Greatest Tearjerkers
Scenes and Movie Moments
of All-Time

Introduction


Written by Tim Dirks

Greatest Film Tearjerkers, Moments and Scenes
(alphabetical by film title)
Intro | A | B | B | C | C | D | D | E | F | F | G | G | H-I | J-K | L | L | M | M | N | O | P | P
Q-R | S | S | S | S | T | T | U-V-W | X-Z


Greatest Tearjerkers: There are many names for tearjerker films - 'women's pictures', 'weepies' or weepers, melodramas, soap operas (or soapers), and more recently, 'chick flicks'. There are many kinds of touching, emotionally stirring films and dramas that bring a tear to the eye, and cause a swelling in the heart. Pathos-filled tales of doomed or short-lived romance, tragic deaths or losses (loss of life, loss of love, loss of dignity, etc.), recovery (recovery of life, recovery of love, recovery of dignity, etc.), or difficult domestic situations are common plot themes in these kinds of films.

Tearjerker plots with heart-tugging, emotional storylines (requiring multiple hankies) usually emphasize sensational situations or crises of human emotion, failed romance or friendship, strained familial situations, tragedy, illness, neuroses, or emotional and physical hardship within everyday life. Victims, couples, virtuous and heroic characters or suffering protagonists (usually heroines) in tearjerkers are presented with tremendous social pressures, threats, repression, fears, improbable events or difficulties with friends, community, work, lovers, or family. The melodramatic format allows the character(s) to work through their difficulties or surmount the problems with resolute endurance, sacrificial acts, and steadfast bravery. Sports films tend to be for men what melodramas are for women, and both often share the same attributes.

Best Tearjerker Films, Scenes: Many other sites and film books have attempted to compile listings of the most tearjerking moments, scenes and films throughout cinematic history. In Filmsite's listing, two prominent sources are indicated by these two icons:

- UK's Channel 4
The 100 Greatest Tearjerkers
with ranking number (#)
- Entertainment Weekly
Top 50 Greatest Tearjerkers (November 28, 2003)
with ranking number (#)
Films selected on both lists (and on Filmsite's list) included the following (in alphabetical order)

Oddly, the two polls selected two different versions of The Champ (1931 and 1979)


Greatest Film Tearjerkers, Moments and Scenes
(alphabetical by film title)
Intro | A | B | B | C | C | D | D | E | F | F | G | G
H-I | J-K | L | L | M | M | N | O | P | P
Q-R | S | S | S | S | T | T | U-V-W | X-Z


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