Top 10 Hardest Scenes to Not Cry To
#10: The End “The Pursuit of Happyness” (2006)
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Based on a true story, this inspirational movie follows Chris Gardner, played by Will Smith, who is an unhoused salesman struggling to take care of his son. Chris takes a chance to better their future by taking an internship in hopes of breaking into a corporate career. After facing grueling obstacles, he’s finally offered the job. At that moment, tears well up in Chris’s eyes, and we can see how rewarding it is that he finally made it. We’ve all had that moment where our life changes and we are so overwhelmed with… well, happiness. Chris’s journey shows us the valuable lesson that through perseverance and focus, the rewards can be oh-so-satisfying.
#9: “I Dreamed A Dream” “Les Misérables” (2012)
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Set during 1800s France up until the Second French Revolution, this film adaptation of the musical is rife with heart wrenching show tunes about the realities of poverty. After losing her factory job, Fantine, played by Anne Hathaway, mourns the loss of a happier past and wonders where her life went wrong. As she was recorded live on set, Hathaway was able to convey a true sense of helplessness. The song didn’t sound as polished as those in other movie musicals, but that made her character authentic. As Fantine progresses, we can feel her desperation as she starts to hyperventilate and her voice shakes. If you were moved to tears, you aren’t the only one. Hathaway went on to win an Oscar for her haunting performance in the film.
#8: Jenny’s Grave “Forrest Gump” (1994)
After crossing paths with notable figures such as JFK and Elvis Presley, Forrest, played by Tom Hanks, finally marries his childhood friend Jenny. Jenny succumbs to an “unknown virus” and we spend some of the film’s last moments with Forrest at Jenny’s grave, which is a singular plot in a large, grassy field. After all of the incredible moments of circumstance in which Forrest has found himself, there’s a beautiful simplicity in what Forrest has always wanted: purpose. During his monologue, we’re shown tableaus of Forrest and their son, Forrest Junior, as they bond over fishing, reading, and yes– even ping-pong. This scene is tragically bittersweet as we can feel how proud Forrest is of the life he’s built, but also how much he misses his wife.
#7: Jojo Finds The Shoes “Jojo Rabbit” (2019)
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This irreverent dramatic comedy is guaranteed to make you laugh, cry, and laugh again in a matter of seconds. During the fall of Nazi Germany, a Hitler youth discovers his mother Rosie, played by Scarlett Johansson, is secretly harboring a Jewish girl. During the film, the camera zeroes in on Rosie’s shoes. This motif highlights how carefree and fun-loving his mother is, as she is a beacon of love in the face of fascism. However, this theme takes on a darker meaning when Jojo follows a butterfly to a body hanging in the gallows. Although the audience can only see the shoes, we soon realize they belong to Rosie. Because of that moment, we are reminded of the fragility of human life.
#6: One Last Goodbye “Room” (2015)
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In this thrilling drama, we observe Joy, played by Brie Larson, and her son Jack as they spend seven years in captivity by his biological father. To help her son cope with this situation, Joy teaches Jack that nothing beyond Room exists, despite what they see on television. After they have escaped, Jack asks to visit Room one last time. During production, director Lenny Abrahamson had the set built as one piece with painstaking detail put into each element of Room, which enhanced the authenticity of the final scene. As Jack says his goodbyes, we can feel the intense emotional connection he has made with every piece of this tiny world. He then steps into the cold reality of their newfound freedom.
#5: “Tell Me I’m A Good Man” “Saving Private Ryan” (1998)
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Tom Hanks makes another appearance on this list as he stars in this harrowing tale about a group of US soldiers on a rescue mission during the Invasion of Normandy. Captain John H. Miller, played by Hanks, leads his team deep into enemy territory and finds Private Ryan, only to be ambushed by Germans and killed in battle. In the present day, Ryan visits Miller’s grave and tells the fallen captain that he hopes he earned his life. Ryan’s monologue is an agonizing eulogy touching on what was given up to save his life. As Private Ryan looks on over the ocean of veterans’ tombstones, it also shows us that the tragic cost of war can still be felt several decades later.
#4: Playing Catch “Field of Dreams” (1989)
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[“If you build it, he will come.” ]That memorable quote originates in this movie and gives our main character Ray, played by Kevin Costner, the inspiration to construct a baseball field on his farm. After building the field, Ray is visited by ghosts of baseball players who play on the field to recapture their glory days. In the final scene, we see Ray’s faith is rewarded when he learns that his father is one of those players. The audience gets to live vicariously through Ray as he lives out this impossible moment of reconnecting with his late father and makes amends. This poignant ending confirms how beloved baseball can be as they engage in the time-honored tradition of playing catch as father and son.
#3: Thomas J.’s Funeral “My Girl” (1991)
As we explore the darker side of growing up, our main character Vada develops an unlikely friendship with Thomas J. Although she’s not the kindest to him, they bond over their mutual quirks– Vada’s a hypochondriac and Thomas J’s allergic to everything. One day, Thomas J falls victim to a bee attack while looking for Vada’s missing ring and succumbs to his allergic reaction. Vada’s response to seeing Thomas J’s body at his funeral is not only heartbreaking, but it’s also surprising considering her obsession with death. This raw display of grief is amplified because we’re experiencing this scene through the eyes of an 11-year-old girl. When she asks where his glasses are, it’s a detail that seems unimportant. However, it highlights how much Vada actually cares about her best friend.
#2: Opening Montage “Up” (2009)
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This instant classic gives us the entire lifetime of a marriage within the first ten minutes of the movie. As a young boy, our protagonist Carl meets a spunky girl named Ellie and they connect over their shared interest in exploration. In snapshots, we see this relationship evolve into a happy marriage, only to find out that Ellie has suffered a miscarriage. What makes this montage particularly brutal is that there’s no dialogue, which forces us to further imagine what the characters are going through. In an interview, director Pete Docter claimed that Pixar initially wanted to cut the pregnancy loss, but without it, we wouldn’t have known about another reason why Carl grows to become so bitter in his later years. Before you put all those tissues away, let’s take a look at some honorable mentions. Andy Offers Up His Toys, “Toy Story 3” (2010) Bonnie Sure Is One Lucky Kid Marley Is Put to Sleep, “Marley & Me” (2008) No More Marley, Just “Me” Bruno Tries to Help Shmuel Find His Dad, “The Boy in the Striped Pajamas” (2008) This Selfless Act Leads to Both of Their Heartbreaking Demises
#1: Jack’s Death “Titanic” (1997)
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This tragic love story follows Kate Winslet’s Rose and Leonardo Dicaprio’s Jack as they fall for each other despite their class differences aboard the doomed voyage. Shortly after the titular ship collides with an iceberg, Jack gives his own life to save Rose. Along with Rose, the audience has also fallen in love with Jack. So, we can really feel her pain as she pleads for the search party to “come back,” but it passes without hearing her words. The desperation in her voice makes us think she might also be begging for her lover to return. Then, when she lets go of Jack in order to make another attempt to survive, his body sinks into the dark abyss– *sniffles* and that part gets us every time.
