Top 10 DreamWorks Movie Moments That Made You Cry
#10: Alex Out of Africa “Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa” (2008)
Louis Armstrong’s “What a Wonderful World” has spanned generations, but some will forever associate the song with Alex the Lion isolating himself for the safety of his friends. Madagascar wasn’t done with our heartstrings, though. Before he was shipped from New York to Madagascar, Alex was taken from his birthplace of Africa. Snatched by poachers, young Alex (or Alakay) is left crying for his father Zuba. Making this scene even sadder, Zuba is voiced by Bernie Mac, who unexpectedly passed three months before the film’s release. While Alex’s crate is knocked off the poachers’ vehicle, the cub is nonetheless sent across the ocean to New York. Alex is eventually reunited with his parents, but the cub they lost is now a grown lion.
#9: An Ogre Cries “Shrek Forever After” (2010)
Top 10 Shrek Franchise Moments That Didn't Have to Go THAT Hard
The fourth “Shrek” film may be a mixed bag, but the emotional moments do hit their target. The story is reminiscent of “It’s a Wonderful Life” with Shrek seeing what the world would be like if he was never born. This also means that his children were never born, which hits Shrek hard as he stumbles upon an old toy. Channeling George Bailey, Shrek sheds a tear as he mourns everything he took for granted and lost. The only way out of Rumpelstiltskin’s contract is a kiss from Shrek’s true love. Since Shrek never rescued Fiona in this timeline, though, they must fall in love again. While there is a happily ever after, we first must endure another tearjerker as Fiona kisses Shrek farewell.
#8: Spirit Snatched “Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron” (2002)
Although Matt Damon provides narration, “Spirit” stands out as one of the rare DreamWorks films where the animals don’t talk in the conventional sense. The occasional raised eyebrow aside, the animals feel real, which adds to the cruelty as Spirit is taken out of the wild. Spirit’s curiosity turns to survival instinct when he encounters humans for the first time. To steer the wranglers away from his herd, Spirit gets himself lassoed. His mother is powerless to do anything as she watches her son yanked to the ground. In another effective touch, we see the guilt that the wranglers’ horses feel for assisting in Spirit’s capture. The stallion might be headed for the cavalry, but his spirit is far from broken.
#7: Jack Frost’s Origins “Rise of the Guardians” (2012)
Top 10 Jack Black Roles
From Jack Torrance in “The Shining” to Jack Dawson in “Titanic,” characters named Jack have a bizarre tendency to freeze to death. We guess you could include Jack Frost in that lineup, but in a way, he also freezes to life. Hitting his lowest point, Jack remembers how he wound up in a frozen pond 300 years ago, unable to interact with the people around him. Jack had a younger sister who nearly fell through thin ice. He saved his sister, but Jack drowned in her place. Although this is the end of Jack the mortal, he’s reborn as Jack the Guardian. Ironically, Jack’s sacrifice inadvertently turned him into an eternal figure while his sister and everyone else he loved would’ve died eons ago.
#6: Edwina Takes a Holiday (Too Soon?) “Chicken Run” (2000)
Many have drawn parallels between Tweedy’s Farm and a prisoner-of-war camp. Nowhere is this more apparent than when Edwina no longer proves useful to the Tweedys. After failing to lay any eggs, Mrs. Tweedy puts her on the menu. It’s noted that Edwina didn’t tell any of the other chickens about her lack of eggs. Maybe she didn’t want to burden them, but the more likely explanation might be that Edwina couldn’t handle being cooped up anymore. So, she chose death over life imprisonment. However you interpret it, “Chicken Run” dashes all notions of being a “kids’ movie” as Mrs. Tweedy raises her ax and we cut to the sound of Edwina’s beheading. We weep with Ginger, who dreams of flying to freedom.
#5: Fallen Father “How to Train Your Dragon 2” (2014)
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom - Satisfying Sequel Or Crappy Cash Grab? Mojo @ The Movies Review
Given this sequel’s darker, more adult tone, we were prepared to see a major character die. With Hiccup now a man, it made dramatic sense for his father to meet a tragic end. Even if you went in with these expectations, we still weren’t ready for just how brutal Stoick’s death would be. It’d be one thing if Stoick was stricken down on the battlefield by Drago Bludvist’s bullhook. Instead, Drago has the Bewilderbeast hypnotize Toothless, forcing him to attack Hiccup. Stoick gets caught in the crossfire, saving his son but losing his life. While it’s not Toothless’ fault, turning Hiccup’s dragon into an instrument of death was a heartbreaking move nobody saw coming. If Stoick’s death didn’t wreck you, his Viking funeral did.
#4: Puss’ Panic Attack “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” (2022)
Top 20 Things Only Adults Notice in Puss in Boots: The Last Wish
First, we had cats and dogs living together. Now, we have cats and dogs aiding each other through an existential crisis. Puss in Boots paints himself as a fearless hero who’s every bit as immortal as the legend that he’s spent eight lives building up. As death looms over the feline, though, he’s unable to control the fur raising on his arms, his shortness of breath, or the sound of his own racing heart blocking out all other noises. The only one able to calm Puss is Perrito, who’s usually a basket of roses. Even when recounting his grim backstory, Perrito tells it with a smile. Yet, when Puss is in peril, a concerned Perrito provides him with a therapeutic outlet.
#3: “When You Believe” “The Prince of Egypt” (1998)
Top 10 Movie Moments That Made Us Love The Rock
Not sugarcoating the Book of Exodus, the final plague claims the lives of the firstborns, Rameses’ son included. And yes, we see the aftermath. Although Rameses is the villain, our hearts shatter as he reflects on what he’s lost, both as a result of his own stubbornness and the actions of his brother. Moses is overcome with emotion, as he’s lost his brother and a nephew, but his people have at last gained their freedom. The ensuing showstopper will turn your tears of grief into tears of relief. The melody, lyrics, performances, and visuals capture the unbearable weight that’s been lifted off the Hebrew people, who are guided toward a brighter, more triumphant tomorrow. You will believe in the power of hope and music.
#2: Dragons Depart “How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World” (2019)
Top 20 Dragons from Movies and TV
Audiences spent nearly a decade following the Vikings of Berk and their dragon enemies turned companions. Just as Hiccup matures from a wimpy kid to a confident adult, so did many fans who grew up with the franchise. When Hiccup and Toothless parted ways in the third installment, it didn’t feel like we were watching two characters say goodbye. It felt as if we were saying farewell to lifelong friends. It isn’t just Toothless who flies off into the sunset, as all the dragons must bid adieu to their Viking friends. It might not be goodbye forever, as Hiccup and Toothless are reunited years later. However, it truly is the end of an era as our heroes begin new chapters. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. Grug’s Goodbye, “The Croods” (2013) A Caveman Will Make You Cry Magic Violin, “Abominable” (2019) Playing Us Like a Violin, But Sincerely Oh is Okay, “Home” (2015) Oh Will Be Right Here “Hallelujah,” “Shrek” (2001) There’s a Reason Why This Song Saw a Resurgence in the 21st Century
#1: Po’s Mother’s Sacrifice “Kung Fu Panda 2” (2011)
Top 10 Best Kung Fu Panda Moments
“Kung Fu Panda” turned out to be much deeper than its title suggests. Many were surprised by how choked up they got when Oogway passed on to the Spirit Realm. While Oogway’s departure is sad yet uplifting, Po’s origin story is just straight-up devastating. As repressed memories come flooding back, Po finds that he wasn’t abandoned by his biological parents. During a raid on the panda village, Po’s father fought back while his mother hid her cub in a crate. Seeing no way for them both to survive, Po’s mother gives up her life so her child might have a fighting chance. Po’s memories and inner peace are represented through a single drop of rain, which reflects the river of tears that this scene evokes.
