runtime 113 Minutes
According to Voight, the production crew was supposed to be blocking off cabs while they were filming in the middle of a busy New York City street. At one point, a cab driver got tired of waiting and sped through the shot, prompting Hoffman’s “I’m walking here!” In his interview with Jake’s Takes, Voight said:
“[…] and he says this line, ‘That’s a good way to get insurance, you know,’ whatever it was, and I knew he had that line stored up in him to say somewhere in the film and the thing that just happened, he did that instinctually […]”
Therefore, Voight credits Hoffman with some forethought, suggesting another process of improvisation and creating organic character moments. Hoffman might have had some ideas in his head of things it would be great for his character to say and brought one of them out at the perfect time to create an immediately amazing scene.
6 “I’m Keeping It Real!”
Clueless (1995)
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In an interview with Vulture, writer-director Amy Heckerling uncertainly said she thought “I’m keeping it real” was in the script for Clueless, but actor Donald Faison insisted otherwise: “I heard that from my neighbor. Some kid in my neighborhood said, ‘Just keep it real. Just make sure you keep it real.’ And I was like, “Oh. That’s what the kids are saying now?” And so I put that in there myself […].” Faison plays Murray, the boyfriend of Clueless’ protagonist Cher’s best friend Dionne. Murray upsets Dionne when he shaves his head at a party, but he has a great response.
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A modern reimagining of Jane Austen’s 1815 novel Emma, the iconic teen comedy Clueless stars Alicia Silverstone as Cher Horowitz, a rich and popular high schooler who takes a transfer student under her wing. Between making over her friends and trying to play matchmaker for her teachers, Cher finds herself increasingly unlucky in love – only to find it much closer to home than she would have thought. Brittany Murphy, Paul Rudd, and Donald Faison also star.
Director Amy Heckerling Release Date July 19, 1995 Writers Amy Heckerling Cast Alicia Silverstone , Stacey Dash , Brittany Murphy , Paul Rudd , Donald Faison , Elisa Donovan Runtime 97 minutes
For all the teen drama in Clueless, Dionne and Murray do not break up over his new look. The movie is primarily about Cher’s doomed attempts at matchmaking and her realizing that she is “totally clueless,” that she is in love with the guy she has ignored, and patching up her relationships with her two best friends. She learns to let things happen naturally and finally gets together with Josh. The movie ends romantically with the teen couples attending the wedding of the one orchestrated romance Cher got right, between two of their teachers.
5 “You Talkin’ To Me?”
Taxi Driver (1976)
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Shortly after their breakout collaboration of Mean Streets, legendary director Martin Scorsese and actor Robert De Niro returned with another would-be career-defining crime drama, Taxi Driver. At this point, the duo had worked together before, fostering some creative trust for improvised moments. Scorsese told The Hollywood Reporter that De Niro improvised his famous “You talkin’ to me?” line when his character Travis Bickle practices a confrontation while looking into a mirror.
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Martin Scorsese’s classic 1976 film stars Robert De Niro as Travis Bickle, a Vietnam veteran turned New York City cab driver whose increasingly disturbed mental state due to his PTSD begins to drive him to more and more violent actions as he attempts to rid the city of what he sees as the “scum” on the streets. Jodie Foster, Harvey Keitel, Cybill Shepherd, and Albert Brooks also star in the film.
Director Martin Scorsese Release Date February 9, 1976 Writers Paul Schrader Cast Robert De Niro , Jodie Foster , Cybill Shepherd , Albert Brooks , Harvey Keitel , Victor Argo , Peter Boyle Runtime 114 Minutes
Related 10 Most Memorable One-Liners From Martin Scorsese Movies
Martin Scorsese films are crammed with one-liners that can make audiences tense, laugh, or anything in between and each film has a great one.
Scorsese also said that at the time of filming, the producers were mad at him because they were behind schedule. However, while the producers were “banging on the door,” the director only stalled them and kept encouraging De Niro to continue with his act, fully confident in what they were filming. It is a testament to Scorsese’s vision and his ability to work with great actors, as he knew that this scene was worth it and secured a few more takes for the finished product.
4 “I’m The King Of The World!” – Jack Dawson
Titanic (1997)
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On The Movies That Made Me podcast, James Cameron said that he came up with the “I’m the king of the world!” line while filming, which Leonardo DiCaprio didn’t completely buy into and had to be convinced to read. The admittedly a little bit cheesy line is more associated with Titanic than any other phrase, representing Jack’s absolute joy at the start of the voyage. Titanic illustrates the doomed cruise ship as being a symbol of hope, taking people to America to start new lives and being a once-in-a-lifetime voyage.
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Titanic is the 1997 blockbuster romantic/disaster epic based on the events surrounding the sinking of the legendary “unsinkable” vessel. Flashing back to the past and forward to the present, the film primarily follows the stories of the well-to-do and somewhat timid Rose and the poor but lively Jack, star-crossed lovers who meet aboard the doomed ship. In addition, the film tells true and fictionalized accounts of the passengers of the RMS Titanic, with an older Rose recounting her tale to the crew of a research ship.
Director James Cameron Release Date December 19, 1997 Writers James Cameron Cast David Warner , Kathy Bates , Billy Zane , Bill Paxton , Bernard Hill , Kate Winslet , Leonardo DiCaprio , Gloria Stuart , Frances Fisher , Victor Garber Runtime 3h 14m
Jack wins the tickets for the Titanic only a few minutes before the ship sets sail, barely making it on board before the door is closed. The people watching the movie who know how history plays out know that this is the worst luck in the world. However, at the moment, Jack is overwhelmed by making it onto the ship, seeing the view, sailing back to America, and feeling like he is on top of the world.
3 “I Am Iron Man.” – Tony Stark
Iron Man (2008)
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This moment that wasn’t even in the script for Iron Man became one of the most amazing scenes of Avengers: Endgame, tying the whole story together.
The simple statement of “I am Iron Man” has only become more iconic and amassed more gravitas since Tony Stark first said these words at the end of Iron Man. Robert Downey Jr. changed the MCU with this line, which he improvised on the day of filming. Not much is known about the originally planned ending of Iron Man, other than it would not have included Tony publicly claiming the identity of Iron Man. Repeated throughout the MCU up until Tony’s last movie, this line is a strong symbol of claiming the responsibility of being a superhero.
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Iron Man is the first film in the long-running Marvel Cinematic Universe franchise. Robert Downey Jr. stars as Tony Stark, who becomes Iron Man after he is kidnapped and discovers terrorists are using weapons developed by Stark Industries. Gwyneth Paltrow stars as Tony’s love interest Pepper Potts alongside Jon Favreau as Happy Hogan and Jeff Bridges as the villainous Obadiah Stane.
Director Jon Favreau Release Date May 2, 2008 Writers Matt Holloway , Art Marcum , Hawk Ostby , Mark Fergus Cast Robert Downey Jr. , Jeff Bridges , Gwyneth Paltrow , Terrence Howard , Leslie Bibb , Shaun Toub , Clark Gregg , Paul Bettany Runtime 126 minutes
Downey adding this line at the last minute changed the trajectory of superhero pop culture, with secret identities and double lives becoming less frequent, as most of the MCU heroes are publicly known by their real names. It also became a recurring motif with the franchise’s original hero; Tony always goes back to the absolute truth about who he is, how he has changed, and what he must do. This moment that wasn’t even in the script for Iron Man became one of the most amazing scenes of Avengers: Endgame, tying the whole story together.
2 “Leave The Gun, Take The Cannoli.”
The Godfather (1972)
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The Godfather showcases the Corleones’ criminal activities side-by-side with ordinary family traditions, like weddings and baptisms. The opening sequence, of course, shows Don Vito Corleone conducting (and moderately irritated by) various dealings on the day of his daughter’s wedding, while the ending cuts back and forth between Michael at his nephew’s baptism while others carry out his orders elsewhere. The iconic “take the cannoli” line exhibits a similar theme, a line also suggested by the actor who said it.
Related 20 Best Godfather Quotes From The Whole Trilogy
The best Godfather quotes are some of the most famous lines in all of movie history. This is a list that you can’t refuse.
Before going out to kill a traitor bodyguard, Clemenza’s wife reminds him to pick up cannoli. After Paulie is dead, Clemenza tells Rocco to “leave the gun, take the cannoli,” not forgetting his errand for his wife despite the murder, because it is a simple fact of his life. Richard Castellano’s real wife Ardell Sheridan plays Clemenza’s wife, and she suggested adding the “take the cannoli” part of the line to riff off her comment (via The Hollywood Reporter). Castellano reportedly did not return for The Godfather Part II when his condition of Sheridan writing all his lines was rejected.
1 “I Know.” – Han Solo
Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
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George Lucas might not have yet known that Luke and Leia were going to be siblings at the time of the production of The Empire Strikes Back, but the movie still puts a lot more emphasis on Han and Leia as the couple to be rooting for. It has become an urban legend that Harrison Ford improvised one of their biggest moments, which isn’t entirely true (via CBR). For the scene of Han being frozen, the script originally had Leia saying, “I love you. I couldn’t tell you before, but it’s true,” and Han replies, “Just remember that, ‘cause I’ll be back.”
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1980 saw the continuation of the Skywalker Saga with Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back. Although this was the second film in the Star Wars series itself, it would end up being the fifth film chronologically in the Skywalker Saga itself. Created by George Lucas and directed by Irvin Kershner, this sequel sees Darth Vader attempting to locate the Rebel Alliance after they destroyed the Death Star.
Director Irvin Kershner Release Date June 18, 1980 Writers Leigh Brackett , Lawrence Kasdan , George Lucas Cast Mark Hamill , Harrison Ford , Carrie Fisher , Frank Oz , Billy Dee Williams , Anthony Daniels , Kenny Baker , David Prowse , Peter Mayhew , James Earl Jones Runtime 124 minutes
In reality, Ford suggested the line while workshopping the script with director Irvin Kershner before filming. This was lucky for Star Wars, as this line quickly became one of the franchise’s most iconic moments and solidified Han and Leia’s dynamic of their love for each other despite arrogance and stubbornness. A certain amount of flexibility is always good for filming, allowing several instantly beloved movie moments to see the light of day.
Source: looper.com, Jake’s Takes, Vulture, The Hollywood Reporter, CBR
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