Filmmakers are often accused of writing movies that give quick snippets and no real substance, but from time to time a truly great scene comes out that includes brilliant speech writing. This is a list of the ten greatest movie speeches. Obviously many of you will disagree with my selection, so feel free to add your own to the comments. Include a youtube link if you can so we can all enjoy the goods!

10. Matt Damon’s Speech Good Will hunting

Pride comes before a fall and in this scene – we see a perfect example of it. This is a wonderful scene that anyone who has ever made mocked will appreciate. I especially like the way he wraps things up with the offer to “step outside” – he may be a walking library, but he is also a badass!

Buy this DVD at Amazon

9. Captain Koons Speech Pulp Fiction

This has to be on the list simply because Christopher Walken is so amazing. You can easily see Tarantino’s writing in this speech, but Walken manages to take it to another dimension.

Buy this DVD at Amazon





8. Monty Brogan’s Speech

25th Hour

A large number of items on this list have good messages in them – this one, unfortunately, is bound to offend virtually everyone. Nevertheless, the acting is good and Edward Norton is brilliant, so here it is.

Buy this DVD at Amazon

7. A Few Good Men A Few Good Men

My apologies for including a scene with Tom “Xenu’s Bitch” Cruise, but I had to include this scene because Jack Nicholson is so great.

Buy this DVD at Amazon





6. Courtroom Scene To Kill a Mockingbird

A brilliant story and an almost equally brilliant film. This is the famous court scene from the movie in which Gregory Peck defends black man Tom in a small town.

Buy this DVD at Amazon

5. Drill Instructor Speech Full Metal Jacket

I would say 99% of people reading this list expected to see this item on it. It definitely deserves a place in the top 5.

Buy this DVD at Amazon





4. Freedom Speech Braveheart

This is William Wallace’s speech to the army about patriotism and freedom.

Buy this DVD at Amazon

3. St Crispin’s Day Speech Henry V

“We band of brothers” – this speech never fails to send chills down my spine. An outstanding performance of one of the most beautifully written pieces of English.

Buy this DVD at Amazon





2. Patton Speech Patton

The famous speech by General Patton in the movie of the same name.

Buy this DVD at Amazon

1. Chaplin’s Speech the Great Dictator

This amazing speech may surprise people who are used to Chaplin’s comedic films. Not only was this a powerful and amazing speech in its time, it is still relevant today.

Buy this DVD at Amazon