# Best tear-jerking line(s) in a modern movie. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 20, 2005, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tear-jerking-line-s-in-a-modern-movie/308971 "2005-06-20T00:58:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![rockle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/73ab20/32.png) [@rockle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rockle)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2005, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tear-jerking-line-s-in-a-modern-movie/308971/101 "2005-06-21T22:43:52Z")
Just about every movie makes me cry, seriously, but some lines just push me right over the edge: From _E.T._: “I’ll be right here.” From _The Little Mermaid_: “But Daddy, I love him!” From _Say Anything …_: “I gave her my heart, and she gave me a pen.” ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2005, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tear-jerking-line-s-in-a-modern-movie/308971/102 "2005-06-21T22:55:24Z")
**Superman** : “Remember, son…Always remember.” **A Boy Named Charlie Brown** : “But you know something, Charlie Brown?” “What’s that?” “The world didn’t come to an end.” ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2005, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tear-jerking-line-s-in-a-modern-movie/308971/103 "2005-06-21T23:21:46Z")
Rutger Hauer: “All those moments will be lost in time like tears in rain.” Never fails to choke me up. Quasi ---
**Author:** ![SpartanDC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b2d939/32.png) [@SpartanDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpartanDC)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2005, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tear-jerking-line-s-in-a-modern-movie/308971/104 "2005-06-21T23:26:33Z")
Oh my God, why did I make the mistake of reading this thread at work? Seriously, with the _Field of Dreams line_, I don’t even make it to the end. I just hear him say the word “Dad” and the waterworks turn on. As for _Casablanca_, I am amazed to this day that another country’s anthem, the words to which I do not understand, could have that kind of effect on me. That’s powerful filmmaking. Here’s my contribution, from _Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind_: **Clementine:** Joel? What if you stayed this time? **Joel:** I walked out. **Clementine:** Come back and make up a good-bye at least. Pretend we had one. I had been building up to a major blubbering during that whole scene, and that little exchange, capped by that great Kate Winslet line, just pushed me over the edge. ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2005, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tear-jerking-line-s-in-a-modern-movie/308971/105 "2005-06-21T23:46:01Z")
A Western with Henry Fonda, was a wonderful and sappy film, but when he said goodbye to her and said “Clementine. I sure like that name, Ma’am!”, it was another one of my favorite lines because you knew he was in love with her and she with him, but you didn’t know for sure they would see each other again. You \*\*hoped \*\* they would, but who knew? Anyway, thanks for this thread! Q ---
**Author:** ![SolGrundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbce88/32.png) [@SolGrundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SolGrundy)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2005, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tear-jerking-line-s-in-a-modern-movie/308971/106 "2005-06-21T23:51:16Z")
Well, if we can include TV shows, then I want to add one from “Cowboy Bebop”, the episode “Speak Like a Child,” where Faye Valentine is watching the video she made when she was a little girl and sent to herself as an adult, cheering her on and saying “Don’t lose me! Don’t lose me!” “I don’t know. I can’t remember.” ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2005, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tear-jerking-line-s-in-a-modern-movie/308971/107 "2005-06-22T00:12:48Z")
> [@Just1Lurk](#): > > _Apollo 13:_ > > Lovell’s mom: Well, don’t be [scared]. If they could get a washing machine to fly, my Jimmy could land it. I always cry at that part, and at the ending when they’re waiting to re-establish contact with the astronauts after they come in through the atmosphere. I sob when the big red-and-white parachutes show up. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Fight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/90ced4/32.png) [@Cat\_Fight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Fight)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2005, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tear-jerking-line-s-in-a-modern-movie/308971/108 "2005-06-22T00:51:01Z")
I’m drawing a blank. Damn. Oh, so many, so many. Not that I’m capable of crying. **The Neverending Story** near the end, when all of Fantasia is gone except for a tiny, glowing grain. **Last Night** , a little-known but absolutely fantastic Canadian film, “She taught me how to love,” the main character says in a non-corny way, quickly explaining that you’d have to know his family to understand him. And the silence in the end says more than any line could. **Welcome to the Dollhouse** when Dawn’s brother tells her about high school, how it’s not as bad as primary 'cause people don’t call you names to your face as much. And the scene in **Palindromes** > [@](#): > > when the guy goes to shoot the abortion doctor but misses. Christ almighty. And, of course, the previously mentioned scene in **Life Aquatic** , plus most of Wes Anderson’s movies. Most of **Rushmore** can bring a tear, under the right circumstances. Bill Murray dropping into the dirty pool… ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Fight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/90ced4/32.png) [@Cat\_Fight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Fight)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2005, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tear-jerking-line-s-in-a-modern-movie/308971/109 "2005-06-22T00:57:47Z")
Huh. Could a mod change that “quote” box to a spoiler box? Thank goodness I didn’t write what happened… ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2005, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tear-jerking-line-s-in-a-modern-movie/308971/110 "2005-06-22T01:00:53Z")
The last use of “It is a mystery” in _Shakespeare in Love_. ---
**Author:** ![malkavia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malkavia/32/5621_2.png) [@malkavia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/malkavia)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2005, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tear-jerking-line-s-in-a-modern-movie/308971/111 "2005-06-22T01:34:23Z")
From **Hotel Rwanda** : _“Please don’t let them kill me. I promise I won’t be Tutsi anymore.”_ I thought that I would never stop crying. ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2005, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tear-jerking-line-s-in-a-modern-movie/308971/112 "2005-06-22T03:06:21Z")
> [@Cat Fight](#): > > snip > > **Last Night** , a little-known but absolutely fantastic Canadian film, “She taught me how to love,” the main character says in a non-corny way, quickly explaining that you’d have to know his family to understand him. And the silence in the end says more than any line could. > > snip I thought I was the only one who’d ever seen **Last Night**. Odd and fascinating, isn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2005, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tear-jerking-line-s-in-a-modern-movie/308971/113 "2005-06-22T03:45:13Z")
> [@Anne Neville](#): > > I always cry at that part, and at the ending when they’re waiting to re-establish contact with the astronauts after they come in through the atmosphere. I sob when the big red-and-white parachutes show up. That gets me, but the biggie for me in that flick is when the reporters want to put a transmitter on the lawn, and Marilyn doesn’t want them to: Henry Hurt: I, uh, I have a request from the news people. Marilyn Lovell: Uh-huh? Henry Hurt: They’re out front here. They want to put a transmitter up on the lawn. Marilyn Lovell: Transmitter? Henry Hurt: Kind of a tower, for live broadcast. Marilyn Lovell: I thought they didn’t care about this mission. They didn’t even run Jim’s show. Henry Hurt: Well, it’s more dramatic now. Suddenly people are… Marilyn Lovell: Landing on the moon wasn’t dramatic enough for them - why should NOT landing on it be? Henry Hurt: Look, I, um, I realize how hard this is, Marilyn, but the whole world is caught up in this, it’s historic-… Marilyn Lovell: No, Henry! Those people don’t put one piece of equipment on my lawn. If they have a problem with that, they can take it up with my husband. He’ll be HOME… on FRIDAY! ---
**Author:** ![marymargaret](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@marymargaret](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/marymargaret)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2005, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tear-jerking-line-s-in-a-modern-movie/308971/114 "2005-06-22T05:14:07Z")
\*\*Requiem for a Dream \*\* when the nurse tells Harry that Marion will come and Harry responds, “she won’t come.” ---
**Author:** ![DataZak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ea666f/32.png) [@DataZak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DataZak)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2005, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tear-jerking-line-s-in-a-modern-movie/308971/115 "2005-06-22T07:08:29Z")
**Braveheart** : “_Freeeedooom!_” ---
**Author:** ![Just1Lurk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c0e974/32.png) [@Just1Lurk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just1Lurk)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2005, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tear-jerking-line-s-in-a-modern-movie/308971/116 "2005-06-22T14:36:55Z")
Well, I watched Apollo 13 last night. The exact quote is: “Well, don’t you worry, honey. If they could get a washing machine to fly, my Jimmy could land it.” Is it possible to nit-pick yourself? ---
**Author:** ![Made\_in\_Macau](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eada6e/32.png) [@Made\_in\_Macau](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Made_in_Macau)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2005, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tear-jerking-line-s-in-a-modern-movie/308971/117 "2005-06-22T15:15:08Z")
I start crying in ‘Field of Dreams’ at ‘My name is John Patrick Kinsella, it’s an Irish name…’ and don’t really stop. Ditto ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ Start when the LIBERTY FILMS logo appears; still going when Clarence gets his wings. However - I lose control of myself when young Mary Hatch leans over the soda counter and whispers into Goerge’s deaf ear; ‘George Bailey, I’ll love you till the day I die’. Oh boy. MiM ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2005, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tear-jerking-line-s-in-a-modern-movie/308971/118 "2005-06-22T16:24:01Z")
"Champ?.CHAMP! **CHAMP!!** Rick Schroder nearly killed my sister when she saw this. We nearly called an ambulance as she couldn’t breath she was crying so hard. Field of Dreams gets me everytime. ---
**Author:** ![marymargaret](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@marymargaret](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/marymargaret)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2005, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tear-jerking-line-s-in-a-modern-movie/308971/119 "2005-06-22T17:13:41Z")
> [@yojimbo](#): > > "Champ?.CHAMP! **CHAMP!!** That one always gets me. ---
**Author:** ![Mal\_Adroit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df788c/32.png) [@Mal\_Adroit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mal_Adroit)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2005, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tear-jerking-line-s-in-a-modern-movie/308971/120 "2005-06-22T19:40:33Z")
There are still so many lines from _Glengarry Glenross_ that just reduce me to a quivering mess. _You think this is abuse, you c_cksuckers? Anybody who talks to this asshole is a f\*ckin asshole. Good father? F\*ck you, go home and play with your kids. \* 😉 Sorry to be a wisenheimer but reading this thread is like eating too much cotton candy. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tear-jerking-line-s-in-a-modern-movie/308971.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-tear-jerking-line-s-in-a-modern-movie/308971.md?page=7)