Greatest Tearjerkers Films - Scenes and Moments

Greatest Tearjerker Films, Scenes and Movie Moments
of All-Time

Introduction: 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.
Many sites and film books have attempted to compile listings of the most tearjerking moments, scenes and films throughout cinematic history. See various choices of great tearjerkers in Entertainment Weekly's choices for the Top 50 Greatest Tearjerkers, UK's Channel 4 website of 100 Greatest Tearjerkers (see below), and O Magazine's compilation of 50 Greatest Chick Flicks. The following sources are indicated by icons in this site's compilation:

- UK's Channel 4 website of the 100 Greatest Tearjerkers

- Entertainment Weekly's November 28, 2003 issue of the 50 Greatest Tearjerkers

Note: The films that are marked with a yellow star are the films that "The Greatest Films" site has selected as the 100 Greatest Films.

Greatest Film Tearjerkers, Moments and Scenes
(alphabetical by film title) - Part 27
Intro | Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10
Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20
Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30

Movie Title
Brief Scene Description Example

Star Trek Generations (1994)

Captain Jean-Luc Picard's (Patrick Stewart) choked-up sobbing as he told ship's counselor Commander Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis) about the death of his brother Robert and nephew Renee in a fire: ("I've been thinking about all the experiences Renee is never going to have -- attending Academy, reading books, listening to music, falling in love ..."); and the finale in which android Lt. Commander Data (Brent Spiner) cried yellow tears when he discovered his cat Spot alive and well after the U.S.S. Enterprise had crashed: (Data: "I am happy to see Spot, and yet I am crying! Perhaps the chip is malfunctioning?" - Deanna: "I think it's working perfectly").

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982)

The death scene of Captain Spock (Leonard Nimoy), who had just sacrificed his life to save the U.S.S. Enterprise from a deadly explosion, as he reassured Admiral James T. Kirk (William Shatner): "Don't grieve, Admiral. It's logical. The needs of the many outweigh... [the needs of the few]... or the one... I have been, and always shall be... your friend. Live long and prosper"; and Kirk's silent "No!" as Spock died, followed by his eulogy of Spock: ("Of all the souls I have encountered, his was the most... human"); the subsequent reconciliation scene with his son Dr. David Marcus (Merritt Butrick): ("I'm proud, very proud, to be your son") with a hug; and Kirk's re-discovery of purpose for his life and his response to his friend Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy's (DeForest Kelly) question: "Are you okay? How do you feel?" with "Young. I feel...young!" -- and Nimoy's concluding tearjerking rendition of the famous television Star Trek opening monologue ("Space...the final frontier...").

Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984)

The startling, upsetting death of Dr. David Marcus (Merritt Butrick) - stabbed in the throat by a Klingon on orders from Captain Kruge (Christopher Lloyd), and Admiral James T. Kirk's (William Shatner) stunned reaction to the news of the death of his son-- he stumbled to the floor when trying to sit in his captain's chair, and croaked with anguish: "You Klingon bastard...You Klingon bastard, you killed my son!"

Starman (1984)

The eloquent speech by dying alien Starman (Jeff Bridges) to scientist Mark Shermin (Charles Martin Smith) while trapped in federal custody in a restaurant: "We are... interested in your species...You are a strange species, not like any other -- and you would be surprised how many there are. Intelligent but savage. Shall I tell you what I find beautiful about you? You are at your very best when things are worst"; and Starman's farewell to hostage-turned-lover Jenny Hayden (Karen Allen) in the middle of the Arizona crater: (Jenny: "I'm never going to see you again, am I?"), and the final lingering shot of Jenny's face as Starman's ship departed to the sounds of Jack Nitzsche's swelling score.

Steel Magnolias (1989)
#20

The upsetting scene in which Shelby (Julia Roberts) collapsed into a diabetic coma - discovered by her husband Marshall (James Wlcek) as her 1 year-old son Jack, Jr. (C. Hauser) screamed in horror; Shelby's mother M'Lynn's (Sally Field) round-the-clock vigil (humming "Mockingbird" to her, reading beauty tips from a fashion magazine, etc.); and the scene of mourning M'Lynn's angry post-funeral speech at the injustice of her daughter's death: ("...I wanna know why! I wanna know WHY Shelby's life is over! I wanna know how that baby will ever know how wonderful his mother was. Will he EVER know what she went through for him? Oh, God, I wanna know why! Whhhyyyyy?! Lord, I wish I could understand. No! No! It's not supposed to happen this way. I'm supposed to go first. I've always been ready to go first. I don't think I can take this. I don't think I can take this. I just wanna hit somebody til they feel as bad as I do! I JUST WANNA HIT SOMETHING! I WANNA HIT IT HARD!") - humorously undercut by Claree's (Olympia Dukakis) cathartic offer of her sour-puss best friend Ouiser (Shirley MacLaine) as a target for M'Lynn's anger.

Stella Dallas (1937)
#19

The touching, famous sequence of devoted mother Stella (Barbara Stanwyck) and her daughter Laurel (or "Lollie") (Anne Shirley) waiting at her unattended birthday party - removing plates as regrets were received until they were the only ones at the festivities; also the train berth scene in which Stella's caring teenaged daughter came down to "cuddle" with her mother who had overheard criticisms (about being "a common looking creature for a mother"); and the unforgettable final wedding scene with Stella's reactions as she was standing alone in the rain at the outer gate gazing lovingly and adoringly - with tears in her eyes (and biting a handkerchief in her mouth) - through the mansion's window at her daughter's high-society wedding - as the gathering crowd was told by a policeman to move along - and afterwards, her joyful stride down the street as the film faded to black.

Stuart Saves His Family (1995)

The heart-rending unsuccessful rehabilitation scene for the nasty, hard-drinking and abusive father (Harris Yulin) of effeminate Public Access Cable TV self-help host Stuart Smalley (Al Franken); and the touching final scene in which Stuart's bullying, under-achieving, pot-smoking older brother Donnie (Vincent D'Onofrio) unexpectedly showed up at the studio on Christmas Eve after having fled his dysfunctional life at home with their parents, as Stuart was talking to his best friend and Al-Anon sponsor Julia (Laura San Giacomo): (Julia: "We're gonna have a great Christmas" - Stuart: (seeing Donnie) "The best ever!")

Summer of '42 (1971)

The tearjerking romance and sexual awakening/coming-of-age by young 14 year-old teenager Hermie (Gary Grimes) with lonely, 22 year-old neighboring war bride Dorothy (Jennifer O'Neill) after she had learned by telegram that her husband had been killed in action; with tears in her eyes and slightly drunk, she put her head on Hermie's shoulder, slowly danced (barefooted) with him to the tune (the film's theme song) playing on a phonograph record, and tenderly kissed him a few times before beckoning him to her bedroom for comfort; after he left her that evening, that was the last time he saw her - she only left a note the next day to Hermie explaining that perhaps the meaning of the event would come to him in time; the film remembered, in flashback, their short summer romance on 1940s Nantucket Island.

Sunrise (1927)

The scenes of the loving reunion of the farmer/husband (George O'Brien) and his presumed-drowned wife (Janet Gaynor) after she had been found alive but unconscious - he rushed to his wife's bedside in the farmhouse where they were joyously reunited; he attentively sat by his wife's bedside, where she slept with their infant until the dawn's light appeared - she opened her eyes and smiled at him with an angelic face and long-flowing hair after releasing her tight bun. She opened her eyes and turned her head on the pillow toward her husband. Their lips slowly drew together for a kiss, dissolving into the bright rays of an art-deco sun filling the screen. The word "Finis" floated upward to take the place of the sun as the music dramatically swelled.

Created in 1996-2008 © by Tim Dirks. All rights reserved.

Introduction: 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. Many sites and film books have attempted to compile listings of the most tearjerking moments, scenes and films throughout cinematic history. See various choices of great tearjerkers in Entertainment Weekly's choices for the Top 50 Greatest Tearjerkers, UK's Channel 4 website of 100 Greatest Tearjerkers (see below), and O Magazine's compilation of 50 Greatest Chick Flicks. The following sources are indicated by icons in this site's compilation: - UK's Channel 4 website of the 100 Greatest Tearjerkers - Entertainment Weekly's November 28, 2003 issue of the 50 Greatest Tearjerkers Note: The films that are marked with a yellow star are the films that "The Greatest Films" site has selected as the 100 Greatest Films.
Greatest Film Tearjerkers, Moments and Scenes (alphabetical by film title) - Part 27 Intro \| Part 1 \| Part 2 \| Part 3 \| Part 4 \| Part 5 \| Part 6 \| Part 7 \| Part 8 \| Part 9 \| Part 10 Part 11 \| Part 12 \| Part 13 \| Part 14 \| Part 15 \| Part 16 \| Part 17 \| Part 18 \| Part 19 \| Part 20 Part 21 \| Part 22 \| Part 23 \| Part 24 \| Part 25 \| Part 26 \| Part 27 \| Part 28 \| Part 29 \| Part 30
Movie Title	Brief Scene Description	Example
Star Trek Generations (1994)	Captain Jean-Luc Picard's (Patrick Stewart) choked-up sobbing as he told ship's counselor Commander Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis) about the death of his brother Robert and nephew Renee in a fire: ("I've been thinking about all the experiences Renee is never going to have -- attending Academy, reading books, listening to music, falling in love ..."); and the finale in which android Lt. Commander Data (Brent Spiner) cried yellow tears when he discovered his cat Spot alive and well after the U.S.S. Enterprise had crashed: (Data: "I am happy to see Spot, and yet I am crying! Perhaps the chip is malfunctioning?" - Deanna: "I think it's working perfectly").
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982)	The death scene of Captain Spock (Leonard Nimoy), who had just sacrificed his life to save the U.S.S. Enterprise from a deadly explosion, as he reassured Admiral James T. Kirk (William Shatner): "Don't grieve, Admiral. It's logical. The needs of the many outweigh... [the needs of the few]... or the one... I have been, and always shall be... your friend. Live long and prosper"; and Kirk's silent "No!" as Spock died, followed by his eulogy of Spock: ("Of all the souls I have encountered, his was the most... human"); the subsequent reconciliation scene with his son Dr. David Marcus (Merritt Butrick): ("I'm proud, very proud, to be your son") with a hug; and Kirk's re-discovery of purpose for his life and his response to his friend Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy's (DeForest Kelly) question: "Are you okay? How do you feel?" with "Young. I feel...young!" -- and Nimoy's concluding tearjerking rendition of the famous television Star Trek opening monologue ("Space...the final frontier...").
Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984)	The startling, upsetting death of Dr. David Marcus (Merritt Butrick) - stabbed in the throat by a Klingon on orders from Captain Kruge (Christopher Lloyd), and Admiral James T. Kirk's (William Shatner) stunned reaction to the news of the death of his son-- he stumbled to the floor when trying to sit in his captain's chair, and croaked with anguish: "You Klingon bastard...You Klingon bastard, you killed my son!"
Starman (1984)	The eloquent speech by dying alien Starman (Jeff Bridges) to scientist Mark Shermin (Charles Martin Smith) while trapped in federal custody in a restaurant: "We are... interested in your species...You are a strange species, not like any other -- and you would be surprised how many there are. Intelligent but savage. Shall I tell you what I find beautiful about you? You are at your very best when things are worst"; and Starman's farewell to hostage-turned-lover Jenny Hayden (Karen Allen) in the middle of the Arizona crater: (Jenny: "I'm never going to see you again, am I?"), and the final lingering shot of Jenny's face as Starman's ship departed to the sounds of Jack Nitzsche's swelling score.
Steel Magnolias (1989) #20	The upsetting scene in which Shelby (Julia Roberts) collapsed into a diabetic coma - discovered by her husband Marshall (James Wlcek) as her 1 year-old son Jack, Jr. (C. Hauser) screamed in horror; Shelby's mother M'Lynn's (Sally Field) round-the-clock vigil (humming "Mockingbird" to her, reading beauty tips from a fashion magazine, etc.); and the scene of mourning M'Lynn's angry post-funeral speech at the injustice of her daughter's death: ("...I wanna know why! I wanna know WHY Shelby's life is over! I wanna know how that baby will ever know how wonderful his mother was. Will he EVER know what she went through for him? Oh, God, I wanna know why! Whhhyyyyy?! Lord, I wish I could understand. No! No! It's not supposed to happen this way. I'm supposed to go first. I've always been ready to go first. I don't think I can take this. I don't think I can take this. I just wanna hit somebody til they feel as bad as I do! I JUST WANNA HIT SOMETHING! I WANNA HIT IT HARD!") - humorously undercut by Claree's (Olympia Dukakis) cathartic offer of her sour-puss best friend Ouiser (Shirley MacLaine) as a target for M'Lynn's anger.
Stella Dallas (1937) #19	The touching, famous sequence of devoted mother Stella (Barbara Stanwyck) and her daughter Laurel (or "Lollie") (Anne Shirley) waiting at her unattended birthday party - removing plates as regrets were received until they were the only ones at the festivities; also the train berth scene in which Stella's caring teenaged daughter came down to "cuddle" with her mother who had overheard criticisms (about being "a common looking creature for a mother"); and the unforgettable final wedding scene with Stella's reactions as she was standing alone in the rain at the outer gate gazing lovingly and adoringly - with tears in her eyes (and biting a handkerchief in her mouth) - through the mansion's window at her daughter's high-society wedding - as the gathering crowd was told by a policeman to move along - and afterwards, her joyful stride down the street as the film faded to black.
Stuart Saves His Family (1995)	The heart-rending unsuccessful rehabilitation scene for the nasty, hard-drinking and abusive father (Harris Yulin) of effeminate Public Access Cable TV self-help host Stuart Smalley (Al Franken); and the touching final scene in which Stuart's bullying, under-achieving, pot-smoking older brother Donnie (Vincent D'Onofrio) unexpectedly showed up at the studio on Christmas Eve after having fled his dysfunctional life at home with their parents, as Stuart was talking to his best friend and Al-Anon sponsor Julia (Laura San Giacomo): (Julia: "We're gonna have a great Christmas" - Stuart: (seeing Donnie) "The best ever!")
Summer of '42 (1971)	The tearjerking romance and sexual awakening/coming-of-age by young 14 year-old teenager Hermie (Gary Grimes) with lonely, 22 year-old neighboring war bride Dorothy (Jennifer O'Neill) after she had learned by telegram that her husband had been killed in action; with tears in her eyes and slightly drunk, she put her head on Hermie's shoulder, slowly danced (barefooted) with him to the tune (the film's theme song) playing on a phonograph record, and tenderly kissed him a few times before beckoning him to her bedroom for comfort; after he left her that evening, that was the last time he saw her - she only left a note the next day to Hermie explaining that perhaps the meaning of the event would come to him in time; the film remembered, in flashback, their short summer romance on 1940s Nantucket Island.
Sunrise (1927)	The scenes of the loving reunion of the farmer/husband (George O'Brien) and his presumed-drowned wife (Janet Gaynor) after she had been found alive but unconscious - he rushed to his wife's bedside in the farmhouse where they were joyously reunited; he attentively sat by his wife's bedside, where she slept with their infant until the dawn's light appeared - she opened her eyes and smiled at him with an angelic face and long-flowing hair after releasing her tight bun. She opened her eyes and turned her head on the pillow toward her husband. Their lips slowly drew together for a kiss, dissolving into the bright rays of an art-deco sun filling the screen. The word "Finis" floated upward to take the place of the sun as the music dramatically swelled.