The 25 Best Movie Monologues

As a writer, I'm always hoping to put words on the page that can live forever. Of course, filmmaking is a collaborative experience, so you need a director to take the scene and mold it, and then great actors to embody the characters and deliver the message.

The best movie monologues have everything working for them, with this collaboration working on every front.

That's why so many actors choose to try to replicate them in auditions and on their reels. But what are the best movie monologues in my opinion? Today, we're going to dig into that list and see what we come up with.

Let's dive in.

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The Best Movie Monologues

I sent a few messages around the No Film School office to ping people to get inspired. We wound up all having a long discussion about these kinds of scenes in film and pulling out some hidden gems.

The reason we love these scenes is that they're usually at a point in a movie where we get delivered the message or the theme. They extrapolate all of the emotions the audience has felt this whole time and put them into words.

I didn't put my list in any order, I just went with the way they occurred to me.

Here's a list of scenes we think do it wonderfully...

1. 'Gone Girl' - "Cool Girl"

This defines everything you could know about a moment in time. It's all angst and repression and shows why our titular girl needs to disappear.

2. 'Good Will Hunting' - "The Bench Scene"

The emotional response I had to seeing this for the first time was immense. I love how deep we get into the characters.

3. 'Jaws' - "The USS Indianapolis"

If I had to repeat one from this list, it would be this one. It's so harrowing and reveals so much backstory while being entertaining.

4. 'Pulp Fiction' - "The Watch"

Honestly, there are so many great moments in this movie that this scene gets forgotten. It shouldn't be, because it's just a masterclass in acting.

5. 'The Godfather' - "I believe in America"

What a way to open a movie! You're on the edge of your seat as you see the power transfer between characters.

6. 'To Kill a Mockingbird' - "All Men are Created Equal"

This was a revolutionary moment in history and for movies. It declared a line in the sand and showed that the sides people were on.

7. 'Network' - 'I'm Mad as Hell"

I go back to this a lot because it feels even more present today. It's one of the best screenplays of all time, too.

8. 'Dirty Harry' - "Feel Lucky, Punk?"

There are very few moments in movie history that stand the test of time and remain badass, but this really encapsulates the grit and tenor of Eastwood.

9. 'Mr. Smith Goes to Washington' - "Lost Causes"

This immortal speech is probably more famous than the movie itself. It's years for an America we all believe can exist someday.

10. 'Field of Dreams' - "Baseball"

If you want to feel the magical realism of a game, this is it. It transports you through time and space and makes baseball an essential part of life to understand.

11. 'Barbie' - "Being a Woman"

This was such a special moment for women and moviegoing. It was an acknowledgement of how hard things are and also how powerful we can be together.

12. 'A Few Good Men' - "Truth"

The range and emotion on display here is so inspirational. It's easy to see why actors flock to these roles and moments.

13. 'The Color Purple' - "All My Life I Had to Fight"

Very few monologues on this list are as wistful and emotional as this one. It shows another side of a person.

14. 'Fences' - "Same Spot"

This movie and play are acting dreams. Here, we get to see the full expression of marital commitment and yearning for other things.

15. 'Scent of a Woman' - "Out of Order"

This climax is so exciting. We get the culmination of a character arc and see how much someone has changed. It's a rebellious and loud declaration of the will to live.

16. 'Caddyshack' - "Cinderella Story"

This was done all improv, and lives on as one of the funniest scenes ever captured on film. You just want to be there, hamming it up.

17. 'The Shawshank Redemption' - "Red's Speech"

What's so rare is that these words are all spoken as a voiceover, so totally off-screen. You can make it your own and still bring us somewhere beautiful.

18. 'On The Waterfront' - "Contender"

A legendary dive into a past that you feel like should be different. It's anger at the present and at a life you think may never get better.

19. 'The Last Picture Show' - "Ruth"

I find this to be one of the most powerful moments in movie history. It's a beautiful look at time going by and a life that maybe didn't turn out the way you wanted.

20. 'There Will Be Blood' - "Milkshake"

Everyone loves doing this monologue. It's so easy to get swept up in going big and getting to flail around.

21. 'Glengarry Glen Ross' - "Closing"

I find this to be an overrated monologue because everyone does it...but if it's been a while. This is one to go back to. Because the writing and performance is absolutely amazing.

22. 'Independence Day' - "July 4th"

Out of left field, this is a monologue that unites the world and has a lot to say about humanity in general. It's a fun one to whip out at parties.

23. 'Austin Powers' - "Dr. Evil's Story"

Again, if you can get us to laugh, you can stick in our heads. This shouldn't work, but it's such a specific and weird story, it does.

24. 'Call Me By Your Name' - "Father to Son"

There's a real understanding here of a world that's so different between a Dad and his kid. But also a yearning to understand it. It's both modern and classic.

25. 'Braveheart' - "Freedom"

What else can be said about such an amazing movie moment? It's a declaration of who you are as a person and a call to action that cannot be ignored.

Summing Up the Best Monologues

Again, all of this is subjective. There are so many great movie monologues out there; all you really need to do is pick your favorites and express your opinions about them.

I love finding new, great acting pieces I can send to friends or try to emulate in my own work.

Let me know what you think in the comments.