10 Times I’ve Cried at the Movies (and Keep Crying on the Rewatch)

I’m a sap. I’ve said it before, numerous times, but making me cry at movies is often like shooting fish in a barrel, at least the first time through. And I love it.

Interestingly, it’s not always the sad moments that make me cry. I wrote this list before I wrote the introduction, and only three are officially truly sad moments. The other seven are bittersweet, some even more sweet than bitter. A few are even downright happy (well, by tearjerker standards). What can I say? Strong emotion makes me cry.

So, my ten moments I cry, no matter how many times I’ve seen the movie (and with #7, that one feels like it’s the triple digits.)

1.) Homer Hickam tells his father that he’s his hero in October Sky.

The relationship between Homer and Jack Hickam is one of the foundations between the movie. It’s complex, subtle, and beautifully acted by both Jake Gyllenhaal and Chris Cooper. I love this moment because the two of them spend the entire moment not getting what the other is saying (mainly because they’re not listening to each other), but this is when the deep love that is there boils up through, and they both get it. It’s a lovely, tender moment, and it makes me cry every time.

2.) Satine dies at the end of Moulin Rouge!

When I think of tragic death scenes that make me cry, this one tops my list. It’s impressive that it works, because you know she’s going to die from the very beginning. I mean, that’s how the movie starts, with the quote “The woman I love is dead.” But what I think really tips this over the edge is the way Christian/Ewan McGregor just completely breaks down.

3.) The Schindler Jews give Oskar Schindler his ring in Schindler’s List.

All of Schindler’s List is a heartbreaker, especially the first time you watch it. The brutality and cruelty shown in the movie… well, come on. It’s the Holocaust, graphically portrayed. But while that got me the first time through, I think my mind sort of took defenses when I’ve watched the movie in subsequent viewings. However, the moment Schindler truly realizes what he’s done and thinks he could have done more never, ever fails to twist my guts.

4.) Wat tells his the newly named Sir William “your father heard that” in A Knight’s Tale.

I’m a sucker for redemption stories, and also a sucker for parent child bonds. This is a fun movie where I don’t expect deep emotion, but when William realizes his father just had a life long dream he never expected to happen come true… there go the waterworks again.

5.) The entire ending of Life As a House.

When I was 16, my father passed away from leukemia (a disease I still cannot spell the name of without help from my spellchecker, even though it’s been eighteen years). This movie is about a sixteen year old losing his father to cancer. If you need more of an explanation, I’d be happy to direct you to the Midvale School for the Gifted.

6.) George Banks reflects back on his daughter’s life the night before she gets married in Father of the Bride.

Re-read #5, and then apply. But at the same time, I almost always cry at weddings. It’s so nice to see people celebrate something so happy.

7.) Dory tells Marlin that “when I look at you, I’m home,” in Finding Nemo.

Okay, enough of my Daddy Issues. Sheesh. This is just a great little moment in a great movie, when Dory’s trying to convince Marlin not to leave and go off alone. It’s just such a wonderful summation of what love- any love- is, and delivered with such earnestness from a character whose previous deep lines included “the sea monkeys have my money” and “Es-cap-ee! That’s funny, it’s spelled just like the word escape!”. Perfect moment in a great movie.

8.) The boys stand on their desks to say goodbye to Mr. Keating in Dead Poet’s Society.

Like with Schindler’s List, the big obvious moment (in this case Neil’s suicide) doesn’t really choke me up so much after the first viewing. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still horrible, but it doesn’t make me cry. But much like the moment Schindler gets his ring, the moment that the boys stand on their desks is a total tearjerker. And the beautiful bagpipe music and the boys still sitting hunched over don’t help keep me from crying.

9.) Matt reads the poem at Gareth’s funeral in Four Weddings and a Funeral.

This is one where yes, the death is sad, especially since Gareth’s one of my favorite characters in the movie. John Hannah does an amazing job playing the grieving lover without overdoing it. But I think it’s the poem, “Funeral Blues” by W.H. Auden, that just really gets me every time.

10.) Sam insists on going with Frodo at the end of Fellowship of the Ring.

Self-sacrificing hobbit bromance. Do I REALLY need to say more?

So, yeah. For all the death and chick flicks I’ve probably seen, those are the ten moments that stand out in my mind as making me cry. What can I say? When it comes to movies, I take tissues. It’s a good precaution.