Ask any film fan worth their salt and they’ll tell you that science fiction is home to some of the strongest writing in film. The genre manages to draw some huge writing talents because of it’s inherent ability to mix heady, intellectual themes with balls to the wall action. Also, aliens and robots.
For a century, science fiction flicks have run the gamut from cheesy to brilliant, awe-inspiring to simply awesome, and most of the treasured moments aren’t effects driven. Moments resonate when fleshed-out characters (some of them robotic) say memorable, incisive stuff. It happens more than you think.
So here, for your consideration, are the 39 best lines from science fiction films.
39. “Hasta la vista, baby.” — Terminator 2: Judgement Day
38. “Leloo Dallas multipass.” — The Fifth Element
37. “Dead or alive, you’re coming with me.” — RoboCop
36. “Death to the machines.” — Metropolis
35. “Quaid, start the reactor.” — Total Recall
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34. “An angel does not make love, an angel is love.” — Barbarella
33. “I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass. … And I’m all out of bubblegum.” — They Live
32. “It must be Thursday. I never could get the hang of Thursdays.” — The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
31. “Great, kid! Don’t get cocky.” — Star Wars: Episode IV — A New Hope
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30. “You know we’re sitting on four million pounds of fuel, one nuclear weapon, and a thing that has 270,000 moving parts built by the lowest bidder. Makes you feel good, doesn’t it?” — Armageddon
29. “This is my family. I found it, all on my own. Is little, and broken, but still good. Yeah. Still good.” — Lilo and Stitch
28. “You tell me where my suit is, woman!” — The Incredibles
27. “Well, now I’m standing. Happy? We’re all standing now. Bunch of jackasses, standing in a circle.” — Guardians of the Galaxy
26. “By Grabthar’s hammer, by the suns of Worvan, you shall be avenged.” — Galaxy Quest
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25. “Are you like a crazy person?” — V for Vendetta
24. “We have to go deeper.” — Inception
23. This. — Blade Runner
22. “I was gonna make you. Now I’m gonna dead you. This is my block!” — Attack the Block
21. “Take your stinking paws off me, you damn dirty ape!” — Planet of the Apes
20. “And Hulk … smash.” — The Avengers
19. “Whatever the hell this is. …” — Deep Blue Sea
18. “You know what the difference is between you and me? I make this look good.” — Men in Black
17. “Soylent Green is people!” — Soylent Green
16. “Who run Bartertown?” — Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome
15. “I’m sorry, Dave. I’m afraid I can’t do that.” — 2001: A Space Odyssey
14. “I know kung fu.” — The Matrix
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13. “Welcome to Earth.” — Independence Day
12. “Klaatu barada nikto.” — The Day the Earth Stood Still
11. “Kill me.” — The Fly
10. “Life finds a way.” — Jurassic Park
9. “I’ll be back.” — The Terminator
8. “Where we’re going, we don’t need roads.” — Back to the Future
7. “No! Try not! Do or do not, there is no try.” — Star Wars: Episode V — The Empire Strikes Back
6. ���”You are one ugly motherfucker.” — Predator
5. TONES — Close Encounters of the Third Kind
4. “You’re going to need a bigger boat.” — Jaws
3. “Khaaaaaaaaan!” — Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
2. “Ray, when someone asks you if you’re a god, you say ‘yes!’” — Ghostbusters
