Whether it’s the fourth quarter of the last game or the final battle for freedom, one great movie speech can make all the difference. Even when the chips are down and all hope seems lost, one epic speech can rally a broken army or a fractured team into an unstoppable unified force. Just listening to those inspiring words will make you feel like you can overcome any obstacle and achieve glory and greatness.
10. Pacific Rim
With the threat of a Kaiju attack imminent and only a handful of Jaegers left to defend the human race, Stacker Pentecost delivers a rousing speech to his troops before the final mission. Not to mention he looks super badass in his sleek Jaeger power suit.
9. Coach Carter
Not all speeches come before the storm. After losing to St. Francis by only 2 points in the regional high school playoffs, the Oilers hang their heads dejected in the locker room. Regardless, Coach Carter reminds them of the greatness they achieved outside the game and how proud he is because of it.
8. The Replacements
The Sentinels are behind. The team needs a speech. Shane Falco delivers. It’s short, simple, and to the point. Chicks dig it.
7. 300
King Leonidas may have some of the best battle cries in the film, but it is Dilios who delivers the final speech before the Battle of Plataea to inspire the armies of Greece. If we take into account that the entire story of the film is basically his speech, this is by far the longest one on this list.
6. Miracle
Based on the true story of the U.S. men’s ice hockey team during the 1980 Winter Olympics, Coach Herb Brooks barely needs to raise his voice in order to get his motivational point across. He knows it, his team knows it, and soon the Soviet team will know it.
5. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
Facing off against the armies of Mordor at the gates of Mount Doom, King Aragorn calls the will of his people to action and leads them charging into battle. A day may come when this speech is no longer inspiring but it is not this day!
4. Rocky Balboa
From father to son, Rocky shares a few words of wisdom on how to persevere in life. How to endure the hardships we come across and push towards success. It may not have as much fanfare as some of the other speeches but it sure does carry a lot of heavy truth.
3. Independence Day
In true American fashion, U.S. President Thomas J. Whitmore delivers an epic speech as over the top and patriotic as they come. How can the aliens stand a chance after a speech as powerful as that?
2. Any Given Sunday
Life is a game of inches and Tony D’Amato knows that better than anyone. Starting quiet and slow with the pitfalls of his own life, he escalates to a magnificent motivational finish. It’s physically impossible not to get hype after watching this.
1. Braveheart
Leading his fellow Scots against King Edward I of England, William Wallace reveals that he isn’t seven feet tall. He reveals that he can’t shoot fireballs from his eyes and bolts of lightning from his arse. What he does reveal is that he can deliver one hell of an epic speech.
