Schindler’s List
Certainly a very moving and powerful film, beautifully realized and immensely crafted, a true masterpiece. Among many amazing scenes, one always makes me cry. It is set close to the end of the film, where Oscar Schindler has to flee and is given a gold ring made from the tooth of one of the Jewish workers he has saved. He breaks down, realizing that he could have saved more people. He looks at his car: Ten people, I could have saved ten more people. He looks at his gold Nazi pin: I could have saved two people. This is gold, two people, definitely one. There is a moment when he has a look of utter loss and despair on his face, and this is some of the finest acting I have seen, let alone in this film itself. How Liam Neeson did not win the Oscar for his performance beggars belief.
Titanic
This movie is so amazing, so wonderful, and so romantic. Titanic is one of my all-time favorite movies. Rose made a promise to Jack to never let go, which was very romantic and sweet. Rose kept that promise to Jack. My Heart Will Go On is my favorite song by Celine Dion. I really love Titanic very much.
This movie was amazing. The plot alone, not even including the detailed sets and historical accuracy (which were also amazing), was heart-wrenching and beautiful. It showed how two people went against all odds to find each other, despite their class differences, and found a way to love each other even when it was forbidden. They went through so much together in such a short time, and just when you think Jack and Rose have survived all their obstacles – bam – you’re wrong. He dies. Especially when they started playing that song in the end, My Heart Will Go On, and how Rose ended up doing exactly what Jack had made her promise: to live her life peacefully and reach her hundreds. My God, what a beautiful tragedy.
The Green Mile
This movie is one of Tom Hanks’ greatest films and is Michael Clarke Duncan’s best performance ever. The story is amazing, though I wouldn’t have expected any less from Stephen King, and the acting is phenomenal. Doug Hutchison’s portrayal of Percy Wetmore perfectly represents the character in the book and is also the ideal example of how to play a character that the viewer, once introduced, wants to punch in the face after every word he speaks. Tom Hanks’ portrayal of Paul Edgecomb is flawless, and Michael Clarke Duncan’s portrayal of John Coffey is a work of art, the best of his career. 10/10 movie.
Forrest Gump
“Life is like a box of chocolates. You’ll never know what you’re gonna get.” “Stupid is as stupid does.” I am crying like crazy. Forrest is born without good legs, is bullied, isn’t smart, loses Jenny on multiple occasions, loses his best friend Bubba, loses his mom, and then loses Jenny weeks after marriage. And there’s the little letter written by Forrest Jr. They even had to add the birds flying away in the final scenes. Writing that last line actually choked me up.
The end, where he stands over Jenny’s grave and breaks down, is extremely sad. But also his best good friend Bubba dies, his mom (whom he adores) dies, and then of course there’s the part where he meets his son, which is very emotional. Forrest Gump is the greatest movie of all time.
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
I don’t care how historically inaccurate this film is. The aunt’s funeral already had me tearing up. I was bawling for 20 minutes straight, and I mean WAILING with sorrow. And keep in mind, I’m not the type of person to cry too much due to sad movies. Titanic, Old Yeller, Bambi – all the classic examples of sad films – no waterworks, but THIS movie… There’s really no reason to go back to this movie after you know the twist, but if there’s any reason to watch it, it’s to give yourself a good kick in the emotional crotch.
Up
“Up” builds the strongest, most simply wonderful love story ever crafted in less than five minutes. The love story of Carl and Ellie, highlighting the ups and downs of life, brings out raw emotion from the audience. At the end, when Carl goes through the Adventure Book and finds that Ellie put their life adventure in the back, it just brings the sadness full circle. This movie doesn’t get the recognition it deserves on this list because it’s an animated film, but “Up” and “Toy Story 3” prove that animated films sometimes mean more than any live-action one could ever dream of.
Marley & Me
I had a yellow lab named Andy once. He was hit by a car, and I never got to say goodbye. I had a black lab named Luke after that, and we had him put to sleep. I wasn’t there, but I hugged him, sobbing, saying I loved him so much before my mom drove off with him, trying his hardest to look out the trunk’s window. Every time I see Marley die, I see both Luke and Andy dying at the same time. Need I say more? I break down, screaming in tears every time I see that one close-up shot of him shutting his soft, little eyes one last time.
At first, I was happy in this movie, but when Marley ran away and they announced Marley was dead, I started to cry my eyes out. Marley was the cutest dog ever. I cried when I went to bed, I cried in my sleep, I cried in the morning and evening, and at any time of day because of the death of the poor dog.
Grave of the Fireflies
I’ve watched Titanic, The Notebook, My Sister’s Keeper, and all those other films that are supposed to make you cry, but they don’t affect me. This film, however, had me in tears by the end of it. I was still crying long after the end of the credits. There is something so brutal in the matter-of-fact way death is treated and shown in this film, the way it is accepted. Most sad films tend to err toward the melodramatic, but this simple, understated way of dealing with death shows how many thousands of others went through the exact same thing as the two protagonists, which doesn’t help when you’re already bawling your eyes out. The artwork is beautiful and subtle. Everything about this film is perfect, and it’s the only film I’ve ever watched that has made me cry, so in my opinion, it is by far the saddest movie ever. Number 1, biggest tear-jerker.
The Notebook
Every time I watch this movie, I cry at the end. I always cry the moment Noah walks into Ally’s room. I think this movie represents the true meaning of love. My father told me that every year after he dies, on his birthday, I have to watch this movie. I just love it. I would watch it every day if I could. My brother has no feelings, so he won’t cry during this, and I won’t talk to him. I love the part where Noah fixes the house up just for Ally, and she comes back to the house. I just love it! I believe in love now because of this movie. This is the way I would like to die.
This movie touches on real-life experiences and what could actually happen to you! I don’t see why this isn’t number one. Movies that are based on real life should have more meaning and touch your heart. The Notebook gets me every single time. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button should also be on this list.
Requiem for a Dream
Totally agree with you. I haven’t seen another movie sadder than this. It totally crushes you and makes you feel and experience the futility and fragility of human life itself, filled with all the vices that so very convincingly lure us in the beginning only to leave us destroyed at the end. No words could describe the movie. People who can appreciate movies for the stories they narrate – you have missed something if you haven’t watched this movie!
This movie is so depressing it made me feel sick for a week. It f
Saving Private Ryan
I saw this movie when I was 12 with my aunt and cousins. It was the strangest experience I’ve ever had in a movie theater. When the movie ended, it felt like a funeral. No one looked at each other. Everyone was silent. And some men still sat in their seats, staring blankly at the screen. It felt so somber, like it was an accepted sadness for what had to be done. It probably didn’t help that my great-grandfather was in that war and had never spoken of it at all. Until the summer before he died that winter, we sat up one night playing cards, and he told me everything. From how he hid against a tree and could feel the bullets, to how he felt he couldn’t get small enough. How he got his two Silver Stars, and ultimately how his brother died in the war. My aunt honestly apologized to us in the car, saying she didn’t know it was going to be like that
