Good movies not only provide entertainment and chance to shut-off the outside world for a little while; good movies also allow us an opportunity to get in touch with our emotions in a very real and confident way.
Good movies can also make us cry.
If you sometimes find it difficult getting in touch with your emotions, try watching an inspirational movie to rekindle and to reconnect with some strong feelings that can be laying under the surface of your hectic and sometimes stressful life.
A good cry at a movie can be a very therapeutic and healing event. Crying is a valuable release that can make us feel better. However, based on your gender, the type of movie that elicits an emotional response from you can be very different.
Respecting the fact not all women fit into one box and men in another, in general, women identify with relationship movies and with characters who try to make some sense out of their lives. Men, on the other hand, are impacted by movies that resonate with themes of honor, bravery and loyalty.
Movies That Make Women Cry
A recent online poll (source: www.themoviepage.net) listed the top movies that can bring a tear to the eyes of women. Here are the top five emotionally evoking movies for women:
Ghost: Molly Jensen (Demi Moore) and Sam Wheat (Patrick Swayze) are happy and madly in love. Things take a tragic turn when Sam is murdered. Now in the form of a ghost, Sam enlists the help of Oda Mae Brown (Whoopi Goldberg), a psychic, to communicate with Molly and save her from impending harm.
Bambi: This animated classic was first released in 1942. Bambi, the young deer, learns valuable life lessons after the sudden death of his mother.
E.T.: Elliott (Henry Thomas) finds a new friend in the form of an alien that was accidentally left behind on Earth. E.T. and Elliott both learn the meaning of true friendship in this 1982 Steven Spielberg film.
Titanic: While traveling on the luxury liner Titanic, Rose (Kate Winslet) meets Jack (Leonardo Dicaprio) and the two fall in love. Will they live happily ever after or will fate intervene?
Beaches: The friendship of Cecilia (Bette Midler) and Hillary (Barbara Hershey) was the focus of this 1988 hit film. Two girls from different worlds meet one summer and begin a friendship that sees them through the highs and lows of their lives.
What the women who read The Next 45 Years say:
The Last of The Mohicans with Daniel Day Lewis and Madeline Stowe has me sobbing. There are so many powerful messages. The willingness to stand up in the face of oppression - even to give one’s life to fight for what you believe in, to champion and protect someone or something you love and cherish. - Lorraine
My all time favorite “move me to tears” movie is definitely Like Water for Chocolate. I think it’s just a beautiful movie. It’s sensuous and passionate and all about love. - Andrea
Into the Wild made me cry for a myriad of reasons. I cried because I could relate to Christopher’s McCandless’s sense of loss, surrender and adventure. I was deeply moved to witness his new life- shaping friendships on the road to Alaska. - Shann
August Rush - while you know how it will ultimately end, because of the music and the beautiful way the story is told, it is a highly uplifting movie. - Lexi
One of my favorite films is A League of Their Own with Tom Hanks and Madonna. It ALWAYS makes me cry because it’s about sisterhood and all that involves both with a sibling relationship and as a group of girls. It’s nostalgic, bittersweet, warm, loving, and funny and captures so many real life emotions. - Lola
Steel Magnolias with Sally Field and Julia Roberts is the story about a group of friends with Sally and Julia playing the central characters. The theme of the movie is about how, on the surface, women are seen as flowers, but underneath have backbones of steel. In the movie, Sally Field’s character is the only one who has the strength to watch her daughter’s last breath. All of the men left the room before her final breath. - Patricia
I love The Ultimate Gift because of the movie’s central message: Our lives should not be lived avoiding problems, but welcoming them as challenges that will strengthen us so that we will be victorious in the future. - Edith
Movies that move me the most are usually about World War II, like Schindler’s List, Mrs. Miniver, and The Longest Day. Works like these remind us of what that generation went through, how they had to keep going in the face of fear and destruction. - Kristen
Pay It Forward - not only emotional, but thought provoking in how one idea, if pursued and put into action, can change the world. - Pat
I’m not exactly a movie fan, but if I really have to choose one, it’s definitely Rocky Balboa. At that time, I’ve just quit my job and Rocky’s words to his son resonate with me so well. So much so I cried in the theatre. Yes, it was that sensational. - Ellesse
One of the best movies I have seen in a long while is Juno. It was very human and hugely touching. I was touched mostly by how her parents didn’t pass judgment on her and accepted and supported her through her ordeal. Yes, I cried. - Louise
So many movies have made me cry! But as I thought about it, and I must say consistent, as I have seen it four to fives times now and it still makes me cry is Bridge to Terabithia. I cry because the movie is magical and mystical. It reminded me of being a kid and magical places. - Karen
Movies That Make Men Cry
Even though most men may not shed a tear during Steel Magnolias or Beaches, doesn’t mean that men are heartless; it just means men look for a different kind of movie in order to feel and show emotion. Here are the top five emotionally evoking movies for men (source: www.eharmony.com):
Brian’s Song: This Emmy-winning movie of the week focuses on Chicago Bears running back Gale Sayers (Billy Dee Williams) and his friendship with fullback Brian Piccolo (James Caan). Coach George Halas (Jack Warden) encourages Piccolo to be Sayers’s roommate during the season — the first white-black pairing of its kind in professional sports. When Piccolo develops cancer, Sayers stands by his pal.
Rudy: In this fact-based drama about the triumph of the human spirit, scrawny high schooler Rudy Ruettiger (Sean Astin) dreams of playing football at Notre Dame. But his father (Ned Beatty) can’t afford to send him, and his mediocre grades don’t cut it, so he ends up at a college across the street instead. Undaunted, Rudy eventually transfers to Notre Dame, where he begins assisting the groundskeeper (Charles S. Dutton) and joins the practice squad.
Saving Private Ryan: As U.S. troops storm the beaches of Normandy, three brothers lie dead on the battlefield, with a fourth trapped behind enemy lines. Ranger captain Tom Hanks and seven men are tasked with penetrating German-held territory and bringing the boy home.
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest: The first movie since It Happened One Night to win all five major Academy Awards (picture, director, actor, actress, screenplay), Cuckoo’s Nest still has the ability to entertain and inspire.
The Natural: A bat made from a tree struck by lightning and a passion for baseball define Roy Hobbs (Robert Redford). But when he’s shot and severely wounded, his career gets cut short. Years later, Hobbs tries out for a struggling team. He steps to the plate and knocks the ball out of the park in this mythic film that’s as epic as America’s national pastime.
What the men who read The Next 45 Years say:
I cry at heroic scenes of self sacrifice and nobility. Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon from ages back was awesome. - Albert
There are two movies that really had an impact – both are examples of the human spirit what would not be held down. The Pursuit of Happyness - just the power of a person overcoming all odds to create a sustainable life for themselves and their child. The other one is Good Will Hunting - something about overcoming the impact our childhood environment really got to me on this one. - CG
The Trail of Joan of Arc (1962) was filmed with great simplicity and lack of pretension. The director, Robert Bresson, allows the powerful story to speak for itself. - Tejvan
The Color Purple is one of my favorites. To see the courage of Whoppi’s character, Miss Celie, shows at the end of the movie when she leaves her abusive husband is inspirational and moves me to no end. - Alex S.
The number one movie that had that kind of effect on was My Life. - Luke
Field of Dreams - the end sequence. Not really sure why because I always had a good relationships with my dad. - Tim
Please join in on the conversation. Tell us the movies that have made you cry in the Comments below!
Recommended Resources
If you enjoyed this article, please subscribe via RSS feed or by email updates. You will receive fresh, new content free of charge!
Receive the new eBook: How to Finish Strong in Life. How to Finish Strong in Life is a collection of our best articles on how to improve relationships, sustain happiness and create lasting success for the rest of your life. The book is a reminder that it’s not about how you start; it’s about how you finish in life that counts. Buy it here for only $4.95
If you find this website helpful, please consider donating to The Next 45 Years. The amount you donate is entirely up to you. Thank you for your continued support.
Join the Rich Life Club today and begin fulfilling your maximum potential.
April 10th, 2008 at 3:22 am
When I take my 9 year old daughter see animated movies i cry, can’t help it. I love animated movies and this is what it does to me.
April 10th, 2008 at 5:08 am
No. No. No. No. Movies never make me cry. Only books can do that.
April 10th, 2008 at 5:51 am
All of the movies listed bring tears Alex
I know when the topic centers on love and passion - what we will do to have love and meaning in our life - my heart breaks wide open. Isn’t that what matters most to us all?
Nice post Alex. Thanks for including me
PS. I also cry with books.
Blessings,
Lo
April 10th, 2008 at 6:02 am
There’s some great movies listed here.
Off the top of my head, movies that made me cry:
- Jesus of Nazareth
- The Passion of the Christ
- To Kill a Mockingbird
Books:
- The Kite Runner (I haven’t seen the movie version)
April 10th, 2008 at 7:56 am
I completely agree with Rudy. The first scene that made my eyes water was when he finally gets into Notre Dame after years of hard work and people telling him he couldn’t do it. The second scene is at the end when he finally gets into the game and sacks the Georgia Tech quarterback….amazing!
Cameron
April 10th, 2008 at 8:56 am
I cry while watching a really good movie. Like Peter, I also cry with a good book. My experience is that the book is usually much, much better than the movie for stirring my emotions. Some movies just don’t do the books justice. One example is the Stephen King book, The Shining. I loved the book but hated the movie. The book had so much depth to it and the movie had none.
Patricia
April 10th, 2008 at 9:40 am
I generally try to avoid what I refer to as ‘tearjerkers’ like the plague. When I go to see a movie I want lots of singing and dancing - and humor is a definite PLUS. To me, movies are escapism, and I seldom forget that it’s just actors on the screen.
Two movies are the exception. I got lost in the story and they made me cry as an adult: Brian’s Song and The Notebook.
See, I’m gender-dextrous (like men and women’s movies BOTH). Not bad for an old Grandma!
April 10th, 2008 at 10:05 am
I’m a sap. I cry at everything, to include parades, the national anthem, etc etc.
However, as far as movies, top choices would be:
- An Affair to Remember (don’t let him walk away!! Tell him!!!)
- The Little Princess (Daddy… don’t you recognize me… Daddy!)
- Into the Wild (my son had just dropped out of college and was drinking out of a gallon milk jug of water like McCandless… I had horrible visions of him taking off and dying in the wilderness like this poor mentally ill man. I had to shut my eyes the last 4 minutes so I wouldn’t cry any louder. I’d already been repeatedly shushed)
As far as books, I got kicked out of High School History class because I was reading Of Mice and Men and sobbed my way through the entire last scene. Apparently, reading during class is frowned upon, even in 1981.
April 11th, 2008 at 2:18 am
Movies That Make Us Cry | Deliggit.com…
\r\nIf you sometimes find it difficult getting in touch with your emotions, try wa…
April 11th, 2008 at 8:09 am
[…] it out: Next 45 years SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: “Movies That Make Us (Men and Women) Cry”, url: […]
April 11th, 2008 at 9:56 am
Hi Alex
I needed some new weepies so thanks ;).
I’m in agreememt with Alex S on Colour Purple, wonderful film for crying to.
In love. light and abundance x x x
May 6th, 2008 at 3:21 pm
I watched “P.S. I Love You” movie. It made me cry from the start to the end. It was very good movie. I can’t stand to watch this movie ever again because it makes me cry from the beginning to the end. I bawled my eyes out. I don’t think I can handle watching this movie again.