Top 10 Tear Jerkers

As I was making this list, I noticed a pattern… the majority of these are from kid films. Why is that? Is the film industry trying to traumatize us into adulthood? Seriously some of the saddest film scenes in history are from Disney films (I won't include examples, since they are all actually on my list).

So onward we go:

#10 Dot's "death" in Animaniacs Movie: Wakko's Wish

Skip to 2:24

OK, so the thing with Animaniacs is that it is NEVER serious. Whenever there is an even remotely serious moment, they always exaggerate it or crack a joke or something ("Spielberg eats this stuff up"), making it ridiculous. So it's never seriously serious. So when this scene showed up… I was actually speechless. Like "where's the joke? Is there a joke coming?... *starts to cry* This isn't funny… This isn't funny at all. *bawls* WHERE'S THE JOKE???".  Even though a bit later after the whole thing she's just like "haha! Just kidding!", you're still left in shock of it all because that was super heavy for an Animaniacs show.

#9 Jessie's story from Toy Story 2

Ugh! This scene! It's just so heart-breaking watching that montage of slowly becoming the forgotten toy and then eventually being dumped into a donation box. Just the way it shows what a bond Jessie and Emily had (as much as a toy and an owner could have), but then it slowly faded away as Emily grew up. It's just so sad. It's the song that really sets the mood though. As much as I'm not a huge fan of Randy Newman, this song really does it for me, especially put in context with this montage.

#8 Sirius Black's death in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

For some reason, I cried harder when Sirius died than when Dumbledore died. Even though Dumbledore's death came as more of a shock, Sirius's death hit me harder somehow. I mean he was Harry's father figure, the closest thing to family he had (besides his actual family who were horrible to him), and he dies! It was the first major character death in the series and it struck me hard. I mean, with Dumbledore, I never expected him to die because, well, he's Dumbledore. So when it happened, I was more hit by the shock of it than the actual emotion. But when Sirius died… oh! I could not handle it! I remember reading it for the first time and I just had to pause and process because NOOOOOOO!!!!!!

#7 Destroying Vanellope's cart from Wreck-It Ralph

I don't have a lot to say on this scene besides that it tears my heart out every time I watch it. Just how Vanellope is shouting and crying as he smashes it. That combined with the music. I don't know, it just really gets me. For the first time, Ralph finally has a friend and then for (what he thinks is) her own good he has to destroy her prized possession and their friendship. I mean, she literally just gave him her handmade medal that tells him that he's her hero and then he goes and does that! It just hurts! "You really are a bad guy". Meh-heh-heh! DX

#6 Up's intro from Up

Do not even get me started on this one. What is it with Pixar and heart-wrenching montages? It's basically the same commentary as I had before. The way it shows Carl and Ellie's sweet, idealistic romance from when they were kids, through their marriage, to Ellie's death. But it includes real things like how Ellie is unable to have children and it shows it! Wow, that's deep for a kids' film. And that one shot conveys so much. And through their whole lives they have a dream of traveling to South America, and then just as Carl gets tickets, Ellie gets sick and dies. *cries* It's the worst! And (if you never noticed), her funeral is held in the same chapel as where they got married! *sobs* Yes, the best way to start a movie is by ripping our hearts out!

#5 Gwen Stacey's death from The Amazing Spider-man 2

Argh! I saw this coming a mile away because I've read the comic, but when it happened in the movie, I had to cover my face to keep my manic sobs from escaping. I understand that A TON of people were just so shocked at it, like Spider-man actually failed to save someone? And his love interest no less? It was just so mind boggling. That never happens in superhero movies. They always go through a lot of trials, troubles, and fights, but in the end, they always save the day… but not here. And the way it was portrayed was so freakin' SAD! First of all, it was so dramatic (of course) with the slow motion as she fell and he went after her, it seemed like he was going to save her. But then he was barely, barely, BARELY too late. He didn't know she was dead until he climbed down to the ground. Then his reaction *cries*. In Andrew Garfield's defense, no one looks good when they cry (genuinely, not the "actor cry" or the "sexy cry"), and he put all his emotion into that performance.

#4 Snow White's funeral from Snow White and the Seven Dwarves

Oh no, this scene! Not one word is spoken and yet somehow it manages to convey so much emotion and sadness. Like, what the heck, Disney!? Just look at those dwarves' faces for crying out loud! They are in complete mourning! The animals are crying, even the candles look like they're crying! And then Grumpy, the tough one, is crying! Argh! I can't take it! It's too sad!

#3 Death of Old Yeller from Old Yeller

For some reason, this was the best I could find. 

Skip to 5:27-5:58

Disney, I ought to punch you for all the emotional turmoil you cause! THIS frikin' scene! I haven't seen this movie in years, but I remember this scene well. I actually first saw this movie in class in eighth grade after we read the book, and it took all my power to not start bawling in front of the entire class (though I'm pretty positive I let loose a few tears). But seriously, this dog was just so faithful, and courageous, and loyal, and brave, and loving, and GAH! And then (while saving his owners from a rabid wolf no less!) he contracts rabies and slowly spirals away from that wonderful dog and into a psychotic, ravenous, ailing creature. It's just too horrible! So the one kid who had the strongest attachment to him is the one who shoots him to put him out of his misery! *wails*

#2 Bambi's mom's death from Bambi

Who could forget Bambi's mom. One of the most famous deaths in cinema history. AND IT'S IN A KID'S FILM!!! Geez, Disney! I mean, you don't even see it happen. Just them running and running, then "BOOM!", then Bambi comes out looking for her only to be told "your mother can't be with you any longer". Holy moly! WHHHHYYYYYYY?????? *sobs*

#1 Mufasa's death from The Lion King

OK, now unlike with Bambi we actually see the body. I mean, it's pretty intense. But it's such a noble and touching way to go, risking his life to save his son (before he get PUSHED OFF THE CLIFF BY HIS CONNIVING BROTHER!!!). But the death itself is pretty intense, I mean he falls, Simba screams "NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!". Then Simba finds Mufasa amongst the dust and debris, dead. Oh! It's too much! The way he cries, tries to get him to move, lies under his paw. *bawls* WHY, DISNEY, WHHHYYYYYY????? And to make it all worse, freakin' Scar has to come and makes Simba think it was all his fault! The lyin' (ha! See what I did there?) murderer!