Nothing sticks with you after a film quite like a good quote; something to sum up the films overall themes or characters in a cut-out-and-keep line. Its something to keep the film close to your thoughts long after watching it. Sometimes, decades after release when a film could have slipped into obscurity, one memorable quote stands strong and keeps it remembered. But often the collective consciousness will alter a line to increase its memorability. Theres plenty of reasons for these changes. Popular culture and consistent parody has had a profound effect, but often it is something more subtle. People will take a line that has been perfected for the film by the screenwriter and make more outside friendly, cutting down a whole exchange to one quote, broadening it's relevance or even changing the tone. Its irritating to see your favourite films bastardised, but also helps maintain their longevity. To help you know where we or you need a bigger boat or what time of day Hannibal Lecter and Clarice Starling last met, we've compiled thirty of the most erroneous misquotes, covering all bases, from the most famous to the most forgotten. Its worth saying that a lot of these misquotes will have spread from faux-cinephilles trying to boost how smart they appear. Not seen Casablanca? Just quote Play it again Sam and youre in. It may seem like a rather conceited view, but the sheer number of absolute classic, but not widely seen films on this list means this point cant be ignored.
Honourable Mention - Sherlock Holmes
When Steven Moffats 21st Century take on Sherlock Holmes was announced, cynics undoubtedly mocked the modernising of a character with such a grandiose and old fashioned catchphrase. However, while in popular culture it is, along with a deerstalker and pipe, one of Sherlock's defining characteristics, it was never once used in Arthur Conan Doyles novels and in fact comes from a rather surprising source. In a piece for Psmith Journalist in 1915, writer P.G. Woodhouse coined the phrase from existing Doyle quotes. It eventually dropped into the popular lexicon and made its way into various films (hence why it doesn't make the list proper). Its the equivalent of Martin Freemans Watson uttering No s**t Sherlock in the next series of the BBC drama.