The silver screen has the power to inspire, entertain, and captivate moviegoers withdramaticstories from all across the world, with many of Hollywood’s most unforgettable characters delivering some truly spectacular last words in their final moments.From Marlon Brando’siconic uttering of “The horror, the horror” inApocalypse Nowto Roy Batty’s beautifully poignant monologue inBlade Runner, there has been no shortage of memorable dying words in film.
Audiences can’t help but become heavily invested in the lives of these famous fictional faces, with some of these characters’ demises being equally celebrated and mourned. Orson Welles opened his directorial debutCitizen Kanewith the mysterious word “Rosebud”, causing a domino effect in the film as it explored the phrase’s true meaning. With that said, let’s take a look at the 21 greatest dying words in movie history.
21“James, earn this. Earn it.” – Captain John H. Miller (Saving Private Ryan)
After spending the course ofSteven Spielberg’s Academy Award-winning masterpieceSaving Private Ryanvaliantly fighting to locate the eponymous soldier with a motley crew of courageous men, Captain John Miller (Tom Hanks) finally achieved his goal and was able to track down the ever-elusive private. Throughout the harrowing quest, many brave soldiers and members of Miller’s team lost their lives as the war raged on around them, yet the Captain remained steadfast in finding Ryan. However, in ferrying Ryan back home, Miller would find himself uttering one of the most memorable quotes in war films to this day.
Moving Final Words to Live By
When Miller and his remaining men come upon Ryan, the soldier refuses to abandon his post and does not believe he deserves to leave more than anyone else. Miller helps the younger man and the soldiers prepare for a German assault, which ultimately results in the Captain being fatally wounded. As reinforcements arrive, Miller shares a truly poignant moment with Ryan and tells the private to earn the sacrifices he and his fellow soldiers made to bring him home, ultimately completing his mission and succumbing to his injury.Stream onParamount+
Saving Private Ryan
20“I’ll be damned. Oh, this is funny.” – Doc Holliday (Tombstone)
Val Kilmer deliveredan unforgettable performanceas notorious gunfighter Doc Holliday in the classic ’90s WesternTombstone, brilliantly portraying Wyatt Earp’s right-hand-man as they face off against a group of outlaws known as the Cowboys who are terrorizing the region. Together, the fearless duo, along with Virgil and Morgan Earp, set out to rid the titular town of the ruthless gang, leading to an epic showdown that would become known as the famous shootout at the O.K. Corral.
A Gunslinger’s Peaceful End
Despite being a highly-skilled gunslinger who tussled with some seriously dangerous adversaries, Holliday did not end up dying in a blaze of glory but rather in a Colorado sanitorium. After participating in the legendary battle and successfully defeating outlaw Johnny Ringo in a duel, Holliday spends his final days in a hospital where he loses his fight with tuberculosis. Holliday can’t help but marvel at his startling fate as he takes his last breath, having assumed a bullet would be what ended him. Instead, he is given a more peaceful send-off. He’ll always be our huckleberry.Stream onHulu
19“The horror. The horror.” – Colonel Walter E. Kurtz (Apocalypse Now)
Francis Ford Coppola pulled no punches when he directed the groundbreaking war juggernautApocalypse Now, centering on skilled veteran assassin Captain Benjamin L. Willard as he is enlisted to carry out a top-secret mission to assassinate the decorated and once-revered Colonel Walter Kurtz (Marlon Brando). Having disappeared into the wilderness, Kurtz has seemingly gone mad, wreaking havoc in Cambodia during the height of the Vietnam War.
Compelling Commentary on War
Throughout thecritically-acclaimed drama, Kurtz was on the brink of insanity and reached his breaking point after being dismissed by the U.S. Army, opting to become the “God-King” of the Montagnards deep in the Cambodian jungle. After subjecting Willard to unfathomable cruelty and psychological abuse, Kurtz meets his end at the hand of the Captain’s machete and utters the iconic line. He had become corrupted by absolute power and as he lay dying, Kurtz reflected upon the brutality and horrors of war and the effects it has on humanity, embracing an end to his own madness.Rent/Buy onPrime Video
Apocalypse Now
18“You cannot win, Darth. If you strike me down, I shall become more powerful than you can possibly imagine.” – Obi-Wan Kenobi (Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope)
Silver screen legend Alec Guinness earned an Academy Award nomination when he starred as famousJedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobiin George Lucas' ’70s sci-fi juggernautStar Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope. Obi-Wan takes the young Luke Skywalker under his wing and teaches him about the Force, revealing that he is a heroic Jedi and subsequently training him to be a member of the eponymous ancient warriors. However, a dramatic confrontation would ultimately set the stage for the heroic journey of Luke Skywalker.
Obi-Wan’s Prophetic Words
Obi-Wan assists Luke and Han Solo as they set out to rescue Princess Leia from the nefarious clutches of Darth Vader and assist the Rebel Alliance in their fight to keep the galaxy safe. In a truly heroic moment, Obi-Wan sacrifices himself during a dangerous lightsaber duel against Darth Vader, whom he is trying to keep distracted so that the young heroes can escape to the Millennium Falcon.The powerful Jedi leaves Vader with his final parting words, foreshadowing how his death will inspire Luke to take down the Sith, no matter the cost.Stream onDisney+
Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope
17“Bury me in the ocean, with my ancestors that jumped from the ships, because they knew that death was better than bondage.” – Erik “Killmonger” Stevens (Black Panther)
Determined to seize power and control of thewondrous nation of Wakandaand its dazzling technology, lethal black ops mercenary Erik “Killmonger” Stevens (Michael B. Jordan) spends the duration ofBlack Panthermaking an enemy out of his cousin and the African land’s superhero king, T’Challa, whom he dethrones and ends up taking control of Wakanda from. T’Challa doesn’t stay down for long and returns to take back both the throne and the nation, resulting in a devastating family showdown.
A Beautifully Poignant Declaration
After duking it out in a violent and brutal battle, Killmonger is fatally wounded after T’Challa disables his suit and stabs him. Instead of opting to be healed, a defeated Killmonger declares to his cousin that he would rather die as a free man than be incarcerated, movingly telling the Marvel hero his final words.T’Challa takes Killmonger to a stunning secluded spot where the pair watches the Wakanda sunset, and he dies peacefully shortly after. It’s a stunning closer to one of the most critically-acclaimed MCU films in history.Stream onDisney+
Black Panther
Marvel Studios’ “Black Panther” follows T’Challa who, after the death of his father, the King of Wakanda, returns home to the isolated, technologically advanced African nation to succeed to the throne and take his rightful place as king. But when a powerful old enemy reappears, T’Challa’s mettle as king—and Black Panther—is tested when he is drawn into a formidable conflict that puts the fate of Wakanda and the entire world at risk.
16“A plague on both your houses!” – Mercutio (Romeo + Juliet)
While there have been countless adaptations and iterations of thecelebrated Shakespeare tragedy, few can live up to the impact and legacy of Baz Luhrmann’sRomeo + Juliet. Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes star as the iconic star-crossed lovers, who fall head-over-heels for one another despite their families being fierce rivals and enemies. Romeo’s best friend Mercutio (Harold Perrineau) is supportive of their growing romance, and he even challenges Juliet’s hot-headed cousin Tybalt to a duel after Romeo refuses to do so.
15 of the Most Iconic Movie Kisses of All Time
Across multiple genres, from romance to action, here’s a list of the most iconic movie kisses of all time.
Mercutio’s Demise Leads to Tragedy
Just as the incensed Mercutio is about to kill Tybalt, Romeo steps in and pleads with his friend to not go through with the act, inadvertently distracting Mercutio just long enough for Tybalt to strike and mortally injure him. Mercutio curses both the Montagues and Capulets as he lies dying, expressing the infamous final words to a completely devastated Romeo. Mercutio’s death causes a domino effect that propels the story to tragedy, as an enraged Romeo retaliates by shooting Tybalt and avenging his friend’s murder. It’s an already iconic quote brought to life on the big screen by the talented Harold Perrineau.Stream onHulu
Romeo + Juliet
15“I’m melting! Melting! Ohhhhh… What a world, what a world! Who ever thought a little girl like you could destroy my beautiful wickedness?! Ah, I’m going! Ahhh!” – The Wicked Witch of the West (The Wizard of Oz)
Undeniably one of the most memorable and instantly recognizablevillains in cinema history, the Wicked Witch of the West (Margaret Hamilton) terrified the young Dorothy Gale and the citizens of Oz in the groundbreaking musical fantasyThe Wizard of Oz. After promising to get revenge on Dorothy for inadvertently playing a role in the death of her equally nasty sister, the Wicked Witch vowed to get revenge for the crime. Meanwhile, a frightened and alone Dorothy heads to the Emerald City in search of a way home, as the Witch plots her attack.
The Wicked Witch’s Unforgettable Demise
Along her journey, Dorothy meets the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion, and together the group must steal the Wicked Witch’s broomstick in order to get help from the mystical wizard. After being kidnapped by flying monkeys, Dorothy battles against the Witch and ends up splashing her with water, causing her to slowly melt. The legendary antagonist is aghast that a mere human girl like Dorothy put an end to her terrifying reign, as she iconically melts away into nothing. While it may not have much thematic depth, the delivery of the line by Margaret Hamilton is etched into our minds forever.Stream onMax
The Wizard of Oz
14"I have been, and always shall be, your friend. Live long and prosper." – Spock (Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan)
Since the inception of the beloved sci-fi franchiseStar Trek, Captain Kirk (William Shatner) and Spock (Leonard Nimoy) were one of Hollywood’s most recognizable duos, as they helped balance one another and were close as brothers. In the second installment of the film series,Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan,the crew of the USSEnterprisesquared off against the genetically engineeredoppressor Khan Noonien Singh, who vowed to get revenge on Kirk after being exiled for 15 years. What follows shortly after, however, is one of the most heartbreaking and memorable moments in the entireStar Trekfranchise.
Spock’s Ultimate Sacrifice
The friendship and unbreakable bond between Captain Kirk and Spock is one of the many reasons the franchise became a massive sensation all across the world, and the death of the half-human/half-Vulcan inWrath of Khandevastated diehard fans. Spock goes out a true hero, sacrificing himself at the end of the film in order to restore warp power after Khan activates the terraforming device Genesis. A heartbroken Kirk is forced to watch as his best friend dies from radiation poisoning, but not before Spock sagely urges him to not grieve and leaves him with his famous catchphrase.Stream onMax
Star Trek 2: The Wrath of Khan
13“I would have followed you. My brother, my captain, my king.” – Boromir (The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring)
No stranger todramatically dying on-screen, Sean Bean once again went out in a blaze of glory when he portrayed Boromir, son of the Stewards of Gondor inThe Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. Boromir embarks upon a dangerous journey along with the other Fellowship members and Bilbo Baggins to destroy the almighty ring and save Middle Earth, yet he felt that its power could help Gondor’s defense and ultimately couldn’t fight the temptation of the ring.
Boromir’s Final Act of Redemption
Just when it looks like Boromir is ready to betray his fellow allies and has become corrupted by the magic of the ring, he is given the ultimate redemption and manages to break free of its pull to protect Pippin and Merry. Boromir is mortally wounded in a bloody battle, as he lay dying he is comforted by his comrade Aragorn, whom he acknowledges as the rightful and true king. He is given a peaceful, final moment and movingly proclaims this excellent quote to Aragorn with his final breath.Stream onMax
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
12“Rosebud.” – Charles Foster Kane (Citizen Kane)
Orson Welles made his spectacular directorial debut when he helmed and starred in the silver screen masterpieceCitizen Kane, an influential drama that is widely regarded as thegreatest film ever created. In the undisputed ’40s classic, the life of prominent newspaper tycoon Charles Foster Kane is explored from his youth to his tragic death. The acclaimed picture opens with an elderly Kane on his deathbed, murmuring the word “Rosebud.”
Powerful & Impactful Final Words
Kane’s whispered final word kicks off a chain of fascinating events that sets up the premise of the drama, with savvy newspaper reporter Jerry Thompson being tasked with discovering what the true meaning of “Rosebud” is. Citizen Kanedepicts the legacy and origins of Kane as Thompson delves into his colorful past, and while the reporter never learns the true meaning of the magnate’s final word, audiences discover the phrase has something to do with his troubled childhood.Rent/Buy onApple TV+
Citizen Kane
