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The Most Famous Lines of Dialogue from 14 Iconic Science Fiction & Fantasy Movies

Behind every classic film is a great line.

By Rod FaulknerPublished 6 years ago 7 min read
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Most of us can quote at least one line of dialogue from our favorite movies.

These lines resonate with us for one reason or another. They encapsulate the theme, tone, or ideologies of movies that have left an indelible impression - either good or bad - on our psyches.

Some of the most iconic science fiction and fantasy films have at least one line of dialogue that has become a seminal part of the zeitgeist around the world.

In fact, by just uttering these lines alone, many can identify the films from which they are derived.

The following lines of dialogue are among the most famous taken from 14 iconic science fiction and fantasy movies that have left an enduring mark on pop culture.

This dire warning first issued in director James Cameron's groundbreaking science fiction/action movie The Terminator announced to audiences the arrival of a new prototype of action film and star in Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Marvel Entertainment's domination at the box office is the envy of Hollywood.

But in May of 2008, the cinematic arm of the comic book publisher was considered an inconsequential player in the film industry.

The studio took a huge gamble by releasing Iron Man, a film about a then-obscure superhero starring Robert Downey, Jr., an actor whose career was on the decline.

After its release, Iron Man became a bonafide blockbuster, rejuvenating Downey's career and signaling Marvel Entertainment's reign at the box office had begun.

In the film, when lead character Tony Stark (Downey) boldly reveals to the world he is the superhero Iron Man, that sea change in the narrative reflects the dramatic real-life change of fortunes for Marvel Entertainment as well.

When it made its theatrical debut in 1968, Planet Of The Apes stunned audiences with its story of several astronauts, led by George Taylor (Charlton Heston), marooned on a distant planet and captured by intelligent, reasoning, and talking apes.

In this world, humans are unintelligent primates, unable to even speak. It is the apes who have established a sophisticated civilization.

After evading his captors and escaping into the wild, Taylor makes a startling discovery about the planet at the movie's conclusion that shocked audiences around the world - and cemented this film into the annals of cinematic history.

1968 was a banner year for science fiction on film.

Not only was the provocative Planet Of The Apes released, but also the Stanley Kubrick epic space opera 2001: A Space Odyssey.

2001: A Space Odyssey is considered to be one of the most influential movies ever made. Its astonishing visual effects and existential ponderings has captivated viewers for over fifty years.

A seminal moment in the film is the malfunction of HAL 9000, the advanced artificial intelligence responsible for maintaining the operating systems of the movie's main spaceship Discovery One.

When HAL 9000 refuses a vital command by the movie's protagonist Dr. David Bowman, the soothing dulcet tone of the A.I. transforms into the cold and calculating voice of dread and horror.

The Wizard Of Oz has become a classic beloved by millions for generations. The story of Dorothy, a young girl from Kansas who is transported to a realm of wonder and magic, is a modern fairytale.

After enjoying many adventures in Oz, including confronting and defeating an evil witch, Dorothy realizes the magic of a place called home is among the most powerful there is.

Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan is still considered by many fans to be the best installment of the film franchise to date.

The cast of Star Trek the original series was back on the big screen in fighting form after the beautiful, but rambling Star Trek: The Motion Picture.

Aside from the dynamic script and stunning visual effects, The Wrath of Khan gripped audiences with the mesmerizing battle of wills between Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) and his formidable arch-enemy Khan (Ricardo Montalbán).

However, the true emotional core of the film was not revealed until the movie's third act when Spock (Leonard Nimoy) - one of the most beloved characters in all of science fiction - made the ultimate sacrifice to save his crewmates aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise.

With his noble, final sacrifice, Spock proved he was the most human of all.

Aliens is one of the rare film sequels that maintains the creative integrity of the original while being an achievement in filmmaking based on its own merits.

The continuing saga of Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver), the sole survivor of the events of Alien, continues in this action-packed blockbuster.

In Aliens, Ripley returns to LV-426, the planet where she and her former crew encountered a deadly alien lifeform. She is accompanied by a squad of elite Space Marines, who are skeptical of her account of the xenomorph that wiped out her entire crew.

Soon the Marines' arrogance turns to sheer horror after they encounter a hive of the lethal aliens.

After being defeated in battle, Marine Private Hudson (Bill Paxton) exclaims in a panic "Game over man! Game over!" in a scene packed with dark humor and terror.

When The Matrix was released in 1999, audiences did not know to expect. Many, myself included, believed the film to be another generic action movie.

It isn't until Neo (Keanu Reeves) meets the mysterious hacker Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne) that The Matrix reveals itself to be a mind-bending, cyberpunk-dystopian odyssey. A film that would become a surprise international blockbuster spawning sequels, video games, and more.

Peter Jackson's ambitious film adaptations of J.R.R. Tolkien's classic fantasy novels ushered in a golden age in cinema for genre movies.

The story of a magic ring created by a supernatural being of unspeakable evil and power had the most unusual hero - Frodo (Elijah Wood), a diminutive being known as a Hobbit.

Frodo alone does what many in the film believe is impossible: he walks directly into the heart of Mordor, the citadel of evil, in order to prevent darkness from enveloping his world.

Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back is considered the pinnacle of all the Star Wars films - and with good reason.

This installment of the Skywalker saga is compelling in its darkness and features our heroes suffering a crushing defeat at the hands of the evil galactic empire.

Back during the film's initial release in 1980, a bombshell was dropped on moviegoers when the identity of Luke Skywalker's father is revealed during the climax of the movie.

This revelation stunned audiences and overturned everything fans thought they knew about the galaxy far, far away.

Steven Spielberg's heartwarming science fiction movie about a troubled young boy who befriends a stranded alien botanist became one of the highest-grossing movies of all time.

E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial is endearing because it is not about malevolent aliens seeking to destroy us, but instead is a tale of friendship, trust, family, and the universal longing to return to a place called home.

The post-apocalyptic movie Soylent Green is set in a world devastated by greenhouse gases due to over-industrialization.

Society has collapsed due to rampant unemployment, depleted natural resources, and overpopulation.

With food scare, the Soylent Corporation creates Soylent Green, a protein-rich drink it promises will sustain the population. However, the disturbing secret of Soylent Green is revealed in the haunting final scene of this eerily prescient film.

Pixar's animated hit about a family of superheroes is an irreverent love letter to superhero stories.

When Mr. Incredible meets a young boy who proclaims himself to be his "number one fan," the film is making an astute observation about fandoms.

Fandoms are passionate about the things they love and are extremely loyal -but that devotion can morph into a sense of entitled possession which can quickly take a negative turn. This souring of admiration led to the creation of The Incredibles' deadly antagonist.

The Incredibles is a still-relevant cautionary tale, warning against the dangers of fandom gone toxic.

Without a doubt, Star Wars is the most popular science fiction franchise of all time.

It's iconography - including lightsabers, droids, and the intimidating visage of Darth Vader himself - is permanently etched into pop culture history.

That said, the benediction, "May the force be with you," is undeniable in its unique power to invoke all things Star Wars in the hearts and minds of fans everywhere.

Each of these famous lines of dialogue serves as a testament to the enduring appeal and impact of the iconic movies from which they are derived.

These unforgettable films have earned a permanent spot in cinematic history as well as in our collective consciousness.

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About the Creator

Rod Faulkner

Rod Faulkner is a blerd, writer, and the founder of The7thMatrix.com, a website dedicated to promoting the best in indie SFF short films and web series. He can be found on Twitter at @The7thMatrix.

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