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Movie Speeches for Teenagers
Some of these speeches will contain #SPOILERS so if you haven’t seen the film and are worried about ruining it then watch this film first before reading this article and exploring these audition speeches.
Often the best place to find a speech for an audition isn’t in a theatre play but in a film script.
I always wonder why drama schools frown upon film monologues when I ofetn think some of the best writing nowadays is found in the movies. If you have an audition for a movie, tv series, web series or a short film and they ask for a monologue I always recommend my students choose a movie monologue.
Here are five of my favourite movie speeches delivered by teenage characters.
I am hoping that this article will be the beginning of a growing collection of movie monologues so please do get in touch with your favourites.
I am keen to find a more movie monologues for teenagers and young actors.
Please let me know your choices by getting in touch or via Twitter
Wes Bentley in American Beauty
“Do you want to see the most beautiful thing I’ve ever filmed?
It was one of those days when it’s a minute away from snowing, and there’s this electricity in the air, you can almost hear it. And this bag was just, dancing with me, like a little kid beggin’ me to play with it – for fifteen minutes.
And that’s the day I realized that there was this entire life behind things, and this incredibly benevolent force that wanted me to know that there was no reason to be afraid, ever.
Video’s a poor excuse, I know.
But it helps me remember – I need to remember.
Sometimes, there’s so much beauty in the world – I feel like I can’t take it, like my heart is just going to cave in.”
Ann Hathaway in The Princess Diaires
“Hi, um… hello. I’m Mia.
Um, it’s stopped raining!
I’m really no good at speech-making. Normally I get so nervous that I faint or run away, or sometimes I even get sick. But you really didn’t need to know that…
But I’m not so afraid anymore.
See, my father helped me.
Earlier this evening had every intention of giving up my claim to the throne. And my mother helped me, by telling me it was ok, and by supporting me like she has for my entire life.
But then I wondered how I’d feel after abdicating my role as Princess of Genovia. Would I feel relieved, or would I feel sad?
And then I realized how many stupid times a day I use the word ‘I.’
And probably all I ever do is think about myself.
And how lame is that when there’s like seven billion other people out there on the planet, and… sorry, I’m going too fast.
But then I thought, if I cared about the other seven billion out there, instead of just me, that’s probably a much better use of my time.
See, if i were Princess of Genovia, then my thoughts and the thoughts of people smarter than me would be much better heard, and just maybe those thoughts could be turned into actions.
So this morning when I woke up, I was Mia Thermopolis.
But now I choose to be forevermore, Amelia Mignonette Thermopolis Renaldi, Princess of Genovia.”
Antonio Garcia in Freedom Writers
“Ms. G?
Can I read something from my diary?
This summer was the worst summer in my short 14 years of life.
It all started with a phone call.
My mother was crying and begging, asking for more time as if she were gasping for her last breath of air.
She held me as tight as she could and cried. Her tears hit my shirt like bullets and told me we were being evicted. She kept apologizing to me.
I thought, ‘I have no home. ‘I should have asked for something less expensive at Christmas.’
On the morning of the eviction, a hard knock on the door woke me up. The sheriff was there to do his job.
I looked up at the sky, waiting for something to happen.
My mother has no family to lean on, no money coming in. Why bother coming to school or getting good grades if I’m homeless?
The bus stops in front of the school.
I feel like throwing up. I’m wearing clothes from last year, some old shoes and no new haircut. I kept thinking I’d get laughed at.
Instead, I’m greeted by a couple of friends who were in my English class last year. And it hits me, Mrs. Gruwell, my crazy English teacher from last year, is the only person that made me think of hope.
Talking with friends about last year’s English and our trips, I began to feel better.
I receive my schedule and the first teacher is Mrs. Gruwell in Room 203. I walk into the room and feel as though all the problems in life are not so important anymore.
I am home. ”
Jessica Campbell in Election
“”Who cares about this stupid election?
We all know it doesn’t matter who gets elected president of Carver.
Do you really think it’s going to change anything around here? Make one single person smarter… or happier… or nicer?
The only person it does matter to is the one who gets elected.
The same pathetic charade happens every year, and everyone makes the same pathetic promises, just so they can put it on their transcripts to get into college.
So vote for me.
Because I don’t even want to go to college, and I don’t care.
And as president, I won’t do anything.
The only promise I will make is that… if elected, I will immediately dismantle the student government, so that none of us will ever have to sit through one of these stupid assemblies again!
Or don’t vote for me!
Who cares? Don’t vote at all!”
Sean Astin in The Goonies
“Chester Copperpot…Chester Copperpot…
Chester Copperpot! Don’t you guys see? Don’t you realize?
He was a pro. He never made it this far. Look how far we’ve come. We’ve got a chance.
But still…don’t you realize?
The next time we see sky it’ll be over another town.
The next time you take a test, it’ll be in some other school.
Our parents, they want the bestest stuff for us. But right now they gotta do what’s right for them, ’cause it’s their time.
Their time, up there.
Down here it’s our time. It’s our time down here.
That’s all over the second we ride up “Troy’s bucket”
