Context

This line is spoken by Dorothy Boyd, played by Renée Zellweger, in the film Jerry Maguire, directed by Cameron Crowe (1996).

Jerry Maguire (Tom Cruise) puts his career as a sports agent ahead of his role as husband, forcing his wife, Dorothy to leave him. 

Big mistake.

When he realizes how much he's screwed up, he shows up at Dorothy's apartment to declare his love for her and win her back.

He starts with "Hello," rambles on and on, does a bit of humblebragging, tells her "I love you. You complete me," keeps rambling...and eventually, and Dorothy just can't take it anymore. She shuts him up and tells him, "You had me at hello," and everyone in the audience swoons.

Where you've heard it

This quote is the ultimate love-at-first sight line, so you'll hear it in any romantic speech about the subject.

Additional Notable References

• NPR talks about a study on first impressions, calling it "You Had Me at Hello."
• Ex-Mr. Renée Zellweger, Kenny Chesney, has a song, "You Had Me at Hello."
• This has nothing to do with this quote, but there's a performance group based in Chicago that has over 4,667 VHS copies of Jerry Maguire.
• Beyonce uses this quote in her song "Hello."
• What do you say to a computer programmer? You had me at "hello world."

Pretentious Factor

If you were to drop this quote at a dinner party, would you get an in-unison "awww" or would everyone roll their eyes and never invite you back? Here it is, on a scale of 1-10.

This romantic phrase can be easily translated into any language. You had me at hola in Spanish. You had me at bonjour in French. And you had me at zug-zug in Orcish.