Top 10 Greatest Movie Trailer Quotes

After almost a decade of despair, the revival of Star Trek seemed like a far-off dream. But there was still a long legacy behind the franchise and it was time for new blood. Enter the 2009 reboot helmed by J.J. Abrams. The trailer was full of dazzling nostalgia, touting a return to classic Trek, and making fans young and old want to flock to cinemas. But it’s Captain Pike’s words to young Kirk that play on two distinct levels. The phrase was a subtle challenge issued not just to Kirk, but to the filmmakers of the reboot as well. Moviegoers – Trekkers and newcomers alike – were also curious to see if they could really pull it off.  

This film’s mysterious premise was a definite selling point as each trailer was released, since we were left with more questions than answers. Paris folding in on itself. A climactic battle down a snowy mountain.  A “Matrix” style showdown in a revolving hallway. No one knew what to make of it all. But then came Tom Hardy’s Eames the Forger. He summed it all up perfectly for us with one cool line – and a grenade launcher. This made Hardy’s character an instant favorite well before the arrival of the movie. It’s hard to top Leo DiCaprio and his “resilient parasite” line, but Hardy’s line was the biggest selling point in this trailer. 

Oh Liam Neeson. You could say just about anything and make it sound epic, especially while blinding us in a sparkling suit of armor. In this remake of the 1981 classic, Neeson takes on the greatest honor of all: he plays the King of the Gods, Zeus. The trailer already boasted some thrilling visuals and even some cues to the original film, getting action fans and nostalgia nerds hyped. However, it was Neeson’s command to reveal the dreaded creature that signaled one last little surprise for both the enemy and the audience. The Kraken looked badass in its reveal and we were ready for the Titans to throw down. 

What did you want to be when you grew up? An astronaut? A politician? “GoodFellas” showed us what it was like to live the dream as part of the gangster life. And man, did it look glorious. Narrated by Ray Liotta’s Henry Hill, this trailer showed us all the glitz and glam that came with putting on a fancy suit stuffed with wads of cash, and rolling with a crowd that adheres to a specific code of honor. Henry’s love for the profession only grows as the trailer goes on. Even the threat of violence and burying dead bodies can’t ruin the dream. And by the time the trailer ended, we all wanted in on this party.

The previews for “Fury Road” gave us all the promise of madness, with explosions, vehicular mayhem, and some of the best practical effects in the last decade. It was all the magic George Miller brought to the action world in the 80s, cranked up for a new generation. And though spending life in a post apocalyptic wasteland may cloud your perceptions of what counts as good and bad days, War Boy Nux can see the silver lining, and describes one of the best action trailers out there. It’s not madness or chaos. It’s the best day ever. 

Okay, imagine you’re Sarah Connor. You’ve barely survived an encounter with a machine of death disguised as a human. And now that same machine is back… to protect you? Sure, the trailer spoils the reveal that Arnold’s a good guy this time around, but this iconic line changed Sarah Connor’s life forever, so we could hear it over and over. The phrase pretty much sums up Arnie and his starring roles in action flicks as a whole. He’s really the only one who can guarantee your safety, so it’s probably best to trust him… whether he’s metal or otherwise.

Quentin Tarantino is a master of dialogue and exposition. So when it comes to picking which quote from one of his film trailers kicks the most ass, it’s a tough call. “Django Unchained”’s premise of a freed slave traveling the frontier to rescue his wife, killing slave owners and racists along the way, definitely had us intrigued. And seeing all of the action in the trailer, complemented by sharp dialogue and some upbeat funk, got us just as hooked on Leonardo DiCaprio’s villain, Calvin J. Candie. After this trailer, we were ready for some good old western shoot ‘em up fun as only Tarantino can deliver.

One of the greatest strengths of “Jaws” as a film is its ability to build up tension with minimal glimpses of the great white shark. While this might not work in every movie, this technique definitely works in “Jaws” and it certainly works here in the trailer. From all the dread and panic, you knew this sucker was big. And this iconic line, from Roy Scheider’s Chief Brody, only solidified the very real threat of the shark known as Jaws. Going on to see what kind of disaster befalls this boat in the trailer, maybe Brody and the boys should have gone back to port and picked up a battleship or something. 

Liam Neeson ascended to a new level of badass with this action film franchise. And it all started in the first trailer with this iconic phone call. The dark atmosphere, the piano playing and the intercuts of action gather intensity as ex-CIA agent Bryan Mills details his resume of skills, and what will befall the men who took his daughter if they don’t comply with his demands. This is not just a threat being handed out; it’s a promise! And when the villain utters his response to that little speech, we realize that this is one promise he’s going to keep.

Before we reveal our top pick, here are a few Honorable Mentions.
- So Was I 
“Captain America: Civil War” (2016)

- My Permission to Die
“The Dark Knight Rises” (2012)

- A Dude Playing a Dude Disguised as Another Dude!                  
“Tropic Thunder” (2008)

- To Infinity and Beyond 
“Toy Story” (1995)

- Save Us 
“Watchmen” (2009)

It has become a universal war cry. “300” was a testosterone-laden action flick filled with blood, violence, and muscly men making promises to dine in hell. It only made sense that the strongest of them all, Gerard Butler, would lead the legendary Spartans into battle as King Leonidas. It also means that he gets to shout some of the grandest lines in the movie, selling “300” even more than the impressive visuals already had. The King’s declaration to the Persian messenger is a declaration to the world. You don’t come into his home and make idle threats. That just doesn’t fly here in Sparta. Is anyone else really pumped now?

Do you agree with our list?  Which trailer line got you the most pumped for a flick? For more movie-tastic Top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.