Top 10 Kids' Movies That Make Adults Cry
For this list, we're taking a look at films intended for a younger audience that still hit us right in the feels as adult viewers. Needless to say, spoilers ahead.
#10: “All Dogs Go to Heaven” (1989)
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This is the story of Charlie B. Barkin, a dog from the wrong side of the tracks who gets killed but then receives a second chance at redemption. As if the initial murder of Charlie, who’s voiced by Burt Reynolds, isn’t sad enough, the story packs an emotional punch as Charlie and his best friend Itchy befriend an orphan girl named Anne-Marie. What will follow are themes of heaven and hell, betrayal, and sacrifice, which on second thought, seem a little heavy for a kids movie. As if all of that aren’t enough, we then are forced to watch as Charlie, now redeemed, dies...again.
#9: “Inside Out” (2015)
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Any film that takes place inside the mind of a young girl going through the trials of moving away from home will be sad. Add actual characters that represent the emotions of joy, sadness, anger, disgust, and fear, and you know you’re in for an emotional rollercoaster. Themes of abandonment and longing are also addressed in tear jerking fashion in this story that shows the important role of sadness in our lives. However, our vote for saddest scene has to be Bing Bong’s sacrifice to get Joy out of the Memory Dump.
#8: “Toy Story 3” (2010)
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Don’t get us wrong, all of the films in the Toy Story series have their emotional moments. We’re looking at moments like the “Toy Story” scene where Buzz realizes he’s just a toy, and the “Toy Story 2” montage of Jesse reminiscing over her past. And who can forget the moment Woody bids Buzz a bittersweet farewell in “Toy Story 4”? But we can’t think of a more emotional “Toy Story” than the third installment, which featured scenes like the toys holding each other close as they face their almost certain demise, or the ending where Andy finally gives his toys away.
#7: “Bridge to Terabithia” (2007)
Based on the classic novel by Katherine Paterson, this faithful retelling still has us bawling everytime we watch it. The film follows the budding friendship between a lonely boy and an imaginative girl who lives next door, as they build a fantasy world called Terabithia to play in. The real world, however, is not as fun and fancy-free as their make-believe one, as we watch the children in the film dealing with bullying and abusive family members. To top it all off, near the end of the film, our protagonist is told that his best friend died by drowning in a creek.
#6: “Up” (2009)
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We don’t often award an entry to a film for primarily one sequence, but this is one of those movies that forces us to make an exception. The film primarily focuses on the relationship between an aging widower and a zealous young Wilderness Explorer as they head for South America in a house attached to thousands of balloons. But for a movie stuffed with laughs galore, the opening scenes get us every time. We watch as Carl and Ellie Fredericksen grow up together, fall in love, suffer a miscarriage, and dream about visiting Paradise Falls before Ellie gets sick and dies.
#5: “The Lion King” (1994)
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It has spawned a sequel, a prequel, a remake, a Broadway adaptation, several television series, and more. The success behind this winning kid’s flick (which even won several Academy Awards) has to be attributed to its compelling story, its inspiring music, and its emotional depth. Directors Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff do not shy away from delivering some hard hitting scenes that still pack a punch on repeated viewings, most famously that of Mufasa’s death. Many other scenes also have us reaching for the Kleenex, however, such as Mufasa communing with Simbra from a starry night sky.
#4: “Dumbo” (1941)
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Although it’s the oldest movie on our list, it’s by no means a lightweight in the tears department. We’re probably all familiar with the story of Dumbo, a little elephant who (despite being loved by his mother) is mocked for his exceedingly large ears. We can’t help but well up when Dumbo’s mother is imprisoned after defending her son, and - unable to see him face-to-face - can only entwine her trunk with his. We can see why the film is considered by some to be Disney’s greatest and is today viewed as one of the best animated films of all time.
#3: “Coco” (2017)
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Any movie in which the characters traipse back and forth between the land of the living and the land of the dead is bound to trigger some tears. Set in Mexico, the film follows the young Miguel, who dreams of becoming a famous musician and must embark on an adventure across all realms to fulfill his dream. The most touching moments in this Pixar film have to do with Coco, the family matriarch who loses her memories and eventually her life in this beautifully-animated flick. We’re particularly thinking of the heartbreaking moment when Miguel sings softly to the dying Coco.
#2: “Bambi” (1942)
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There’s happy crying and then there’s ugly crying; this Disney classic has the power to elicit both types of tears. The film quickly has us invested in the life of Bambi, a little deer who is destined for great things but starts off as vulnerable, playful, and very attached to his mother. Everything changes one fateful day during Bambi’s first winter, when his mother is shot and killed by a hunter after trying to escape with her fawn. Although the movie is filled with breathtaking wonder and some charming comical scenes, it's this scene that forever scarred millions of young minds and still has us tearfully reaching for the phone to call Mom. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions: “E.T. the Extraterrestrial” (1982) “The Land Before Time” (1988) “Big Hero 6” (2014) “An American Tail” (1986) “My Girl” (1991)
#1: “The Fox and the Hound” (1981)
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The competition was tough, and any number of the movies on our list could have taken the top spot. But there’s just something about Copper the hound dog and Tod the red fox. This is a story of two friends who must choose between maintaining their close friendship despite a world that demands that they be sworn enemies. Right from the first scenes, depicting Tod as an orphaned fox adopted by a sweet old lady, to the final scenes where Tod defies all odds to save his estranged friend and then gets saved from the gun being pointed at him by Copper, it seems as every frame in this Disney movie is brimming with emotional moments.
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