11 Most Romantic Movie Lines of All Time

Laura Grande | February 1st, 2017
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We revisit some of the most romantic movie moments in Hollywood history.

“You complete me.” 

“Love means never having to say you’re sorry.”

“I wish I knew how to quit you.”

How many times have we watched (and rewatched) our favourite movies, silently wishing we’d been clever enough to come up with such swoon-worthy dialogue?

From Ingrid Bergman’s heartbreaking request for a kiss in Casablanca to Steve Martin’s tearjerker of a comment about his longtime wife in The Father of the Bride, movies have the tendency to bring out the shameless, sappy romantic in all of us. Who says the only time we should embrace our inner Romeo and Juliet is on Valentine’s Day?

Here, we revisit lovey-dovey lines of dialogue that are so good, we may as well just keep letting Hollywood do all the talking.

“Kiss me. Kiss me as if it were the last time.”

— Ilsa Lund (Ingrid Bergman) to Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart) in Casablanca (1942)

The Princess Bride

“As you wish.”

— Westley (Cary Elwes) to Buttercup (Robin Wright) in The Princess Bride (1987)

As Good As It Gets

“You make me want to be a better man.”

— Melvin Udall (Jack Nicholson) to Carol Connelly (Helen Hunt) in As Good As It Gets (1997)

On Golden Pond

“Listen to me, mister. You’re my knight in shining armour. Don’t you forget it.”

— Ethel Thayer (Katharine Hepburn) to Norman Thayer Jr. (Henry Fonda) in On Golden Pond (1981)

The English Patient

“Swoon. I’ll catch you.”

— Count Laszlo de Almásy (Ralph Fiennes) to Hana (Juliette Binoche) in The English Patient (1996)

Forrest Gump

“I don’t know if we each have a destiny, or if we’re all just floating around accidental—like on a breeze—but I think maybe it’s both. Maybe both is happening at the same time. I miss you, Jenny. If there’s anything you need, I won’t be far away.”

— Forrest Gump (Tom Hanks) at Jenny’s (Robin Wright) gravesite in Forrest Gump (1994)

Brief Encounter

“I’ve fallen in love. I’m an ordinary woman. I didn’t think such violent things could happen to ordinary people.”

— Laura Jesson (Celia Johnson) to Dr. Alec Harvey (Trevor Howard) in Brief Encounter (1945)

The Father of the Bride

“I knew I’d never be able to remember what Nina wore that day. But I also knew I’d never forget the way she looked.”

— George Banks (Steve Martin) talking about his wife, Nina (Diane Keaton), in The Father of the Bride (1991)

When Harry Met Sally…

“I love that you get cold when it’s 71 degrees out. I love that it takes you an hour and a half to order a sandwich. I love that you get a little crinkle above your nose when you’re looking at me like I’m nuts. I love that after I spend the day with you, I can still smell your perfume on my clothes. And I love that you are the last person I want to talk to before I go to sleep at night. And it’s not because I’m lonely, and it’s not because it’s New Year’s Eve. I came here tonight because when you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.”

— Harry Burns (Billy Crystal) to Sally Albright (Meg Ryan) in When Harry Met Sally… (1989)

Romeo and Juliet

No Merchandising. Editorial Use Only. No Book Cover Usage. Mandatory Credit: Photo by Moviestore Collection / Rex Features (1619684a) Romeo And Juliet, Olivia Hussey, Leonard Whiting Film and Television

“Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight! For I ne’er saw true beauty till this night.”

— Romeo Montague (Leonard Whiting) talking about Juliet Capulet (Olivia Hussey) in Romeo and Juliet (1968)

Before Sunset

“I guess when you’re young, you just believe there’ll be many people…you’ll connect with. Later in life, you realize it only happens a few times.”

— Celine (Julie Delpy) to Jesse (Ethan Hawke) in Before Sunset (2004)