LAST UPDATED: November 2023
Take your time and listen to these movie clips featuring speeches or dialogues delivered by these talented actors.
I am sure you will pick up many effective speaking tips from them which can help you to improve speaking and presentation skills.
Dead Poets Society Watch how English teacher John Keating, played by Robin Williams, inspired his prep students to "seize the day" through poetry.
Dead Poets Society Speech Transcript
"O Captain, my Captain.' Who knows where that comes from? Anybody? Not a clue? It's from a poem by Walt Whitman about Mr. Abraham Lincoln. Now in this class, you can either call me Mr. Keating, or if you're slightly more daring, O Captain, my Captain. Now let me dispel a few rumors so they don't fester into facts. Yes, I too attended Hell-ton and survived. And no, at that time I was not the mental giant you see before you. I was the intellectual equivalent of a ninety-eight pound weakling. I would go to the beach and people would kick copies of Byron in my face....
"Gather ye rosebuds while ye may.' The Latin term for that sentiment is Carpe Diem. Now who knows what that means?...Seize the day. Gather ye rosebuds while ye may. Why does the writer use these lines?...Because we are food for worms, lads. Because, believe it or not, each and every one of us in this room is one day gonna stop breathing, turn cold, and die.
Now I would like you to step forward over here and peruse some of the faces from the past. You've walked past them many times. I don't think you've really looked at them. They're not that different from you, are they? Same haircuts. Full of hormones, just like you. Invincible, just like you feel. The world is their oyster. They believe they're destined for great things, just like many of you. Their eyes are full of hope, just like you. Did they wait until it was too late to make from their lives even one iota of what they were capable? Because you see gentlemen, these boys are now fertilizing daffodils. But if you listen real close, you can hear them whisper their legacy to you. Go on, lean in. Listen. Do you hear it? (whispering in a gruff voice) Carpe. Hear it? (whispering) Carpe. Carpe Diem. Seize the day boys. Make your lives extraordinary."
Any Given Sunday
Listen coach Tony D'Amato played by Al Pacino delivering a powerful half-time speech to motivate his players.
Any Given Sunday Motivational Speech Text
"I don't know what to say really. Three minutes to the biggest battle of our professional lives all comes down to today. Either we heal as a team or we are going to crumble.
Inch by inch play by play till we're finished. We are in hell right now, gentlemen believe me and we can stay here and get the shit kicked out of us or we can fight our way back into the light. We can climb out of hell.
One inch, at a time. Now I can't do it for you. I'm too old. I look around and I see these young faces and I think I mean I made every wrong choice a middle age man could make. I uh.... I pissed away all my money believe it or not. I chased off anyone who has ever loved me. And lately, I can't even stand the face I see in the mirror. You know when you get old in life things get taken from you. That's, that's part of life.
But, you only learn that when you start losing stuff. You find out that life is just a game of inches. So is football. Because in either game life or football the margin for error is so small. I mean one half step too late or to early you don't quite make it.
One half second too slow or too fast and you don't quite catch it. The inches we need are everywhere around us. They are in ever break of the game every minute, every second. On this team, we fight for that inch.
On this team, we tear ourselves, and everyone around us to pieces for that inch. We claw with our finger nails for that inch. Cause we know when we add up all those inches that's going to make the f**king difference between winning and losing between living and dying.
I'll tell you this in any fight it is the guy who is willing to die who is going to win that inch. And I know if I am going to have an living is. The six inches in front of your face. Now I can't make you do it. You gotta look at the guy next to you. Look into his eyes. Now I think you are going to see a guy who will go that inch with you. You are going to see a guy who will sacrifice himself for this team because he knows when it comes down to it, you are gonna do the same thing for him.
That's a team, gentlemen and either we heal now, as a team, or we will die as individuals. That's football guys. That's all it is. Now, whattaya gonna do?"
Gladiator
One of the most memorable movie dialogue where Russel Crowe as Gladiator Maximus speaks to Caesar Commodus played by Joaquin Phoenix.
Gladiator Speech I Am Maximus
"My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius, Commander of the Armies of the North, General of the Felix Legions, loyal servant to the true emperor, Marcus Aurelius, father to a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife, and I will have my vengeance in this life or the next."
Hoosiers
Coach Norman Dale played by Gene Hackman giving pep talk to his team at Indiana Regional Finals Game about being winners, focus on their effort to win and forget about the distractions.
Hoosiers Speech Transcript
"There's a tradition in tournament play to not talk about the next step until you've climbed the one in front of you. I'm sure going to the State finals is beyond your wildest dreams, so let's just keep it right there.
Forget about the crowds, the size of the school, their fancy uniforms, and remember what got you here. Focus on the fundamentals that we've gone over time and time again. And most important, don't get caught up thinking about winning or loosing this game.
If you put your effort and concentration into playing to your potential, to be the best that you can be, I don't care what the scoreboard says at the end of the game, in my book we're gonna be winners! Alright!! Let's go!! Let's go!! Let me hear it!!!"
Crimes & Misdemeanors
In the final scene of this Woody Allen's movie featuring philosophy Professor Louis Levy talked about decision, choices, suffering and happiness.
Crimes & Misdemeanors Transcript
"We are all faced throughout our lives with agonizing decisions, moral choices. Some are on a grand scale, most of these choices are on lesser points.
But we define ourselves by the choices we have made. We are, in fact, the sum total of our choices. Events unfold so unpredictably, so unfairly.
Human happiness does not seem to have been included in the design of creation. It is only we, with our capacity to love that give meaning to the indifferent universe. And yet, most human beings seem to have the ability to keep trying and even to find joy from simple things, like their family, their work, and from the hope that future generations might understand more."
Remember The Titans
The short speech by African American coach Herman Boone acted by Denzel Washington.
Remember The Titans Gettysburg Speech Transcript
"Anybody know what this place is? This is Gettysburg. This is where they fought the Battle of Gettysburg. Fifty thousand men died right here on this field, fighting the same fight that we're still fighting amongst ourselves today.
This green field right here was painted red, bubbling with the blood of young boys, smoke and hot lead pouring right through their bodies. Listen to their souls, men: 'I killed my brother with malice in my heart. Hatred destroyed my family.' You listen. And you take a lesson from the dead.
If we don't come together, right now, on this hallowed ground, we too will be destroyed, just like they were. I don't care if you like each other or not. But you will respect each other. And maybe I don't know, maybe we'll learn to play this game like men."
Miracle
Like all the other American sports movies, where you can see the coach gives motivational prep talk to their players. This one is coach Herb Brooks played by Kurt Russell motivating his ice hockey team.
Miracle Speech Transcript
"Great moments are born from great opportunity. And that's what you have here tonight, boys. That's what you've earned here, tonight. One game. If we played 'em ten times, they might win nine.
But not this game. Not tonight. Tonight, we skate with 'em. Tonight, we stay with 'em, and we shut them down because we can! Tonight, we are the greatest hockey team in the world. You were born to be hockey players... every one of ya. And you were meant to be here tonight.
This is your time. Their time...is done. It's over. I'm sick and tired of hearing about what a great hockey team the Soviets have. Screw 'em! This is your time! Now go out there and take it!"
Armageddon
Listen to the speech by president of America portrayed by Stanley Anderson, as the astronauts getting ready to launch into space towards the asteroid.
Armageddon Movie Speech President
"I address you tonight, not as the president of the United States, or as the leader of a country, but as a citizen of humanity. We are faced with the very gravest of challenges.
The bible calls this day Armageddon, the end of all things. And yet, for the first time, in the history of the planet, a species has the technology to prevent its own extinction. All of you praying with us need to know that everything that can be done to prevent this disaster is being called in to service.
The human thirst for excellence, knowledge, every step up the ladder of science, every adventurous reach in to space, all of our combined modern technologies and imaginations, even the wars we have thought have provided us with the tools to wage this terrible battle. Through all the chaos that is our history, through all of the wrongs and the discord, through all of the pain and suffering, through all of our times, there is one thing that has nourished our souls and elevated our species above its origin. And that is our courage.
The dreams of an entire planet are focused tonight on those fourteen brave souls traveling in to the heavens. And may we all, citizens the world over, see these events through, god speed and good luck to you."
Braveheart
Scottish warrior William Wallace portrayed by Mel Gibson. Listen to him addressing the Scottish army at Stirling.
Braveheart Speech Text Wallace
Wallace: Sons of Scotland, I am William Wallace.
Young soldier: William Wallace is 7 feet tall.
Wallace: Yes, I've heard. Kills men by the hundreds, and if he were here he'd consume the English with fireballs from his eyes and bolts of lightning from his ar*e. I am William Wallace. And I see a whole army of my countrymen here in defiance of tyranny.
You have come to fight as free men, and free men you are. What would you do without freedom? Will you fight?
Veteran soldier: Fight? Against that? No, we will run; and we will live.
Wallace: Aye, fight and you may die. Run and you'll live, at least a while. And dying in your beds many years from now, would you be willing to trade all the days from this day to that for one chance, just one chance to come back here and tell our enemies that they may take our lives, but they'll never take our freedom!!!
Wallace and Soldiers: Alba gu bra! (Scotland forever!)
Dead Poets Society Watch how English teacher John Keating, played by Robin Williams, inspired his prep students to "seize the day" through poetry.
Dead Poets Society Speech Transcript
"O Captain, my Captain.' Who knows where that comes from? Anybody? Not a clue? It's from a poem by Walt Whitman about Mr. Abraham Lincoln. Now in this class, you can either call me Mr. Keating, or if you're slightly more daring, O Captain, my Captain. Now let me dispel a few rumors so they don't fester into facts. Yes, I too attended Hell-ton and survived. And no, at that time I was not the mental giant you see before you. I was the intellectual equivalent of a ninety-eight pound weakling. I would go to the beach and people would kick copies of Byron in my face....
"Gather ye rosebuds while ye may.' The Latin term for that sentiment is Carpe Diem. Now who knows what that means?...Seize the day. Gather ye rosebuds while ye may. Why does the writer use these lines?...Because we are food for worms, lads. Because, believe it or not, each and every one of us in this room is one day gonna stop breathing, turn cold, and die.
Watch and listen Slyvester Stallon gives a piece of his mind to his son; about standing up for himself and taking responsibility.
Rocky Balboa Speech To Son Transcript
"Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It's a very mean and nasty place and I don't care how tough you are it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it.
You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain't about how hard ya hit. It's about how hard you can get it and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done!
Now if you know what you're worth then go out and get what you're worth. But ya gotta be willing to take the hits, and not pointing fingers saying you ain't where you wanna be because of him, or her, or anybody! Cowards do that and that ain't you! You're better than that!"
Any Given Sunday
Listen coach Tony D'Amato played by Al Pacino delivering a powerful half-time speech to motivate his players.
Any Given Sunday Motivational Speech Text
"I don't know what to say really. Three minutes to the biggest battle of our professional lives all comes down to today. Either we heal as a team or we are going to crumble.
Inch by inch play by play till we're finished. We are in hell right now, gentlemen believe me and we can stay here and get the shit kicked out of us or we can fight our way back into the light. We can climb out of hell.
One inch, at a time. Now I can't do it for you. I'm too old. I look around and I see these young faces and I think I mean I made every wrong choice a middle age man could make. I uh.... I pissed away all my money believe it or not. I chased off anyone who has ever loved me. And lately, I can't even stand the face I see in the mirror. You know when you get old in life things get taken from you. That's, that's part of life.
But, you only learn that when you start losing stuff. You find out that life is just a game of inches. So is football. Because in either game life or football the margin for error is so small. I mean one half step too late or to early you don't quite make it.
One half second too slow or too fast and you don't quite catch it. The inches we need are everywhere around us. They are in ever break of the game every minute, every second. On this team, we fight for that inch.
On this team, we tear ourselves, and everyone around us to pieces for that inch. We claw with our finger nails for that inch. Cause we know when we add up all those inches that's going to make the f**king difference between winning and losing between living and dying.
I'll tell you this in any fight it is the guy who is willing to die who is going to win that inch. And I know if I am going to have an living is. The six inches in front of your face. Now I can't make you do it. You gotta look at the guy next to you. Look into his eyes. Now I think you are going to see a guy who will go that inch with you. You are going to see a guy who will sacrifice himself for this team because he knows when it comes down to it, you are gonna do the same thing for him.
That's a team, gentlemen and either we heal now, as a team, or we will die as individuals. That's football guys. That's all it is. Now, whattaya gonna do?"
Gladiator
One of the most memorable movie dialogue where Russel Crowe as Gladiator Maximus speaks to Caesar Commodus played by Joaquin Phoenix.
Gladiator Speech I Am Maximus
"My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius, Commander of the Armies of the North, General of the Felix Legions, loyal servant to the true emperor, Marcus Aurelius, father to a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife, and I will have my vengeance in this life or the next."
Independence Day
President Thomas J. Whitmore played by Bill Pullman delivering an uplifting speech of teamwork, freedom, and not giving up.
Independence Day Movie President Speech Transcript
"Good morning. Good morning. In less than an hour, aircraft from here will join others from around the world, and you will be launching the largest aerial battle in the history of mankind.
Mankind, that word should have new meaning for all of us today. We can't be consumed by our petty differences any more. We will be united in our common interest. Perhaps it's fate that today is the 4th of July, and you will once again be fighting for our freedom. Not from tyranny, oppression, or persecution, but from annihilation.
We're fighting for our right to live, to exist?and should we win the day, the 4th of July will no longer be known as an American holiday, but as the day when the world declared in one voice, 'We will not go quietly into the night! We will not vanish without a fight! We're going to live on, we're going to survive.' Today we celebrate our independence day!"
Hoosiers
Coach Norman Dale played by Gene Hackman giving pep talk to his team at Indiana Regional Finals Game about being winners, focus on their effort to win and forget about the distractions.
Hoosiers Speech Transcript
"There's a tradition in tournament play to not talk about the next step until you've climbed the one in front of you. I'm sure going to the State finals is beyond your wildest dreams, so let's just keep it right there.
Forget about the crowds, the size of the school, their fancy uniforms, and remember what got you here. Focus on the fundamentals that we've gone over time and time again. And most important, don't get caught up thinking about winning or loosing this game.
If you put your effort and concentration into playing to your potential, to be the best that you can be, I don't care what the scoreboard says at the end of the game, in my book we're gonna be winners! Alright!! Let's go!! Let's go!! Let me hear it!!!"
Crimes & Misdemeanors
In the final scene of this Woody Allen's movie featuring philosophy Professor Louis Levy talked about decision, choices, suffering and happiness.
Crimes & Misdemeanors Transcript
"We are all faced throughout our lives with agonizing decisions, moral choices. Some are on a grand scale, most of these choices are on lesser points.
But we define ourselves by the choices we have made. We are, in fact, the sum total of our choices. Events unfold so unpredictably, so unfairly.
Human happiness does not seem to have been included in the design of creation. It is only we, with our capacity to love that give meaning to the indifferent universe. And yet, most human beings seem to have the ability to keep trying and even to find joy from simple things, like their family, their work, and from the hope that future generations might understand more."
Remember The Titans
The short speech by African American coach Herman Boone acted by Denzel Washington.
Remember The Titans Gettysburg Speech Transcript
"Anybody know what this place is? This is Gettysburg. This is where they fought the Battle of Gettysburg. Fifty thousand men died right here on this field, fighting the same fight that we're still fighting amongst ourselves today.
This green field right here was painted red, bubbling with the blood of young boys, smoke and hot lead pouring right through their bodies. Listen to their souls, men: 'I killed my brother with malice in my heart. Hatred destroyed my family.' You listen. And you take a lesson from the dead.
If we don't come together, right now, on this hallowed ground, we too will be destroyed, just like they were. I don't care if you like each other or not. But you will respect each other. And maybe I don't know, maybe we'll learn to play this game like men."
Miracle
Like all the other American sports movies, where you can see the coach gives motivational prep talk to their players. This one is coach Herb Brooks played by Kurt Russell motivating his ice hockey team.
Miracle Speech Transcript
"Great moments are born from great opportunity. And that's what you have here tonight, boys. That's what you've earned here, tonight. One game. If we played 'em ten times, they might win nine.
But not this game. Not tonight. Tonight, we skate with 'em. Tonight, we stay with 'em, and we shut them down because we can! Tonight, we are the greatest hockey team in the world. You were born to be hockey players... every one of ya. And you were meant to be here tonight.
This is your time. Their time...is done. It's over. I'm sick and tired of hearing about what a great hockey team the Soviets have. Screw 'em! This is your time! Now go out there and take it!"
Armageddon
Listen to the speech by president of America portrayed by Stanley Anderson, as the astronauts getting ready to launch into space towards the asteroid.
Armageddon Movie Speech President
"I address you tonight, not as the president of the United States, or as the leader of a country, but as a citizen of humanity. We are faced with the very gravest of challenges.
The bible calls this day Armageddon, the end of all things. And yet, for the first time, in the history of the planet, a species has the technology to prevent its own extinction. All of you praying with us need to know that everything that can be done to prevent this disaster is being called in to service.
The human thirst for excellence, knowledge, every step up the ladder of science, every adventurous reach in to space, all of our combined modern technologies and imaginations, even the wars we have thought have provided us with the tools to wage this terrible battle. Through all the chaos that is our history, through all of the wrongs and the discord, through all of the pain and suffering, through all of our times, there is one thing that has nourished our souls and elevated our species above its origin. And that is our courage.
The dreams of an entire planet are focused tonight on those fourteen brave souls traveling in to the heavens. And may we all, citizens the world over, see these events through, god speed and good luck to you."
Braveheart
Scottish warrior William Wallace portrayed by Mel Gibson. Listen to him addressing the Scottish army at Stirling.
Braveheart Speech Text Wallace
Wallace: Sons of Scotland, I am William Wallace.
Young soldier: William Wallace is 7 feet tall.
Wallace: Yes, I've heard. Kills men by the hundreds, and if he were here he'd consume the English with fireballs from his eyes and bolts of lightning from his ar*e. I am William Wallace. And I see a whole army of my countrymen here in defiance of tyranny.
You have come to fight as free men, and free men you are. What would you do without freedom? Will you fight?
Veteran soldier: Fight? Against that? No, we will run; and we will live.
Wallace: Aye, fight and you may die. Run and you'll live, at least a while. And dying in your beds many years from now, would you be willing to trade all the days from this day to that for one chance, just one chance to come back here and tell our enemies that they may take our lives, but they'll never take our freedom!!!
Wallace and Soldiers: Alba gu bra! (Scotland forever!)
These are all my all-time favorite famous persuasive movie speeches. I find you can learn from the content and the deliveries to you a better public speaker or a polished presenter.
