Ah, the monologue: great in movies, terrible at dinner parties! To find out just how great it can be in the right context, we asked Just About Film & TV, our very own community of film buffs, to opine on the greatest monologues in cinema history. The final entry is guaranteed to give you chills, so stick around. Now, before we can be accused of going on a monologue of our own, let’s get stuck in!
Jurassic Park - Dr Ian Malcolm - Jeff Goldblum - 1993
The very first submission to our monologues bounty was one of the most popular. Jeff Goldblum is nearly always iconic, but his most iconic role has got to be Dr Ian Malcolm in Jurassic Park. While perhaps most well-known for his “life, uh, finds a way” line, Jeff steals the show in this classic monologue, which must be one of the most memorised and recited of all time.
One of those memoriser-reciters is Retro Stu, who takes any opportunity to deploy this Goldblum gold:
“The fact they bring Ian to the island because of his views on chaos theory, and he ends up being the voice of reason in this moment is glorious. Everyone is in awe of the island initially, but Ian stands up to hold Hammond to account, and rightly so. Because of this moment, whenever someone does something questionable, I’m often found saying ‘You were so preoccupied with whether or not you could, that you didn’t stop to think if you should!’. So thank you, Jeff, for this perfect delivery.”
So good was Stu’s suggestion that Horror and Cats bowed out of the competition: “And there it is. I’m not even going to enter; Malcolm’s got my vote.” Whereas Dave just replied with another Jurassic Park classic: “Hold onto your butts.”
Considering some of the other monologues we have in this list, that’s advice you might want to heed.Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers - Samwise Gamgee - Sean Astin - 2002
Lord of the Rings was the IP that made a generation fall in love with fantasy. In a trilogy filled with epic monologues, it’s difficult to just pick one. But our community nominated this heart-wrenching scene, beautifully performed by the ever-charming Sean Astin. And no, it’s not the poh-tay-toes scene.
“The acting is just next level. Moments like this make this trilogy some of the most memorable fantasy films on the planet.” That’s Damien Mason, who nominated the monologue. Here’s his justification:
“It comes right after a life-or-death moment with Frodo succumbing to the pull of the One Ring. The characters are beyond exhausted at the end of the second movie; parched for water amid a bloody battle, I honestly feel tired just watching them. This pivotal speech shows how Sam deserves just as much glory as the main hero, if not more. He saved his best friend and the world from the apocalypse and is still required to step up as a motivator.
“The message itself isn’t unique. Galaxy Quest summarises it well in just five words: ‘Never give up, never surrender.’ Still, it’s one that hits home at the height of the movie’s emotions and something we could all stand to take on board in our own lives. We all hesitate and doubt ourselves, but we all have a chance to push through it.”
Damien is far from the only person it hits home for. One of the others being JA’s very own Nicole, who doesn’t hesitate to admit that she wants Samwise Gamgee to read her to sleep, adding “No, you accidentally watched the clip again and are crying at your desk on a Friday afternoon!”
Marriage Story - Nora Fanshaw - Laura Dern - 2019
While Marriage Story may not be as well-known as the preceding entries, it’s a fantastically reviewed romantic drama. And the nominated monologue - which tackles society’s unreasonable expectations of mothers - is just as hard-hitting.
Stella (Stella) recommended the monologue, in which Laura Dern’s character Nora Fanshaw is telling Scarlett Johansson’s character that she can’t display any faults as a mother during her divorce trial, despite it being fine for her soon-to-be ex-husband to do so.
Language and religious sensibilities warning ⚠️
This is what Stella had to say:“It’s an unforgettable scene. Nora Fanshaw is so fun to watch, and she really commits to this scene. My favourite part, following a line about the Virgin Mary is ‘and the dad isn’t there, he didn’t even do the f**king. God is in heaven. God is the father and God didn’t show up!’ Laura Dern is a great supporting actress and the performances are brilliant all round!”
Emilia agrees: “What a beautiful scene!”
Taken - Bryan Mills - Liam Neeson - 2008
Three different community members all nominated this classic from the 2008 action movie Taken. You probably don’t need us to tell you which scene it is, but we’ll give you a clue: it involves a phone and a very particular set of skills.
It was Josh B who first nominated this one, and we think he accurately explains what makes the scene stand out: “They’re the cold, calm, and motivated words of a man with no limits. In my opinion, it’s one of the most memorable monologues in all of film. For most people, it doesn’t even need a reference to its origins; it’s become that defining a movie moment.”
FUN INC was one of the other nominators. He also shared this more lighthearted chat-show rendition. It seems like Liam Neeson is one of the few people who don’t know the words:Blade Runner - Roy Batty - Rutger Hauer - 1982
Are you ready for chills? The other monologues in this greatest monologue list are unsurprisingly ‘great’, but what makes Roy Batty’s final lines extra special is that they were largely improvised. As Vangelis plays over the top, the fearsome and villainous cyborg shows a tenderness and humanity that simultaneously brings the entire movie together while flipping it on its head. In moments, the scene transforms from high-octane action to awe-inspiring poignancy.
Sturmer recommended this one. Here’s why: “I’m a big fan of the Blade Runner universe and this scene delivers such emotional resonance. The actor and the acting are amazing.”
Fantastic Mr Fox - Mr Fox - George Clooney - 2009
There’s only one adjective to describe this next monologue, and it begins with an ‘f’. They say that pride comes before a fall. In this case, the cascading waterfall that frames Mr Fox’s tender, regretful speech. Feeling the weight of his actions, Mr Fox reflects on his motivations and the complex balancing act between ego and self-worth.
Emilia, who nominated the monologue, had this to add:
“Mr Fox’s monologue in Wes Anderson’s Fantastic Mr Fox is one of the most beautiful in cinema, capturing the desire to be perfect at all times, to be ‘fantastic’, and the fallout when you fail to meet the standards you set for yourself. I have rarely found a character that captures this paradox in any other form of media.”
Stella agrees: “I love this scene! It’s so sad but beautiful!”
The Avengers - Loki - Tom Hiddlestone - 2012
There’s no denying that Marvel has released some showstoppers, but few compare to 2012’s The Avengers. While the film is often lighthearted, Loki’s speech shifts the tone towards terror and despair as a group of theatre-goers are forced to bow to his will. But perhaps what really sets the scene apart isn’t the courage of superpowered heroes, but of an ordinary, elderly man who refuses to obey. As Loki finishes his monologue with “You will always kneel.” The man rises defiantly to his feet, stares into Loki’s eyes and declares “Not to men like you!” The choice to set the scene in Germany makes the scene especially poignant.
Lanah Tyra, who nominated the speech, said this:“Others have already posted some of my favourites, which had me in tears, so here’s one which makes me shiver every time I hear it. I think it’s one of the most outstanding performances from The Avengers. And yes, I do have a soft spot for Loki.”
Rocky Balboa - Rocky Balboa - Sylvester Stallone - 2006
Love them or hate them, you can’t deny that the Rocky films are motivational. After the critically slated Rocky V, Rocky Balboa delivered a more sentimental, grounded, and human hit that took many by surprise.
Part of what makes the speech powerful (other than some great lines delivered with punch) is how quickly, as a viewer, you switch sides. At first, it’s easy to see things from Rocky’s son Robert’s point of view - he’s lived in the shadow of his father’s fame and takes the courage to finally stand up to him and let out his bottled emotions. Only by Robert saying his piece does the ground open for his father to do the same, revealing not only that he loves Robert, but that he knows him too - better than Robert knew.
MURRRAAAAY recommended this one, and explains why it hits home for him:
“Without a doubt, the best monologue has to be this speech in Rocky Balboa. I’ve been through some tough times myself. As you get older, you realise more and more how true everything Rocky says is. It’s really powerful stuff. I usually well up a bit when I watch this; it hits me in the feels!”
The Great Dictator - Charlie Chaplin - the barber - 1940
While many see Charlie Chaplin as a comedic actor, he was also a deeply political man and arguably at his finest in the anti-war satire The Great Dictator, which he wrote, directed, and starred in. Chaplin’s character is a Jewish barber mistaken for the tyrannical dictator Adenoid Hynkel. Thanks to a series of miscommunications, he’s thrust onto the political stage. What follows is a timeless, powerful speech that serves as a goosebump-inducing message of hope straight to the heart of all those who despair at the actions of cruel men.
tinny_three had this to say about his nomination: “Though I must admit that I haven’t watched the whole movie, I watched this monologue in history class one time, and it’s stuck with me since. It’s as relevant now as when Chaplin spoke it, and it gives me chills every time I hear it.”
It had the same, powerful effect on Kerri: “I love every suggestion and submission to this bounty, but this is the first one that feels bigger than film. It has lasting cultural power and significance on a level that only the greatest speeches in history achieve.”
And there we have it, the greatest monologues ever to grace the silver screen. Do you have a favourite monologue that we missed? Let us know in the comment section below! You may let go of your butts now.
Some text has been amended for brevity. You can find the original wording (and a selection of LOTR carb-based food funs) at the bounty post. Image credit: Edo Nugroho. All movie footage belongs to the original rights holders.
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